LGBT equality and human rights activist Peter Tatchell has been
nominated as a Lifetime Achievers award. This is the first such
award for Tatchell who has been overlooked in recent years at LGBT
and Diversity awards ceremonies: previously he was awarded the
title of Campaigner of the Year at the Observer Ethical Awards in
2009 and prior to that, he was a recipient of the Mike Rhodes Trust
award in the 1990s and again in 2004.
The shortlist for the National Diversity Awards also shows that
the editor of the gender diversity magazine
META, Paris Lees, is up for the Positive Role model
award.
The ceremony in Manchester on 21 September will celebrate the
achievements of communities and people who work hard to create
positive role models and to give recognition to those who make
every day efforts to promote equality and diversity.
The award categories include Positive Role Model, Community
Organisation and Entrepreneurs of Excellence, which are split into
age, disability, gender, LGBT and race.
TV presenter Brian Dowling will be hosting the prestigious black
tie event at the Midland Hotel, Manchester.
Paul Sesay, who organises the ceremony, began the National
Diversity Awards after seeing the aftermath of the London
riots:
"When I realised there was little, if any, promotion of
positive role models in the main stream media especially from
diverse backgrounds, I wanted to create an event where role models
in various communities were rewarded for their hard work and
dedication.
"What makes The National Diversity Awards so unique is that no
other ceremony brings together all aspects of diversity under one
roof. These awards will recognise and award individuals and
organisations from grass root level for all their hard work and
dedication throughout their lives, which has made a profound
difference within local communities."
Thousands of nominations were received across the UK, and the
final shortlist for has now been revealed:
Positive Role Models
Age: Bijna Dasani, Nathan Popple, Michael
Burton
Disability: Alan raiment, Katie Caryer, Liam
Mackin
Gender: Bekezela Nsingo, Jane Kenyon, Denise
Charlton
LGBT: Paris Lees, Jennifer Fear, Christine
Burns
Race: Zita Holbourne, Inayat Omarji, Abraham
Eshetu
Community Organisations
Age: Asian Elders Resource Centre, Northampton
Youth Forum, Age UK Oldham
Disability: Disability Online, Harrow Asian Deaf
Club, Bradford Bulls Wheelchair Rugby League Club
Gender: Amadudu, JAN Trust, Women Making A
Difference
LGBT: Mind Out, Transmedia Watch, LGBT Youth
Scotland
Race: Rukus, S.A.R.I, Anthony Walker
Foundation
Entrepreneurs of Excellence
Age: Julie Robinson, Blessing Maregere, Abdul
Shakur
Disability: Andrew Neal, Dom Smith, Laura
Chapman
Gender: Sheila Singh, Shelley Perry, Maggie
O'Carrol
LGBT: Marius Maritz, Tris Reid-Smith, Tony
Burns
Race: Samuel Kasumu. Efe Ezekiel, Mark Esho
Diverse Companies
Lancashire Constabulary
The Co-Operative Group
Creative Support
Blackburn and Darwen PCT
Lifetime Achievers
Peter Tatchell
Christine Burns
Louis Julienne
For more information about the awards, visit: www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk
