2025 FABBY Award WINNERS
For the 21st year, you, our readers, have made your voices heard. With over 4,000 votes cast in our annual readers’ choice poll, we are proud to announce 125 FABBY Award winners in this issue. In a year marked by shifts in the social and political landscape, knowing where and by whom you’ll be treated right is golden.
MOST FABULOUS RESTAURANTS
MOST FABULOUS Mexican Restaurant
Red Iguana
You simply can’t visit Salt Lake without a stop at Red Iguana — it’s practically a rite of passage! This spot is so beloved, they had to open Red Iguana 2 just two blocks away to keep the lines from stretching all the way to the airport. One reviewer even jokes, “Drag your luggage straight from the airport to Red Iguana.” And they’re not wrong! Owners Bill and Lucy are some of the kindest people you’ll ever meet. Holy mole, don’t miss it!
Runners up: Chili Tepin,
Rio Grande Cafe
Most Fabulous After-Hours Restaurant
Pie Hole
This pizza is the bomb after a night out in SLC! Order before you go out to have it waiting for you after leaving the bars with a craving at 344 S. State Street.
Runners up: Dee’s FAMILY RESTAURANT, Belgian Waffle & Omelet Inn
Most Fabulous Greek/Mediterranean
The Other Place
The Other Place has been dishing out Greek and American comfort food since 1986, and it’s pure deliciousness. Think marinated steak & eggs, gyros, lamb dishes, and housemade baklava — all in hearty portions. Loyal fans, including the Salt Lake Man’s Choir, swear by the friendly vibes, tasty eats, and breakfast served anytime. Opa!
Runners up: Laziz, The Med
Most Fabulous Local Coffeehouse
Sugar House Coffee
Always proud to fly the rainbow flag, Sugar House Coffee is all about creating a warm, inclusive space where everyone feels at home. Pair their amazing coffee with a house-made aioli panini, fresh salads, baked porridge, pastries, or their must-try espresso brownies. Come for the vibes, stay for the treats! Pick up a Q!
Runners up: Coffee Garden, Beans & Brews
Most Fabulous Restaurant for Breakfast
Penny Anne’s
Penny Ann’s Cafe is the go-to for fluffy pancakes and breakfast magic in Salt Lake. Weekend lines prove it’s worth the hype. Hate lines? Try lunch. Fast service, cozy vibes, and delicious bites—this spot’s got it all.
Runners up: Park Cafe, Left Fork
Most Fabulous Asian Restaurant
Sawadee
Craving Thai? Sawadee is a downtown favorite serving up authentic flavors like pad Thai, pineapple curry, and honey-ginger duck. With weekday lunch specials, veggie-friendly options, and curries spiced just how you like them, it’s perfect for a date or dinner with friends. Bonus: the wine list is fab, too!
Runners up: Takashi, Kyoto
Most Fabulous Sandwiches
Moochies Meatballs
From the back of a pottery studio to four locations from downtown to Lehi, Moochies is about meatballs and a damned fine Philly Cheesesteak. Oh, and the gourmet grilled cheese sandwich with a side of mac and cheese. Holy hell. Don’t bypass the international salads. Guy Fieri says the meatball sub will ‘’knock your head off.’’ But don’t worry. No heads are truly harmed at Moochies.
Runners Up: Grove Market, Soup Kitchen
Most Fabulous Soups
Soup Kitchen
So, another category which we need to just go ahead and name for the winner. Most locations are in the worst places anyone would put a restaurant, but they still have a line out the door. Over 30 years of serving breadsticks. Oh, and soup and sandwiches.
Runners Up: Porcupine Grill, Cafe Zupas
Most Fabulous Seafood
Market Street Grill
When the salmon are running, run to Market Street. I once had a client come in from New York City who was skeptical when I said he should try the clam chowder. I was nervous when he took the first bite and sat there, deadpan. He looked up and said, “I had to fly across the fucking country to the middle of the desert to have the best clam chowder in my life.” Yup.
Runner up: Current Fish and Oyster, Takashi
Most Fabulous Bakery/Pastries
Gourmandise
It all started in downtown Salt Lake over 30 years ago on Third East. A bakery with a new name we couldn’t pronounce, but pastries and cakes we couldn’t resist. Now also in Draper, American Fork and the SLC Airport.
Runners Up: Delice Bakery, Fillings & Emulsions
Most Fabulous PARK CITY Restaurant
High West
The Saloon at High West is known for pairing whisky with heavy victuals (pronounced “vittles”) As you would ask which glass of wine should be paired
with your meal, ask your server which whiskey will pair well with your food selection.
