Stephen Fry, Paul O’Grady, and Mermaids led the winners at The Bank of London Rainbow Honours 2022, hosted by national treasure Julian Clary with drag superstar Victoria Scone.
The star–studded event was held last night (1 June) at London’s 8 Northumberland Avenue where British broadcasting legend Stephen Fry and Paul O’Grady were among the big winners.
The Bank of London Rainbow Honours is one of the UK’s biggest LGBT+ awards events which celebrates the best British and international LGBTQI talent, as well as the allies and organisations who support them.
Stellar workl
ITV’s For the Love of Dogs star O’Grady was given a special recognition award for his stellar work to advance the rights of LGBTQI people in Britain and around the world.
Brookside icon Claire Sweeney, who is currently starring in the West End’s Proud Cabaret show, scooped the Celebrity Ally of the Year Award while RuPaul’s Drag Race UK was named Media Moment of the Year.
The London Stock Exchange Group, a staple of the city, was honoured with Large Brand of the Year while pubs giant Greene King was bestowed with the LGBTQI Network gong.
Transgender
Mermaids, a charity which has been supporting transgender, non–binary and gender–diverse children, young people and their families since 1995, was honoured with Charity of the Year and was presented with a cheque for £10,000 by the headline sponsor The Bank of London.
Meanwhile, Eugenio Pirri of the luxury hotelier the Dorchester Collection won Inspirational Role Model of the Year, with global pension fund Legal and General collecting Outstanding LGBTQI Network Group and Pete Markey from retailer Boots was named Corporate Ally.
UK Black Pride, Europe’s largest celebration for LGBTQI+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American and Middle Eastern descent, collected the coveted Community Initiative of the Year prize and a cheque from sponsors GSK for £5,000.
Lifetime achievement
Rupert Whitaker and Martyn Butler, founders of the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, were prized with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Commenting on the winners, Julian Clary said: “There were so many deserving LGBTQI people and allies who have been recognised this evening. It is fantastic to be part of this awards ceremony.”
Linda Riley
Rainbow Honours founder, Linda Riley, said: “We were delighted to be able to pay tribute to the wonderful LGBTQI people, celebrities, brands and allies who have spent the past 12 months advancing the rights of our community.
“All of the winners and nominees are incredibly deserving.”
Anthony Watson, Founder and Group Chief Executive of The Bank of London, added: “At The Bank of London, we’re proud to be marking Pride Month by sponsoring The Bank of London Rainbow Honours – a celebration to shine a light on every aspect of LGBTQ community (and our allies) and honour those individuals who went above and beyond, often in the face of intense criticism and hostility. We warmly congratulate the well deserved individuals and organisations who have been honoured today”.
And the winners are…
RAINBOW HONOURS CHOICE AWARD
Winner – Paul O’Grady
This Generation – LGBTQI CORPORATE CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
Winner – Deon Pillay – Legal & General
Focus – HOUSING PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
Winner – Riverside
The Bank of London – SMALL BRAND OF THE YEAR
Winner – myGwork
Optum – INSPIRATIONAL ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR
Winner – Eugenio Pirri – Dorchester Collection
Denovo Legal Services – LARGE BRAND OF THE YEAR
Winner – London Stock Exchange Group
Ruebik – OUTSTANDING LGBTQI NETWORK GROUP
Winner – Legal & General – LGBT+ Allies Network
NEW LGBTQI NETWORK
Winner – Greene King – The Village Greene
GSK – COMMUNITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
Winner – UK Black Pride
CORPORATE ALLY OF THE YEAR
Winner – Pete Markey – Boots
The Bank of London – CHARITY OF THE YEAR
Winner – Mermaids
CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Winner – Naz and Matt Foundation – Out And Proud Parents Day
Deliveroo – CAMPAIGNER / INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
Winner – Yasmin Benoit
CELEBRITY ALLY OF THE YEAR
Winner – Claire Sweeney
Jackdaw Media – MEDIA MOMENT OF THE YEAR
Winner – RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
Sedulo – LGBTQI CELEBRITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
Winner – Stephen Fry
Raytheon – LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Rupert Whitaker and Martyn Butler – Terrence Higgins Trust
