Playboy won a big award tonight | Photo: Flickr/Sarah Gerke
The 2018 British LGBT Awards took place today (11 May) at the Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square in London.
Awards are given to people in recognition of their work to advance LGBT+ rights.
Among the winners were Playboy, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Laverne Cox.
Trudeau won for Media Moment when he apologized to his country’s LGBTQ2 community for ‘unjust treatment’.
He recorded his thank you speech and said: ‘In Canada and around the world, pride in who we are, our identity, and who we love, makes us strong. Our diversity grows stronger communities and pushes us toward better futures for everyone.’
Sir Richard Branson won the Special Recognition Award for his diverse employment policy and public backing of same-sex marriage.
In his acceptance speech, he said: ‘In places like Africa and the Far East, the battle’s far from won. I was recently in Uganda, where gay people are put into prison for life. The important thing is that we all now turn our attention to countries that are prosecuting and imprisoning gay people – and even executing gay people.’
GSN’s Jamie Tabberer and Connor Franta | Photo: Provided
The full list of winners
Special Recognition Award: Sir Richard Branson
Loud and Proud Award: Julian Clary
Lifetime Achievement Award: Sandi Toksvig
Metro Guilty Pleasures Award: Calum Scott
LGBT+ Celebrity: Laverne Cox
MTV Music Artist: Jess Glynne
Virgin Atlantic Celebrity Ally: John Bishop
Broadcaster or Journalist: Sue Perkins
Media Moment: Justin Trudeau apologizes to LGBT+ community
Online Influencer: Connor Franta
Park Plaza Brand or Marketing Campaign (TIE): Playboy and YouTube
Charity or Community Initiative: Pride in London
2CITIES1BREAK Top LGBT+ Destination: Tel Aviv
MI5 Outstanding Contribution to LGBT+ Life: Susie Green, CEO, Mermaids
Corporate Straight Ally: Peter Madden, Arcadis
Diversity Champion: Joanna Walker, Virgin Money
Inspirational Leader: Pips Bunce, Credit Suisse
Corporate Rising Star: Jonathan Andrews, Reed Smith
Network Group: KPMG Breathe
Employer or Company: MI5
What it means for Playboy to win
GSN spoke to LGBT Awards CEO Sarah Garrett at the ceremony about Playboy’s win.
‘That category is voted on by the public,’ Garrett said. ‘Playboy has been trying to change what they’re doing, and they’re global reach is also probably why they got the votes. They’ve done good stuff around changing their image.’