Runners up: Riverhorse, Hearth & Hill
Most Fabulous Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant
Vertical Diner
The home of fine vegan dining is Vertical Diner on Harvey Milk Blvd. They believe that eating a plant-based diet will positively change the world environmentally, socially, emotionally, physically and creatively. PETA says “Forget Popeyes and Chick-fil-A. The best “chicken” sandwich is a delicious one for which no one had to die. “Great Food! Great People!”
Runners up: Zest, Bud’s
Most Fabulous Steakhouse
Ruby River
Ruby River is all about steaks, with flavors inspired by everything from San Francisco kitchens to Texas truck stops. Named after a favorite Montana fishing spot, Ruby River Steakhouses call Utah home. Carnivores rejoice: prime rib, ribeyes, pork chops — plus seafood and salads for everyone else!
Runners up: Christopher’s, Maddox
Most Fabulous Barbecue
Pat’s Barbecue
A Guy Fieri favorite. Who says great barbecue is reserved for the South? In Salt Lake City, Pitmaster Pat Barber is what Guy calls a “culinary gangster” because of his unbeatable briskets, chickens and sausages that he smokes for 10 hours at a time.
Runners Up: RR&R Barbecue Blatch’s Vegan BBQ
Most Fabulous Salads
Cafe Zuppa
At Café Zupas in Salt Lake City, salads take center stage with fresh, bold flavors. Favorites like “Nuts About Berries” and Thai Chicken Peanut pack a punch, alongside housemade soups and panini sandwiches. Top it off with a sweet treat, and you’ve got a meal worth savoring!
Runners Up: Desert Edge, Bagels & Greens
Most Fabulous Wine selection at a restaurant
Lake Effect
Lake Effect is a wine lover’s dream, offering over 70 expertly curated bottles in a stunning, vintage-meets-modern space. Since 2017, this Salt Lake hotspot has wowed guests with delicious food, handcrafted cocktails, and live music nearly every night. Sip, savor, and soak up the vibrant, classy downtown atmosphere.
Runners up: Mazza, BTG
Most Fabulous Ogden Restaurant
Roosters Brewery
Roosters in Ogden, led by Kym and Pete Buttschardt, is more than a restaurant—it’s a lifestyle! Since 1994, they’ve brought community vibes, great food, and craft beer to Historic 25th Street, Layton, and West Ogden. Don’t miss the Naughty Brussels, Kym’s Capellini, and the fan-favorite O-Town Nut Brown Ale. Now also in Layton and at the Salt Lake International Airport.
Runners Up: Slackwater Pizzeria, No Frills Diner, UTOG
Most Fabulous Beer Selection
The BAYOU
Buzzy eatery and bar offering Cajun-inspired fare and pub grub plus over 7 million beers you could spend a week deciding among. Seriously, we counted them. Just pick one and get out of our way.
Runners up: Squatter’s, Red Rock
Most Fabulous Burger Joint
Lucky 13
If there is an award out there for best burger in Utah, Lucky 13 has won it multiple times. This is their 12th Fabby. Our favorite is the nut butter burger. One day we hope to wrap our lips around the Big Benny. If you can finish him and a Lucky 13 Burger off in an hour, they’ll give you $1,000 cash. Is that prostitution?
Runners up: Crown Burger, Proper Burger
Most Fabulous Brew Pub
Squatters Pub Brewery
Founded in 1989 by Jeff Polychronis and Peter Cole, Squatters sparked Utah’s craft beer revolution. Against all odds, they turned crumbling west downtown Salt Lake into a brewpub hotspot — earning awards, fans, and a legacy. Cheers to icons like St. Provo Girl Pilsner.
Runners Up: Red Rock Brewing, Desert Edge Brewery
Most Fabulous Pizza
Pie Pizzeria
From a graffiti-strewn dungeon a stone’s throw from the UofU to six locations from Ogden to South Jordan, the home of the Zappi is just pure, gooey yum. Hand-tossed dough, in-house sauces and dressings, the same way they’ve done it for 44 years.
Runners up: Bricks Corner, Settebello
Most Fabulous Food Truck
Tacos Daddy
Tacos Daddy is a Utah-based taco truck serving up “stupid yummy” eats like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, gorditas, sopes, and combo plates. Catch them at Club Try-Angles on the first Sunday of the month for Beer Church and Drag Bingo, or book them for your next event — deliciousness guaranteed.
