The LGBT+ website hosted its sixth annual awards ceremony at Church House Westminster on the 17th of October 2018. The award ceremony, which recognises achievements and support for LGBT+ rights across a wide range of sectors and activities saw awards handed out to the best campaigner, third sector organisation and politician of the year, as well as a Lifetime Achievement award.
Inside the Westminster venue, the entrance to the Bishop Partridge Hall was used as a press hub whilst the reception was hosted in the Hoare Memorial Hall. After a vocal performance by the Pink Singers, a London-based LGBT+ community choir, the 270 guests made their way to the Assembly Hall for the awards dinner.
Nick Clegg, Vince Cable and Emily Thornberry were in attendance along with broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire, Will Young and the star of Channel 4’s series Humans, Emily Berrington. Speakers at the event included Home Secretary Sajid Javid, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The National Trust won the Third Sector Equality award for leading the efforts in highlighting LGBT+ heritage across the country and further afield. The award was presented by Ben Farmer, head of HR (UK) at Amazon and Baroness Williams of Trafford, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) and a Conservative life peer.
BBC’s A Very English Scandal won the Drama prize, a new award, which celebrates a TV series that has significantly represented issues affecting the LGBT+ community. The award was presented by Liberal Democrats leader Vince Cable and Britain’s 2018 Eurovision Song Contest entry, SuRie.
Kellogg’s won the Advertising Campaign of the Year award for the “My Perfect Bowl” campaign, made by Leo Burnett London. The award was presented by Lord Ian Duncan and Freddie Bentley and Sian Owen from Channel 4’s The Circle.
Stonewall won the PinkNews Lifetime Achievement Award. The LGBT+ charity was given the honour by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who praised the organisation’s “unrelenting pressure and campaign against Section 28 and on lifting the ban on LGBT+ soldiers.”
Robin Parker, General Manager at Church House, commented: “We were delighted to host this awards dinner. It was exciting to see such a mix of politicians and celebrities together, celebrating the progress of LGBT+ rights.”.