The winners of the Attitude Pride Awards 2019, in association with United Airlines and Sleepeezee

This afternoon (July 5) saw the fourth annual Attitude Pride Awards – in association with United Airlines and Sleepeezee – presented in the newly-refurbished Ballroom at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel in the heart of London’s Knightsbridge.

Just ten awards celebrated the everyday – and sometimes unsung – heroes of the LGBTQ community: those who have worked tirelessly in the third sector, who have triumphed over tragedy, who have championed rights or challenged stigma in the face of adversity.

The only celebrity guests were presenters or observers, rather than awards recipients.

This year’s Attitude Pride Award winners were announced at a lunch reception hosted by television personality, author and Strictly Come Dancing legend Dr Ranj Singh, launching Pride in London weekend in style.

As always, award recipients came from right across the LGBTQ community – with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender winners and BAME representation at centre stage.

Said Attitude Managing Director, Darren Styles OBE: “Ours is a rainbow community, and this is a set of Attitude Pride Awards that reflects that in every conceivable sense.

“Via a record number of reader nominations and the input of our judging panel, we are privileged to share ten extraordinary stories that – despite everything life can test you with – combine to inspire, uplift and educate.

“This brilliant afternoon reconfirms the strength and beauty of the human spirit and the togetherness of our LGTBQ community.

“The Attitude Magazine Foundation, our registered charity, used the event to announce a grant to edutainment specialist Pop‘n’Olly to fund 50 sets of books for – and three workshops in – primary schools across the UK, to kick-start the GoFundMe appeal seeking to raise £40,000 to save The Food Chain, a London-based charity helping people living with HIV at times of crisis, and to support Curly’s Legacy, the brainchild of former Pride Award winners Kyle and Garry Ratcliffe, to provide no-cost caravan holidays for disadvantaged families.

“This is who Attitude are – the biggest gay media brand in the world, Europe’s best-selling LGBTQ title by a country mile and a philanthropic organisation that is proud to work with every single commercial and corporate entity that wants to celebrate and contribute to LGBTQ life during Pride month, and at any other time of year.

“Disparage those who don’t participate and engage, not those who do, for without them we simply can’t exist.”

Said Bob Schumacher, United Airlines Managing Director, Sales, UK and Ireland: “We are proud to support – for a third successive year – the Attitude Pride Awards. Our fundamental purpose as an airline is to connect people and unite the world.

“That is why we strive to ensure the United Airlines family is as diverse as the communities we serve around the globe, representing every background and belief, origin and orientation, colour and creed.”

The ten Attitude Pride Awards winners for 2019:

Harry Brewis

Harry Brewis raised more than $330,000 (£258,000) for British transgender youth charity Mermaids – by playing Donkey Kong…

Lyra McKee

When journalist and Lyra McKee was tragically shot and killed in Derry earlier this year, her partner, Sara Canning, vowed to fight for marriage equality in Northern Ireland.

Kenneth Macharia and Bristol Bisons RFC

LGBTQ rugby club Bristol Bisons have been fighting to save their teammate Kenneth Macharia from being deported by the UK Home Office to Kenya, where homosexuality is illegal.

Charlie Craggs

Charlie Craggs is helping members of the public get their nails done in exchange for sitting down and speaking with one of her fellow transgender beauty technicians.

Andrew Moffat

The assistant head of Parkfield Community School in Birmingham started the ‘No Outsiders’ lesson programme which has sparked homophobic protests from parents and a national conversation about LGBTQ-inclusive education.

Michael Gunning

Michael Gunning is the professional swimmer representing Jamaica – where homosexuality is illegal – while challenging the lack of LGBTQ representation in elite sport.

Lucky Roy Singh

Lucky Roy Singh was forced to live as a woman in order to marry the love of his life, but is now taking a stand against forced marriages and honour-based abuse.

Di Cunningham and Joe White, Three Lions Pride

The LGBTQ football fan group tackling homophobia in the sport and on the stands, who defied Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law to fly England rainbow flags during the FIFA World Cup 2018.

Finlay McFarlane

The actor is using his voice to speak up and raise awareness for male survivors of sexual violence after he was raped.

Keshav Suri

The hotelier was at the forefront of the battle to quash India’s anti-LGBTQ legislation.

Read more about all of this year’s Attitude Pride Award winners in our August issue, out July 18.