On Saturday, May 4, 2013, the Human Rights Campaign celebrated its annual Atlanta Gala Dinner and Silent Auction at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Atlanta. The event, now in its 26th year, raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for the HRC's national efforts. Honored guests at this year's dinner included "Glee" star Matthew Morrison, who received the Ally for Equality award, Joining Hearts, who received the humanitarian award and Michael Shutt, director of Emory University's Office of LGBT Life, who received the community service award. (Photos by Ryan Watkins)

To buy photos on our website, click here. If you don't see the photo you want, email [email protected] (subject line: Photo) and we'll upload it for you.

Georgia's HIV criminalization laws are heavy-handed and unnecessary, according to activists who addressed a crowd of about 100 at the Phillip Rush Center on April 23, 2013. "My Fabulous Disease" blogger Mark King organized the event, which included Georgia Equality Executive Director Jeff Graham, AID Atlanta's Craig Washington, Lambda Legal's Greg Nevins, SERO Project Executive Director Sean Strub and Assistant Director Robert Suttle.

To buy photos on our website, click here. If you don't see the photo you want, email [email protected] (subject line: Photo) and we'll upload it for you.

Dozens of HRC members gathered at STK on Thursday, April 18, to network, drink cocktails and bid in a small silent auction of items in the lead up to the annual Atlanta HRC Gala Dinner, set for May 4 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. Special guest and speaker will be HRC president Chad Griffin and the Ally for Equality Award will go to TV and Broadway actor Matthew Morrison. Morrison is probably best known for his role as Will Schuester on Fox's hot show “Glee." The annual Atlanta gala also includes the presentation of two local awards, the Dan Bradley Humanitarian Award and the Leon Allen & Winston Johnson Community Service Award. This year, the humanitarian award goes to Joining Hearts, which raises funds to help people with HIV with housing needs. The organization is best known for its annual Joining Hearts pool party at Piedmont Park.The community service award will go to Michael Shutt, director of Emory University's Office of LGBT Life. (Photos by Dyana Bagby)

To buy photos on our website, click here. If you don't see the photo you want, email [email protected] (subject line: Photo) and we'll upload it for you.

Hundreds of people braved cloudy skies and threats of rain gathered in the Burkhart's parking lot for the annual Easter Drag Races sponsored by camp drag troupe the Armorettes. Participants played in numerous games including the renowned Drag Races and wore their Easter best including many donning their homemade Easter bonnets. It was also the last event for Edie Cheezburger as an Armorette and four new Armorettes were introduced to the crowd. To date, the Armorettes have raised more than $2 million for HIV/AIDS organizations. New this year was a sponsorship from Kellogg's which included a donation of Pop Tarts. (Photos by Dyana Bagby)

To buy photos on our website, click here. If you don't see the photo you want, email [email protected] (subject line: Photo) and we'll upload it for you.

About 100 people gathered at the Phillip Rush Center on Saturday, March 30, 2013, to hear about plans to expand the LGBT community center and raise more than $31,000 to help the plans get under way. A new event space is in the works located directly behind the center's current space and six new offices are planned for the center's current space. Currently, the center serves as a meeting place for more than 100 groups as well as has office space for groups including the Health Initiative, Georgia Equality, Atlanta Pride, In the Life Atlanta, Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and United 4 Safety. Read more about the expansion plans at http://tinyurl.com/bu4oft6. (Photos by Dyana Bagby)

To buy photos on our website, click here. If you don't see the photo you want, email [email protected] (subject line: Photo) and we'll upload it for you.

The monthly Big Gay Game Show was held March 20 at Jungle as dozens of people watched and participated in such fun classics as The Newlywed Game, Password, Let's Make A Deal and Family Feud. Special guests this month included puppet and puppeteer Heidi and Edna. GA Voice's own Bo Shell hosted Password. Facing off in this month's Family Feud match were the Digging Dykes of Decatur and the Southern Bears. Money raised from this event goes to pay rent for the home where Lost-n-Found youth houses homeless young people. Lost-n-Found was founded almost two years ago to provide immediate shelter for teens who had nowhere else to go. Find out more at www.lost-n-found.org (Photos by Dyana Bagby)

To buy photos on our website, click here. If you don't see the photo you want, email [email protected] (subject line: Photo) and we'll upload it for you.

“Breaking Through,” a documentary focused on LGBT politicians, mades its Atlanta debut at the Atlanta Film Festival, screening March 20 at the Plaza Theatre. A pre-premiere party was held just down the road at Haute Doggery. Director, writer and producer Cindy Abel hails from Atlanta. (Photos by Ryan Watkins)

To buy photos on our website, click here. If you don't see the photo you want, email [email protected] (subject line: Photo) and we'll upload it for you.

Team Friendly Atlanta, a group dedicated to reducing HIV stigma, held its launch party and a fundraiser at Jungle on Saturday, March 16. Participants bid to get people "dirty" and then bid to clean them off. And it was a sexy night for many of the guys, and two women, who were willing to auctioned off for charity. Those who were auctioned off included HIV activist and former Mr. Atlanta Eagle Chandler Bearden, Mark Gordon aka DJ Diablo Rojo, porn star Charlie Harding, aerialist Melissa Coffey, SirBen and Joeboy, leatherboy Dana Prosser and Lizzy Fountain, organizer for the "Dirty Boys" calendar. (Photos by Dyana Bagby)

To buy photos on our website, click here. If you don't see the photo you want, email [email protected] (subject line: Photo) and we'll upload it for you.

The annual MLK March and Rally was held Jan. 21, 2013, that for many years has included LGBT marchers that would first enjoy breakfast and conversation at the Bayard Rustin/Audre Lorde Breakfast and then gather to march with thousands of others along historic Auburn Avenue from Peachtree Street to Jackson Street and ending at the King National Historic Site where a rally was held including speakers and singers. This year's honorary LGBTQ Grand Marshal for the march was Cortez Wright, communications and development associate for SPARK Reproductive Health NOW. Several attendees of the breakfast marched including those from organizations including Georgia Equality, Positive Impact and the MISTER Center. (Photos by Dyana Bagby)

To buy photos on our website, click here. If you don't see the photo you want, email [email protected] (subject line: Photo) and we'll upload it for you.

The 12th annual Bayard Rustin/Audre Lorde Breakfast was held Jan. 21, 2013, at St. Mark United Methodist Church with some 300 people attending. The theme for this year's breakfast was "Re-Imagine the Dream" and a call for people to continue progressive work in the LGBT communities and other oppressed groups of people. Co-founders of the breakfast Craig Washington and Darlene Hudson welcome to guests and urged people to continue the work for beloved community to fulfill Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream. Paulina Hernandez, co-director of Southerners on New Ground, asked all of those in the LGBTQ communities to be thankful for the gift of the breakfast given to Atlanta by the city's black LGBTQ community. A resolution honoring the breakfast from the Fulton County Commission was presented and state Rep. Simone Bell presented a resolution by her also honoring the work the breakfast continues to do to serve all people. (Photos by Dyana Bagby)

To buy photos on our website, click here. If you don't see the photo you want, email [email protected] (subject line: Photo) and we'll upload it for you.