It was a record high of somewhere near 200 degrees (not really, but close) when a diverse cross-section of Atlanta's LGBT community gathered, very graciously, at Piedmont Park for a photo shoot for our Best of Atlanta cover.

Art Director Bo Shell tried to make the shoot as painless as possible by moving quickly so none of us would melt — and Mr. and Ms. Atlanta Eagle, representing the bar for its awards, were true champs standing in the heat in their leather vests, chaps, and some mighty big boots.

It was one of those interesting shoots where not everybody knows everybody, but everyone seemed to talk to each other. It was also nice for us to see the people who represent our community in so many areas gathered in one spot. We hope it was for the models as well.

It was also really awesome, and sweet, to see trans activist Tracee McDaniel helping Blondie put on her makeup and eyelashes. This is not something that happens every day.

Sometimes we get trapped in our own cliques and don't see others in the LGBT communities with whom we share so much, but are often divided by some kind of differences. Our Best of Atlanta awards, as well as GA Voice itself,  try to recognize people from all segments of LGBT Atlanta. And we think it shows in this cover.

We thank our models for making time to for the shoot and enduring the heat: Jeff Donaldson, Mr. Atlanta Eagle; Jackie Hubschman, Ms. Atlanta Eagle; Tracee McDaniel, founder of Juxtaposed Center for Transformation; Amber Taylor, lead singer and guitarist for the Sexual Side Effects; the One and Only Blondie; and Jonathan Kilgore and Joe Pennington from the Atlanta Bucks.