GCAP Royalty

​Noel Tauzin is a lifelong Mississippi Gulf Coast resident, community advocate, and dedicated volunteer whose passion for service has touched countless lives. Through his leadership with local nonprofit organizations, charitable fundraising efforts, civic groups, and community events, he has worked to support causes ranging from youth programs and education to healthcare, equality, and community development.

A longtime supporter of Gulf Coast Association of Pride since its founding, Noel has proudly served as a former board member and remains involved in advancing its mission of inclusion, visibility, and community support. His commitment to philanthropy is rooted in the belief that every person deserves dignity, respect, and the opportunity to live authentically.

With more than two decades spent helping improve the lives of others through leadership roles in healthcare technology and services, Noel has dedicated both his professional and volunteer efforts to creating positive outcomes for individuals and communities alike.

As King of Pride 2026, Noel is honored to use this platform to celebrate the progress made by those who came before us while helping inspire a future where every member of our community feels seen, valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.

​My name is Tamara Lafontaine Koval. I am both honored and excited to be voted in as your GCAP's 2026 Gulf Coast Pride Queen! I'd love to tell you a little about who I am and how I got here. I was actually born right here at Keesler airforce base in 1974. However, my childhood was spent moving 11 different times due to my dads Air Force career. I've lived all the way from San Francisco to Naples, Italy! I'm grateful for the vast array of people and places I experienced so early in life. But, it did make for a difficult time in figuring who I am and where I belong. I quickly learned to adapt. Trying to "fit in". I experimented with different relationships, however, fear kept me from exploring who I was in any honest kind of way. Fear of disappointment. Fear of rejection. Fear of the unknown. Until I moved back to where it all started. Right here to Biloxi, MS in 2003. My mother was originally from Bay St. Louis. We had always come for visits. So, moving here was not complete culture shock. I was familiar. I left Colorado Springs, where my father retired, to come here. But, only after one failed marriage and 3 beautiful kids. And it was one of the best decisions of my life! Before long I found myself walking through the doors of Just Us Lounge in Biloxi. That was February of 2003. I had no idea it would become the historic gay bar that is today or that I would meet my soul mate and now my wife of 22 years there. She's the proud owner and your 20 Pride King! To know her is to understand just how special Just Us Lounge really is. Finding the community and its wonderful allies took my life in a purposeful direction that I never imagined. I cared about this community. I cared about the bar and what it represented. I cared about helping these amazing people feel seen, heard and most importantly as rightful equals in this world. They had become my family, I was proud to be one of them. So, I jumped in and worked years with our community to help however I could. I've never been one to want the spot light. My reward was always watching the joy, relief, excitement and positive changes that were happening around me as a result of our hard work. From fund raising to awareness campaigns and lots in between, its been an adventurous 23+ years. My wife and I started really talking about a Pride celebration for the coast after gay marriage became legal in 2015. Then the 2016 election set it into motion. It was time. The coast needed something bigger. Something for everyone. Something to look forward to and be proud of. So, Gulf Coast Pride was born. We started the first year in 2017 with a ton of help and support from our community. There's even a documentary out called Southern Pride that highlights how it all started here on the MS coast. I could not be more proud to see what it has grown to be today! GCAP has done an incredible job carrying and growing the celebration every single year! I understand, first hand, the dedication and hard work. So, to be recognized as your 2026 GCAP Queen is a special honor to me. A genuinely cherished honor. I understand the history. I saw and participated in the hard work of our community that continues to this day! My hope is that everyone can live as they are and be who they are without discrimination! Love, hope, peace and kindness always win in my book .