Pictures: Ed Miliband, Victoria Derbyshire and more at PinkNews Awards 2015
The third annual PinkNews Awards took place last night at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with a number of politicians and LGBT groups honoured for their equality work.
The awards were opened by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Tobias Ellwood.
Mr Ellwood introduced US Ambassador to the UK Matthew Barzun, who spoke about his country’s commitment to equality and LGBT rights, and also presented the award for LGBT Advertising Campaign of the Year to Guinness, for their ad featuring rugby player Gareth Thomas.
Victoria Derbyshire made her first public appearance at the event since undergoing breast cancer surgery, accepting the award for Broadcaster of the Year for her work reporting LGBT issues for the Victoria Derbyshire Show.
Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities Nicky Morgan made a keynote speech at the event, before presenting Yes Equality, the group who campaigned for a Yes vote in the Irish marriage referendum, with the award for Community Group of the Year.
PinkNews publisher and CEO Benjamin Cohen presented a Special Award to Labour’s former leader Ed Miliband, for his achievements as opposition leader.
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Prime Minister David Cameron, who was unable to make the event, sent a video message to congratulate PinkNews on ten years of reporting on LGBT issues.
Karin Cook, the Group Director of Operations at event sponsor Lloyds Banking Group, presented the award for Member of the Year.
The award was shared between the leader of the Scottish Conservative Party Ruth Davidson, the first Conservative leader to feature her same-sex partner in an election ad, and Chair of Parliament’s newly-formed Women and Equalities Select Committee Maria Miller.
Scotland’s former First Minister Alex Salmond picked up the PinkNews Ally award – for his work helping to secure equal marriage in Scotland.
Minister of State for Culture Ed Vaizey handed the Public Sector Equality Award to Chris Wood and Sam Truelove of the Ministry of Defence.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron presented the Peer of the Year award to Lib Dem peer Baroness Barker.
Secretary of State for Business Sajid Javid presented the Corporate Equality Award to Cai Wilshaw and Sandy Downs of LGBT Leaders
The PinkNews Awards are generously supported by Lloyds Banking Group.
