The fifth Stonewall Awards, hosted by Sue Perkins, were held last night at London's V&A and attended by 450 people including celebrities, politicians, sportspeople and writers. The event celebrates those who have made a positive impact on the lives of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain in the last year.
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| Chris Grayling Bigot Of The Year |
Bigot Of The Year Former shadow home secretary Chris Grayling was named ‘Bigot of the Year’.
Tory MP Mr Grayling, who was secretly recorded in May saying that bed and breakfasts should have the right to bar gay couples.
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| Gareth Thomas, Hero Of The Year |
Gareth Thomas, Hero Of The YearGareth Thomas, who became the first out gay professional rugby player last December, was named ‘Hero of the Year’. He attended the London ceremony with his parents. Some audience members were in tears as he spoke after accepting the award. Mr Thomas said: “I don’t really know what denotes a hero. I’m just myself. But when you live in a world that tries to make different a wrong thing, to me, being a hero is just being honest. He added: “To be a hero, you have to follow in a hero’s footsteps. And there’s people here tonight who’ve been my heroes all my life and will be forever – that’s my mother and father.”
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| Stella Duffy, joint winner of ‘Writer of the Year’ |
Stella Duffy, joint winner of ‘Writer of the Year’
Stella Duffy for Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore
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| Rupert Smith joint winner of ‘Writer of the Year’ |
Rupert Smith joint winner of ‘Writer of the Year’Rupert Smith author of MANS WORLD, which is also shortlisted for the inaugral Creen Carnation prize.
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| Patrick Strudwick, ‘Journalist of the Year’ |
Patrick Strudwick, ‘Journalist of the Year’Gay British journalist Patrick Strudwick spent several months investigating gay-to-straight conversion therapy, undergoing "treatment" from two psychotherapists who made no secret of their view that homosexuality was far from natural, but rather a composite of "mental illness, addiction and anti-religious phenomenon". Mr Strudwick, said: “I am dedicating this award to all the victims of hate around the world who have told me their stories. Their strength and dignity spurred me on.”
He also thanked the thousands of people who added their support to his campaign to stamp out the controversial therapy.
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| John Partridge, Entertainer of the Year |
John Partridge, Entertainer of the YearEastEnders actor John Partidge won the ‘Entertainer of the Year’ award for his gay storyline in the soap. He paid tribute to screenwriter Dominic Treadwell-Collins for managing to “tell a gay story at 7.30 in the evening”.
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| Martina Navratilova, Sports Person Of The Year |
Martina Navratilova, Sports Person Of The YearMartina Navratilova won huge applause when she was given the sports award. The tennis star is currently in Colorado training to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and pre-recorded a message of thanks.
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| John Bercow, Politician of the Year |
John Bercow, Politician of the YearSpeaker of the House of Commons John Bercow was named ‘Politician of the Year’. The MP, whose wife Sally recently completed a charity parachute jump for Stonewall, praised Mr Summerskill for his “truly inspirational leadership”.
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| The Times, ‘Publication of the Year’ |
The Times, ‘Publication of the Year’The Times won the award for ‘Publication of the Year’
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| Coronation Street, Broadcast of the Year |
Coronation Street, Broadcast of the YearCorrie which broadcast its first lesbian storyline and first lesbian kiss this year, won the award for ‘Broadcast of the Year’.
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