Annual PRIDE Night Parade Awards

All contingents participating in the annual Las Vegas PRIDE Night Parade are judged by a panel of celebrity guest judges from the Las Vegas community as their contingent passes the parade grandstand. Award recipients are announced from the PRIDE Festival Cox Main Stage the following day.

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PRIDE Parade Awards

  • Best Walking/Marching Entry - Commercial
  • Best Walking/Marching Entry - Non-commercial
  • Best Decorated Vehicle - Commercial
  • Best Decorated Vehicle - Non-commercial
  • Best Float - Commercial
  • Best Float - Non-commercial
  • Rainbow Award - Best Use of PRIDE (Rainbow) Colors
  • Painted for the Gods Award - Best Drag Entry
  • Diversity Award - Celebrating the LGBT Community
  • You Light Up My Life Award - Best Use of Lighting
  • Community Ally Award - Best LGBT Community Supporter
  • Hot Wheels Award - Best Motorcycle/Car Club
  • "LOL" Award - Most Humorous
  • Grand Marshall Award - Best Overall Decorated Vehicle
  • Parade Director Award - Best Overall Float
  • Grand Diva Award - Best Overall Parade Entry

Judging

Occurs at Parade Grandstand in the following categories:

Originality - 1 to 10
Concept of overall unit (homemade vs. store bought)

Presentation - 1 to 10
Overall visual appeal

Showmanship - 1 to 10
Group unity, smiling, working the crowd, having fun

Use of Lights - 1 to 10
Effective use of lights

Rainbow Award (PRIDE) - 1 to 10
Best use of rainbow colors - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple

Drag it Out - 1 to 10
Drag Queens & Kings

 

Overall Impression - 1 to 10

The "WOW" Factor

Award winners will be announced on the PRIDE Festival Cox Main Stage the day following the parade, at 3:00 p.m.

Meet The Judges


Adam Bouska

Fashion Photographer
NOH8 Campaign Co-Founder
Adam Bouska (born October 31, 1983 in Decatur, Illinois) is an award winning American fashion photographer who runs a photography studio based out of Los Angeles, California. He is considered a rising 'superstar photographer' in the gay community. His work has been featured on a variety of shows and mediums including; the New York Times, Life & Style magazine, Guinness Book of World Records 2010, Chelsea Lately, TODAY show, The View, Million Dollar Listing, Millionaire Matchmaker, CNBC, and more. Bouska's most recent acclaim has been for his involvement with the NOH8 Campaign, a silent photo protest and non-profit organization he Co-Founded with Jeff Parshley to raise mass awareness for human equality.

He is also noted for his work with celebrities: Barry Manilow, Meghan McCain, James Kyson Lee, Alexa Rae Joel, Deepak Chopra, Lisa Ling and Lt. Dan Choi, America's Next Top Models: Bre Scullark, Michelle Deighton, Amanda Babin and Michelle Babin, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy: Jai Rodriguez, and JD Jordan from Bravo's Work Out.

Currently Bouska lives in West Hollywood, California and was recognized as the community's leading photographer at the WeHo Awards in 2008, and 2010.



Jamie Guirola

General Assignment Reporter
8 News Now

Jamie Guirola moved from sunny Florida to sunny Las Vegas and joined the 8 News Now team in September 2010. At 14 years old, Jamie made his television debut and started his broadcasting career. At the ABC station in Miami, Jamie worked as reporter, host, and producer for a teen magazine show. He also worked as a Junior Broadcaster for NBC6.

Jamie went to college at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in political science and a minor in journalism. He gained valuable experience working as a reporter, producer and fill-in anchor at KOMU-TV. After graduating college, Guirola moved to Syracuse, N.Y. and continued his duties as a general assignment reporter and fill-in anchor at WTVH-TV for two years.

In June 2004, he pursued new opportunities at FOX 21, WHNS in Greenville, S.C. as a reporter and anchor. Following S.C., Jamie moved back to Florida where he was a general assignment reporter at Local 6, WKMG. His talent for reporting has earned him several recognitions. In 2005, the Associated Press honored Guirola with a second place award in general assignment reporting. In 2006, he received a nomination by the Southeast Regional Emmys for outstanding achievement-television news programming excellence.

Guirola says one of the most rewarding parts of being a reporter is covering stories that make a difference, helping people who can't get results on their own.

