Please read through the nominations below and click on a button to vote one you are ready. You are encouraged, but not required to vote in all categories.
“Why do I work so tirelessly? I would hate to go to the grave and I haven’t shared any of what I have learned with the community.” Nakita “Coach Kita” Bowman is a self certified Blerd. She loves personal development, higher education (she has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and 2 Masters degrees: one in Juvenile Forensic Psychology and the other in Human Sciences) and develops new lines of business for fun. As a Renaissance Person, she has found a way to combine her advocacy, love or art and mental health. She hopes to one day pursue a Ph.D. to bring some Expressive Art therapy programs to Texas. As one of the few Non-Binary Drag Kings in Houston, and Texas wide, she performs as a buck against the system as Sir Debonaire- “The African King” who currently rules over Texas as Mr. Texas USofA Male Impression Classic.
Nakita has had the opportunity to turn her passion into a career as a licensed mental health therapist and supervisor. She is the Director of Tackle Ur Dreams, a 501-C-3 organization whose mission is to provide access to mental healthcare, education, and opportunity to POC and LGBTQIA2S+ populations. Although everyone is welcomed, this organization has a special interest for those whose voice is “Historically Unseen”. She is currently recruiting the next class for her program the “Therapist Success System” which is geared towards Underestimated mental health Associates and interns to assist in completing their license and saturate the industry so more of this population can be served by their community.
Her accolades range from Lineman of the Year and MVP while playing Professional Women’s football, several titles as a Drag King across the country, and voted Gayest and Greatest Non-Binary Mental Health Therapist in Outsmart Magazine to name a few. As a part of her duty of financial literacy, she teaches wealth development and management classes, as well as various products as a Life Insurance agent. She is a natural born leader, who rises to the top like shea butter, and is just as smooth.
Lastly she serves as an inspirational speaker, trainer, author, and poet in the community- utilizingher privilege to Sankofa- go back and get it- and return the wisdom home.
Chip (they\them\their) has been an outspoken activist, fundraiser, and social organizer in the LGBTQIA+ community for over 25 years. They have helped found several non- profit organizations in Houston, including the Bayou City Pups and the Space City Sisters. You can often find Chip organizing or participating in fundraisers for other non- profits such as PWA Holiday Charities and any organization that needs a hand. Chip is a sex-positive activist who has conducted and participated in seminars and discussion panels on safer sex, the fetish/kink communities, and relationships. Their passion for non-profit work, their faith, and being a self-professed geek expanded in 2022, when they joined an International Jewish non-profit organization focused on community building and leadership amongst Jewish teens as the Director of IT. Chip is also very active in the Renaissance Festival circuit, raising funds for RESCU Foundation through tours for newcomers to the Texas Renaissance Festival. In 2022, they were honored to be chosen as Daddy of Montrose, a title that commits the titleholder to a year of self- produced fundraising for the local community alongside the First Family of Montrose. In recognition of their community work and leadership within the Leather/Fetish community, they were twice awarded the Houston Spirit of Leather Individual Award, selected by popular vote from members of the community itself. In their personal life, Chip and their husband, Tank, were married in June 2020 and are in a polyamorous relationship. You may see Chip, their boyfriend Luca, and Tank out at trivia or any number of fundraisers.
Han Schaible is a dedicated, award-winning queer activist and events facilitator in Houston. Through their work with Triple A Alliance, lululemon, and Frost Town Brewing, they’re able to exemplify, protect, inspire and facilitate trans joy and resiliency in otherwise trying times.
As the first out trans lululemon Ambassador in Houston, they inspire others to live their most authentic lives. Their transness is displayed loudly and proudly in multiple store locations. Schaible uses their partnership with lululemon to host local events such as Trot for Trans Visibility, Pride 5k, and Off with Their Chest 5k. A founding member of Frost Town Brewing, Schaible went through great lengths to provide a safe and welcoming environment for queer and trans folk. Building out events and programming within the brewery, they focused on prioritizing inclusive business values and practices. These values created a welcoming space for further successful events partnering with organizations like Montrose Grace Place, Trans Legal Aid Clinic of Texas, and Human Rights Campaign. Schaible assisted in the creation of monthly social dinners in partnership with Triple A Alliance, with the goal to offer community space and a home cooked dinner to anyone. This work helped Frost Town earn recognition as OutSmart’s Gayest and Greatest Favorite Brewery & Favorite Local Craft Beer, Cider or Seltzer. Schaible has since left Frost Town to focus on activism within the community.
Over the past year they have served on the advisory board for Triple A Alliance, where they have been instrumental in many different initiatives that support trans individuals and the community as a whole. Through this work they played a key role in the Off with Their Chest program, a growing initiative built to provide life-saving funds for gender affirming surgeries. This initiative has monthly drag events hosted at Pearl bar where the community shines through their generous support. The passion for advocacy Schaible displays has earned them recognition, including being named Best Nonbinary LGBTQ Buisness Person in OutSmart’s Gayest & Greatest 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards and a 2024 Community Honoree from The Truth Project. Currently, Schaible is co-directing 2025 Trot for Trans Visibility on March 29th, continuing to champion causes that amplify visibility and celebrate trans voices.