Runners up: Fry Me to the Moon, Sushi Squad
Most Fabulous Italian Restaurant
Caffé Molise
Michael Aaron went to opening night of Caffe Molise in 1993 back when it was next to Dinwoody Park. It’s been his favorite restaurant since. Now on 4th South and West Temple, it’s just more grand and delicious than ever. Pollo alla Gratella is his fave.
Runners up: Tuscany, Sicilia Mia
Most Fabulous Contemporary Restaurant
The Dodo
The Dodo was the quirkiest giant dove in history, and Dodo Restaurant channels that charm with its amazing location overlooking Sugar House Park’s tall pines, flower gardens, and sprawling green lawns, all set against stunning Mount Olympus sunsets. Oh, and the food? Especially the desserts? Fab!
Runners up: Current, Cafe Niche
Most Fabulous New Restaurant
Urban Hill
Restaurateur Brooks Kirchheimer delivers a family-focused fine-dining gem in the vibrant Post District. With stunning design, a top-notch culinary team, and a commitment to extraordinary service, Urban Hill transforms every meal into a special occasion
Runners up: Woodbine Food Hall Blind Rabbit.
Most Fabulous BARS & CLUBS
Most Fabulous All-Gay-Every-Day Bar
CLUB TRY-ANGLES
Goddammit, Gene. Club Try-Angles is about to celebrate its 23rd New Year’s Eve. Can you imagine how much cannon confetti that means? This is the bar that serves Thanksgiving, Christmas, and St Paddy’s Day dinner, welcoming patrons who might not have a place to go, or choose not to so they can be with chosen family. And they do it without sending a press release. They do it for love of their community. With themed Friday nights and Underwear Night on the 3rd Saturday, plus Beer Church Bingo on the first Sundays. There’s always something going on at Try-Angles.
Runners up: Milk+, Sun Trapp
Most Fabulous Bar for the Buck
Club Try-Angles
The coldest and cheapest beer in all of Salt Lake City, not to mention all of their cocktail prices. If you go broke here, you have a problem.
Runners up: Manny’s, Duffy’s
Most Fabulous Night Club
Milk+
MILK+ is likely the largest LGBTQ+ focused bar in Salt Lake with an open floorplan and large outdoor area. Special events and themed nights and a full kitchen serving tasty food, not your average bar fare. The Mexi Bowl is food elevated. Wine Wednesdays and Karaoke Sundays.
Runners up: Sky, Twist
Most Fabulous Irish Pub
Piper Down
Bangers and mash, Saturday and Sunday brunch, poker nights and live music on weekends, how can you go wrong? There’s an event damn near every single day. And as LGBTQ friendly as they come. May the road rise up to meet you.
Runner up: O’Shucks
Most Fabulous Beer Bar
Beer Bar
Isn’t it kind of cheating to name yourself after a Fabby category? Well, it’s about love, they say. “Beer Bar is a love letter to the beer of the world. Our goal is to bring some of that world, and that love, to you all.” Well, that says it all.
Runners up: Fisher, TF Brewing
Most Fabulous Wine Bar
BTG
When BTG, aka By The Glass, opened, Michael Aaron thought he had died and gone to Heaven. His favorites are flights with tastes of three or four wines. How else can you enjoy a $50 bottle of wine if not an ounce or so at a time? Also serving food, this is a great date or “where should we go now?” night.
Runner up: Lake Effect
Most Fabulous Bar that Gives Back to the Community
Club Try-Angles
Love is always in the air at Try-Angles, and Gene, the owner, is not only driven to support the community in very special ways, but he will also take the Cookie Monster T-shirt off his back for you. But please have him leave it on.
Most Fabulous Monthly Bar Event
Fluff Party at Try-Angles
It’s the battle of the furriest for best monthly bar event: Bear Night and Fluff Party Fridays. United Utah Furry Fandom is a vibrant, creative community of artists, performers, and costume enthusiasts who love bringing anthropomorphic animal characters to life. Think cosplayers or comic book fans, but with fur. These “fursonas,” are about fun, self-expression, and creativity.
Runners up: Bear Night, Underwear Night (both at Try-Angles)
Most Fabulous Shopping
Most Fabulous Book Store
Under the Umbrella BookStore
Under the Umbrella Bookstore is Salt Lake City’s cozy haven for queer stories, community, and creativity. Stocking books by and about LGBTQ+ folks, it’s a treasure trove of representation across all genres. With local queer-made goods, drag story hours, book clubs, and more, it’s a year-round celebration and a safe space.
