Sydney’s queer community to celebrate progress with honour awards

Sydney’s queer (GLBT) community will recognise their best and kindest at the Honour awards this month.

The event will raise funds for ACON, New South Wales’ largest community-based GLBT health and HIV/AIDS organisation, which is now in its 5th year.

“It will be a truly memorable occasion not only for our inspirational finalists but for all our guests whose attendance we’ll be honouring with a really sensational celebration of our community,” said ACON events coordinator, David Wilkins.

“Such is the success of their achievements that we, mostly speaking, live in a society where we are judged according to our characters, not according to our sexuality.”

Openly gay politician and chairman of the Potts Point partnership, Adrian Bartels, said: “It is important that, as a community, we recognise those who, through their exceptional work and achievements, have enabled all of us the opportunity to live as respected and valued members of the broader community.”

The night will recognise achievements in business, arts and entertainment, health and wellbeing and community organisation.

As well as the awards, a silent auction will be held featuring a range of art, home wares and tech devices as well as fashion, beauty, dining and travel experiences.

Singer Marcia Hines will be among the line up of stage and screen celebrities set to perform on the night.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP, while in full support of the awards and what they bring to the gay and lesbian community, believes more still needs to be done to reach full equality and acceptance.

“I would like to congratulate everyone nominated for awards as part of this important event. Sydney is one of the leading GLBT capitals of the world and that has contributed so much to the culture and life of our city,” she said.

“When I first entered Parliament homophobic discrimination and prejudice were the norm, while my amendments to allow same sex couples to adopt finally got through after a decade of Government inaction, the fact remains that even though gay and lesbian families are now legally recognised in NSW – gay and lesbian parents still can’t legally get married.

The awards are also scheduled to appear at the launch event for New Mardi Gras’ forthcoming Big Gay Weekend.

The Honour awards will take place on September 29 from 7pm at the Sun Room, The Ivy. Tickets: honour.squarespace.com/buy-tickets/

By Georgia Fullerton