Drag legend Courtney Act and pop star Duncan James will host this awesome new event
The inaugural Rainbow Honours, a celebration of those who have stood out in their support for the LGBTQI+ community, will take place this December.
This is a unique evening of celebration to shine a light on those unsung champions who give up their spare time to volunteer, work tirelessly and strive to make the world a better place for the LGBTQI+ community.
There’s no doubt that the LGBTQI+ community has made amazing strides in recent years, yet it’s also true that LGBTQI+ people still face prejudice in the workplace, education and across social media. That’s why this event will reward those wonderful individuals and organisations who further LGBTQI+ equality and inclusion. We will honour those who dedicate themselves to fairness for all and deserve our accolades – they are, after all, the UK’s Rainbow Heroes.
A series of major awards are up for grabs including the Rainbow Honours Lifetime Achievement Award, Media Moment, LGBTQ+ Icon, New LGBTQ+ Network Group and Trans Advocate. The night will be hosted by drag legend Courtney Act and pop star Duncan James.
Duncan James said, “I am honoured and proud to be hosting the 2019 Rainbow Honours, where we will celebrate and honour the achievements and accomplishments of the LGBTQ+ community. This is something that is very close to my heart and I look forward to a fun and exciting evening.”
Courtney Act added, “As our community makes leaps and bounds with acceptance and visibility in the mainstream it’s important to maintain focus on the so too often unsung heroes who are doing amazing work. This is our chance to celebrate them, lift them up, and amplify their voices and stories. I’m so honoured to host this special night and celebrate the achievements of our queer community.”
The star-studded awards ceremony is set to take place on 4 December 2019, in partnership with DIVA and The Thomson Reuters Foundation’s LGBTQ+ digital platform, Openly. The charity partner for the event is Queer Britain, the national LGBTQ+ museum.
Carrie Lyell, DIVA editor-in-chief, said: “This summer saw celebrations across the world marking 50 years since the Stonewall riots. Yet we’ve also witnessed increasing hostility towards LGBTQI people, protests against inclusive education and violent attacks against those of us deemed to be ‘other’. All too often, still, we are vilified, demonised and sexualised, or erased altogether. That’s why it’s so important to lift up those who, against a populist, ring-wing backdrop, continue to speak out against injustice, even when doing so is dangerous. DIVA is proud to support the Rainbow Honours, and proud to support our Rainbow Heroes.”
Antonio Zappulla, CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation said: “Shedding a light on the untold stories of LGBT+ people around the world is core to the work of Openly, the Foundation’s dedicated LGBT+ digital news platform. We pride ourselves on impartial, authoritative and trustworthy coverage of global issues. Openly provides an alternative source of credible news and in doing so, works to break down global stereotypes or ignorance. For this reason, we are delighted to be supporting the Rainbow Honours to celebrate LGBTQI heroes, networks and allies who do so much to advance LGBT+ equality and inclusion.”
Joseph Galliano, co-Founder and CEO of Queer Britain said: “It is of vital importance to recognise and celebrate the people and organisations working tirelessly to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people and their families. At Queer Britain, we want to shine a light on these stories, which can inspire and uplift us all. This is why we are proud to be associated with the Rainbow Honours.”
Nominations are open until 16 October 2019, so be sure to cast yours soon.
The Rainbow Honours will take place at the iconic Madame Tussauds on 4 Dec 2019. For more information and nominations visit rainbowhonours.com
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