Runners up: King’s English, 9th & 9th Book and Music Gallery
Most Fabulous Local Shop for Clothing
Most Fabulous Shoes
Spark
Shop sustainably and locally at this gay-owned, FABBY-winning clothing boutique. From undies to ties, shoes, cuff links, and more, Spark has everything you need to dress for success, and/or a hot date. Club-wear to boardroom chic, there is nothing more sparkling than Spark. They’ve expanded into a second space for women’s clothing as well. And while you are there, don’t you have a VCR that needs some cleaning?
Runners up: Iconoclad The Otherside Thrift Boutique
Most Fabulous Underwear
Aqua Underwear
Aqua Underwear is here to break the mold! Handmade by queer Chicane sewist Mel Martinez, AU offers fun, affirming, and fully customizable undies for all bodies and identities. From boxer briefs to tucking underwear, and even accessible features—these comfy, stylish garments are made to fit YOU, however you are. At Under the Umbrella, queer pop-ups, and online.
Most Fabulous Place to Buy Drag/Halloween Attire
Pib’s Exchange
Swimming in all types of wigs, knee-high boots, naughty nurse costumes, and, occasionally, used clothing with a 20-dollar bill in a pocket, Pib’s is posh!!
Most Fabulous Consignment/Gently Used Clothing
Iconoclad
The crown jewel and most awarded destination for new, secondhand, and festival fashion. Specializing in an eclectic mix of new and pre-loved gear, iconoCLAD caters to your unique festival vibes and everyday style essentials. A must for anyone who loves Burning Man.
Runners up: Decades, Copperhive Vintage
Most Fabulous Jeweler
9th & 9th Jewelers
At 9th & 9th Jewelers, they turn treasures into sparkle magic! From hand-mined gems to dazzling lab-grown diamonds, their family crafts jewelry that’s bold, beautiful, and built to last. Whether it’s custom designs or timeless classics, they’re here to make your next heirloom totally unforgettable—and totally you.
Most Fabulous Florist
Little Gay Garden
Welcome to Little Gay Garden, where flowers are grown with Pride! June, a flower farmer/florist, and her partner and two dogs cultivate beautiful, organically grown blooms in Millcreek and Rose Park. She offers plant consultations and garden support year-round. Little Gay Garden is here to help make your spaces blossom with love!
Runners-up: The Art Floral, Native Flowers
Most Fabulous Gift Store
Most Fabulous Adult Toy Store
Cahoots
You know something’s a little off when you walk into Cahoots and blush. And that’s before you get to the adult section. From risque calendars to cards and games you’d probably not show your mother… unless you have THAT mother.
Most Fabulous Services
Most Fabulous Attorney
Orlando Luna
Legal drama? Orlando has your back. Oluna Law serves up fierce, personalized representation in Family Law, Immigration, and Civil Litigation. No jargon, just clear strategies and real results. His expert team keeps it smart, sassy, and all about you. Justice should always come with style.
Runners-up: Christopher Wharton, Hawkes Quam
Most Fabulous Flea Market
Urban Flea Market
This monthly market is as much event as it is fleas. Wait. That’s wrong. The year-round market lets you shop, browse and enjoy the experience of a (second) Sunday at the Gateway 10am–4pm.
Most Fabulous Place to Get Pierced
Koi Piercing
Koi has been punching holes in human bodies since 1997 and would have been winning FABBY Awards back then if our prestigious publication had existed then.
Most Fabulous
Tattoos
Cory Harris, Loyalty Tattoo
The reviews are rave for the talented Cory Harris. Most talk about how it’s great to be zapped by such a nice guy. And, he wants to do more dog tats.
Most Fabulous Radio Station
X96
Utah’s orginal alternative since before radio was invented along the Wasatch Front with Radio From Hell in the mornings.
Runner-up: KRCL 90.9-FM
Most Fabulous Barber
God Shave the Queen
WHAMbarber George Michael Duven (get it?) burst onto the scene and can be found supporting many community charity events offering prizes of a free haircut. He also offers manscaping services to keep all your regions tidy. All that and he’s not too hard to look at, as well.
Runners-up: Puck the barber, Josh Lucero
Most Fabulous Kennel/Pet Boarding
Most Fabulous Dog Grooming
The Dog Den
Pawsitively the Best for Your Pup. With certified, pet-loving pros trained in dog behavior and stress-free handling, your fur-kid is in great hands. From balanced playgroups (yes, size matters!) to a perfect mix of exercise, rest, and mental fun, we ensure tails wag and stress stays low. Go sniff them out soon!
Most Fabulous Insurance Agent
Jon Jepsen, Sentry West
Jon Jepsen is a doer in this community. He volunteers on boards, was on the first Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission, and is just a nice guy. He has partnerships with so many insurance companies that he will surely find one that fits your needs.
Runner-up: Ben Pehrson
Most Fabulous Real Estate Agent
Mary Olsen
From Semper Fi to sold signs, Mary Olsen’s your go-to Realtor with 20+ years of experience turning fixer-uppers into dream homes. Whether buying or selling, she’s got the strategy, the charm, and a dash of stardust to make real estate magic happen in Salt Lake and beyond.
Runners-up: Babs De Lay, Wyatt Hendricks
Most Fabulous Church
First Baptist Church
The host of the Salt Lake Men’s Choir and the Matrons of Mayhem, as well as many other LGBT events, is also a great place to visit on Sundays. Pastor Curtis, loves to head down to the Utah Pride Center just to chat with the people there. Same-sex marriage became legal? Pastor Curtis was their marrying people. Beware of his dad jokes though.
Most Fabulous Car Dealership
Mark Miller Subaru
Mark Miller has been a proud Pride sponsor for many years. They know love is love and love makes a Subaru. They have the national awards to prove it. They also save homeless dogs in a big way, which is huge in our book.
Most Fabulous Wedding Officiant
Christopher Scuderi
Christopher may be the hardest working minister in the valley. He even gets up for an Easter service in Park City at the buttcrack of dawn. He’s been doing same-sex weddings since before it was legal and takes care of funerals and healing blessings.
Runner-up: Jenn Wilde/Wilde Heart Weddings
Most Fabulous Financial Institution
Mountain America Credit Union
Nearly a million members and $13 billion in assets, Mountain America Credit Union assists members on the right path to help them identify and achieve their financial dreams.
Runner-up: America First Credit Union
Most Fabulous TV News
KUTV News
This award bounces around more than a twink at Milk+. While an affiliate of Sinclair, Inc. the local anchors and crew are personable, fair, and balanced. Just go get a beverage refill when they cut to the national feed.
Most Fabulous Massage
Ammon Hanks
Master of muscle magic, licensed massage jherapist and deep tissue guru, Ammon specializes in sports recovery and tension relief that’ll have you feeling unstoppable. With hands that heal and techniques that transform, he’s here to work out the knots, restore balance, and get you back to living your best life — pain-free.
Runner-up: Aloha Bodyworks
Most Fabulous Financial Planner
Tracey Dean
Tracey Dean is a licensed investment advisor representative founder of Tracey Dean Financial, LLC. which means she is a fiduciary, acting in the best interest of her clients, first, foremost, and always. She is an energetic, hard working, trustworthy partner who works in different facets of the financial services industry. She is also the best convention wife there is.
Most Fabulous Tex Mex cook and eater
Dallas Rivas
Alright, this one was a “Name Your Category and FABBY Winner,” and it was Dallas who nominated himself. But it was too cute to pass up. And we are hoping for an invite to dinner.
Most Fabulous Caterer
Lux Catering & Events
Lux has donated thousands of dollars worth of food and services to Utah’s LGBTQ community over its many years. They are the most environmentally aware caterer in the state. They are also a certified LGBT Business Enterprise.
Most Fabulous Photographer
Cat Palmer
From capturing punk legends in L.A. to creating stunning headshots in Salt Lake City, Cat Palmer’s lens tells unforgettable stories. Mentored by Ansel Adams’ protégé, she blends artistry with advocacy, mentoring young photographers and championing community causes. Need a headshot? Cat’s your go-to for portraits with personality.
Most Fabulous Arts
Most Fabulous Theater Company
Salt Lake Acting Company
Since 1969, SLAC has been the arts organization for Salt Lake’s most open and adventurous audience, now presenting a year-round season of 5 to 7 regional and world premieres, to an audience of over 37,000. Forever known for Saturday’s Voyeur, the company now produces SLACabaret.
Runners-up: Plan-B Theatre Co., Desert Star Playhouse
Most Fabulous Art Museum
Utah Museum of Contemporary Art
UMOCA was started by Alta Rawlins Jensen as the Art Barn Association. It was housed at the adorable building near the UofU until 1979 when it moved to the center of downtown in the Salt Palace building. They believe in the power of the art of our time.
