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 Oz on Saturday, August 19th from 6 to 9 pm. The 2023 GAAs will be hosted by French Quarter personalities Jeffrey Palmquist and Frank Perez with local celebrities Tony Leggio, Brian Sands and Mister Michael Meadows presenting some of the awards.
Funds raised at the event will be donated to Southern Decadence (raising funds for NOAGE) and the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana. VIP tables for the event can be purchased for $100 and those interested should send an email to info@ambushpublishing.com.
The Top 5 in each category are listed in alphabetical order.
Lifetime Achievement Award
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is long-time trans advocate Courtney Sharp.
Sharp’s work in the local community began in the early 1990s when she volunteered at the New Orleans Lesbian and Gay Community Center. She was also very involved with the local chapter of PFLAG. Sharp led a campaign to convince the New Orleans PFLAG chapter to include trans people its mission statement. With that goal achieved, Sharp turned her attention to the national PFLAG organization. In 1998, at Sharp’s urging, PFLAG became the first national LGBT+ organization to include trans people in its mission statement. In 1995 Sharp also played a role in getting transgender protections included in the New Orleans Home Rule Charter.
Sharp’s resume of activism also boasts stints as a Board Member of the Gulf Gender Alliance, the Lesbian and Gay Community Center in New Orleans, Louisiana Lesbian and Gay Political Action Caucus, PFLAG (both locally and nationally), and the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s LGBTQ Fund. Sharp had also served on the Mayor’s Advisory Committee. In 2001, Sharp (along with Mary Boenke) wrote a book titled Our Trans Children, which was published by PFLAG. More recently, Sharp has participated in a number of public programming events sponsored by the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana. She recently served on the planning committee for the 50th Anniversary commemoration of the Up Stairs Lounge arson.
Advocate of the Year
- Jimmy Gale
- JoJo Molina
- Misti Gaither
- Princess Stephanie
- Vanessa Carr Kennedy
Artist of the Year
- Andy Bergeron
- Barrett DeLong
- Bobby White
- Qween Quan
- Rion Byrd
- Ryne Stoned
Bartender of the Year
- David McElveen
- Eric Johnson
- Jeremy Cole
- JoJo Molina
- Princess Stephanie
- Quandell Clark
Bitch of the Year
- Aubrey Sinclair
- Beaux Church
- ChiChi Rodriguez
- Michael Meadows
- Princess Stephanie
Buzzy Fanning AIDS Award
- Jimmy Gale
- Princess Stephanie
- Tavell Kindall
- Toby Lefort
- Walter Pitts
Critics’ Choice Award
- The Baltimore Waltz produced by Fat Squirrel
- Big Freedia with the LPO presented by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
- Little Shop of Horrors produced by Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane University
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream produced by The NOLA Project
- Roller Soul produced by Kyo Vermeulen
- Varla Jean Merman’s Ready to Blow
- Where the Suga Still Sweet produced by No Dream Deferred
DJ of the Year
- Bill Hincks
- DJ Paul Lakeway (George Bevan)
- Orlando Stein
- Tim Pfluger
- VJ Brendan (Brendan Thompson)
Donnie Jay Performing Arts Award
- AUX Colorguard
- Clorox Bleachman
- Marshall Harris
- The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans
- Tulane Summer Lyric Theater
Emcee / Host of the Year
- Aubrey Synclaire
- Ivy Dripp
- Justin Betweener
- Nicole DuBois
- Varla Jean Merman
Event of the Year
- Gay Easter Parade
- Her Haus
- Lords of Leather Bal Masque XL
- Pride Fest
- Southern Decadence Parade
Fly Fashion Glamour Award
- Connie Hung
- Debbie with a D
- Dominique DeLorean
- Nicole DuBois
- Tiffany Alexander
Gay Man of the Year
- Andy Bergeron
- Cody McLain
- Jim Meadows
- Jimmy Gale
- Willie Mackie
Gay Mardi Gras Ball of the Year
- Krewe of Amon-Ra
- Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans
- Krewe of Armeinius
- Krewe of Petronius
- Lords of Leather
Hair Salon or Stylist of the Year
- Jonathan Baxter
- Kelli “Numi” Chauvin
- Marcos Gonzales
- Michael Maldonado
- Two Guys Cutting Hair
Kinkster of the Year
- Brad Collins
- Clint Taylor
- Fatsy Cline
- Jack Hasson
- Jimmy Gale
Leather Person of the Year
- Brock Anderson
- Christina Sailors
- Clint Taylor
- Jack Hasson
- Jimmy Gale
Lesbian of the Year
- Alaina Shockley
- Catherine Gaither
- Jenna Jordan
- Misti Gaither
- Rachel Hoag
LGBTQ Business of the Year
- Bourbon Pride
- Cottage Magick
- Crescent City Booking Agency by Frank Perez
- Lucky Dagger Tattoo
- QT Pie Boutique
LGBTQ Nonprofit of the Year
- Big Easy Animal Rescue
- Covenant House New Orleans
- CrescentCare
- NOAGE
- Project Lazarus
Marcy Marcell Entertainer of the Year
- Debbie with a D
- Ivy Dripp
- LaVeau Contraire
- Nicole DuBois
- Princess Stephanie
Neighborhood Bar of Year
- American Townhouse
- Corner Pocket
- GrandPre’s
- The Golden Lantern
- The Phoenix
Real Estate Agent of Year
- Bill Trapp
- Brian Lambert Dickinson
- Darrin Duplissey
- Doug Price
- Michael Styles
Restaurant/Deli of the Year
- Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop
- Louisiana Pizza Kitchen Uptown
- Mona Lisa
- NOLA Po-Boys
- The Country Club
Rip Naquin Writer/Reporter of the Year
- Bun Choum
- Keith Wilson
- Malik Mingo
- Payton Malone
- Tony Leggio
Show Club of the Year
- Bourbon Pub
- GrandPre’s
- Oz New Orleans
- Sipps Gulfport
- The Always Lounge
Social Media Presence of the Year
- Biancia Del Rio
- Gregisms (Greg Kata)
- Her Haus
- Lez Talk About It Show
- Tony Leggio’s “Sassy” Pics
Sports League Team Spirit Award
- Crescent City Rougaroux
- Nola Softball Flamingeauxs
- Stonewall Nine Inch Males
- Stonewall Run Club
- Stonewall Wannabes
Sports Most Valuable Player Award
- Amanda Gianelloni
- Caleb Dufresne
- Garrett Foster
- Joey Algier
- Matthew Henson
Transgender Person of the Year
- ChiChi Rodriguez
- Connie Hung
- Love Latonia
- Regina Adams
- Starr Alexander
Young Leadership Impact Award
- Ben Franklin High School 2022/23 Student Body
- Destiny Sterling
- Hayley Alexander
- Henry Heaton (Shuck Cancer)
- PFLAG New Orleans
