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| Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin’s gay-inclusive policies earned her top honors for Best Politician and Female Local Hero. (Photo by Trina O’Connor) |
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HOME > COMMUNITY > BEST OF GAY ATLANTA
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SoVo readers’ local male hero is a familiar face — or two. By day,
Jim Marks serves as chief financial officer and director of operations for the
NAMES Project Foundation, keepers of the AIDS memorial quilt. By night, Marks
transforms into camp drag legend Bubba D. Licious, tirelessly raising money for
HIV related causes. Second place went to U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a civil
rights legend long known for his support of gay rights. Third place was a tie
between Allen Thornell, Georgia Equality executive director; Bill King, former
nurse at the Gay & Lesbian Center clinic; Fulton County Commissioner Robb
Pitts, sponsor of a successful bill granting domestic partner benefits to county
workers; and Dr. David Reznick of the Grady Infectious Disease Program.
For the second consecutive year, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin is our readers’ female
local hero. A no-nonsense politician known for accessibility, Franklin continues
to welcome gays to her political table — supporting a gay tourism initiative,
visiting gay organizations and speaking at Gay Pride. Second place went to
Donna Narducci, executive director of Atlanta Pride; lesbian Q100 DJ Melissa
Carter took third.
When the Georgia General Assembly held hearings over the summer on a statewide
civil rights bill, Dana Brown-Owings was there. Owings, a technical service
representative at IBM, told legislators how her employer accepted her as she
transitioned from male to female, but many more transgendered people aren’t
as lucky. But Brown-Owings, director of operations for Trans=Action, is doing
everything she can to change that. In addition to working for transgender rights
on the state level, her advocacy helped IBM adopt a landmark gender identity
non-discrimination policy in 2002. A tie for second place includes Monica Helms
and Sir Jesse of Decatur.
Another win for Mayor Shirley Franklin: The popular Atlanta leader takes first
place from SoVo readers as both our best politician and female local hero.
Even when she’s not on the campaign trail, Franklin continues to reach
out to gay constituents she credited with helping vote her into office. Second
place goes to U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.). Third place winner Cathy Woolard
became the state’s first openly gay elected official when she won the
Atlanta City Council’s District 6 seat in 1997; in 2001, she was elected
City Council president, the city’s second-highest elected office.
With his restaurant sweeping three categories in our restaurant balloting,
it’s no surprise that SoVo readers voted Brad Williams, owner of Red
Chair Restaurant & Video Lounge, as the city’s best up-and-coming
business person. Williams took a great concept — an restaurant and bar
more upscale than many gay venues — and added enough extras, like the
delightful ban on indoor smoking, to keep packing in patrons. David Diehl placed
second; Gary Sissyon placed third.
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| Atlanta’s Rainbow Trout swimming team was voted the city’s
best gay sports team by Southern Voice readers. (Photo by Sher Pruitt) |
Together for five years, Marc Yeager and Roger Levine come from opposite sides
of the political spectrum to become SoVo readers’ most dynamic couple.
Yeager is perhaps best known to gay Atlantans as president of the Georgia Log
Cabin Republicans. Levine served as a campaign volunteer for U.S. Rep. Denise
Majette, a Democrat from Atlanta. The couple has a long list of volunteer activities.
Yeager serves on the national board of Log Cabin and is a 2003 graduate of
the Coverdell Leadership Institute; Levine is co-chair of Lutherans Concerned
Atlanta and a board member for the Atlanta Interfaith AIDS Network; both are
also active with their church. Second place from SoVo readers goes to John
Gibson and Anthony Morris, of Ansley Park Playhouse and Peachtree Playhouse,
while Tim Wright and Tommy Field took third.
Pets matter to SoVo readers, who named Pets Are Loving Support as the city’s
most effective non-profit agency. Known for creative fund-raisers like the
popular monthly theme bingo, PALS helps people with HIV and other serious illnesses
keep their pets by providing aid with food and veterinary care. AID Atlanta,
the city’s oldest and largest AIDS agency, took second place; Project
Open Hand, which provides meals to ...
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