Stonewall has announced the nominees for the heroes and bigots award for its eighth annual Stonewall Awards.
by Newsdesk | 5th September 2013
The highly controversial award for bigot of the year sees historian Niall Ferguson, TV evangelist Pat Robertson and UKIP candidate Winston McKenzie.
Historian Niall Ferguson made headlines for derisive comments made about the sexuality of John Maynard Keynes.
TV evangelist Pat Robertson has been a longstanding opponent of gay equality but outdid himself in August by saying that gay men viciously spread HIV while shaking hands using ‘special rings’
Winston McKenzie, UKIP candidate in the Croydon North by-election, hit the headlines in November 2012 when he said that same-sex parenting was akin to child abuse.
Last year Lord Maginnis reacted angrily to his nomination and when asked by TheGayUK what he thought of his nomination called TheGayUK a ‘perverse pressure group’, ‘aggressive, perverse and corrupting influence on susceptible and vulnerable young people.’
Taking place on Thursday 7 November at the V&A the Awards, supported by Gender Gap, recognise individuals who’ve made a real difference to the lives of gay people around the world – as well as highlighting those who have gratuitously caused offence and distress. This year’s judges include Richard Madeley, Jeanette Winterson and Will Young.
2013 Hero of the Year nominees include Lord Alli, for his 15 years of tireless campaigning in the House of Lords, Bishop Nicholas Holtam who has been an articulate advocate of equality within the Church of England and the Russian LGBT Network, which continues to campaign despite persecution and oppression.
Stonewall Deputy Chief Executive Laura Doughty said: ‘The Stonewall Awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of so many individuals who’ve made a real difference in this historic year for lesbian, gay and bisexual equality.
‘Sadly, the contrast between those who’ve made a positive difference and those who still simply seek to demean and degrade gay people and their families has never been more stark. That’s why all five of our Bigot of the Year nominees deserve their place on the list.’
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