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By: MIKE FLEMING
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The votes are in, the ballots are counted, and the readers of Southern Voice have
chosen this year’s favorites in Atlanta’s gay nightlife, community
leaders, arts and entertainment, as well as the best in shopping, romance, restaurants
and practitioners that treat the mind, body and spirit.
Some 7,000 polling hits at sovo.com and almost 700 mail-in ballots poured in
over the four-week voting period, and the results show the diversity of gay
life in Atlanta as well as the varied opinions within the voters pool.
The winners and runners up are listed here, along with choices made by the
editors of Southern Voice.
Readers’ Choice: Karla Drenner
Editors’ Choice: Cathy Woolard
State Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) made history when she was elected
to the state House of Representatives, becoming Georgia’s first and only
openly gay state legislator. Southern Voice readers recognized that Drenner
faced her biggest test this year, when the General Assembly debated —
and ultimately approved — a state constitutional amendment banning gay
marriage that goes to voters Nov. 2. Drenner lead the opposition and put a personal
face on the issue. Once the amendment cleared the legislature, Drenner volunteered
to lead Georgians Against Discrimination, a coalition opposing the ballot measure.
Second place went to Cathy Woolard, who resigned as Atlanta City Council president
to run for Congress, and third place was a tie between Atlanta Pride Executive
Director Donna Narducci and Q100 radio personality Melissa Carter.
Readers’ Choice: Allen Thornell
Editors’ Choice: Jeff Graham
Allen Thornell may have left his post as executive director of Georgia Equality
in April to become regional deputy political director for Service Employees
International Union, but he remains an activist on gay issues in the city, including
serving on the steering committee for Georgians Against Discrimination. Southern
Voice readers remembered Thornell’s two years leading Georgia Equality,
including heading up efforts to defeat the state constitutional ban on gay marriage,
as well as his work with AIDS Survival Project and other local non-profits.
Second place went to Jeff Graham, executive director of AIDS Survival Project,
and third place was a tie between Jim Marks (a.k.a. Bubba D. Licious) and Glen
Paul Freedman, Atlanta Executive Network executive director.
Best Politician: Cathy Woolard |
Readers’ Choice: Cathy Woolard
Editors’ Choice: Karla Drenner
Cathy Woolard made history in 1997 by defeating an incumbent and becoming the
first openly gay member of the Atlanta City Council. Four years later, she made
history again by becoming the first woman — and first openly gay —
City Council president. She wrote the city’s groundbreaking non-discrimination
ordinance and fought in court for the city’s domestic partner benefits
program. Earlier this year, she resigned her City Council post in an attempt
to seek a seat in Congress, but her bid was unsuccessful.
Karla Drenner was awarded second place, and Mayor Shirley Franklin came in
third.
Readers’ Choice: Shirley Franklin
Editors’ Choice: State Rep. Nan Orrock
Mayor Shirley Franklin became the city’s first female mayor in 2001 after
running an inclusive campaign that reached out to gay voters. Once in office,
Franklin appointed a gay man and later a lesbian to high-ranking posts in her
administration, hired a gay-friendly police chief, studied an Equal Benefits
Ordinance for the city, appeared at numerous gay events, and spoke out publicly
for gay issues.
Pat Gardner, a Democrat and gay-friendly member of the Georgia General Assembly
who represents District 42, took second place.
Best Up and Coming Activist: Alex Wan |
Readers’ Choice: Alex Wan
Editors’ Choice: Gregory Casajuana
Alex Wan acted on his longtime interest in politics first by becoming involved
in the fight against a proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage
in the General Assembly and then by running for a seat in the state legislature.
A win would have made Wan, the owner of an architecture firm in Tucker, the
first openly gay man and Asian-American in the General Assembly. His race was
unsuccessful, but the effort put Wan on the political map, and you can expect
to see him run again.
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