Sam Brett (Samuel Antonio Brett Sánchez) is a native Venezuelan who first came to Rochester in the early 90s to attend the Biotechnology program at the Rochester Institute of Technology.  While at RIT Sam found his love for community organizing, philanthropy, and DRAG!

In his college days Sam was a co-organizer for the RIT Drag Show (the first college sanctioned drag show in the region) while discovering his alter ego Samantha Vega, and was in leadership positions for the queer group on campus, and a lead facilitator for Tossed Salad (A diversity training group led by students).  It was also in college where he found the vibrant gay/queer community of Rochester, and how it supported its many causes. In 1995, Sam attended his first Gay Pride celebration ever in Rochester, and fell in love with the Pride Picnic and the Pride Parade. Guided by a mentor in college, Sam started volunteering at the Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley in 1996 as a resource hotline phone operator. Being there he met the “elders” of the gay community, and learned of gay life outside of campus.

Sam continued volunteering for the GAGV, while also volunteering at Hillside Children Center, the Rochester Museum and Science Center, the Boy Scouts, and the Girls Scouts, among others. 

Sam moved on to graduate school in UMASS Boston, and returned to Rochester in the early 2000’s. Upon his return, Samantha Vega was reborn and started performing again at GQ, Tilt, Muthers, and ANY place that will offer her a platform.

In 2004 Sam began volunteering at AIDS Rochester, first in the Congregate Meals program, then adding on receptionist, and eventually joining the Prevention team as a volunteer HIV/STI tester and peer counselor.  Sam would continue in those roles for 15 years. Passionate about serving our community, but especially our siblings living with HIV/AIDS, Sam was an active organizer of the AIDS Walk, the Red Ribbon AIDS Ride, which raised over $3 million over the course of the years to assist our HIV infected and affected communities.   

He was also an active volunteer with the Gay Alliance, always helping out with the Day of Silence, national coming out day, youth dances and youth pageants, and chaperoning many youth events.

In the past two decades Sam has served many different roles in our local agencies, Board Member of AIDS Rochester (then AIDS Care, then Trillium Health) where he also was board vice-chair, and development committee chair.  Board Chair of MOCHA. 

After volunteering for many years in the Entertainment committee for the Rochester Pride Festival, Sam became co-chair of the ROC Pride planning committee (with Lora Thody) and was part of the team who grew pride from 3-5 thousand attendants to the over 10-thousand people festival at Cobbs Hill Park. During that tenure the ROC Pride Fest entertainment lineup has become one of the most diverse festivals in the region, featuring and headlining BIPOC folks, and ensuring our stage celebrates trans* and NB performers and lives.

Sam is organizer and producer of the Latin Divas of Drag, the first drag show of its kind in the Great New York State Fair, now running for 6 years, featuring Latinx drag performers from all over NYS. State Fair officials report the Latin Divas of Drag to be the most well-attended show in the Talent Showcase Stage.

Sam was also co-chair of the ROC Pride Collective, a group coordinating pride efforts in the area post pandemic, and is the current co-chair for the ROC Pride Picnic (to benefit the Rainbow Seniors ROC)

Samantha Vega has been intertwined in Sam’s life all along, and some of her accomplishments in the world of drag include

Miss Angles 2003 (Elmira, NY)

Miss Muthers 2005

Miss Gay Pride Rochester 2006

Miss Gay Rochester 2007

Miss Gay Syracuse 2008

CNY EOY 2008 (Entertainer of the Year national Pageant system)

Miss Gay Pride Buffalo 2010

Salt City Drag Battle Winner 2019

Salt City Drag Battle Winner 2020

Honorary Miss Gay Fingerlakes (awarded May 2024)

Honorary Marshal

Javannah J. Davis

A community health nurse with more than two decades of experience as a healthcare professional, Javannah J. Davis is also an actress, a four-times-self-published author, and a columnist for Blaque/Out Magazine, which allows her to share her knowledge, compassion, experience, and encouragement to those in the LGBTQIA+ and allied communities.

Davis is the founder and president of the nonprofit organization W.A.V.E Women INC. and is the CEO/owner of Linjé Enterprises LLC. She is also a member of the Community Initiative for the local United Way, a member of the University of Rochester Community Advisory Board, a participant in Metro Justice of NY, and is an ordained minister.

In 2023, Javannah was featured on Rochester Business Journal's “Power List for LGBTQ+ Business Leaders." She received the Honorary Fatima Woods Award in both 2018 and 2021 by Next Generation Men of Transition, Roc Black Pride, and BlaqueOut Magazine for her contributions to the community. Javannah was also honored with the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition’s 2024 Monica Roberts Advocacy Award, a national recognition of the work she does as a Black transgender advocate.