Australian LGBTI+ Awards

Australian LGBTI+ Awards

By Rita Bratovich.

Spectacle and ceremony are such an intrinsic part of the LGBTI community, that it seems a no-brainer they should have their own awards. And now they do. The inaugural Australian LGBTI+ Awards had its gala debut on March 2 this year at the prestigious Opera House Marquee.

“It’s a beautiful location…I don’t think that the LGBTI community and its allies have seen an event at such a venue in Australia,” says Silke Bader, Co-Founder of the Awards. “But it was very strategic – we just wanted to celebrate with a bang. And it worked!”

The whole thing came about when Bader was contacted by friend and fellow entrepreneur, Linda Riley who had set up the British LGBT Awards seven years ago and wanted to do something similar here.

Their first, unexpected hurdle was the name.

“That is such an interesting conversation that can go on forever – and it’s a political minefield!” says Bader. The British Awards uses only “LGBT” which is how the Australian awards launched. After bowing to request to add an “I” and then being queried about “Q”, they decided to adopt the universal protocol of putting “+” at the end.

Getting corporate participation and sponsorship was a much smaller hurdle, with almost all sectors wanting to be involved.

“We’ve got a lot of very unusual sponsors that have not been part of the LGBTI community before,” says Bader. She believes it’s important to collaborate with a wide range of partners –  the company manifesto is: To achieve equality through working with our allies.

The Awards themselves cover a broad spectrum of categories including sport, politics, workplace, celebrity, corporate and journalism. They’ll be adding three more next year: music artist, media moment and international celebrity. All categories except corporate and journalism are decided by popular vote (the former two are determined by a panel of six judges). With no advertising and only social media and word-of-mouth promotion, the 2017 awards attracted 1300 nominations and over 13,000 votes, so expectations are high for 2018. Equally high is the anticipated ticket sale for the ceremony next March. Already having outgrown the Opera House Marquee, the show will be held at The Star Event Centre next year where they have more capacity, a bigger stage and undercover red carpet (it poured on the night of the 2017 awards!) Bader says The Star is very LGBTI positive.

“They are bending over backwards to get this business and to work with us…it’s only been a couple of weeks but they’ve been brilliant.”

Bader herself has been an entrepreneur in the LGBTI community for 25 years, regarding her role as “a calling”.

“I live it and breath it 24/7. I’ve done so many different things…and the awards really fit in so well because… it’s the pinnacle of what I do.”

Awarded Broadcaster And Presenter of The Year 2017, Julie McCrossin has also been asked to sit on the judging panel for the Journalism and Corporate categories in 2018.

An activist since 1973 and openly lesbian in her career in mainstream media, McCrossin is seen as a pioneer and figurehead for the LGBTI community. She considers her award a universal acknowledgement of all her peers during the early days of the movement.

“I took it as recognition of my generation’s contribution to gay liberation.”

With a history in which she witnessed enormous changes, McCrossin is often asked whether events like these awards are still relevant.

“Being out is really important at the public level for people who are unsure about their sexuality, whether they’re young or middle aged…these awards are critical because they’re a mechanism for mainstream media coverage of our existence.”

McCrossin believes awards are an integral part of our culture; they help build community, restate and reaffirm our core values: inclusion, acceptance, celebration.

“This is not about being gay, this is about being human.”

Canberra United striker, Matildas representative and hero to aspiring boys and girls, Michelle Heyman was voted Sports Personality Of The Year – to her genuine thrill and amazement.

“It was just so nice to be getting an award for just being myself,” she says with unaffected modesty.

The 28 year old soccer star feels it’s important for young people to have a role model and is happy to step in where she can.

“There are so many children struggling with who they are and a lot of kids look up to me for being so comfortable with who I am…I’ve always just wanted to be the best me  – and the best me is the gay me.”

Although Cathy Freeman is someone Heyman really admired, her greatest role model is not in the field of sports.

“My biggest one is definitely Ellen Degeneres. She was my inspiration.”

Having said that, she still believes it’s important for gay sports personalities to be visible, and especially wishes more men would come out, feeling that young gay boys need re-assurance.

Heyman is clearly committed to the LGBTI community and plans to use her celebrity and whatever other influence she has to help young people.

“This is a passion of mine outside of soccer, so the more I can help, the more I can be involved… I definitely want to be there.”

There are few people more deserving of the Lifetime Achievement Award than Molly Meldrum. In fact, the only person who would argue the point is Meldrum himself, with humility as dinkum as his Akubra.

Meldrum says he is usually embarrassed about receiving awards, claiming there are many more deserving people. However he feels differently about this one, “The  LGBTI Award – I was very proud to accept it. I was honoured.”

He believes the awards are positive for the community. Having gay celebrities and role models who are proud and who are congratulated for what they do, might be the thing that stops a young person struggling with their identity from committing suicide.

Though it’s getting easier to be out, Meldrum says there are still challenges and that’s why it’s important to award people who do good work for the community. He’d happily get involved again.

“If I can do anything to help those awards, I’ll give 100%.” He certainly gave his all at the last ceremony, “When I found those long tights in the rainbow colours I couldn’t resist dropping my pants and showing them.”

That’s definitely giving 100%!

Nominations open on June 15. Info and forms at http://www.australianlgbtiawards.com.au

If this article has raised any concerns for you please contact Lifeline on PH: 13 11 14

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