The Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity will present its 2025 Gold Tie Gayla on Friday, August 29, at 7:30 p.m. at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture in Charlotte. Known as one of the fraternity’s premier events in Charlotte, the Gold Tie Gayla combines elegance with purpose, bringing together leaders, advocates and supporters for an evening of recognition and celebration. This year’s program will spotlight Charlotte Champions whose contributions exemplify the fraternity’s values of service, advocacy, and excellence. Honorees will be recognized for work spanning LGBTQ+ advocacy, Black cultural heritage, global health, education, and allyship.
Bishop Tonyia Rawls will receive the Political Empowerment Award for her pioneering work in social justice and inclusive faith leadership. She founded the Freedom Center for Social Justice in 2009, building an organization that advances equity through programs supporting trans individuals, young people, communities of color and sexual minorities. Rawls also established Unity Fellowship Church Charlotte and later Sacred Souls United Church of Christ. Both have become vital spiritual homes for LGBTQ+ people of faith seeking affirmation and belonging. Through her vision, she has combined ministry with activism, demonstrating how advocacy, pastoral care, and community organizing can position faith communities at the heart of justice movements and empower marginalized groups toward lasting social transformation.
J. Donte Prayer will be honored with the Global Awareness Award for his leadership in health equity. A narive of Greenville, NC now based in Charlotte, he directs national HIV strategies as Program Manager at The Center for Black Health & Equity. He also founded R.O.L.E. Models, which blends culture, fashion, and public health to mentor youth. His national work includes collaborations with the CDC, the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, and the HIV Prevention Trials Network. His honors include the Charlotte Pride Harvey Milk Award, the Community Catalyst Speak Up for Better Health Award, and the Freedom Center Iconic Award.
Jermaine Nakia Lee will be recognized with the History & Heritage Award for his contributions to arts and culture. A playwright, songwriter, and educator, his musicals “For the Love of Harlem” and “A Walk in My Shoes” earned national tours and critical acclaim. As Education & Outreach Director at Brand New Sheriff Productions, Charlotte’s only Black repertory theatre, he shapes future artists and audiences. A Kennedy Center Master Teaching Artist, Lee is also a co-founder of Charlotte Black Pride, SC Black Pride and Triangle Black Pride, while leading initiatives such as POOR NO MORE and KUUMBA Academy. His achievements include the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Medallion Award, recognition as Person of the Year by Qnotes, and the inaugural Arts & Science Council Founder’s Grant.
Johnathan Wilson will be honored with the Health Awareness Award for his dedication to public health and community wellness. A Charlotte native, he is a leader in HIV advocacy through his role as Health Program Supervisor at Mecklenburg County and as former Director of Outreach at RAIN, a local HIV service organization. In both positions, Wilson has combined problem-solving with hands-on engagement, advancing awareness and access to resources for those most impacted by HIV.
Earl C. Martin Jr., MSW, LCSW, will receive the Education Award for his dedication to healing and empowerment. A licensed therapist and a podcaster, Martin owns Innate Virtue Counseling, PLLC, where his trauma-informed care addresses anxiety, intimate partner violence and boundary setting. He is also the creator of 26 Affirmations for Boys of Color, a tool for building confidence and resilience. A graduate of Winthrop University, his work highlights the intersections of LGBTQ+ identity, racial stress, and trauma, offering pathways to healthier lives.
Cameron Pruette will be recognized with the Ally Award for his commitment to solidarity and justice. As Executive Director of the Freedom Center for Social Justice, he champions racial equity and LGBTQ+ liberation, ensuring that Black and Brown communities remain central in advocacy efforts. His leadership emphasizes accountability and action. Pruette and his husband, Xzaviar Boston-Pruette, live in Charlotte, where they continue to strengthen community ties and amplify marginalized voices.
Charlotte Black Pride will receive the Organization Award for its commitment to uplifting LGBTQ+ people of color. Established as a volunteer-driven nonprofit, its mission centers on fostering pride in the Black LGBTQ+ community, while embracing spirituality, social awareness and diversity in the broader LGBTQ+ spectrum. The organization works to strengthen hearts, minds, and spirits, pairing community celebration with advocacy and a drive for lasting change.
The Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity Gold Tie Gayla will be more than an evening of recognition. It will celebrate resilience, creativity and leadership that affirms the fraternity’s mission to honor community builders and inspire future generations.
Tickets are available now at https://dphiu.square.site/product/parliament-2025-gold-tie-gala-tickets-charlotte-north-carolina-/37?cs=true&cst=custom.