Best of Austin®

Best Lady of the Gays

Mary English Morrison

Best Lady of the Gays
Seabrook Jones

This Octopus Club (the fundraising tentacle of AIDS Services of Austin) volunteer is the grande dame of the gays, especially when it comes to organizing for queer folks' health rights. Morrison was there in 1986 arguing against the quarantine of people living with AIDS – which is just one of many stupid things the Texas Lege has tried to do to queer people. She's a constant and shining fixture both behind the scenes and greeting partygoers at every Octo-function, still making noise and raising funds for the rights of her LGBTQ friends. All this and the fact that she is darned sassy doing it, earns her accolades at home forever more.