Stonewall Awards honouring LGBT heroes and villains
August 20th, 2008
The L Word writer Rose Troche and fertility treatment campaigner Natalie Gamble will be among the nominees at the third annual Stonewall Awards ceremony this November.
The ceremony, sponsored by Barclays Bank, is a celebration of those people who have had a positive impact on the lives of lesbian and gay people in Britain.
Three of the awards will be voted for by thousands of Stonewall supporters from across Britain: ‘Hero of the Year’, ‘Bigot of the Year’ and the ‘Stonewall & Barclays Community Group.’
Nominees as Hero of the Year include gay bishop Gene Robinson and Natalie Gamble, a veteran campaigner for equal access to fertility treatment.
Nominations for Bigot of the Year include Northern Irish MP Iris Robinson and Heinz, which withdrew an innocent ad for mayonnaise after complaints that it featured a ‘gay kiss’.
The other seven awards – including Writer and Entertainer of the Year - will be chosen by a panel of judges including Diane Abbott MP, artist Maggi Hambling and broadcaster Dawn Airey.
Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted to celebrate all those people – both gay and gay-friendly - who’ve made an inspirational contribution to equality in Britain today. Our communities have a growing range of allies and they all too often go unrecognised.”
Last year Antony Grey was named Hero of the Year for his pioneering work towards the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967.
The Bishop of Hereford was voted Bigot of the Year for unlawfully refusing to employ gay youth worker John Reaney. Earlier this year, the Bishop was ordered to pay £47,000 to John and to undergo equal opportunities training.
The Stonewall Awards ceremony will be held on Thursday 6 November 2008 at London’s V&A.
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