The same group, PITA Awards Committee, selected the Pride Songs along with a few visitors assisted in organizing the nominations. Nominations were based on site activity for the artist or song, searches on our system, traffic counts to artists websites, and traffic counts on SWS.  Meaning that the nominees are actually decided by visitor / member interest. The awards were decided strictly by the  total number of qualified votes received from visitors and members, the artist's fans. First year recipients received an award created by SWS Founder-Len. As the awards grew and time did not, recipients are honored and acknowledged online via StoneWall Society, OutVoice and Rainbow World Radio, and most recently GLBT Artists. Musical recipients are featured all year in the playlist for that year's awards. Recipients are also listed in the Pride Award Directory.

     This was and remains a very exciting project for StoneWall Society and the artists involved in the GLBT Artists Promotion. As one of very few award programs of its kind, the SWS Pride In The Arts Awards are decided by and reliant upon the SWS members, visitors, and artists fans. Limited nomination, total determination of recipients, through actual award presentation are all decided by the visitors, members and fans. So these awards while provided by StoneWall Society are actually from the people, fans, and internet visitors. The awards have grown to include these categories; Music, Literature, Visual Arts, Performance Arts and Film Arts. Participants in the awards, those nominating and voting have grown from 385 the first year to over 3,000 in 2005.

     The 2005 PITA Awards were the first of the PITA's where all determinations were made by public vote. Nominations and final voting. This was also the largest year of participants. The work load and system to maintain this method pf presentation was not supported by staff or participants. Leaving the entire process on the shoulders on one person. An unrealistic proposal at best. This caused some understood frustration on the part of all. The Awards were growing and gaining popularity. The issue was one of systems and manpower to support. The next awards would be a challenge. 

    There were no PITA Awards in 2006. Unresolved challenges from the previous year with regard to a working database program, combined with a family death were huge problems. This caused time and organizational delays. In 2006 StoneWall Society organized the first Pride in The Arts Festival.   The PITA Awards themselves, were almost totally closed in late 2006. However strong reaction and support from voters and most of the original PITA Award Committee primarily, helped create some resolutions. The awards would go on. Re-organized and set for a 2006/2007 season. The Awards would be on alternate years. Music and Film in one year, with remaining categories the following year. 

Previous PITA Award Recipients

2002 through 2005         2007

     The first awards were designed by founder Len Rogers. An example below. The awards were actually created by Len, his sister Carolyn, and Mountman aka Joe Wright of Rainbow World Radio and StoneWall Society reviewer of the year recipient. 
For the 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2007 awards the award were Internet based only. 

Example of 2002 Pride In The Arts Music Award.
Click  on the photo below for a full size version in a new window.  
 

    StoneWall Society Network 2002 - 2009