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by Rip & Marsha
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16th GAA Gala Names Winners; Raises Over $3,000 for Buzzy's Boys & Girls
The 16th Annual Gay Appreciation Awards Gala brought winners from Austin, Metairie and New Orleans to the stage at Body & Soul in New Orleans. The event raised over $3,000 for the William Fanning Foundation, better known as Buzzy's Boys & Girls. Due to the generosity of corporate sponsor, Ambush Mag, all monies generated through VIP Table sales, door admissions and stage performance tips went to the charity. A final tally was not available as of press time.
The William Fanning Foundation benefits "the emergency quality of life needs" for those affected by HIV/AIDS. To qualify for benefits, a Case Social Worker with NO/AIDS Task Force and other agencies, must refer an individual to the foundation. Over $500,000 has been dispersed by the foundation. The strictly volunteer foundation board oversees the disbursements. No monies are used for paid staff or overhead.
This year's gala honored Martha "Marty" Curtin and Barbara "Koo" Gaffney, recipients of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the GAA Board of Directors. The couple, who have been partners for over 17 years, have dedicated over 10 years of that time to the charitable works of the William Fanning Foundation (Buzzy's Boys & Girls), beneficiary of this year's GAA Gala. Curtin is Treasurer and Gaffney is Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Foundation.
Past Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Jimmie Callaway, the late Dan Fountain [Betty Buttons], the late Andy Boudreaux, the late Buzzy Fanning, the late Dirty Dottie, Miss Fury, Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain, the late Dan Romero, the late Miss Do, Louise McFarland, Dixie Fasnacht, Alice Brady and John Dodt, Gene Adams, Charlene Schneider and Steve Mettner.
King Cake Queen IX Lisa Beaumann and King Cake Queen X Teryl-Lynn Foxx emceed the festive gala. Returning Entertainer of the Year, Austin Babtist Women (direct from Austin), wowed the audience as did Top 5 Show Bar of the Year Finalist: Big Daddy's, Cowpokes, Golden Lantern, and Oz, all from New Orleans
The Top 5 Finalist in each public voting category were selected by the Gulf South readership of Ambush Mag through both on-line and print ballots.
The 2003 winners include:
Circuit Party/Event of the Year: Halloween/New Orleans
Hair Salon of the Year: Hair Asylum/New Orleans
Newcomer of the Year: Kabrina Watson/New Orleans
Neighborhood Bar of the Year: Corner Pocket/New Orleans
Buzzy Fanning AIDS Award: Austin Babtist Women/Austin
Bitch of the Year: Bianca Del Rio/New Orleans
Show Bar of the Year: Oz/New Orleans
Performing Arts Award: Capital City Men's Chorus/Austin
Restaurant/Deli of the Year: Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli/New Orleans
Dance Bar of the Year: Oz/New Orleans
Bartender of the Year: Allen Jones/Oz/New Orleans
DJ of the Year: Mary Pappas/Oz/New Orleans
Leather Bar of the Year: Phoenix/New Orleans
GLBT Business of the Year: Queen Fashions/New Orleans-Metairie
Leather Person of the Year: Wally Sherwood/New Orleans
Transgender of the Year: Regina Tickle/New Orleans
Lesbian of the Year: Red Hanson/New Orleans
Gay Man of the Year: Jamie Temple/New Orleans
Entertainer of the Year: Bianca Del Rio/New Orleans.
In addition to the various public voting awards, the Board selected winners in 3 special categories including:
Cheridon Comedy Award: Adam Hawkins/New Orleans
Fly Fashion Glamour: Raven Kennedy/New Orleans
Fly Fashion Victim: Klorocks Bleachmen/New Orleans
The Marsha Delain Award of Excellence (the Drag Ambassador Award) was presented to the Austin Babtist Women/Austin for their outstanding dedication to the GLBT community for raising over $5 million for charity throughout Texas and the Gulf South by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain.
The awards thanks those in the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender community who are many times not recognized for the outstanding services and efforts they perform. These individuals and businesses have made the GLBT community into the viable, successful and powerful community it is today across the Gulf South.
French Quarter personality Marcy Marcell founded the Gay Appreciation Awards [GAA] in 1987. Marcell turned over the reigns of the GAA in 1997 to Ambush.
The GAA Board of Directors includes Lisa Beaumann, Lance Ford, Teryl-Lynn Foxx, Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain and Toni J.P. Pizanie.
Ambush is proud to sponsor the Gay Appreciation Awards each year. For more info, visit www.AmbushMag.COM/GAA.
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