Georgia Voice 2017 Best of Atlanta winners: Community

LGBT Nonprofit

Lost-n-Found Youth

One of Atlanta’s most beloved organizations endured a year of institutional turbulence while continuing to provide stability for homeless LGBT youth, and readers showed their faith in Lost-n-Found Youth (lnfy.org) by naming it best LGBT nonprofit. In the last few months alone, the group has partnered with the Atlanta Braves as beneficiary of its LGBT night, opened a second consignment shop (this time in Norcross) and moved its community drop-in center to a space that is four times larger than its former location.

Georgia Equality (www.georgiaequality.org) finished second in voting, and third place went to the Counter Narrative Project (www.thecounternarrative.org).

HIV/AIDS Nonprofit

Positive Impact Health Centers

As Atlanta confronts one of the most daunting HIV/AIDS landscapes in the country, Georgia Voice readers know it will take a holistic approach to stemming the epidemic, and honored Positive Impact Health Centers (positiveimpacthealthcenters.org) as the best HIV/AIDS nonprofit. Long known for its focus on the mental health and substance abuse aspects of the epidemic, Positive Impact Health Centers has expanded its services to include medical treatment.

Finishing in second and third place, respectively, were Living Room (www.livingroomATL.org) and The Armorettes (www.facebook.com/TheArmorettes).

LGBT Event

Atlanta Pride

There’s nothing like getting day-drunk with thousands of friends and strangers, taking over Peachtree Street for the city’s most fabulous parade, then cruising through Piedmont Park and trying to look sexy while eating carnival food. For those reasons and more, Atlanta Pride (atlantapride.org) remains the favorite LGBT event for Georgia Voice readers.

Out On Film (www.outonfilm.org) finished second, just ahead of the East Point Possums Show (www.eastpointpossums.com).

Sports Team/League

Hotlanta Softball League

There’s just something about seeing queens and lesbians get competitive, and no sports league features more comedic fervor than the Hotlanta Softball League (hotlantasoftball.org). Over its 36 years of existence, HSL has garnered a hard-earned reputation of featuring serious ball-playing on the diamond, and hosting some of the rowdiest post-game beer busts in Atlanta.

The Atlanta Bucks (www.atlantabucksrugy.org) earned the silver medal, while the Atlanta Team Tennis Association (www.atta.org) claimed bronze.

LGBT Charity Benefit

Easter Drag Races

Georgia Voice readers probably named the Armorettes’ Easter Drag Races (thearmorettes.com) best LGBT charity benefit because of the thousands of dollars it has raised for HIV/AIDS organizations over the years, but also because they enjoy watching the inevitable asphalt face-plants that occur when folks sign up for the wardrobe-change-relay-race after their third tequila sunrise.

The Joining Hearts Pool Party (www.joininghearts.org) splashed into second place, and Guys as Dolls finished third.

House of Worship

Saint Mark United Methodist Church

After a third-place finish in 2016, Saint Mark United Methodist Church (stmarkumc.org) rose to the top house of worship for LGBT Atlantans, just as it is emerging as a robust voice for progressive faith in the city. Its electronic marquee in the heart of the Peachtree corridor regularly broadcasts scripture-based messages on issues ranging from LGBT rights and Black Lives Matter to healthcare and gun control.

New Covenant Church Atlanta (www.newcovenantatlanta.com) finished in second, followed by Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (www.catholicshrineatlanta.org).

LGBT Blog/Website

Project Q Atlanta

Project Q Atlanta (projectq.us/atlanta) was one of the first online destinations for LGBT Atlantans, and it remains one of the best. Part TMZ, part New York Times and part Playgirl, the website has attracted a devoted following over the past decade, and proven this project an unqualified success.

Second place went to Freedom Two Love (www.freedomtwolove.com), while Juan and Gee (www.juanandgee.com) finished third.