Our Leadership

Founder/CEO

Don Abram, Harvard University

Reverend Don Abram is a queer public theologian and social innovator operating at the intersections of gender, sexuality, faith, and social change. In his capacity as the founder of Pride in the Pews, Reverend Abram has partnered with notable social, civic, and religious institutions to promote the holistic well-being of Black LGBTQ+ communities. His work has been featured in prominent news outlets such as NPR, Chicago Tribune, ABC7Chicago, Christian Science Monitor, Religion News Service, and more.

Reverend Abram earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Pomona College, having received a full-tuition scholarship from the Posse Foundation, and subsequently pursued his Master of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School. At Harvard, he was awarded the prestigious Dean's Fellowship, a full-tuition scholarship that attests to his academic excellence and commitment to the field of theology.

Reverend Abram's contributions have been formally acknowledged by Morehouse College through his induction into the esteemed Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers in 2023. This induction serves as a resounding testament to Reverend Abram's unwavering commitment to the advancement of justice and equality within the societal fabric.

In 2023, Reverend Abram was appointed to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council. This appointment serves as a manifestation of the mayor's acknowledgment of Reverend Abram's dedication to shaping policies that address the distinctive needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Importantly, Reverend Abram's work is underscored by a distinctive emphasis on ensuring the holistic well-being of LGBTQ+ communities, transcending the confines of faith communities.

Reverend Abram received the distinguished honor of being named one of Native Son's 2023 awardees. This esteemed accolade celebrated his inclusion among 101 Black queer men who have indelibly shaped their respective fields. Reverend Don Abram's life and work constitute an eloquent testimony to the potency of intersectional activism, with a profound emphasis on advancing the holistic well-being of LGBTQ+ communities within and outside of the Black Church.

Board of Directors

Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart

Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart is a Black-queer church girl, preacher, teacher, and activist. She develops spaces of spiritual candor, disruption, reflection, transformation, and action. Rev. Naomi is an adjunct professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University and is the founder of Salt | Yeast | Light. She recently served as the city of Philadelphia as the Director for Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs in the Mayor's Office. Now, Reverend Naomi Washington-Leapheart serves in senior leadership at Political Research Associates, a social justice think tank that researches and publicizes the agendas and strategies of the U.S. and Global Right wing of politics, tracking intersections of Christian nationalism, White nationalism, and patriarchy within politics. She shares life with her wife, their teenage daughter, and a hound dog girl and a black cat boy.

Rev. Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey

Rev. Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey is a vibrant and visible trans woman of color passionate about inclusion and equality for all. Carmarion is the Alabama State Director with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) under the Project One America initiative. Carmarion becomes the first trans person of color to serve in a leadership role with HRC in the organization’s history. Before joining HRC and relocating to Alabama, Carmarion worked in the field of Public Health and Education in Texas, managing both local and national prevention initiatives focusing on HIV/AIDS and other health disparities that impact marginalized communities. Carmarion is the founder and previous Executive Director for Black Transwomen, Inc., which is the first national non-profit organization with a 501 (c)(3) with a programmatic focus to uplift the voices, hearts, and souls of black trans women and in alliance with the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition. Carmarion also brings a wealth of experience in faith spaces, currently serving as the National Co-Facilitator and South Regional Coordinator for TransSaints ministry of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM).

Kim Daily

Kim Daily is a lawyer, life-coach, and actual Spotify rapper on a mission to make Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done for folks that God ain't make straight. A litigation attorney by trade and later-in-life lesbian, Kim prides herself on her ability to deconstruct years of societal conditioning to help others find and live in their truth. Through her company, For the Qulture, Kim creates space for her abiding belief that "it is for freedom that Christ has set us free" and gives others permission to let their light shine. She is a self-proclaimed introvert, and no, don't ask her any questions about it. She lives in Houston, TX with her wife, Dr. Shaquinta Richardson, and their two dogs, Bishop and Deacon.