People and businesses across Merseyside have been recognised for fighting for change for the city’s LGBTQ+ community.
The 11th annual Navajo Merseyside and Cheshire LGBTQIA Chartermark Awards, which took place at Liverpool’s Community College, saw individuals and organisations receive the prestigious accolade that is a "signifier of good practice, commitment and knowledge of the specific needs, issues and barriers facing LGBTIQA+ people in Merseyside".
Several individual awards were presented to “unsung heroes” for working tirelessly to champion equality within their communities. This year's winners ranged from Merseyside Police, HIV charity Sahir House and Chester university.
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The ceremony featured speeches from two guest speakers including Tom Harrison, CEO of Local Solutions, who spoke around the event’s theme of “not going back in the closet”. Mr Harrison was followed by Great Britain Paralympian AJ Jackson, who openly spoke of the challenges of identifying as gay and non-binary.
Both Tom and AJ are said to have received “a fantastic reaction to what they had to say and delegates spoke openly of their determination to go back to their organisations and start to make small changes that the pair spoke of as being an important way of removing barriers”.
Speaking more about the event, Navajo chairperson, Tony Griffin, told the ECHO : "This is one of the most significant events in the LGBTQIA calendar and celebrates a most unique and groundbreaking event that began in 2008. Why Navajo is so special is that it is local people and organisations who are understanding and learning about what is required to make long-lasting change for the LGBTQ+ community. Everyone involved in the partnership is volunteers as it wasn’t created to make money but to create change and break down barriers.
He added: “This celebration of all that it means to those who identify as LGBTQIA is the beginning of a journey to ensure that within our society we are not marginalised any longer. Not only does it make good business sense to remove barriers and raise awareness but it is the right thing to do for a body of people who for too long have been overlooked.”
Every year special awards are given out, this includes the Jane Roden Unsung Heroes Memorial Award, which is open to allies as well as community members. Jenny Owen, who has supported the work of CMAGIC, a gender dysphoria service provided by Merseycare, took home the coveted award. The Next Generation Award for Young People, went to Patrick Holmes, for his work in looking at the issues facing young LGBTQ+ homeless people.
Below is a list of all this year's Navajo Award winners:
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Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust
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Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust
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Merseyside Police
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Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS)
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Wirral University NHS teaching hospital
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Sahir House
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Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Magenta Living
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East Cheshire Hospice
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Hospice of the Good Shepard
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St Luke’s Hospice
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Southport and Formby Health
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Warrington and Halton teaching hospitals NHS foundation trust
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Chester University
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Sefton council
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