Gay Chamber of Commerce honors business leaders
This was a recent story in Southern Voice. Reading about this group I call GABC always makes me wonder where Atlanta's group went wrong. The idea of having a gay and lesbian chamber of commerce is a great one and many cities do it successfully. But Atlanta's GABC has always been shadowed by the image of a self-serving, small group of people trying to make sheeple believe they are the gay elite in town.
Of course, Cindy Abel influence can be seen all over GABC and the recent "awards":
Mayor Shirley Franklin received the Individual Community Supporter of the Year. Why? Franklin is shutting down bars and is beholden to HRC. She did give Cindy a plumb after her election with the gay-atlanta.com/ website. Wonder what that was payback for? The website sucks and really doesn't do much to bring tourist to Atlanta. I'm sure there are more deserving people in Atlanta of this award, but it makes me wonder if anyone turned it down.
Cindy Abel worked on U.S. Rep. Denise Majette (D-Ga.)'s campaign for judgeship a few years ago. Cindy was one of the few outspoken supporters in Majette's campaign against Cynthia McKinney.
Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse, Business Community Supporter of the Year. Duh! Cindy is an investor in Outwrite and does their PR. Philip wins every year. But Outwrite doesn't represent "my" community and I would never set foot in there again as long as I live.
Not sure what Cindy has to do with Red Chair but I recall Cindy has her little Victory Fund receptions there. Victory Fund is another little group Cindy ruins in Atlanta for everyone else.
Did Shadowgraphix piss Cindy off recently. I usually see their name in the list but not this year.
One person who doesn't fit into this disaster is Shirley Adams. Shirley is a major asset to the Atlanta LGBT community and I wonder why she would risk damaging herself by being associated with GABC.
A friend and I did speak to past GABC President Becky Nelson a few years ago about GABC's bad reputation in the community and how people would not be involved with such a self-serving, hypocritical group. Becky said her goal was to change that perception and bring a sense of respectability to GABC but I guess she failed.
South Florida has a Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce with hundreds and hundreds of members - as opposed to Atlanta's tens and tens. It's good to see a group that actually works for a change.
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