Advertisement

A Cis Woman and a Trans Man Will Hold Miss and Mister Hotter Than July 2022 Titles For First Time Ever

Meet Tieanna Burton and Mykell Price, your Miss and Mister HTJ

Jason A. Michael
LGBT Detroit , organizers of Hotter Than July (HTJ), the world’s second oldest Black LGBTQ+ Pride, have announced the crowning of 2022 Mister and Miss Hotter Than July.

For the first time ever, a cis woman, Tieanna Burton, will be named Miss HTJ and a trans man, Mykell Price, will be crowned Mister HTJ. A private coronation ceremony will take place at LGBT Detroit’s Pride month kick-off on June 3 at the organization’s headquarters.

Burton, 32, is LGBT Detroit’s project manager.

“To know that people see me, and they notice and appreciate the work that I’m doing, at least the effort that I’m putting into the work that I’m doing, it’s a phenomenal feeling,” she said.

Price, 37, agreed. “It is an utmost honor,” he said. “I am so excited to provide representation for the transmasculine community. My community is often left out of these type of opportunities.”

Like Burton, Price said he sees being named Mr. Hotter Than July an “acknowledgement.”

“I am very active in the community,” he said. “I have done a lot of community service work. So, I see it as a thank you and a level of acknowledgment for all the work that I have done for the trans masculine community.”

Price, for his part, is director of talent and development for the Ruth Ellis Center. He said he believes the lack of trans masculine representation is “related to cultural norms and cultural traditions."

Price has created, to his knowledge, the first trans masculine space on Facebook.

Both Burton and Price say that HTJ means something special to them. Burton’s first time at Pride was in 2009, just as she was coming out fully.

“I took my little cousin with me because I was afraid,” she said. “Just to be in that space and be surrounded by Black, queer folk and to feel comfortable and watch other people feel comfortable being their true selves … it was really humbling.”

Price first attended an HTJ picnic in 2002.

“I was wearing my rainbow colors and really just, you know, experiencing a lot of excitement and enjoyment. I didn’t really know what I was attending,” he said. “I just knew it was a space of joy, laughter and excitement, and a sense of inclusion and belonging to the community.”

As part of their responsibilities, both Burton and Price were required to be a part of this year’s planning committee and to put in their share of the work.

“We’re familiar with all the intricate details of what’s happening," she said, "[and] what’s going on down to fundraising and grants and sponsorship to booking entertainers and contracts and things of that nature.”

Miss and Mister HTJ responsibilities during the actual three-day celebration include hosting all of the long weekend’s events, including the church service, Sunday brunch and HTJ’s first-ever concert, where rapper Da Brat will be featured at Sound Board at Motor City Casino.

“The theme is the 'Evolution of Hotter Than July,'” said Burton. “This year we have a lot of firsts, which is really exciting.”

HTJ will take place this year July 15-17. For more information, visit hotterthanjuly.org .
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement