Ireland: The GALAs 2010

By Contributing Writer on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 16:41

[Editor’s Note: This article was written by the team of Gaelick.com, an award-winning Irish website for LGBT-news.]

On September 24th 2010 Ireland’s top gay celebrities Anna Nolan and Seán Musanje will host the second annual gay and lesbian awards at the Radisson Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8. The National Lesbian and Gay Federation have organised the prestigious awards ceremony for the second year running to honour lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people and organisations for their contributions to society on the island of Ireland.

The awards are also to honour politicians, employers and others committed to advancing equality and social acceptance for LGBT people in Ireland.

Nominations are submitted from the public in ten of the twelve award categories which are then shortlisted by a group of diverse regional community organisations. The award categories include Noel Walsh HIV Activist of the Year, Community Organisation of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Event of the Year. Other award categories recognise and celebrate efforts made by individuals and companies in areas like employment and business, as well as media and broadcasting and arts and entertainment.

Ailbhe Smyth, NLGF Chairperson, remarked how “2010 has witnessed some outstanding developments for Ireland’s LGBT community and we have been really heartened by the tremendous response to the GALAs from the LGBT community and beyond”. She was also delighted that “this year’s GALAS have also progressed with the addition of a new ‘International Activist of the Year’ award”. This is a new award to honour the work of activists outside the island of Ireland who are working, sometimes against the odds, for LGBT human rights. The nominations for this award are put forward by a number of human rights organisations and rights groups working in Ireland and abroad, with the winner being selected by the NLGF. The recipient of this award will receive a bursary of €2000 to assist them with their efforts. Having realised the significant advances being made by particular individuals on LGBT and human rights causes globally, the NLGF, Amnesty International, Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and Front Line Defenders have committed to bestow this award to different individuals for the following three years.

The shortlisted awards finalists are listed on the following page. Award winners will be honoured on Friday September 24th 2010 at the Radisson Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8. Tickets for Ireland’s biggest celebratory awards in the LGBT community are available from www.tickets.ie