2023 Union County Pride, Inc Awards

Cress Barnes - 2023 Business Leader

Cress Barnes and her husband Blake have been business owners in Charlotte for 21 years- and constant allies, and supporters of the LQBTQ+ Community for decades. Cress is active in the Monroe Diversity, equity and inclusion committee , and the past president of the Union County Playmakers. She is currently one of the owners of East Frank Superette and Kitchen in Monroe, and is pleased that they continue to be an inclusive, safe space and strong supporters of Union County Pride.

Joshua Jernigan - 2023 Community Leader

Joshua Jernigan (he/him/his) is a transgender rights activist and philanthropist living in the greater Charlotte metropolitan area where he and his husband are raising their daughter together. He started the Gender Education Network, an organization helping transgender and gender diverse kids 12 and younger, and is passionate about ensuring every child has a safe and loving home to nurture their
growing identities.

Jen Sanders - 2023 Outstanding Ally

My name is Jen Sanders and I am a wife and mother of 2 amazing kids here in Union County. I was thrown into my advocacy because I saw that our kids were losing their safe spaces here and I wanted to give not just them but others in our community a place to feel save and to celebrate each other. I'm not a born advocate but I have truly found my voice fighting the hate here. I am honored to be part of an amazing group of humans here. Thank you for allowing me the chance to speak for so many.

Regan Shaw - 2023 Outstanding Activist

Regan is parent of a Union County Public School student. Over the past school year, she became increasing concerned with the anti-inclusivity policies initiated by our public school board and, with others, fought to protect our students. She is a founding member of the Union County chapter of Public School Strong and shares this award with many seasoned activists locally and statewide who have helped fight discrimination in Union County.

Sydney Satalino - 2023 Young Adult Leader

Sydney Satalino is a 18 year old autistic lesbian college student currently pursuing a Motion Pictures degree at Belmont University. Prior to her time at Belmont, Sydney went to Union County schools from kindergarten to twelfth grade, which caused her to struggle to accept herself for multiple things, including her queerness. Sydney became an LGBTQ+ rights activist out of necessity after witnessing many attacks against the community from all aspects of the world, including but not limited to the Union County school board. She has organized various petitions, rallies and TV interviews against homophobic policies and plans to continue her activism but in college and across the nation. Outside of activism, her LGBTQ+ film concept Rebelle has over 24 million views and over 100 thousand followers on social media, and various opportunities that cannot be announced yet have been given to Sydney thanks to the support of her LGBTQ+-dominated fanbase from around the world.

Link to video - https://youtu.be/258Ywe5hmMI

Lillie Auslander - 2023 Youth Leader

Lillie Auslander (she/her they/them) is a sophomore in high school. She is a disabled teen who loves fighting for justice and equality in her community. She loves art and music and wants to be a baker when she grows up. Lillie has grown up having to fight for inclusion, accessibility, and equality in school and everyday life. Because of their struggles and how they overcome them, she feels it is important to pass it forward and teach others how to help stand up and fight for change in their lives. She finds it empowering to fight for something and win and wants to share that feeling, as well as her dream of an accessible and understanding world, with others. She loves animals and has three dogs- Shadow, her service animal, and two pets named Archie and Toby. In her spare time Lillie loves to paint, do archery, write, play, or listen to music, and swim. At school she is in the band and is also the president of the ASL club. Their favorite subjects are English and History.