LGTBQ Legacy Leadership Awards

2026 Legacy Leader Awards

It is our honor to recognize central Iowa’s LGBTQ community with our annual LGBTQ Legacy Leader Awards.

The LGBTQ community encompasses a range of compassionate leaders from a wide variety of vocations, all working together to solve problems and build a community that we can all be proud to call home. dsm magazine is once again collaborating with Capital City Pride for our eighth annual LGBTQ Legacy Leader Awards, where we will highlight four outstanding LGBTQ Iowans leading in their communities, as well as an emerging LGBTQ leader and an ally of the LGBTQ community.

Honorees will be recognized for lifetime achievement at a special event on September 10 at The Krause Center. Event details will be announced in the summer.

We welcome your help in nominating leaders and allies who deserve recognition. Nominees for LGBTQ Legacy Leader Awards should meet these criteria:

Demonstrate a record of public leadership in professional, civic or political roles, in addition
to their dedication to LGBTQ causes.
Serve as role models and mentors to others over the
years.
Contribute to the appreciation and recognition of cultural diversity in Iowa.

Past honorees include: George Belitsos, Kayla Bell-Consolver, Shea Daniels, Pamela Duffy, Eileen Gebbie, Alexandra Gray, John Harper, Rich Hendricks, Tim Hickman, MD Isley, Dan Jansen, Jan Jensen, Mark Kassis, Eugenia Kutsch-Stanton, Terry Lowman, Tracy Lewis, Karen Mackey, Sharon Malheiro, Randy Mayer, Tristan Miedema, Rick Miller, Laurie Phelan, Sonia Reyes-Snyder, Jeorgia Robison, Shannon Samuelson, John Schmacker, Jordan Selha, Erin Sheriff, Jenny Smith, Bruce Teague, Scott Valbert, Aiden Vasquez, Jeremy Weiss, Aime Wichtendahl, Jonathan Wilson, Elle Wyant, and Daniel Zinnel, along with allies Kyle Christiason, John Forsyth, Rebecca Gruber, Terri Hale, Natali Justiniano Pahl, Connie Ryan and Rich Salas.

To nominate an individual, please fill out the form below.

**note: Individuals who have been previously honored are NOT eligible to be honored again.

Nominations are due April 3, 2026.

Nominee's Name*

First NameLast Name

Company

Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number

E-mail*

LGBTQ Legacy LeaderLGBTQ Emerging LeaderLGBTQ Ally

Briefly explain why this person deserves to be considered for an LGBTQ Legacy Leader, Emerging Leader or Ally Award.

Describe how the nominee has been a leader professionally, in civic or political roles in addition to supporting LGBTQ causes.

Describe the nominee’s legacy of service as a role model or mentor to others over the years.

Describe how the nominee has contributed to the recognition or acceptance of cultural diversity in Iowa.

Upload a resume or bio, plus at least two letters of recommendation.

Browse Files

Total file size limit: 5MB

Nominated by

First NameLast Name

Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number

E-mail

example@example.com