Georgia Equality hosted the 7th annual Evening for Equality event at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center. Several community and HIV/AIDS activists were recognized for their continued work in the community. Ga. State Rep. Karla Drenner, HIV activist Johnny Fambro, AIDS Athens Executive Director Olivia Long and Bill Nigut, the southeast regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, were all recognized. To view photos from the event, click here.

Macon HIV activist Johnny Fambro, seated in a wheelchair, drew a standing ovation from the crowd for his decades of work on HIV and LGBT issues in the central Georgia city as executive director of the Central City AIDS Network and Rainbow House in Macon, Fambro received the Guiding Star Award. It was presented by Georgia Equality board member Jamie Roberts, who told of working on HIV issues for Fambro’s organization as a recent law school graduate also in the process of gender transition.

Michael Petty, Georgia Equality’s board chair and an Athens resident, presented the Allen Thornell Political Advancement Award to Olivia Long, executive director of AIDS Athens.

Georgia Equality Executive Director Jeff Graham closes the 7th annual Evening for Equality by reminding attendees of the successes of the last year and asking supporters to continue donating to Georgia Equality.