{"id":197891,"date":"2026-03-19T15:36:06","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T15:36:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/197891\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T15:36:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T15:36:06","slug":"tampa-bays-top-3-2026-wonder-award-winners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/197891\/","title":{"rendered":"Tampa Bay’s Top 3 2026 WONDER Award winners"},"content":{"rendered":"

Watermark Out News has been Central Florida and Tampa Bay\u2019s leading LGBTQ+ news source for over 30 years. For most of that time, readers have recognized their local favorites through our annual \u201cbest of\u201d awards.<\/p>\n

Nominations and voting in the 2026 Watermark Out News: Diversity, Excellence and Resilience Awards,\u00a0or WONDER Awards, closed in February. Readers nominated Central Florida and Tampa Bay\u2019s LGBTQ+ community in the areas of activism, service, entertainment and more before celebrating their winners in March.<\/p>\n

Congratulations to every person and organization who was recognized this year. View Tampa Bay\u2019s Top 3 honorees below and read more about the 2026 WONDER Awards here.<\/p>\n

2026 WONDER Awards: Tampa Bay winners<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL POLITICIAN<\/p>\n

FIRST: Tampa Mayor Jane Castor
SECOND: St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch
THIRD: State Rep. Michele Rayner<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL LGBTQ+ ACTIVIST<\/p>\n

FIRST: Tamara Leigh, Tampa Bay Black Lesbians
SECOND: Ant Avila, Equality Florida
THIRD: Byron Green-Calisch, Justice Over Everything\/St Pete Pride<\/p>\n

GREATEST ALLY TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY<\/p>\n

FIRST: Carol \u201cMama\u201d Steen, Tampa Bay Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
SECOND: Rev. Andy Oliver, Allendale UMC
THIRD: Molly Robison, St Pete Pride<\/p>\n

MOST EFFECTIVE LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION<\/p>\n

FIRST: St Pete Pride
SECOND: Equality Florida
THIRD: Metro Healthy Communities<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL TRANS-AFFIRMING ORGANIZATION<\/p>\n

FIRST: St Pete Pride
SECOND: TransNetwork
THIRD: Inclusive Care Group<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL TRANS-AFFIRMING SPACE<\/p>\n

FIRST: The Ball
SECOND: TransNetwork Events
THIRD: Allendale UMC<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL FAITH-BASED ESTABLISHMENT<\/p>\n

FIRST: Allendale UMC
SECOND: MCC Tampa
THIRD: UU St. Pete<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL WRITER \/ JOURNALIST<\/p>\n

FIRST: Ryan Williams-Jent, Watermark Out News
SECOND: Immani Love, Blaque\/OUT Magazine
THIRD: Dave Borman, Tampa Bay Gay<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL WEBSITE<\/p>\n

FIRST: WatermarkOutNews.com
SECOND: ILoveTheBurg.com
THIRD: TampaBayGay.com<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL TV \/ WEB PERSONALITY<\/p>\n

FIRST: Discord Addams, \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u201d
SECOND: Greg Dee, Tampa Bay 28
THIRD: Natalie Taylor, Tampa Bay\u2019s Morning Blend<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL RADIO SHOW \/ PODCAST<\/p>\n

FIRST: \u201cThe Big Gay Radio Show,\u201d WMNF 88.5
SECOND: \u201cThe Skittle Squad\u201d
THIRD: \u201cWine, Wine Not: A Queer Podcast\u201d<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL CONTENT CREATOR<\/p>\n

FIRST: Chris Gibson, @ChrisGibsonLive
SECOND: Art Smith, @GayBarchives
THIRD: Dr. Beachgem, @Dr.Beachgem10<\/p>\n

FAVORITE ANNUAL LOCAL LGBTQ+ EVENT<\/p>\n

FIRST: St Pete Pride
SECOND: Winter Pride
THIRD: Equality Florida St. Pete Gala<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL TRANS-AFFIRMING EVENT<\/p>\n

FIRST: TransMarch, St Pete Pride
SECOND: Trans & Ally Picnic, PFLAG Safety Harbor & TransNetwork
THIRD: Transtastic, St Pete Pride<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL NETWORKING EVENT<\/p>\n

FIRST: St Pete Pride\/Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber Pride Connect
SECOND: The Good Gays of Tampa Bay
THIRD: St. Pete Girl Boss<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS LEAGUE \/ ORGANIZATION<\/p>\n

FIRST: HotMess Sports St. Petersburg
SECOND: Tampa Bay Lightning
THIRD: Tampa Bay Rays <\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY<\/p>\n

FIRST: Metro Healthy Communities
SECOND: CAN Community Health
THIRD: Love the Golden Rule<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL PHYSICIAN<\/p>\n

FIRST: Dr. Kush Patel, MD Do Assoc
SECOND: Dr. Bob Wallace, Love the Golden Rule
THIRD: Dr. Antonio Luis, Inclusive Care Group<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL THERAPIST \/ COUNSELOR<\/p>\n

FIRST: Katie Hoffman-Reed, ECM Counseling Services
SECOND: Lizzi Wolfson, Rainbow Family Wellness
THIRD: Tristan Byrnes, Byrnes Counseling Group<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL FITNESS CENTER<\/p>\n

FIRST: Planet Fitness St. Petersburg
SECOND: E\u014dS Fitness Tampa
THIRD: Crunch Fitness St. Pete Northeast<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL HAIR SALON \/ BARBER SHOP<\/p>\n

FIRST: Tyler\u2019z Barbershop
SECOND: Haus of Chantel Salon Studio
THIRD: Top Notch Barber Co.<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO PAMPER YOURSELF<\/p>\n

FIRST: Inclusive Care Group
SECOND: Sunshine City Massage
THIRD: The Body Mechanic Massage Therapy<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL VETERINARIAN CLINIC<\/p>\n

FIRST: St. Pete Veterinary Hospital
SECOND: Bayview Animal Hospital
THIRD: Dale Mabry Animal Hospital<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL PET SPA<\/p>\n

FIRST: The Bow Wow Barber
SECOND: Bath & Biscuit Pet Boutique
THIRD: Tampa Paws Pet Salon<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL PET-FRIENDLY VENUE<\/p>\n

FIRST: The Dog Bar
SECOND: Mutts & Martinis
THIRD: Pinellas Ale Works<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL REALTOR<\/p>\n

FIRST: Callen Jones, The Jones Home Team
SECOND: Gabe Alves, The Alves Group
THIRD: Rob Hall, The Alves Group<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL FINANCIAL ADVISOR<\/p>\n

FIRST: Samantha Fernandez, Raymond James
SECOND: Dean Hershkowitz, Edward Jones
THIRD: Thomas Hake, Raymond James<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL LAW FIRM<\/p>\n

FIRST: Sheppy Law
SECOND: The King Law Firm, PA
THIRD: Ferrari, Butler & Moneymaker, PLLC<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESS NOT A BAR\/CLUB<\/p>\n

FIRST: Atlas Body + Home
SECOND: Memphis Style BBQ Co.
THIRD: ZaZoo\u2019d<\/p>\n

FAVORITE NEW LOCAL BUSINESS<\/p>\n

FIRST: Disco Pony Nightclub
SECOND: The Ball
THIRD: Red Mesa Mercado West<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL MARKET<\/p>\n

FIRST: St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market
SECOND: Ybor City Saturday Market
THIRD: Big Gay Market at Cocktail<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL FLORIST<\/p>\n

FIRST: Jennie\u2019s Flowers St. Petersburg
SECOND: Green Bench Flowers
THIRD: Bruce Wayne Florals<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL TATTOO PARLOR<\/p>\n

FIRST: Blue Devil Tattoo
SECOND: Electric
Gold Downtown
THIRD: 13 Arrows Tattoo<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL ADULT NOVELTY STORE
FIRST: Todd Couples Superstore
SECOND: The Back Room by ZaZoo\u2019d
THIRD: Jack and Jill<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY<\/p>\n

FIRST: M\u00dcV
SECOND: Curaleaf
THIRD: RISE<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL SHOPPING \/ ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT<\/p>\n

FIRST: The Grand Central District
SECOND: Ybor
THIRD: Hyde Park Village<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST<\/p>\n

FIRST: Chad Mize
SECOND: John Gascot
THIRD: Nelson Perez<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER<\/p>\n

FIRST: Morgan Le Shade
SECOND: Dave Decker
THIRD: Dylan Todd<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DRAG QUEEN<\/p>\n

FIRST: Veronica Foxx
SECOND: Alice Marie Gripp
THIRD: Brianna Summers<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DRAG KING<\/p>\n

