Black Lesbians and Gays Celebrate Community Heroes

In a challenge to the coverage of Black same gender loving people as merely victims of homophobia and racism, this year’s Black LGBT Community Awards were held in London on 20th September 2008 to celebrate those who have made a difference to their communities.

The gala awards ceremony dinner on a luxury Thames cruiser oozed glamour. Ms Kimberley and Valerie Mason John presented the ceremony, giving awards for club of the year, man and woman of the year, advocacy, health promotion, communications, community development, and arts. The award winners were chosen by members of the public by voting at www.blgbt.com – making the awards truly from the community.

Rob Berkeley, Chair of BGMAG, organisers of the event, said ‘The past year has seen a flowering of so much great work for LGBT Black people, it seems only right to say thank-you in this way. We are proud of these people and simply want to celebrate their work and provide visible role models for others.’

2008’s winners include Mz Fontaine, the lesbian rapper, who accepted her award as Woman of the Year with a tearful acceptance speech, thanking her family, friends and the community for her ongoing success. Bootylicious won Club of the Year to top the announcement of a performance by Ms Dynamite and being named in Mixmag as the ‘hottest night in London’. Ajamu won the Man of the Year award for his ground-breaking exhibition ‘Outside Edge’ at the Museum in Docklands.

The awards attracted sponsorship from the Metropolitan Police, Bootylicious, Outburst, MOC, and UK Black Pride among others.

The Deputy Mayor of London, Richard Barnes sent his support, noting;  

“I'm determined that London should be a city where you can be exactly who you want to be, and live your life as you’ve dreamed it, without fear. The Black LGBT Community Awards celebrate that freedom”

 

The Winners:
Advocacy: UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group
Health Promotion: BigUP @ GMFA
Communications: Pink Paper
Arts: Dean Atta
Club of the Year: Bootylicious
Community Development: Eddie Lockhart (DJ Shineeye)
Man of the Year: Ajamu X
Woman of the Year: Mz Fontaine
Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr Claire Andrews