ZAMI honored community activists and the group's new batch of scholarship recipients during a reception on Saturday. The group for African-American lesbians packed Bellisima on Amsterdam Avenue for the 13th Annual Scholarship Brunch, which also featured the passionate tunes of singer Denita Odigie and readings from Linda Villarosa. Ten community activists were honored for their work, including Aida Rentas, Anne Barr, Imani Evans, Darlene Hudson, Frances Andrews, Duncan Teague, Rev. Dr. Kathi Martin, Deepali Gokhale, Shirley Adams and Betty Couvertier. There's more, including a photo photo, after the jump.

Members of the Atlanta Bucks Rugby Football Club, two games into their eight-game fall schedule, don their chef hats on Saturday. It's time for the club's fall cookout. A $15 ticket gets you access to the event at the Eagle and all the burgers, hot dogs, brats, sides and desserts you can stomach. The money helps support the club, which opens its home schedule on Oct. 4. Chow time begins at 1 p.m.

The Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce takes a walk on the wild side tonight. The group hosts its "4th Friday Mixer" at Zoo Atlanta tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to give their monthly event a little extra twist. AGLCC is partnering with the Atlanta Executive Network for the event, which is sponsored by Friends of Anne Fauver. She is running for re-election to represent the heavily-gay District 6 on the Atlanta City Council. The mixer is $15 for AGLCC members and $20 for non-members. And bring cash for the bar; there's not an ATM on site.

ZAMI, a group for African-American lesbians, will showcase its recent scholarship winners and several community leaders during two events on Saturday. The group's 14 scholarship recipients and 10 community activists will be honored during an 11 a.m. brunch. Later that night, at 7:30 p.m., an event toasts just the scholarship winners. Both events are open to the public, though the morning event costs $25. There's more after the jump.

It was all smiles at a swanky fundraiser last weekend in Atlanta for the National Stonewall Democrats. The Washington, D.C.-based group, which includes Atlantan Kyle Bailey as its Director of Chapter & National Development, joined with several other gay and progressive groups to host the Sept. 20 fundraiser. Proceeds benefit NSD's efforts to elect gay-friendly Democrats in targeted races across the U.S. this fall. The event attracted dozens of people to the upscaled Skypad at Tribute Lofts at Boulevard and Freedom Parkway near downtown, including Jon Hoadley (photo with Bailey), NSD's executive director, and Karla Drenner, the only openly gay member of the Georgia Legislature. Community partners for the event included the Atlanta Executive Network, Atlanta Stonewall Democrats, Democratic Party of Georgia, Fulton County Democratic Party, Georgia Equality, Young Democrats of Atlanta, Young Democrats of Georgia, Young Democrats Stonewall Caucus and YouthPride. View the Project Q Atlanta photo album from the event.

The Atlanta Executive Network made use of the swanky Trois in Midtown late last week for its monthly meeting. The topic was gay travel. Charlie Rounds with Atlantis Events and RSVP Vacations; Rene Jongmans, president of Vacation Express; and Dan Howell from VacationGay.com talked about travel hot spots, planning for a trip and what gay and lesbian travelers should be considering when searching for that perfect vacation during the Sept. 18 meeting. AEN's next meeting, set for Oct. 16, focuses on legal issues important to gay men and lesbians. View the Project Q Atlanta photo album from the event.

Lesbian comedian and author Judy Gold stops at Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse tonight to pitch her new book, "25 Questions for a Jewish Mother."

Gold is conservative, kosher, gay and the mother of two sons, ages 7 and 12. Her art is both reaction and tribute to her 86-year-old mom, Ruth. We caught up with the younger Gold as she rolled into town the other day and talked about, what else —- how she has unwittingly become her mother.

There's more after the jump.

A coalition of gay and straight organizations from across Atlanta are coming together to support the "ENDA Summer Party" set for Saturday. The event raises funds for the National Stonewall Democrats and its 90 chapters across the county to support its efforts to elect gay-friendly Democrats in targeted races across this year. Community partners for the event include Atlanta Executive Network, Atlanta Stonewall Democrats, Democratic Party of Georgia, Fulton County Democratic Party, Georgia Equality, Young Democrats of Atlanta, Young Democrats of Georgia, Young Democrats Stonewall Caucus and YouthPride. What you get for your $35 ticket after the jump.

A host of firms, from home-grown Delta Air Lines to gay travel site Fabugo, made their best pitch on Tuesday for any gay travel dollars left in a tough economy. Exhibitors at the HX Gay & Lesbian Travel Expo pitched their wares for four hours to a brisk crowd at the recently rebranded Hotel Midtown on 10th Street near Peachtree Street, formerly the Wyndham Midtown. The expo featured an array of high-end brands looking to tap the gay and lesbian travel market, including Hyatt, W and Wyndham. The Granada was also on hand to promote ongoing renovations to its West Peachtree hotel. The event also included firms to help get you where you want to go, including Vacation Express, Fabugo, Life Journeys and Travelocity. There were also pitches on hand for gay travel to Canada, New Mexico, Miami and San Francisco. When you get there, Navigaytour wants to be your guide. The company publishes gay travel guides for several cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. View a Project Q Atlanta photo album from the event.

Georgia Equality, the statewide gay rights group, wants your help to "Rally the Vote '08." The group is seeking RSVPs and sponsors for the Oct. 29 event, which they hope will raise funds to support its education and mobilization efforts for gay and lesbian voters. The suggested donation is $35. Georgia Equality announced the event in a statement sent to supporters today:

From local offices to the presidency, candidates for political office are spending more time and effort courting our community than ever before. Funds raised by the Rally the Vote event will support Georgia Equality’s work to educate and mobilize LGBT voters and support our ongoing work to advance fairness, safety and opportunity for LGBT citizens and their allies.

More than 200 people packed the tables set up inside the Wild Mustang on Sept. 10 for "Pretty in Pink Bingo," the latest monthly installment of the long-running fund-raiser. The event, hosted by Bubba D. Licious, raises money for Pets Are Loving Support. The group provides pet care, including free food and basic veterinary care, and support to the companion pets of critically ill and disabled Atlantans. The next event, "Rodeo Bingo," is set for Oct. 8. The group is currently seeking donations of dry dog and cat food to compensate for the loss of its usual supplier. PALS is also in need of volunteers to help with the set up each month for its bingo events and delivery of pet food on the second Saturday of each month. View the Project Q Atlanta photo album from "Pretty in Pink" Bingo.

Gay author J.L. King, an Atlantan when he's not touring the country touting a new book, stopped by Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse on Wednesday. He was, yes, promoting his newest work "Love is a Two-Way Street," the fictional tale of music mogul James Lamar "Juice" Kennedy and his ruthless drive for sex, money and power. And it's that J.L. King, the one who gained notoriety in 2004 with his book “On the Down Low: A Journey Into the Lives of ‘Straight’ Black Men Who Sleep With Men." View the Project Q Atlanta photo gallery from the event. There are two videos about King's new book after the jump.

Gay author E. Lynn Harris played to a hometown crowd on July 23 when he read from his latest novel. In its Aug. 6 edition, David magazine includes a spread of photos I shot at the event. For a gallery of my photos from the event, go here.