The Mr. Gay All-American Contest was founded in 1983 by the operators of Miss Gay America, The MGAA Contest provided a venue for gay men to showcase their intellect, community service, and talent; MGAA was the first contest of its kind and launched careers in professional entertainment for many young gay men. In 1995, Norma Kristie, Inc. sold the contest; Mr. Gay All-American continued to operate until 2009. In 2017, new Miss Gay America pageant organizers announced the return of Mr. Gay All-American as the Mr. Gay America pageant.
The Excellence Foundation, founded in 2017, engages the resources of the Gay America Pageant’s family of entertainers, community partners, and sponsors to raise awareness and funds in support of LGBTQ youth and their allies to promote their social development, community involvement, and professional futures.