FIRST: Mister E
SECOND: Vyn Suazion
THIRD: Apollo Infiniti<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: STAGE<\/p>\n

FIRST: Robert Rigsby
SECOND: Jeff Klein
THIRD: Matthew McGee<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: MUSICIAN<\/p>\n

FIRST: Jay Miah
SECOND: Brittany Baldwin\u00a0
THIRD: Vyn Suazion<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMER: DJ<\/p>\n

FIRST: DJ Mike Sklarz
SECOND: DJ Ace Vedo
THIRD: DJ Tex Flex<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL BREAKOUT PERFORMER<\/p>\n

FIRST: Keirra Ka\u2019oir Summers
SECOND: Morgana Morgan
THIRD: Reb3l<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL ADULT CONTENT CREATOR \/ ENTERTAINER<\/p>\n

FIRST: Scott Simon
SECOND: Hunter Vance
THIRD: Tampa Tom<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS VENUE<\/p>\n

FIRST: Straz Center
SECOND: Tampa Theatre
THIRD: Mahaffey Theater<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATION<\/p>\n

FIRST: OUT Arts & Culture
SECOND: Creative Pinellas
THIRD: Diversity Arts<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL THEATRICAL SHOW<\/p>\n

FIRST: \u201cThe Evolution of Drag,\u201d Daphne Ferraro
SECOND: Zubrick Magic Theatre
THIRD: \u201cDracula: A Comedy of Terrors,\u201d Straz Center<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT<\/p>\n

FIRST: Neptune Grill
SECOND: Red Mesa Cantina
THIRD: BellaBrava<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL BRUNCH SPOT<\/p>\n

FIRST: The Wet Spot
SECOND: Red Mesa Cantina
THIRD: The Tap Room, Hollander Hotel<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL COFFEE SHOP<\/p>\n

FIRST: Black Crow Coffee Co.
SECOND: Bandit Coffee Co.
THIRD: Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL UNIQUE DRINK\/EAT\/TREAT<\/p>\n

FIRST: Cuban, Bodega
SECOND: The Chappell, The Ball
THIRD: Figgy Piggy Pizza, Noble Crust<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL LGBTQ+ BAR \/ CLUB<\/p>\n

FIRST: Cocktail
SECOND: Disco Pony Nightclub
THIRD: Bradley\u2019s on 7th<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL ALLIED BAR \/ CLUB<\/p>\n

FIRST: Good Night John Boy
SECOND: The Castle
THIRD: Lost & Found<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL HANGOUT<\/p>\n

FIRST: St Pete Pier
SECOND: Casa del Merman at GayStPeteHouse
THIRD: FloridaRAMA<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL HAPPY HOUR<\/p>\n

FIRST: Bradley\u2019s on 7th
SECOND: Cocktail
THIRD: Enigma<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL HOST: KARAOKE<\/p>\n

FIRST: KJ Brad Rox, Cocktail
SECOND: Immani Love, Tampa Bay Black Lesbians Meet-Ups
THIRD: KJ Jayson Chancey, Utopia Road Bar & Courtyard<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL HOST: TRIVIA<\/p>\n

FIRST: Vic Salazar, The Ball
SECOND: Greg Anderson
THIRD: Lilith Black, The Garage<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL HOST: BINGO<\/p>\n

FIRST: Veronica Foxx, Common Dialect Beerworks
SECOND: Alexis De La Mer, Cocktail
THIRD: Brianna Summers, Red Mesa Events<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL BARTENDER \/ SERVER<\/p>\n

FIRST: Jordan Furlong, Disco Pony Nightclub
SECOND: Vernon Vaden, MR D\u2019z Men\u2019s Emporium
THIRD: Erick Henriquez, Enigma<\/p>\n

FAVORITE PLACE TO TAKE AN OUT-OF-TOWNER<\/p>\n

FIRST: St Pete Pier
SECOND: Armature Works
THIRD: The Dal\u00ed Museum<\/p>\n

FAVORITE LOCAL HIDDEN GEM<\/p>\n

FIRST: Lucky Star Lounge
SECOND: Tampa Bay Drinkery
THIRD: Lettuce Lake Park<\/p>\n

Read more about the 2026 WONDER Awards here.<\/p>\n

Sign up for the Watermark Out News eNewsletter<\/a> \u00a0and follow us for more:
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