Nominations open for Sunderland’s LGBTQ Awards

Members of THRIVE NE, winners of the 2018 Charity & Community Initiative Award, with Lui Asquith, winner of the Ally of the Year Award. L-R Michael Young, Drew Dalton, Lui Asquith and Stuart Mullen

The awards, which were created by Sunderland based LGBTQ charitable project Rainbow Foundation, recognise the positive contributions made by individuals, organisations and groups across the region to improve the lives of members of the LGBTQ community.

Six different categories are open for nominations: Ally of the Year, Inclusive Arts & Media, Charity & Community Initiative, Outstanding Contribution to LGBTQ Life, Creating Safer Learning Spaces and Inspirational Workplace.

There will also be special award presented on the evening of the award ceremony, for a Lifetime Achievement.

Ryan Houston, founder of Rainbow Foundation, said: “The awards provide a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the positive contributions that are made throughout the year by individuals, organisations and groups.

“We are delighted to be organising the event once again, and to be presenting the awards the evening before International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, an event marked each year on May 17 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media, to the violence and discriminations that is still experienced by LGBTQ people internationally.”

This year’s awards have been sponsored by Sunderland College, University of Sunderland, Gentoo, Rainbow Foundation, Up North Media and Team Tilly Entertainment.

Voting closes on Friday, April 5, with finalists being invited to an awards ceremony hosted by Sunderland College on Thursday, May 16.

•Nominations can be made online via gaywearside.co.uk.