The Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce filled the ballroom at the W Midtown Hotel on the evening of Friday, Aug. 26, to celebrate the organization and announce the winners of its 2011 Community Awards.

The AGLCC presented Philip Rafshoon, owner of Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse, with its Lifetime Achievement Award. In remarks accepting the award, Rafshoon acknowledged his mother, who was in attendance, discussed the tough times facing Outwrite and the bookstore industry, and joked about feeling too young to receive a “lifetime” achievement award until he learned that Madonna won one at age 28.

The lifetime achievement award was announced in advance, while winners in the following categories were revealed during the dinner:

Member of the Year
Winner: Frank Bragg, Radial Cafe
Other nominees:
John Benthal, The Mission Motif
Dax Dossman, Adam’s Apples
GA International Convention Center
Kardon Technology

Guardian Angel
Winner: Dan Grossman, attorney for Atlanta Eagle patrons
Other nominees:
Actor’s Express
Atlanta Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
East Point Possums
Out On Film

Corporate Ally
Winner: The Coca-Cola Company
Other nominees:
Ernst & Young
The Home Depot
SunTrust
UPS

Business Woman of the Year
Winner: Pam Ridgway & Kelly Spurgeon, Advantage Graphics
Other nominees:
Liz Covin, Vivid Salon
Laura Douglas-Brown, GA Voice
Jo Giraudo, Insider Traveler
Barb Rowland, Common Ground Real Estate of Keller Williams

Business Man of the Year
Winner: Thomas Ryan, Carma Productions
Other nominees:
Tim Boyd, GA Voice
Tyler Calkins & William Dufee-Braun, Fenuxe Magazine
Austin Cohen, Cohen Chiropractic Centre
David Olt, Integrated Chiropractic Center

To view photo's from the Community Awards gala, please click here.

Top photo: Outwrite owner Philip Rafshoon received the AGLCC’s Lifetime Achievement Award (by Brent Corcoran, RNZ Photography)