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, July 25 from 6 to 9 pm. The 2026 GAAs will be hosted by French Quarter personalities Jeffrey Palmquist and Felicia Phillips 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 and NOAGE. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1993542176314?aff=oddtdtcreator
The Top 5 in each category are listed in alphabetical order.
ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
- CHESLEY POLK
- EDWARD MORENO
- JAY HUFFSTATLER
- JIM MEADOWS
- LOVE LATONIA
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- BOBBY WHITE
- LANA O’DAY
- RION BYRD
- RYAN ROGERS
- TQ SIMS
BARTENDER OF THE YEAR
- ERNIE HENRY
- KYLE SIMMONS
- MARC LEWALLEN
- PRINCESS STEPHANIE
- ZACH VARNELL
BITCH OF THE YEAR
Six nominees due to a tie for fifth.
- APOSTROPHE
- AUBREY SYNCLAIRE
- DR TUFFY LOVE ANDREWS
- GIA GIOVANNI
- JOEY ALGIERS
- OPAL MASTERS
BUZZY FANNING AIDS AWARD
- ADIKUS SULPIZI
- DEBBIE WITH A D
- DEON HAYWOOD
- JIMMY GALE
- TOBY LEFORT
CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARD
Carousel produced by Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane University
The Crucible produced by Fat Squirrel
The Drowsy Chaperone presented by New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA)
Frankenstein produced by The NOLA Project
Primary Trust produced by Crescent City Stage
Varla Jean Merman’s The Drowsy Chappell Roan
DJ OF THE YEAR
- DJ DOLLA BILL
- DJ PAUL LAKEWAY (GEORGE BEVAN)
- DJ SPZM
- DRAKE MICHAELS
- VJ BRENDAN THOMPSON
DONNIE JAY PERFORMING ARTS AWARD
- NEW ORLEANS GAY MEN’S CHORUS
- RYAN ROGERS
- THE TENNESSEE WILLIAMS THEATRE COMPANY OF NEW ORLEANS
- TREY MING
- VANESSA CARR KENNEDY
EMCEE – HOST OF THE YEAR
- CHESLEY POLK
- IVY DRIPP
- LANA O’DAY
- NICOLE DUBOIS
- TONY LEGGIO
EVENT OF THE YEAR
- DEBBIE WITH A D AND CAST DIVAS THROUGH THE DECADES AT TOULOUSE THEATER
- GAY EASTER PARADE
- NEW ORLEANS PRIDEFEST
- PRIDE NORTHSHORE BY QUEER NORTHSHORE
- SOUTHERN DECADENCE
FLY FASHION GLAMOUR AWARD
- BRITNEY MARKS
- CONNIE HUNG
- DEBBIE WITH A D
- LANA O’DAY
- NICOLE DUBOIS
GAY MAN OF THE YEAR
- BRADLEY LATHAM
- CHESLEY POLK
- CRAIG FREMIN
- EDWARD MORENO
- RYAN ROGERS
GAY MARDI GRAS BALL OF THE YEAR
- KREWE OF ARMEINIUS
- KREWE OF PETRONIUS
- LORDS OF LEATHER
- MYSTIC KREWE OF AMON RA
- MYSTIC KREWE OF APOLLO DE NEW ORLEANS
HAIR SALON OR STYLIST OF THE YEAR
- ALEX HEBERT
- BANDIT HAIR COMPANY
- JONATHAN BAXTER
- JUAN (NICKY) / NICOLE MINES / FOXX
- TWO GUYS CUTTING HAIR
KINKSTER OF THE YEAR
- BRAD COLLINS
- BRADLEY LATHAM
- BRANDON LEE BROWN
- CHRIS PARKER
- FATSY CLINE
LEATHER PERSON OF THE YEAR
- BROCK ANDERSEN
- JIMMY GALE
- JUPITER ONYX
- KENT LEVAN
- TOMMY STUBBLEFIELD
LESBIAN OF THE YEAR
- BROOKE BARRIOS
- DEBRA “GIGI” DOUDS
- LEYLA HEKMSTDOOST
- QUINN BISHOP
- ROMY THOMPSON
LGBTQ BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
- BOURBON PRIDE
- CRAIG FREMIN PHOTOGRAPHY
- HOTEL ST. PIERRE
- PINK PONY CHUB
- POLKADOT ENTERTAINMENT
LGBTQ NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR
- BIG EASY ANIMAL RESCUE
- CRESCENTCARE
- LGBT+ ARCHIVES PROJECT OF LOUISIANA
- NOAGE
- STONEWALL SPORTS
MARCY MARCELL ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- DEBBIE WITH A D
- LAVEAU CONTRAIRE
- MARGUERITE PERRIN
- MISS LANA O’DAY CRAIG FREMIN
- NICOLE DUBOIS
NEIGHBORHOOD BAR OF THE YEAR
Six nominees due to a tie for fifth.
- CROSSING NOLA
- GOLDEN LANTERN
- LE CABARET
- PHOENIX
- THE CORNER POCKET
- THE FRIENDLY BAR
NEW ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- CAMILLA ST. CHARLES
- ROSESHA MARKS
- RYAN ROGERS
- TUFFY LOVE ANDREWS
- ZION MICHAEL
REAL ESTATE AGENT OF THE YEAR
- DEREK DELAHOUSSAYE
- DOUG PRICE
- JONATHAN SCHMITT
- LANCE DAGGS
- MICHAEL STYLES
RESTAURANT-DELI OF THE YEAR
- CHEF RON’S GUMBO STOP
- LOUISIANA PIZZA KITCHEN UPTOWN
- MONA LISA
- PULCINELLA
- WHO DAT CAFE
RIP NAQUIN WRITER-REPORTER OF THE YEAR
- BUN CEE
- MIKE MCDANIEL
- PAYTON MALONE
- TONY LEGGIO GAY VOGEAUX
- TQ SIMS
SHOW CLUB OF THE YEAR
- BOURBON PUB
- LE CABARET
- OZ NEW ORLEANS
- SIPPS
- THE ALLWAYS LOUNGE & CABARET
SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE OF THE YEAR
- CHRIS GRIMWOOD
- DEBBIE WITH A D
- DR TUFFY LOVE ANDREWS
- QUINN BISHOP
- TONY LEGGIO GAY VOGEAUX
SPORTS LEAGUE TEAM SPIRIT AWARD
- CRESCENT CITY ROUGAROUX
- NOLA FLAMINGEAUXS SOFTBALL
- RED STICK ROLLER DERBY
- STONEWALL NOT YOUR AVERAGE HEAUX’S
- STONEWALL THE WANNABES
SPORTS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD
- ANDRES “GONZO” GONZALEZ
- AUSTIN SANDLIN
- JASON GAUDET
- JOEY ALGIER
- THOMAS “TOMMY” ALEMAN
TRANSGENDER PERSON OF THE YEAR
Six nominees due to a tie for fifth.
- ALEX HEBERT
- AUSTRAILYAH DAVENPORT
- CHICHI RODRIQUEZ
- CONNIE HUNG
- DOMINIQUE DELOREAN
- REGINA ADAMS
YOUNG LEADERSHIP IMPACT AWARD
- ANDRES “GONZO” GONZALEZ
- CHESLEY POLK
- CRAIG FREEMAN
- DUSTIN (IVY DRIPP) GASPARD
- RICKY POCHE
