The bravest, brightest, and best of the region’s LGBT+ community and its allies were celebrated at The LCR Pride Awards 2023.
The awards returned for the first time following the inaugural event in September 2019 at a glittering celebration at Anfield Stadium. The LCR Pride Awards were established to celebrate the people and organisations working to make the region the most LGBTQ+-friendly place in the UK.
Winners and finalists included local grassroots campaigners, performers, and venues, as well as businesses and organisations undertaking wider national work. All those in attendance were treated to an exhilarating performance by Eurovision veteran SuRie.
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Speaking after the event, Andi Herring, LCR Pride Foundation CEO and founder, said: "Since our first ceremony in 2019, so much has changed in the world and in the years that we missed countless people and organisations have stepped up for the LGBT+ community. Tonight was all about them and we want to congratulate every single winner and finalist and thank them for their relentless work.”
Below is the full list of winners:
Business of the Year - Liverpool Live Radio
LCR Pride said as a local radio station, the community told them they loved hearing local voices and praised the station’s inclusion of LGBT+ hosts, guests, and a dedicated show. The station’s leadership were commended for wanting to do more to support the community and ensure the station played a role locally.
Finalists: Root 69 Barbers, MSB Solicitors
Business Person of the Year - Christian Owens
As a proud ambassador for Trans visibility in the workplace, Christian is the owner of GenderSpace where he offers advice, training and support to businesses looking to understand and do more to support Trans and Non Binary communities.
Christian’s own experiences and work in his former role as one of the first out Trans Police officers at Merseyside Police allow their sessions to be relatable and from lived experience.
Finalists: Eileen Lea, Ley Adler
Campaigner of the Year - Kai Lambert
Kai has been the Trans and Non-Binary Officer at Edge Hill University for over a year. From delivering trans awareness and inclusivity training for all staff members and educating how they can best support trans students to organising vigils and raising money, Kai was nominated for their dedication and perseverance, even around their busy final year studies.
Finalists: Emma Miller-McCaffrey, Steven Taylor
Community Event of the Year - Homotopia Festival
Nominations recognised the hard work of the Homotopia team in putting on the UK’s longest-running LGBTQIA+ Festival and year-round programme. Homotopia Festival 2022 ‘Queer Joy is a Protest’ ran last year in November across Liverpool and online and featured the likes of resident artist Tabby Lamb.
Finalists: IDAHOBiT (Many Hands, One Heart and Heart of Glass), New Brighton Pride.
Olivia Graham said: “We’ve spent 20 years getting queer art out there. We’re made up to be recognised and supported for the work we do in the city. Queer art matters. Queer joy matters."
Community Group/Organisation of the Year - Butterfly Clinic
The Butterfly Clinic is the axess sexual health clinic for Trans and Non Binary folk, but those who nominated the service said it offers so much more to the community. Nominations praised the unique clinic’s team as being welcoming and hard working as well as their understanding of the needs of Trans and Non-Binary communities.
Finalists: Open Table Liverpool, Sahir House
Employee of the Year - Lorraine Young (Masquerade Bar)
Providing a friendly face and listening ear on the scene for over 25 years, Lorraine has played an important role in the LGBT+ scene of the city. Nominations admired her hard-working attitude and dedication to their customers and staff members alike.
Finalists: Alan Wilkinson (The Lisbon), Andrew Nicholls (Merseyside Police)
Inclusive Sports Team of the Year - Liverpool Tritons
Praised for the proactive campaigning on issues affecting the LGBT+ community, including around access to sport for members of the Trans and Non Binary communities, team members, friends of the club and supporters praised the Tritons for their approachable and friendly attitude.
Finalists: LFC Women’s Supporters Club, Mersey Marauders FC
Chairman Mikey Rowlands said: “As Chairman of Liverpool Tritons Inclusive Rugby, I am incredibly proud of every single person who makes up our Rugby Family. Players on both our Union and Touch squads, Coaches and Supporters have helped make this out most successful club year yet. As we enter our seventh year, I know that we will continue to grow and champion inclusive sport along with fellow inclusive teams across the Liverpool City Region, providing a safe and welcoming space for everyone to play a sport they love, find community and friendship.”
LGBT+ Ally - Hayley Holloway
As a nurse working for axess Sexual Health Service, Hayley spotted a need and gap in provision for the Trans and Non-Binary communities they served. Hayley set about re-designing the service with the community at its heart and the nominations for this award praised her supportive approach.
Finalists: Lynne Barnes, Rishi Jain
LGBT+ Venue of the Year - The Lisbon
A staple of the Pride Quarter, The Lisbon was nominated for their warm welcome and friendly staff that work hard to create a safe place for the LGBT+ community. Nominations explained how the venue strived to stay open as long as they could over COVID-19 by offering food, outdoor seating, and table service to ensure the community had a familiar face to go to during the challenging times.
Finalists: Linda Gold’s Funnyboyz, The Poste House
LGBT+ Staff Network/Group - Merseyside Police LGBT+ Staff Network
The LGBT+ Staff Network at Merseyside Police works throughout the year and across the whole force to support LGBT+ staff members, officers, and their families. From championing inclusion to holding open conversations about how policing can better serve our communities. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2021, the network has been instrumental in many of the positive changes that have taken place within Merseyside Police.
Finalists: Magenta Living Employee Diversity Network, LSTM LGBTQ+ Staff Network
Performer/Personality of the Year - Miss Grace
As someone who is relatively new to drag, Miss Grace has certainly made an impact. Recently having started an LGBT+-focused radio show on Liverpool Live Radio using their voice and platform to champion the community and discuss issues that matter to us.
Finalists: Kiki Pain, Filla Crack
Young Person of the Year - Dys Alexia
At just 19 years of age, Dys Alexia launched FunnyBoyz online to entertain people during the pandemic. In 2020, she opened her first Funnyboyz Bar in Liverpool and has created jobs for LGBTQ+ people.
Finalists: Emily Waldron, Cassie Rattray
She said: "I’m so grateful for this award but without FunnyBoyz I wouldn’t be where I am now. So I want to thank everyone who has brought me on this journey to where I today.”
Work to Tackle Hate Crime - Rachel Cowley-Roberts
In her role as hate crime coordinator for Merseyside Police, Rachel helped hundreds of victims of hate crimes to access support and report what happened to them.
Rachel was instrumental in developing the ‘You’re Safe Here’ accreditation launched by Merseyside PCC and LCR Pride Foundation. She ensured the training reflected real-life situations and examples and implemented the sessions in the work of Merseyside Police.
Finalists: Angel DeWynter / Naya Thorn, Paul Amann
Youth Group of the Year - Over the Rainbow, St Helens
The only LGBT youth group in St Helens, Over the Rainbow was established in 2016 and supports any LGBT young person aged 13 -20, as well as those up to the age of 24 for those with additional needs.
Since 2019 the group has had more than 40 attendees and supported countless others. It allows them to take part in projects that will influence LGBTQ+ awareness and provides them with peer support and friendship and improves confidence.
Finalists: The Hive, Work It Out, Glow at The Studio
Lifetime Achievement - Tracy O’Hara
Tracy has been the chair of the Merseyside Police LGBT+ Network since 2003, campaigning for LGBT+ equality and inclusion on a local, national, and international level.
Tracy has led the network through a range of challenging and engaging moments, including the murder of Michael Causer in 2008, encouraging Merseyside Police to allow officers to march in uniform at Liverpool Pride and convincing the organisation to have a ‘Police with Pride’ car within their operational fleet.
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