Best of Gay Maryland winners

The following Maryland-based businesses and community leaders are winners in this year’s ARGIES Awards, sponsored by the R Group and this year co-sponsored by the Washington Blade.

Congratulations to all the winners. Learn more at Rgroup.org.

Favorite Gay/Lesbian/Friendly Bar: Hippo (Honorable mentions: Grand Central and Rowan Tree)

Favorite Gay/Lesbian/Friendly Restaurant: Mt. Vernon Stable and Saloon (Honorable mentions: City Café and Brewers Art)

Favorite Gay/Lesbian/Friendly Gym: 33rd St. YMCA (Honorable mentions: Merritt DAC and MV Fitness)

Favorite Drag Personality: Shawnna Alexander (Honorable mentions: Ada Buffet, Sue Nami)

Favorite Gay/Lesbian/Friendly Business or Non-Profit: Chase Brexton Health Services (Honorable mentions: GLCCB and Equality Maryland)

Favorite Gay/Lesbian Event of the Year: Baltimore Pride (Honorable mentions: 12 Days of Christmas and Hunks in Trunks)

Favorite LGBT DJ: EJ Bohrer (Honorable mentions: DJ Rosie Hicks and DJ Alex Funk)

Favorite LGBT Bartender: Jason K at the Hippo (Honorable mentions: Auggie at the Drinkery and Mark Hunter at Quest)

Favorite Newspaper, Blog or Information Resource: Baltimore OutLoud (Honorable mentions: City Paper, Gay Life)

Best Place to Meet Men: Eagle and Hippo (tie) (Honorable mention: Triple L)

Best Place to Meet Women: City Café (Honorable mentions: Hippo and Sappho’s)

Best Place to Worship: First Unitarian Universalist Church of Baltimore (Honorable mentions: Unity Fellowship Church of Baltimore and St. Mathews Catholic Church)

Best Straight Ally: Gov. Martin O’Malley (Honorable mentions: Lynda Dee and Attorney General Doug Gansler)

Best Athlete: Brendon Ayanbadejo (Honorable mentions: Michael Phelps and Kevin Mooney)

Best Local LGBT Student Leader/Group: John Flannery at Towson University (Honorable mentions: MIQA and Chris Miller at Washington College)

LGBT Person of the Year: Shawnna Alexander (Honorable mentions: Steve Charing, OutLoud, and Steve Jackson of Rowan Tree)