The first annual San Diego GLBT Latin awards – Premios Latinos – took place Sunday, May 16, at The Center. The awards show was the first of what promoters and participants hope will be a yearly acknowledgement of the achievements of the GLBT Latino/a community. The evening featured eight live performances by seven local performers and groups, awards in 13 categories, dancing and a silent auction.

Premios Latinos has been three months in the making, and is the brainchild of Rafael Holguin, a former emperor of the Imperial Court de San Diego.

“I’ve always been involved in the Latino community, raising money for the Latinos,” Holguin said. “I traveled a lot in the United States, meeting a lot of Latino people in Los Angeles, Texas and New York who are raising money also. There are so many Latinos that have been working hard not just for other Latinos but for the whole GLBT community.”

Holguin, executive producer for the event, said he wanted to create an awards show that acknowledged the efforts of GLBT Latino/as who make a difference but are seldom acknowledged. “We have the Latino people in the restaurants, we have Latino people in the bars – everywhere – all kinds of people; some business owners. I thought that I could make it happen.”

Through his connections with the Imperial Court, the GSDBA – where he serves as a board member for Hillcrest Mardi Gras, All Worlds Video and other GLBT organizations, Holguin formulated a long list of community volunteers to help organize the event. “The response of some of the business owners, like Bourbon Street and Margarita Mary’s, they were so happy to hear [about the event] because they all think that the Latinos… should be recognized in the community,” he said.

The executive committee included Azteca Project founder John Acosta, Bienestar Regional Director Carolina Ramos, Angel Colonge, Franko Guillen, John Laird, Jackie O, Tone Puente, APICAP Executive Director Jess San Roque and Carlos Silva. The master of ceremonies was Russell Roybal.

Voting took place on site from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., and the winners were tallied as the awards for 12 categories were handed out between musical performances.

Outstanding Latino/a Youth went to Hector Morales; Outstanding Community Volunteer, Lenette Morales and Maria Ortiz; Outstanding Community Service Agency, Bienestar; Outstanding Community Event, Latino Pride; Outstanding Community Service, Juan Carlos Ruiz; Outstanding Business Person in the Community, Patti Manzanares of Patti’s Place; Outstanding Bar Latin Theme Night, Club Papi at Rich’s and Pasion Latina at Bacchus House; Outstanding Latino Night DJ, Ruben Casas at Bacchus House; Outstanding M/C Personality, Franceska; Outstanding Bartender, David Flores of Bacchus House; and Outstanding Latin Restaurant, Chilangos. A special Friend of the Latino Community award acknowledged Terry Albrighton, Rick Ford and Alma Rosa Vasic.

The final category pitted the evening’s seven performers against each other for Entertainer of the Year, which guests voted on during intermission after the performances finished. Two singers from Mexico that have performed throughout San Diego, and several local drag performers, dancers and singers competed for the award.

Local dance group Latin Rhythm Creations won for Entertainer of the Year.

Premios Latinos proceeds will benefit Bienestar and the Azteca Project.

The Tijuana AIDS Fund is another cause Holguin hopes to raise money for. “In the future, I am going to try to raise more money for my brothers and sisters across the border,” he said. “They really need a lot of money. Especially for hospitals and for houses to take care of people infected with HIV/AIDS.”