Nominations open for 2015 GLOBE Community Awards

NOMINATIONS are now open for the 2015 GLOBE Community Awards, which celebrates excellence in Victoria’s LGBTI community.

Following the success of the inaugural event in 2014, Melbourne-based LGBTI networking and business organisation GLOBE is hoping for more nominations in 2015.

“We were inundated with amazing nominations last year, but I know there is so much more happening in our community and want everyone to step up and be recognised,” GLOBE president David Micallef said in an official announcement last week.

Changes to the awards this year includes the addition of a new People’s Choice Award and an expansion of the Connecting Our Community Awards to include corporates, community and social groups who help bring the community together.

“We know that there is a lot of work that goes on in groups and organisations to support and bring together people who identify as GLBTI,” Micallef said.

“This is important work that should be highlighted and celebrated.”

The Age journalist Farrah Tomazin and Lady Mayoress Emma Page-Campbell have been welcomed back as awards judges.

Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby’s Anna Brown was named 2014 GLBTI Person of the Year for her work across the community, including working with the Victorian Government to commit to expunging historical consensual gay sex convictions, as well as her work on sex and gender diverse issues in the High Court and the Victoria Police apology for the 1994 Tasty Nightclub raid.

“It was a great honour and very humbling to be recognised as GLBTI person of the year in 2014,” said Brown, who is also a lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre.

“It was fantastic to see human rights advocacy recognised in the awards.

“Equality doesn’t just happen — we need people out there campaigning, advocating, litigating, and it was really heartening to see the GLBTI business community come together and support this work.”

Last year’s Victorian GLBTI Artist of the Year Dolly Diamond went on on to be the face of the Midsumma Glam-stops and have two successful shows in Midsumma and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

“It’s always nice to be acknowledged, it’s icing on the cake really,” Diamond said.

“Artist of the year is quite the accolade, and I can’t wait to see these awards grow from year to year.”

The 2015 GLOBE Community Awards will be awarded in the following categories:

• A healthy community – This category is open to any organisation or individual for work in improving the physical and/or mental health of the LGBTI community in Victoria through either research, health promotion or the delivery of health activities within the community.

• Connecting the GLBTI community – This category is open to all organisations, including corporates, community and social groups that help bring together the LGBTI community.

• Excellence in business – This category is open to organisations and individuals for outstanding achievement in business. The aim of this category area is to highlight the contribution that is made by LGBTI-owned business and professional LGBTI individuals to Victorian industries.

• Protecting our community – This category is open to any organisation and individual for work in keeping our community safe and/or in advancing the human rights of LGBTI people.

• Individual awards – The following awards will be by nomination only and will only be open only to individuals. The awards aim to celebrate outstanding achievement by individuals in our community.

1. Media excellence – Awarded to a journalist or presenter working in LGBTI media for exceptional work in media or broadcasting.

2. Artist of the year – Awarded to a Victorian LGBTI artist for exceptional work in the performing arts, visual arts, music or film.

3. Straight ally of the year – Awarded to recognise a non-LGBTI individual for work in supporting the community.

4. Volunteer of the year – To recognise the work of a Victorian LGBTI individual who has shown outstanding commitment through volunteer work in our community.

5. Sports person of the year – Awarded for outstanding achievement in any sport by a Victorian LGBTI individual.

6. People’s Choice Award – Run by Melbourne Community Voice, this award will be nominated for and voted for by readers.

7. Victorian GLBTI Person of the Year – Awarded to an LGBTI person of any age for outstanding and exceptional work in supporting the community.

Nominations close at midnight on 30 July 2015.

The winners will be announced at the GLOBE Community Awards Gala Dinner on Friday, October 16 at Myer Mural Hall. Tickets are on sale at: awards.globemelbourne.com.au/the-awards-night

For more information, visit: awards.globemelbourne.com.au