Runner-up: Utah Museum of Fine Art
Most Fabulous Music event of the year
Kilby Court Block Party
Kilby Court is celebrating 25 years of music and it’s planning to celebrate in a big way come spring. The iconic Salt Lake City venue announced the lineup fort its fifth Kilby Court Block Party which features groups like LCD Soundsystem, the Postal Service, Vampire Weekend and Wu-Tang Clan among other big names and up-and-coming acts.
Runner-up: Salt Lake City Pride
Most Fabulous Musical Group
Salt Lake Men’s Choir
Just having sung its 41st holiday concert, the Salt Lake Men’s Choir has staying power. It is the largest member-supported arts organiztion in the state, and now boasts about its greatest number of singers onstage, providing an ongoing tradition for the holidays for our community, and a summer concert of different genres of music each year.
Most Fabulous Musician
Spencer Sanders
Salt Lake City’s rising star Spencer Sanders delivers raw, genre-blending singles from his debut album Almanac. Through haunting ballads like Rust, country-tinged Iced Moonshine, and the uplifting Golden Age, Sanders explores queer love, loss, and resilience. Honest, emotional, and unforgettable—he’s the voice we’ve been waiting for.
Most Fabulous Dance Company
BALLET WEST
This world-renowned dance company is as old as Michael Aaron. Started in 1963, it was the first ballet department in an American university at The University of Utah. Artistic Director Adam Sklute energized and expanded Ballet West’s remarkable repertoire since 2007. Now, those who don’t know much about ballet can see “Alladin” — a short one-hour show with narration to help tell how the ballet is telling the story through dance, on March 28 and 29.
Runner-up: RDT, Odyssey Dance Co.
Most Fabulous Organizations
Most Fabulous Political Group
Stonewall Democrats
Utah Stonewall Democrats started out as Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats — GLUD. I think they changed the name because of the ugly-sounding acronym. Or maybe, we’d started it before the terms Gay and Lesbian were “in fashion.” Methinks it’s the latter.
Most Fabulous Group for Youth
Encircle
Encircle is a non-profit organization with the mission to bring the family and community together to enable LGBTQ+ youth to thrive. They provide drop-in hours for 12–25-year-olds, daily programs, friendship circles, and therapy services.
Most Fabulous Social Group
Black Boots
A sex-positive social and educational group for men with leather, kink, BDSM and fetish interests since 2013. blackBOOTS hosts social events, lunches, workshops/classes and Leather Church on the third Sunday of each month at Club Try-Angles.
Runners up: Ogden Pride, Salt Lake Men’s Choir
Most Fabulous Sports Group
Stonewall Sports SLC
Ready to play, make friends, and give back? Stonewall Sports Salt Lake City is all about inclusivity, fun, and philanthropy. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just here to have a good time, we welcome all LGBTQ+ folks and allies to get active, connect, and support our community.
Runner-up: Quac,
Most Fabulous PEOPLE
Most Fabulous Bartender
Seth Shoemaker, Club Try-Angles
Everyone loves Seth. You should see how many votes he got. What’s not to love? An adorable smile, a friendly demeanor even in the busiest times, and he’s not too hard to look at. You just want to stuff him and put him on the mantle.
Runner-up: Riley Richter, Club Verse
Most Fabulous TV News Reporter
Ben Winslow
We’ve decided to name this category after Ben and retire it until he decides to retire in Palm Springs with the rest of them. His ever-present feeds of information both on the tube and the intertubes are engaging with just enough snark to still be uber-professional. A promoter of UTA Route 500 — the Capitol Connector. We think it’s more about protecting his socks on the walk up the hill than protecting the environment.
Runner-up: Mary Nickles
Most Fabulous Leader of an LGBT Group
Sean Childers-Gray, Ogden Pride
Ogden Pride is in great hands. Husband, father, educator, and transgender man, Sean has been in a leadership rle there for seven years. His journey is one of passion and perseverance. From charity work to fighting for trans rights, he took his case to the Utah Supreme Court in 2021, securing a victory for all transgender Utahns. His motto: “Let’s turn the next mountain into a molehill!”
Runners-up: Chad Hall, Troy Williams
Most Fabulous Politician for the LGBTQ+ community
Christopher Wharton, Salt Lake City Council
Elected in 2017, Chris is a passionate community leader and attorney with deep roots in Salt Lake City. From serving on the City Council to advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, he’s dedicated to making positive change. When he’s not serving his community, you’ll find him taking care of Ella.
Runners-up: Jennifer Plumb, Sahara Hayes