In his spare time, Guirola likes to watch movies, read, and spend time with family and friends. He enjoys meeting new people. Jamie also likes to try and cook, but admits he can't cook very well!



Zahid Arab

General Assignment Reporter
8 News Now

Zahid Arab joined the 8 News Now team in April 2010 and is proud to be part of the Las Vegas community. As a graduate of Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, he's reported on big stories across the country.

His first job took him to KCAU in Sioux City, Iowa. From tornadoes and blizzards to going one-on-one with Presidential candidates during the 2008 Iowa Caucus, he was there to tell the stories that mattered most. He was awarded an Iowa Associated Press Award for uncovering a flaw in a local sex offender law that allowed registered criminals to live within feet of young children at a trailer park. Because of a series of his reports, lawmakers took notice and evicted them.

From the Midwest plains to paradise, Zahid made the move to KHNL, the NBC station in Honolulu, HI as a reporter/fill-in anchor. Aside from waking up with a view of the ocean, he fell in love with the spirit of the people instantly. One of his favorite experiences was living with a homeless family on the beach to give Hawaii viewers a raw look at the homeless problem plaguing the islands. He was also thrilled to cover Hurricane Felicia, doing live reports on Maui for his station and the Weather Channel. He also had the rare opportunity to fly into Felicia with the Air Force's "Hurricane Hunters." He received a 2009 Emmy nomination for "News Excellence" for his work.



Jeremy Oates

Female Illusionist

Jeremy Oates (aka Ali Kat) is originally from Missouri and has been a local resident for almost 6 years and loves Vegas more with every year that passes. For the past 14 years, Jeremy has intrigued audiences with his performances as a female illusionist. You can see him perform at a variety of local bars, clubs and charity events here in Vegas. He most recently participated in the First Pahrump PRIDE and feels honored to be part of PRIDE history for the city of Pahrump.

Jeremy has had the pleasure of being a judge for several competitions and contest, both locally and nationally, including being on this same judges panel last year. He is known for his attention to detail which is most evident in his exquisitely designed costumes and over-the-top makeup. His eye for detail, un-ordinary beauty and ability to re-imagine what some consider “ordinary” is a gift that comes naturally to him and serves him fantastically both professionally and as Ali Kat.

When not portraying the character of Ali Kat, Jeremy maintains a very busy schedule with his career at a national gaming company based here in Las Vegas, in the Design and Construction department. He also, maintains his own business as a design consultant and costume designer. Designing and being creative is a passion for Jeremy and hopes one day to open a shop for drag queens and entertainers featuring his one of a kind creations and accessories. Jeremy feels privileged to be judging the 2011 Las Vegas Gay PRIDE Parade and would like to wish everyone a happy and safe PRIDE.



Larry Edwards

Female Illusionist

International legendary celebrity impersonator Larry Edwards is an entertainer's entertainer! Also known as Hot Chocolate, Larry's career has afforded him the opportunity to be featured on such programs as "Entertainment Tonight” and "Donahue". Larry says the highlight of his career was when he was chosen to make a cameo appearance in the academy award nominated movie "What's Love Got To Do With it" The Tina Turner Story. He also appeared in the movie Miss Congeniality 2 starring Sandra Bullock.

Larry Edwards stars nightly as the illusion of Tina Turner & Beyonce in Frank Marino's DIVAS Las Vegas (the longest continuously running show in Las Vegas - 25 years) at the Imperial Palace at 10pm.



Jeff Parshley

NOH8 Campaign Co-Founder

More information coming soon!


2010 Parade Award Recipients

Best Walking/Marching Contingent
(Commercial)
Wells Fargo

Best Walking/Marching Entry
(Non-Commercial)
The Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corps of Salt Lake City (ROTC/SLC)

Best Decorated Vehicle
(Commercial)
Jesse Acosta - Elete Realty

Best Float
(Commercial)
Wells Fargo

Best Float (Non-Commercial)
Sin City Q Socials

Painted for the Gods
Best Drag Kings & Queens
Sin Sity Sisters

Diversity Award
(Best Showmanship)
MGM Mirage Resorts International

Proud to Be... Award
(Best Use of Theme:
Proud to be Country!)
Charlies Las Vegas

You Light Up My Life Award
(Best Lighted Contingent)
CRUSH

Community Ally Award
Cox Communication

Decorated Vehicle
Non-Commercial
AFAN (No Picture)

Rainbow Award
(Best use of the rainbow colors)
Back Door Louge (No Picture)