Last Friday, Manchester-based radio station Gaydio held its inaugural Gaydio Pride Awards ceremony with a star-studded event at Manchester’s Hilton Hotel.
Created to support, celebrate and honour the efforts of individuals and organisations across the UK that work tirelessly within the LGBTQIA+ community, the event saw performances from award-winning artist Raye, dance music icon Sigala and Drag Race UK star and winner of Season 4 Danny Beard.
Hosted by the recognisable voices of Gaydio breakfast show Paris and Dave, Greater Manchester took home three coveted awards from its five shortlisted categories. The major win was for its annual Manchester Pride event, which took home the joint award for Major Pride of the Year alongside Birmingham Pride, Brighton and Hove Pride and Pride in London. All four major Prides came together to condemn the world cup in Qatar and the human rights abuse against LGBTQ+ people. Student club night Filthy Gorgeous, held at The Brewers, also picked up the accolade for Venue or Event of the Year.
Taking home the award for Charity of the Year was Manchester-based George House Trust, that was recognised for all the work it does around HIV and fighting the stigma around the virus. The charity has been providing HIV support, advice and advocacy services to improve health outcomes for those affected by HIV since 1985. Screenwriter, Russell T Davies, was also in attendance as one of the charity’s ambassadors.
Outside of Manchester, Brighton’s Trans Pride won Grassroots Pride of the Year and Joel Mordi, the organiser of the very first pride event in Nigeria, was honoured with Volunteer of the Year.
As well as this, Employee Pride Network of the Year was awarded to Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Trust LGBTQ+ Staff Network. Trans Radio UK Football Club took home the LGBTQ+ Club or Sports team of the Year award and Great British Bake Off finalist Janusz Domagala won LGBTQ+ Champion.
The Lifetime Contribution award went to Peter Tatchell, a human rights campaigner who was arrested in Qatar for promoting the dangers for LGBTQ+ people throughout the World Cup.
In addition, Up-and-coming black, lesbian musician, Cat Burns, who has had success with back-to-back hits including Go and People Pleaser, as well as recently performing at the 2023 Brit Awards, won Music Artist of the Year.
Cat said: “I feel honoured to receive this award, being a queer woman and being a queer artist is massive to me. It’s super important to me to be visible and to be there showing the music industry that queer people have been here and we’ve been queer!”
Gaydio Director, Ian Wallace added, “The inaugural Gaydio Pride Awards 2023 recognise the fantastic achievements of our community and LGBTQ+ people across the UK.
“We were thrilled to welcome Raye, Danny Beard and Sigala to the stage as well as the winners who have gone above and beyond for the LGBTQ+ community. It is important to offer an event, open to the public, that is able to showcase everything from the smallest of Pride festivals to trailblazing queer music artists. Bring on 2024!”
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