Ambush Magazine is pleased to announce the Top 5 in each category of the Gay Appreciation Awards (GAA). Winners will be announced at the GAA Gala which will be held at The Marigny Opera House (725 St. Ferinand Street) on Saturday, August 16th from 6 to 9 pm. The 2025 GAAs will be hosted by French Quarter personalities Jeffrey Palmquist and Frank Perez with local celebrities Tony Leggio and Brian Sands presenting some of the awards. Former Southern Decadence Grand Marshals Tiffany Alexander and Felicia Phillips will welcome guest on the red carpet starting at 6 pm.
Funds raised at the event will be donated to the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1501272509489?aff=oddtdtcreator
The Top 5 in each category are listed in alphabetical order. If there are 6 listed in the Top 5 it means that there was a tie for 5th place.
Advocate of the Year
- Debbie with a D
- Jim Meadows
- Jimmy Gale
- Mercedez Ellis Loreal
- Rustin Loyd
Artist of the Year
- Bette Tittler
- Bobby White
- JoJo Molina
- Ryne Stoned
- Zephyr Dumas
Bartender of the Year
- David McElveen
- Gavin Rozario
- JoJo Molina
- Toby Lefort
- Princess Stephanie
- Kyle Simmons
Bitch of the Year
- ChiChi Rodriguez
- Fatsy Cline
- James Fletcher
- Lexis Redd D’ville
- Tuffy Love Andrews
Buzzy Fanning AIDS Award * Person, not organization
- Adikus Sulpizi
- Debbie with a D
- Deon Haywood
- Jimmy Gale
- Toby Lefort
Critics’ Choice Award
- Alice by Heart – Loyola University, Department of Theatre Arts and Dance
- Anything Goes – Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane University
- A Chorus Line – Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane University
- A Doll’s House – Crescent City Stage
- The Imaginary Invalid – The New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane
- School of Rock – Jefferson Performing Arts
DJ of the Year
- Deanne Cooley
- DJ Dolla Bill (Bill Hinks)
- DJ Dom Diva (ChiChi)
- Paul Lakeway
- VJ Brendan Thompson
Donnie Jay Performing Arts Award
- Bette Tittler
- Michael Maldonado
- New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus
- Ryan Rogers
- The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans
Emcee / Host of the Year
- Dustin Gaspard (Ivy Drip)
- Lawrence Edwards
- Lexis Redd D’ville
- Nicole DuBois
- Vanessa Carr-Kennedy
Event of the Year
- Gay Easter Parade
- Halloween New Orleans (HNO)
- New Orleans Black Pride
- New Orleans Pridefest
- Queer Northshore – Northshore Pride
Fly Fashion Glamour Award
- Connie Hung
- Lana O’Day
- London Manchester
- Mistie Bonet
- Nicole DuBois
Gay Man of the Year
- Aaron Rusich
- Dr Jason Gaines
- Edward Moreno
- Jay Huffstatler
- Jimmy Gale
- Frank Abbruscato
Gay Mardi Gras Ball of the Year
- Lords of Leather
- Krewe of Amon-Ra
- Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans
- Krewe of Armeinius
- Order of Dionysus
Hair Salon/Stylist of the Year
- Alexander Hebert
- Anti Gravity Salon
- Jonathan Reazin
- Micah Toups
- Two Guys Cutting Hair
Kinkster of the Year
- Brad Collins
- Brandon Lee Brown
- Fatsy Cline
- Kris Parker
- Synamin Vixen
Leather Person of the Year
- Brad Collins
- Brock Anderson
- Christina Sailors
- Jimmy Gale
- Jupiter Onyx
Lesbian of the Year
- Amanda Golob
- Debra “Gigi” Douds
- Jennifer Brinkley
- Nazha Abdul-Hadi
- Romy Thompson
LGBTQ Business of the Year * bars/restaurants/hair salons ineligible
- Area51 Gallery
- Bourbon Pride
- Hotel St. Pierre
- Tubby & Cop’s Bookshop
- Vitality Community Fitness
LGBTQ Nonprofit of the Year
- Big Easy Animal Rescue
- CrescentCare
- New Orleans Black Pride
- NOAGE
- PFLAG New Orleans
Marcy Marcell Entertainer of the Year
- Debbie with a D
- Dominique DeLorean
- Gia GiaVanni
- Giselle Trivianni
- Lexis Redd D’ville
Neighborhood Bar of the Year
- Golden Lantern
- Le Cabaret
- The Corner Pocket
- The Friendly Bar
- The Phoenix
New Entertainer of the Year
- Chris Grimwood (Tinkerbell)
- Ryan Rogers
- Thighly Minogue
- Queen Kozmik
- Zephyr Dumas
Realtor of the Year
- Bill Trapp
- Doug Price
- Michael Styles
- Rachel Hoag Thompson
- Stephen Nguyen
Restaurant / Deli of the Year
- Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop
- Louisiana Pizza Kitchen Uptown
- Mona Lisa Restaurant
- Quarter Grocery
- Who Dat Coffee Café
Rip Naquin Writer / Reporter of the Year
- Bun Cee
- Justin Mitchell
- Mike McDaniel
- Tony Leggio
- Payton Malone
Show Club of the Year
- Allways Lounge
- Country Club
- Oz New Orleans
- Sipps
- The Bourbon Pub
Social Media Presence of the Year
- Christ Grimwood
- Laveau Contraire
- PFLAG New Orleans’ Expanding the Rainbow
- Tony Leggio
- Quinn Bishop
Sports League Team Spirit Award
- Crescent City Rougaroux
- Nola Flamingeauxs Softball
- Reading Rainbows
- Red Stick Roller Derby
- Stonewall Field of Queens
Sports MVP Award
- Andres “Gonzo” Gonzales
- Austin Sandlin
- Caleb Dufrense
- Camilla St. Charles
- Joey Algier
Trans Person of the Year
- ChiChi Rodriquez
- Connie Hung
- Dominique DeLorean
- JoJo Molina
- Regina Adams
Young Leadership Impact Award
- Andres “Gonzo” Gonzales
- Craig Fremin
- Dustin (Ivy Dripp) Gaspard
- Nick Renouff
- Ricky Poche
