Silver State Equality Honored Mayor Shelley Berkley
The city leader received the Equality Ally Award tonight at a ceremony held at the Vanderpump Hotel.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in LGBTQ+
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Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley has been recognized by Silver State Equality with its annual Equality Ally Award. The presentation takes place this evening at the Soleia Beach Rooftop.
Why it matters
The award honors Berkley’s long record of advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, including her legislative history at the federal level. The recognition follows her local designation earlier this year of Southern Nevada Pride Fest Day.
The Human Rights Campaign previously granted Berkley a 100% score on congressional scorecards, reflecting her advocacy throughout her seven terms in the U.S. House. The award ceremony began at 6 p.m. at the Soleia Beach Rooftop.
The players
Shelley Berkley
The Mayor of Las Vegas who previously served seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Silver State Equality
The organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ equality that presented the Equality Ally Award.
Human Rights Campaign
An advocacy group that provided a 100% score for Berkley on previous congressional scorecards.
The details
Silver State Equality selected the mayor for this honor to highlight her longstanding commitment to inclusion. During her time in the U.S. House, Berkley co-sponsored the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, which led to the policy's full removal from the military by 2011. This gala serves as the latest public recognition of her work, adding to her 2025 designation of Southern Nevada Pride Fest Day.
Timeline
1993: Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy enacted.
September 20, 2011: The military policy was fully repealed.
June 14, 2025: Berkley designated Southern Nevada Pride Fest Day.
September 25, 2026: The Silver State Equality awards gala takes place at 6 p.m.
Beyond the Strip
The award highlights Berkley's work on the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, which remained in place for 18 years before its removal. This recognition connects her current term as mayor to her past federal legislative efforts on civil rights.
Residents attending the gala or interested in local advocacy can watch for ongoing city initiatives following the Pride-focused designations. The event at the Soleia Beach Rooftop is the primary venue for these discussions this evening.
The takeaway
The Equality Ally Award underscores a career-long focus on federal and local civil rights policy. Residents can continue to track the mayor's office for updates on future initiatives involving the city's LGBTQ+ community.
Further reading
For more on community events and local advocacy, visit the LGBTQand section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Las Vegas Sun.
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