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In honor of Pride Month, the Washington Spirit is celebrating the LGBTQ+ community members and leaders in the DMV who are advocating for change, creating a lasting impact, and proudly embracing their intersectional identities.
Gaby Vincent (she/her)
A former Spirit player, Gaby Vincent now works as the Community Outreach Specialist at the DC Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs and as the color commentator for ESPN 630’s coverage of Spirit matches. Gaby is a proud Black queer woman and trans community advocate, fighting passionately for all minority groups in DC and beyond.
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On Pride Month:
Pride Month is a moment to reflect on how far LGBTQIA+ rights have come, honor the brave leaders who fight for us every day, and remind us of how much further we need to go to achieve equality and safety. And, if your circumstances allow, it’s a time to celebrate and be free.
On representation:
As a Black, queer woman, I know what it’s like to walk into rooms or teams and not see yourself represented.
Growing up, I never thought I would be a professional athlete, let alone a radio analyst for a professional women’s soccer team. Now, here I am, having done both. And I’ve been Black and queer the whole time.
On identity:
I want people to know that their Blackness and their queerness are what makes them beautiful and special, and lean into their authenticity because you never know what opportunities lie ahead.
Leo Wytkind (they/them)
Leo Wytkind has a passion for serving the LGBTQ+ community and wants to leave a lasting impact. Through their work with SMYAL and Athlete Ally, they help LGBTQ+ youth and athletes find a supportive community that champions visibility and empowerment.
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On Pride Month:
To me, Pride Month is an intentional time to honor, affirm, and celebrate the queer and trans community of the past, present, and future. It’s remembering that the first Pride was a riot, and honoring LGBTQ+ folks, especially the Black trans women, who paved the way for what we know today as the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
On their work:
I work to ensure that schools, families, community partners and youth themselves know that SMYAL is a place where LGBTQ+ youth can come to find a welcoming community and receive affirming support.
On visibility:
It is vital for queer and trans folks to be visible in leadership and community-facing roles, as folks in the LGBTQ+ community are historically underrepresented in these positions.
Queer and trans visibility in public-facing roles allows folks in our community to see that they have the right to exist powerfully, just as they are, and that there aare so many people who are here to support and celebrate them.
SaVanna Wanzer (she/her)
SaVanna Wanzer serves as the Creative Director for DC Transgender Programming and Founder of TransPride. She understands the importance of collaboration and works relentlessly to expand trans representation.
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On Pride Month:
June’s Pride is a month of fun and parties, but Pride 365 is a time to live my truths, advocate for change, and be a face and voice for my community in boardrooms. The first board I joined was at the Whitman-Walker Clinic, where I became the first transgender board members. I educated others on the dos and don’ts of client respect and initiated affirming services. I stand tall and determined to ensure opportunities for folx, reminding people that human rights are transgender rights. I know the road is long, but I have my walking shoes on.
On visibility and representation:
As a transgender woman of color, visibility means not only being seen as a human being, but also ensuring that change and advancement are put into place for all folx.
Look at our beauty. Looks at our achievements. Look at our resilience—we find a way to survive. Look at the fights we’ve fought. We will not give up. We fight for the generation behind us, as our leader have done before us.
On what’s next:
My time now is devoted to the project of having our first national transgender monument placed here in Washington D.C. I must emphasize that all my projects have taken a team of community members who work just as hard as I do to bring each project to life. That is what I’m grateful for.
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