Best Charity Benefit
Toy Party

Long considered the close of Atlanta’s social season, Toy Party, put on by For the Kid in all of Us (www.forthekid.org), collects thousands of toys and dollars to provide children with holiday gifts. The Joining Hearts Pool Party (www.joininghearts.org), scheduled for July 21, nabbed second place as it raises funds to support housing for people with HIV. Atlanta’s HRC Gala Dinner (www.atlantahrcdinner.org), a black-tie event in May which raises money for the national Human Rights Campaign, finished third. 

Best Event
Atlanta Pride

Atlanta’s biggest LGBT event is also the most popular with Atlanta Pride (www.atlantapride.org) claiming first place by a large percentage. The annual festival, set for Oct. 13-14 this year, features all stripes in the LGBT rainbow proudly waving their flags and enjoying entertainment. Out On Film (www.outonfilm.org), the LGBT film fest scheduled for Oct. 4-11, enters its 25th year with a second place in this category. Atlanta’s HRC Gala Dinner (www.atlantahrcdinner.org) finished third.

Best HIV / AIDS Nonprofit
AID Atlanta

Atlanta’s largest supplier of free HIV testing and organizer of the Oct. 21 AIDS Walk Atlanta, AID Atlanta (www.aidatlanta.org) was named the city’s best HIV/AIDS nonprofit in 2012. Positive Impact (www.positiveimpact-atl.org), which focuses on mental health services and other support for those impacted by HIV, placed second. Jerusalem House, (www.jerusalemhouse.org), which helps providing housing for low income individuals with HIV, came in third while Joining Hearts (www.joininghearts.org) finished fourth.

Best  House of Worship
St. Mark United Methodist Church

For the third year, Saint Mark United Methodist Church (www.stmarkumc.org) is our reader’s top House of Worship. Saint Mark was one of the first mainstream Atlanta churches to welcome LGBT people and now counts several gay and trans members among its leaders. First Metropolitan Community Church (www.firstmcc.com) finished second and New Covenant Church of Atlanta (www.newcovenantatlanta.com) was third.

Best LGBT Blog or Website
Project Q Atlanta

Once again Project Q Atlanta (www.projectqatlanta.com) was named best blog. Matt Hennie and Mike Fleming continue to bring their cheeky style of Atlanta events, entertainment and news to the web. Between Women TV (www.betweenwomentv.com) was second and Queer B.O.I.S. (www.queerbois.com) was third.

Best LGBT Nonprofit
Lost-n-Found Youth

Atlanta’s only organization specifically created to provide immediate help for homeless LGBT youth, Lost-n-Found Youth (www.lost-n-found.org) operates housing and a hotline for young people living on or near the streets. Senior organization SAGE Atlanta (www.sageatl.org), a project of the Health Initiative, was second and The Health Initiative (www.thehealthinitiative.org) itself placed third.

Best  Sports Team/Organization
Atlanta Bucks Rugby

The Atlanta Bucks (www.atlantabucksrugby.org) play hard on the pitch and off. Whether competing against straight teams or donning frocks for their annual charity Purple Dress Run,  the Bucks are our readers’ choice. Atlanta’s WNBA franchise Atlanta Dream (www.wnba.com/dream) placed second, Hotlanta Softball League (www.hotlantasoftball.org) was third.

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Top photo: Toy Party wins Best Charity Event in our 2012 Best of Atlanta finals (by Brent Corcoran/RNZ Photography)