In 1987, the late, great Marcy Marcell founded the Gay Appreciation Awards. She later sold the Gay Appreciation Awards to Ambush Magazine. For thirty-two years, the Gay Appreciation Awards have provided an opportunity to celebrate the incredible contributions and colorful tapestry of our community. While most of the winners are determined by popular vote, the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award is not. With input from the staff of Ambush, the Lifetime Achievement Award winner is selected by the GAA Board of Directors.
Previous Lifetime Achievement Award winners include:
- Jimmie Callaway (1987)
- Dan Fountain (Betty Buttons) (1988)
- Andy Boudreaux (1989)
- William “Buzzy” Fanning (1990)
- Dirty Dottie (1991)
- Miss Fury (1992)
- Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain (1993 & 2018)
- Dan Romero (1994)
- Miss Do (1995)
- Louise McFarland (1996)
- Dixie Fasnacht (1997)
- Alice Brady & John Dodt (1998)
- Gene Adams (1999)
- Charlene Schneider (2000)
- Steve Mettner (2002)
- Marty Curtain & Koo Gafney (2003)
- Donald “Donnie Jay” James (2004)
- Kitty Blackwell (2005)
- Michael “Fish” Hickerson (2006)
- Marcy Marcell (2007)
- Mary L. Lathouwers (2008)
- Don Evans (2009)
- Jean Redmann (2010)
- Chuck Turner & Bill Miller (2011)
- Regina Adams (2012)
- Mina Hernandez (2013)
- Tommy Elias (2014)
- Sy’ria Jackson-Sinclaire (2015)
- Brenda Laura (2016)
- No Award Ceremony (2017)
- Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain (2018)
- Larry Bagneris (2019)
