Ambush Magazine is pleased to announce the winners in each category of the Gay Appreciation Awards (GAA). Winners were announced at the GAA Gala which was held at Oz on Saturday, August 19th from 6 to 9 pm. The 2023 GAAs were hosted by French Quarter personalities Jeffrey Palmquist and Frank Perez with Tiffany Alexander and Felicia Phillips working the Red Carpet as guests arrived. Over 5,000 people voted for nominees in this years GAA.
Funds raised at the event will be donated to Southern Decadence (raising funds for NOAGE) and the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana.
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
- Vanessa Carr Kennedy
Artist of the Year
- Bobby White
Bartender of the Year
- David McElveen
Bitch of the Year
- Aubrey Sinclaire
Buzzy Fanning AIDS Award
- Princess Stephanie
Critics’ Choice Award
- Where the Suga Still Sweet produced by No Dream Deferred
DJ of the Year
- VJ Brendan (Brendan Thompson)
Donnie Jay Performing Arts Award
- The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans
Emcee / Host of the Year
- Nicole DuBois
Event of the Year
- Gay Easter Parade
Fly Fashion Glamour Award
- Debbie with a D
Gay Man of the Year
- Jimmy Gale
Gay Mardi Gras Ball of the Year
- Lords of Leather
Hair Salon or Stylist of the Year
- Two Guys Cutting Hair
Kinkster of the Year
- Fatsy Cline
Leather Person of the Year
- Brock Anderson
Lesbian of the Year
- Rachel Hoag
LGBTQ Business of the Year
- Bourbon Pride
LGBTQ Nonprofit of the Year
- CrescentCare
Marcy Marcell Entertainer of the Year
- Nicole DuBois
Marsha Delain Red Carpet Award
- Debbie with a D
Neighborhood Bar of Year
- The Phoenix
Real Estate Agent of Year
- Doug Price
Restaurant/Deli of the Year
- Louisiana Pizza Kitchen Uptown
Rip Naquin Writer/Reporter of the Year
- Payton Malone
Show Club of the Year
- The Allways Lounge
Social Media Presence of the Year
- Gregisms (Greg Kata)
Sports League Team Spirit Award
- Crescent City Rougaroux
Sports Most Valuable Player Award
- Joey Algier
Transgender Person of the Year
- ChiChi Rodriguez
Young Leadership Impact Award
- Henry Heaton (Shuck Cancer)
