OUTSIDE ATLANTA
 Best Activist Outside Atlanta: Derrick Martin (Photo by Shannon Jenkins) |
LGBT Nonprofit: Georgia Equality — Savannah
Thrust into the spotlight by a possible hate crime, Georgia Equality Savannah (www.georgiaequality.org) was named Best LGBT Non-Profit outside Atlanta’s city limits by Georgia Voice readers. GE’s Savannah branch has made headlines nationwide this year by protesting the alleged beating of a gay man by two U.S. Marines.
Macon PFLAG (www.pflagmacon.org) finished second in the voting and Augusta Pride (www.prideaugusta.org) came in third. First City Network was fourth. (www.firstcitynetwork.net)
| Best of Atlanta categories:
|
HIV Nonprofit: AID Gwinnett
AID Gwinnett’s (www.aidgwinnett.org) 18 staffers manage a $2.1 million budget and 250 volunteers to provide services to 1,100 clients in one of Georgia’s most densely populated counties.
Athens’ Boybutante AIDS Foundation (www.boybutante.org) finished second and the East Point Possums (www.eastpointpossums.com) was ranked third.
Special Event: East Point Possums Show
The East Point Possums Show (www.eastpointpossums.com), originally begun in the backyard of some friends, now brings hundreds of people each year — gay and straight — to downtown East Point for those wanting to see a drag show with dozens of performances, ranging from raunchy and sassy to just good fun. This year the show raised some $10,000 to benefit Atlanta Pride and the Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative.
Athens’ Boybutante Ball (www.boybutante.org) placed second and Savannah Pride (www.savpride.com) finished third.
Activist: Derrick Martin
High school student Derrick Martin took his boyfriend to his prom in rural Cochran, Ga., and was kicked out of his parent’s house once his story received coverage in the mainstream media. Martin received support from across the country with offers of limo rentals, flowers and had a Facebook group created to support him.
Rick Westbrook of the East Point Possums was voted second and Kevin Clark of Georgia Equality Savannah came third. Edric Floyd of PFLAG Macon was fourth.