Date Added 10/15/2004  Title Houston Voice -Best of Houston 2004 Readers Choice  Houston Voice "Best of Gay Houston" Friday, October 15, 2004 -- Binnie Fisher http://www.houstonvoice.com/2004/10-15/arts/feature/bestof.cfm MAIN FEATURE Best of Gay Houston Clothes horse undressed By BINNIE FISHER Friday, October 15, 2004 HOUSTON VOICE readers have spoken, and the Best of Gay Houston will be honored at the paper’s 30th birthday party today from 6-8 p.m. at Meteor. After ballots were tallied for everything from best ethnic food, to most romantic place to best TV personality, the list of winners included an unlikely suspect: a dog. Informed that he had tied with Radar the Weather Dog for best TV personality, Channel 2 Chief Meteorologist Frank Billingsley said, “Well, I’d like to think that he tied with me, but I’ll take what I can get.” That’s right, Radar, who appears with his human counterpart at 6 and 10 on the Channel 2 weather segment, got as many votes as Billingsley. Though tying with a dog may be a little unsettling, Billingsley said, “I can’t think of anyone better.” He said his on-air companion is “a dog with a soul. You look into his eyes, and there’s someone there.” Billingsley and Radar are keeping good company these days. Also honored in the voting were longtime Houston activist Ray Hill as Local Hero-Male. Hill came out in the 1950s when he was the quarterback at Galena Park High School and has been fighting for gay rights ever since. The Local Hero-Female, Carol Wyatt, organized a twice monthly happy hour for professional women, and she sends out a twice monthly e-mail newsletter to a list of more than 300 names. It should come as no surprise that the Professional Women’s Happy Hour was voted Best Place to Meet Women. Annise Parker, who made national history when she was elected Houston City Controller last year, was voted Best Politician, and Houston Mayor Bill White was voted Best Straight Ally. Houston Voice readers decided that the most heroic act was undertaken by attorney Jerry Simoneaux and his partner, Christopner Bown, when they organized a marriage equality demonstration at the office of Harris County Clerk Beverly Kaufmann. IN THE PROTEST, COUPLE AFTER couple approached a desk in the clerk’s office and declared, “We’d like to apply for a marriage license.” Each couple was politely turned away because Texas laws do not allow same-sex marriage. Simoneaux said he and Bown share the honor with the gay and lesbian couples who participated in the demonstration. “Those folks who went up there were phenomenal,” he said. “It’s very courageous when someone stands up for what is right.” Transgendered attorney Phyllis Randolph Frye was voted Best Activist. Simoneaux said he knows of no one more deserving. “I can tell you that transgendered people in Texas would not have as many rights as they have today had it not been for Phyllis Frye,” he said. “In 1981, she got rid of that ridiculous cross dressing ordinance in Houston.” Under the ordinance, Simoneaux said, lesbians could be arrested for wearing jeans that looked too masculine, but it was drag queens who were most at risk. “Houston was a huge place for drag shows, and the drag queens were getting arrested and harassed,” he said. He added that it is because of Phyllis Frye that transgendered persons can get their drivers licenses and birth certificates amended to reflect their sexual reassignment. “She found a way of convincing judges that this needed to be done,” he said. “She’s changed the way America thinks about transgender issues. She absolutely deserves this award.” DINING Best Overall Restaurant Farrago Best Brunch Berryhill – Montrose Channel 2 weatherman Frank Billingsley tied with Radar the Weather Dog for Best TV Personality. Best Value Barnaby’s Best Dessert House of Pies Best Late Night Late Night Pie Best Pizza Star Pizza – Washington Best Burger Lucky Burger Best Ethnic Food Niko Niko Best Outdoor/Patio Dining Café Noche Best Place to be Seen Berryhill – Montrose Most Romantic Sorrento Best Coffee House Onion Creek Attorney Phyllis Randolph Frye was voted Best Gay Activist by readers of the Houston Voice. Best Wait Person Quentin @ Farrago Best Place to Meet Men JR’s Best Place to Meet Women Meteor Women’s Happy Hour Best Place for a Date River Oaks Theater Best Dance Club South Beach Best Neighborhood Bar Decades Best Place for Live Music Keys West Best Happy Hour Cabo Montrose Best Local DJ DJ Alex T Best Drag Queen Kofi Best Bartender Randall Jobe Best Clothing Store – Men M2M Jerry Simoneaux and partner Christopher Bown received the award for Most Heroic Act for organizing a marriage equality protest and the offices of the Harris County Clerk. Best Clothing Store – Women Foley’s Best Home Furnishings Mid Century Best Wine Selection Tasting Room Best Music Selection Soundwaves – Montrose Best Antique Store Gallery Auction Best Jewelry Store The Galaxie Jewelers Best Gift Shop Décor Decor Best Book Store Hollywood Most Romantic Hotel Magnolia Best Place for a Commitment Rothko Chapel Best Gym Houston Gym Houston City Controller Annise Parker is Best Politician as far as Houston Voice readers are concerned Best Hair Salon Azur Salon Best Tanning Salon Eclipse Tanning Best Day Spa Spa 1107 Best Veterinarian Clinic West Alabama Animal Clinic Best Pet Grooming PETCO Best Dentist John Stockman Best Physician Dr. Shannon Schrader Best Tattoo and Piercing Sacred Heart Best Religious Congregation Resurrection MCC Best Local Female Musician Marsha Carlton Local Hero-Male, Ray Hill, has been fighting for gay rights since the 1950s when he was out as the quarterback at Galena Park High School. Best Local Male Musician Marshall Maxwell Best Local Musical Group LLV Best Local Male Visual Artist Troy Broussard Best Local Actor James Black Best Local Actress Tamarie Cooper Best Local TV Personality Frank Bilingsly and Radar Best Theatrical Company Alley Theatre BEST ART GALLERY SIPPORA Best Concert Venue Numbers Best Radio Station 104 KRBE Local Hero-Male Ray Hill Local Hero-Female Carol Wyatt Most Heroic Act Jerry Simoneaux and Chris Bown for County Clerk Gay Marriage Protest Kofi was named Best Drag Queen by Houston Voice readers. Best Activist Phyllis Frye Best Local Minister Ralph Lasher Best Straight Ally Bill White Best Business Person Phillip Wattel Best Politician Annise Parker Best Gay Sports Team Houston Force Softball Best Gay Non-Profit Organization Bayou City Boys Club Best Community Event 26th Annual Pride Parade © 2004 | A Window Media Publication | Privacy Policy

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