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Award-winning journalist condemns Boy George being shortlisted for award.

The awards, which will take place in London’s Grand Connaught Rooms in May, are designed to “showcase individuals and organisations who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the LGBT community”.

The shortlist, which was announced on Wednesday, includes categories such as Broadcaster of the Year, Sports Personality, Music Artist, LGBT Celebrity and Global Icon, as well as a variety of corporate awards which are judged by a panel of  “industry experts”.

However, the shortlist has received criticism from award-winning journalist, Patrick Strudwick, for its inclusion of singer Boy George.

He has been nominated in the LGBT Celebrity of the Year category which includes: Dustin Lance Black, Alan Carr, Cara Delevingne, Caitlyn Jenner, Ruby Rose, Ben Wishaw, Kieron Richardson and Boy George.

On Wednesday Strudwick tweeted:
“Disgusted to see @BritLGBTAwards have shortlisted Boy George for an award. He terrorised and imprisoned this man…”

He added, ” As I’ve written several times, way in which Boy George has been welcomed back into the limelight is shameful. Shame on BBC and the LGBT Awards.”

Patrick Strudwick British LGBT Awards

Boy George has been elevated to “Long Time Champion” in The Independent’s Rainbow List, in which he is consistently included, and is the 2015 winner of the Ivor Novello Awards Outstanding Contribution to British Music.

Strudwick has previously asked how the public “would perceive a pop star, let’s say Liam Gallagher, if he had manacled a woman before dragging her across the floor and beating her”. “Would we remain so silent? Would his face still loom from newsagents’ shelves?”

It’s important to point out that the Awards serve to provide a platform for public opinion, it is the public who nominated that have chosen the shortlist.

On their website, organisers invite the public to make their nominations in each category. Nominations were closed on 18 January and “campaigns or companies with the most public nominations go through to the shortlist”. Voting is now open  until 22 March.

A spokesperson for the awards told Outnews Global: “The public nominations process has delivered an exciting and varied shortlist. This process is open, honest and reflects the will of the thousands of people who took part. The fact that the shortlist has created such a talking point can only be a good thing in helping the British public decide on their LGBT heroes and straight allies of 2016.”

Outnews Global has contacted Patrick Strudwick for a comment and as yet he has not replied to our email.

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