Nine organisations, charities and individuals based in Manchester have been shortlisted at the first ever Gaydio Pride Awards.
The inaugural Gaydio Pride Awards with Hilton, which celebrate the ‘extraordinary efforts that bring Pride to every corner of the UK’ by honouring LGBTQ+ members and allies, will be held at Manchester’s Hilton Hotel on February 10.
Last year’s Manchester Pride, which featured a ‘back to its roots’ approach focusing on activism, has been shortlisted for Major Pride of the Year, alongside Pride In London, Birmingham Pride and Brighton + Hove Pride.
READ MORE: Map reveals the largest LGBTQ+ communities in Greater Manchester
Salford Pride and Prestwich Pride have both been shortlisted in the Grassroots Pride of the Year category, alongside Black Pride UK, Trans Pride Brighton and Chesterfield Pride.
Canal Street bar The Brewers has been shortlisted for Venue or Event of the Year alongside R&B and dancehall club night Swagga and student night Filthy Gorgeous. Bury pub and bar The House of Bridget’s has also been recognised in the category.
The Manchester Village Spartans rugby club and Outdoor Lads, which was founded in Manchester, have both been shortlisted for the LGBTQ+ Club or Sports team of the Year. Manchester-based George Trust House, which provides HIV support and advocacy services, has been nominated for the Charity award.
Elsewhere, The Great British Bake Off’s Janusz Domagala and Aida H Dee, founder of Drag Queen Story Hour, have been nominated for LGBTQ+ Champion alongside Pride in London’s Events Manager Carley Owen.
The shortlist comes after Gaydio listeners were asked to nominate the people, charities, and organisations they felt were making a real difference in their area. A dedicated community panel then compiled together the final shortlist to represent the very best LGBTQ+ people and charities from all over the UK.
Gaydio listeners and members of the public were asked to nominate the people, charities, and organisations they felt were making a real difference in their area, with the nominees then shortlisted by dedicated community panels, to ensure winners are chosen as fairly as possible, and represent the very best LGBTQ+ people and charities from all over the UK.
"Gaydio is Where Pride Lives and it feels only right that we celebrate the people, organisations and charities who work so hard to support the LGBTQ+ community all year round," Kriss Herbert, Network Content Manager for Gaydio, said.
“We think this shortlist really showcases the huge impact people, charities and communities are making all over the UK, and we can’t wait to announce our winners at the first ever Gaydio Pride Awards with Hilton on 10th February.”
The full list of nominations are as follows:
Major Pride of the Year
Manchester Pride
Pride in London
Birmingham Pride
Brighton + Hove Pride
Grassroots Pride of the Year
UK Black Pride
Trans Pride, Brighton
Prestwich Pride
Chesterfield Pride
Salford Pride
Volunteer of the Year
Michele Ralph (Crawley Pride Volunteer)
Joel Mordi (Nigeria’s First Ever Pride Organiser)
Charlie Watts (Pride in Surrey Volunteer)
LGBTQ+ Club or Sports team of the Year
Gay Outdoor Club
Leicester Diamonds Baseball Club
Manchester Village Spartans
Outdoor Lads
Trans Radio UK Football Club
Employee Pride Network of the Year
Proud at Deloitte
Birmingham women’s and Children’s NHS Trust LGBTQ+ Staff Network
Proud @ Shell UK
JET & Proud – Just Eat’s global LGBT+ Network
Co-op respect
Bruntwood’s LGBTQIA++ Network
Venue or Event of the Year
Arch, Clapham
Swagga, Manchester
Filthy Gorgeous, The Brewers, Manchester
The House of Bridget’s, Bury
The Werkroom, Stoke-on-Trent
Planet Bar, Edinburgh
Charity
Spencer Trust
Fighting with Pride
George House Trust
LGBTQ+ Champion
Carley Owen
Sab Samuel / Aida H Dee / Drag Queen Story Time
Janusz Domagala (Finalist of Great British Bake Off)
People can attend the awards ceremony by purchasing tickets here.
Read more of today's top stories here
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