Online voting is underway and winners will be revealed March 20 during a ceremony at Splash Bar & Lounge in New York City. Drag artist and performer Shequida will host. Expected to make appearances are actor/comedian Johnny "The Gay Pimp" McGovern and adult performer-director Michael Lucas.
"The International Escort Awards is Rentboy's way of recognizing, applauding and showing respect to the thousands of escorts and masseurs who put their effort, courage and skill into the underappreciated escort business every day," the website announced.
"Escorts and bodyworkers are frequently stigmatized in the press, yet these courageous and skilled men provide an invaluable service, helping clients make meaningful physical contact, and explore their fantasies, emotional needs, and desire for companionship," show organizers said. "Rentboy has long been an advocate for a person's right to do what he or she likes with their body."
"Have you ever been with an escort that just blew you away and thought, 'That guy deserves an award!' Well, now he'll get one," the site added.
Gay adult performers Arpad Miklos and Diesel Washington are among the nominees for Best Top, while RJ Danvers, Cory Koons, Kaleb Scott and Francois Sagat received a nomination for Best Ass.
Kaleb Scott and Adam Faust were tapped as Best Fetish Escort, while Jason Crew and Arpad Miklos are among those cited as Sexiest Escort.
The nominees for Best Porn Star Escort are Zeb Atlas, Nick Capra, Rafael Carreras, Mario Ortiz, Ryan Raz and Robert Van Damme.
The Best Newcomer category includes Kyle King, Nelson Troy and Jason Pitt. Tommy DeLuca, Chad Hunt and Barrett Long are among the Biggest Dick nominees (a category which honors the size of their endowment, and not their personal comportment).
Atlas, Danvers, DeLuca, Miklos, Van Damme and Washington are the Best Personal Escort Website nominees; DeLuca and Capra are joined by Talvin DeMachio for the marquee category of Best Overall Escort.
Voting is still open at Rentboy's official Hookies website.
