Honoring the Best Miami Beach Has to Offer
Tuesday, September 23
Miami Beach Convention Center
The LGBT Visitor Center will be recognizing the best of the best in gay Miami Beach across 21 diverse categories at the 2nd Annual Pink Flamingo Awards. This year’s awards build on last year’s inaugural outing, which saw people recognized across ten different categories. This year’s festivities will be held on Tuesday, September 23 starting at 7 p.m. at the Miami Beach Convention Center (1901 Convention Center Drive). Comedian ANT, well-known for appearing in the TV series “Last Comic Standing,” “Celebrity Fit Club” and “U.S. of ANT,” will be hosting this year’s awards and emceeing the entire evening.
The awards were first given out last year as a way to recognize shining stars in the gay Miami Beach community, especially after The Advocate magazine spotlighted the area, calling it one of the top twenty places in the country for LGBT tourists to visit. Like last year, the finalists were chosen not only by the Miami Beach community but by the numerous tourists who vacation here. “The “People’s Choice”-style awards recognize the people and places that have helped make Miami Beach a world-class city and travel destination,” said Lori Lynch, executive director of the LGBT Visitor Center.
The finalists were announced during a kick-off party on Friday, August 29, at Palace South Beach. Miss Miami Beach Gay Pride 2014 TP Lords, flanked by “Pink Flaminguys,” did the honors. There are 21 categories this year, up from ten last year. The “Favorite Nightlife Promoter,” “Favorite DJ,” “Favorite Nightife Destination” and “Favorite Retail Store” categories return from last year unchanged.
The “Hospitality Partner of the Year” category from last year is now called “Favorite Hotel” and is split into two separate categories, one for resort hotels and one for boutique hotels. The “Favorite Restaurant” category will now recognize winners in fine dining and casual environments. “Favorite Miami Attraction” becomes one award this year instead of two — last year tourists were invited to pick a winner as well. For “Best Entertainer,” this award is now two awards in order to recognize the best drag queen and the best singer. Finally, “Best Fundraiser” is now two categories, one for events that last one day per year and another for events that are a weekend in length or longer.
Categories making an appearance for the first time this year include “Favorite Chef,” “Favorite Dance Club,” “Favorite Bartender,” “Favorite Media Personality,” “Favorite Gym,” “Favorite Spa,” “Favorite Non-Profit Organization,” and “Favorite Local Hero.”
The awards ceremony will include an cocktail reception, featuring an open bar, a silent auction, a three-course sit-down dinner, and live entertainment. Proceeds from award ticket sales and the silent auction will benefit the MDGLCC Foundation, Inc., which operates the LGBT Visitor Center. The LGBT Visitor Center welcomes tens of thousands of travelers from all over the world each year. It also serves as a hub of activity for the local community.
Tickets are on sale right now and they cost $75 a person, or you and your company can host a table, which seats ten and costs $750. To purchase your tickets, please visit pinkflamingoawards.com/tickets. If you have any questions, call the LGBT Visitor Center at (305) 397-8914.
ABOUT THE MDGLCC FOUNDATION
The MDGLCC Foundation, Inc. is the non-profit foundation of the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. According to their website, the mission of the MDGLCC Foundation, Inc. is to “support the education and travel and tourism outreach efforts for the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.” The MDGLCC Foundation, Inc. creates and provides educational programs and seminars to the Miami Beach community and also spearheads fundraising opportunities. The MDGLCC Foundation, Inc. is also the operator of the LGBT Visitor Center.
ABOUT THE LGBT VISITOR CENTER
The LGBT Visitor Center, located at 1130 Washington Avenue, First Floor North in Miami Beach, is the country’s first-ever chamber of commerce-sponsored LGBT visitors’ center. First opened in 2010, the LGBT Visitor Center is open to the public every day of the week. The LGBT Visitor Center has played host to special events for not just the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, but also the Miami-Dade County Health Department, the Yes Institute, the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and Miami Beach Gay Pride.
For more information on the Pink Flamingo Awards, visit pinkflamingoawards.com. For more information on the LGBT Visitor Center, visit gogaymiami.com or “like” them on facebook by going to facebook.com/LGBTVisitorCenter.
