{"id":982787,"date":"2026-08-05T17:50:18","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T17:50:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/982787\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T17:50:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T17:50:18","slug":"black-tie-names-deejay-johannessen-as-the-2026-kuchling-award-recipient","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/982787\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Tie names DeeJay Johannessen as the 2026 Kuchling Award recipient"},"content":{"rendered":"

Black Tie Dinner<\/a><\/strong> officials announced today (Wednesday, Aug. 5) that DeeJay Johannessen<\/a><\/strong>, CEO of HELP Center for LGBTQ+ <\/a>Health<\/strong>, is the recipient of the 2026 Raymond Kuchling Humanitarian Award. He will receive the honor at the 45th Annual Black Tie Dinner<\/a><\/strong> on Saturday, Nov. 14 in Dallas.<\/p>\n

The award, named after the late Raymond Kuchling, recognizes extraordinary service to the LGBTQ+ community. \u00a0Black Tie selected Johannessen as this year\u2019s recipient in recognition of his \u201cnearly three decades of leadership expanding access to healthcare, advancing equality and advocating for LGBTQ+ people across North Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n

He has advocated hate-crimes protections, was a cofounder of Fairness Fort Worth following the 2009 raid on the Rainbow Lounge, helped secure nondiscrimination protections in Fort Worth and Arlington and helped launch Arlington Pride, now one of North Texas\u2019 largest LGBTQ+ celebrations.<\/p>\n

Black Tie Dinner Senior Co-Chair Deirdre Coleman said, <\/strong>\u201cI\u2019ve had the privilege of watching DeeJay Johannessen lead with both conviction and compassion for many years. While his impact as CEO of the HELP Center has transformed LGBTQ+ health, wellness and advocacy in Arlington and throughout Tarrant County, what has always stood out to me is his willingness to serve wherever he is needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether volunteering alongside our teams, supporting fellow nonprofits or quietly helping others succeed, DeeJay leads by example,\u201d Coleman continued. \u201cHis lifetime of service reflects everything the Raymond Kuchling Humanitarian Award was created to honor, and we are proud to recognize his extraordinary contributions to the LGBTQ+ community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under Johannessen\u2019s leadership, HELP Center established Tarrant County\u2019s first clinic offering PrEP at no cost. What began as an eight-hour-a-week clinic with a goal of 100 patients served more than 500 in its first year. Today, HELP Center serves more than 5,000 active patients.<\/p>\n

Black Tie Dinner Junior Co-Chair Joshua Williams said, \u201cFew leaders have shaped the health and well-being of the North Texas LGBTQ+ community as profoundly as DeeJay Johannessen. His unwavering commitment to service reflects the very essence of the Raymond Kuchling Humanitarian Award.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johannessen also expanded access to gender-affirming care, mental health services and healthcare coverage for uninsured patients, and he chaired the Arlington Mayor\u2019s LGBTQ Advisory Committee from 2022 to 2025. Johannessen was one of the leading voices in the effort to get the city of Arlington to enact an inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance, and he led the fight against rescinding those protections when the ordinance was targeted by anti-DEI efforts.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am deeply grateful to the Black Tie Dinner selection committee for this honor,\u201d Johannessen said. \u201cI accept it as a renewed responsibility to keep opening doors, defending our community, and fighting for those who cannot yet safely fight for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Black Tie \u2018Renaissance\u2019<\/p>\n

The 45th Annual Black Tie Dinner, themed \u201cRenaissance,\u201d<\/a><\/strong> will take place Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. Tables<\/a><\/strong> and individual tickets<\/a><\/strong> are now on sale at the Black Tie website<\/a><\/strong>. Tickets are also available for the Park Place vehicle raffle<\/a><\/strong> for a chance to win a $50,000 credit toward a new vehicle<\/strong>from participating Park Place dealerships including Park Place Motorcars, Park Place Porsche, and Park Place Volvo of Dallas.<\/p>\n

\u2018Untux: Drag for a Cause\u2019<\/p>\n

In the lead-up to this year\u2019s main event dinner, Black Tie is presenting the return of \u201cUtux: Drag for a Cause\u201d<\/a><\/strong> on Aug. 22 in The Rose Room inside S4, 3911 Cedar Springs Road. A VIP reception starts at 4:30 a.m., followed by doors opening for general admission at 5:30 p.m. and the show at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 for general admission \u2014\u00a0standing room only, $50 for general admission \u2014 seated and $100 for VIP admission. The \u201cplatinum experience,\u201d which includes tickets for four, two drink tickets per person and a pre-show reception with the performers, are $1,000 each.<\/p>\n

You can also tip performers via the website.<\/p>\n

Since its founding in 1982, Black Tie Dinner has distributed more than $33 million to LGBTQ+ supportive organizations through premier events in partnership with the community. It is the largest fundraising dinner in the nation for the LGBTQ+ community, and, each year, Black Tie Dinner selects up to 20 non-profit organizations from North Texas as local beneficiaries of its fundraising, as well as the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as its national beneficiary.<\/p>\n

Visit the website to learn more about this year\u2019s beneficiaries,<\/a><\/strong> purchase tickets<\/a><\/strong>, or explore sponsorship opportunities<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tammye Nash<\/p>\n

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