A handful of famous faces and inspirational figures were honoured at the first-ever Gaydio Pride Awards in Manchester last Friday.
Greater Manchester‘s thriving LGBTQ+ scene shone brighter than ever before as the inaugural Gaydio Pride Awards were held in our city last Friday night to celebrate the extraordinary efforts to bring Pride to every corner of the UK.
The annual awards ceremony are all about honouring the LGBTQ+ community members and allies making the biggest impacts nationwide.
Awards were handed out at the glamorous ceremony held at Manchester’s Hilton Hotel, which was hosted by hosted by Gaydio’s breakfast show presenters Paris and Dave, while performances came from chart-topping artist Raye, a set from dance-legend Sigala, and a show-stopping performance from Danny Beard, the winner of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK Season 4.
When it comes to the winners, so many inspirational names and organisations were honoured and quite-rightly celebrated on the night.
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The first-ever Gaydio Pride Awards took place on Friday 10 February in Manchester / Credit: Supplied
Trans Pride Brighton took home the Grassroots Pride of The Year award as the longest-running and first-ever Trans Pride event, and there was a joint award for Major Pride of the Year with Manchester Pride, Birmingham Pride, Brighton + Hove Pride, and Pride in London – with all four major prides coming together to condemn the world cup in Qatar and the human rights abuse against LGBTQ+ people.
Joel Mordi, who is organiser of the first pride event in Nigeria, was the winner of the Volunteer of the Year award having volunteered with a myriad of nonprofits including UK Black Pride, Crisis UK, and National Student Pride.
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Famous faces and inspirational figures were honoured at the ceremony / Credit: Supplied
Trans Radio UK Football Club were honoured with the LGBTQ+ Club or Sports Team of the Year award for providing a space for trans people to play football in a safe way, without having to be subjected to questioning, harassment and doubt, while Great British Bake Off finalist, Janusz Domagala, was awarded LGBTQ+ Champion award for using his platform to support and promote LGBTQ+ in his bakes and his attire, as well as being the first to use the word transgender on the show.
Filthy Gorgeous, the weekly student night held at The Brewers in Manchester, picked up the award for Venue or Event of the Year as the favourite hit night where people in the LGBTQ+ community can come together safely and dance the night away.
Chart topper Raye, and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard were two of the night’s performers / Credit: Supplied
Charity of the Year was awarded to George House Trust to recognise all the work the organisation been doing around HIV and fighting the stigma by providing support, advice, and advocacy services to improve health outcomes for those affected since 1985.
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Revered screenwriter, Russell T Davies, is one of the charity’s ambassadors, and he was proud to attend the ceremony last Friday.
One of the famous names honoured on the night was up-and-coming black lesbian musician, Cat Burns, who has had great success with back-to-back hits ‘Go’ and ‘People Pleaser’, and took home the award for Music Artist of the Year.
Last but not least, the Lifetime Contribution award went to Peter Tatchell – a human rights campaigner who was arrested in Qatar for promoting the dangers for LGBTQ+ people throughout the 2022 World Cup.
Sigala also provided a DJ set on the night / Credit: Supplied
“The inaugural Gaydio Pride Awards took place to recognise the fantastic achievements of our community and LGBTQ+ people across the UK,” Gaydio’s Director, Ian Wallace, commented after the ceremony happened to huge success.
“It’s important to offer an event, open to the public, that is able to showcase everything from the smallest of Pride festivals, to trailblazing queer music artists.
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“Bring on 2024.”
Featured Image – Supplied
News
Former Manchester City player Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife
Danny Jones
Ex-footballer Joey Barton has officially been found guilty of assaulting his wife following his two-day trial in the capital this week.
Barton, who played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and a number of other clubs, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 March, following an incident back in June 2021.
The former midfielder left his wife, 37-year-old Georgia Barton (McNeil), with a bleeding nose and a bruise on her forehead following a drunken row at their home in London.
Barton is said to have grabbed and pushed her to the floor before kicking her in the head. Married in 2019, the two have four children and are thought to still be together.
The 42-year-old was still employed in professional football as the manager of Bristol Rovers at the time, but he was ultimately sacked in October 2023.
His wife called 999 at the time, telling police that he had hit her, but later retracted her statement.
Born in Huyton, Merseyside, the chief magistrate Paul Goldspring recognised that the one-time England has a history of violence.
He was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, meaning he won’t serve time unless he commits another offence and has been ordered to pay £2,138.
Since dropping out of mainstream football, in particular, Barton has come under heavy criticism for allegations of racism, sexism and controversial right-wing politics; he even started an ‘anti-woke’ podcast called Common Sense with Joey Barton.
Back in June of last year, he was ordered to pay £35,000 in damages to settle a libel claim with presenter Jeremy Vine after a series of inflammatory comments made online.
The Radio 2 presenter sued Mr Barton earlier this year, after the former footballer wrote a series of posts suggesting Mr Vine had a sexual interest in children.
He also accused of threatening fellow former pro, Eni Aluko, after a torrent of abuse regarding her punditry online – the ex-England international even went so far as to say she no longer felt safe staying in the country.
Police appeal after man seriously injured in Northern Quarter stabbing
Daisy Jackson
Greater Manchester Police are appealing for witnesses after a stabbing in the Northern Quarter left a man seriously injured.
The incident occurred around 7.45pm on Thursday 20 March, on Tib Street near Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens.
Emergency services scrambled to the scene and the victim, a man in his 20s, taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Thankfully his injuries aren’t believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
No arrests have yet been made and officers are now appealing for witnesses to assist with enquiries.
DI Geoffrey Machent, of the City of Manchester Division, said: “At around 7.45pm on Thursday 20 March, we were called to reports of a stabbing on Tib Street.
“A man was subsequently taken to hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening or life-changing. He remains there for treatment.
“At this time, we do not believe the incident presents any threat to the wider public or local businesses operating in the area.
“Neighbourhood officers will be deployed to provide reassurance in the locality over the coming days, including our newly formed Piccadilly Gardens team.
“We would like to appeal to the public for any information, or anyone who witnessed this incident, to please come forward.”
If anyone has information regarding this stabbing in the Northern Quarter, contact police by calling 101, or via the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk.
Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 in an emergency.
Emily Sergeant -
13th February 2023 
