Manchester legend DJ Paulette took home an award for her decades of contributions to LGBTQ+ nightlife, as Coronation Street brought home their trophy for their harrowing portrayal of the gay domestic abuse storyline involving Todd and Theo.
Another glistening celeb-studded night was held in Manchester city centre to celebrate LGBTQ+ trailblazers against a ‘rise of the far right’.
For it’s fourth year, the Gaydio Awards returned to the Manchester Deansgate Hotel, transforming the venue into a dazzling spectacle to commend and champion LGBTQ+ charities, organisations and individuals who dedicate their lives to make a difference to the community.
Emotions were high as Manchester’s own legendary DJ Paulette and trans activist and Married at First Sight star Ella Morgan took to the stage for awards speeches, among other grassroots organisations who raise the flag to better LGBTQ+ lives in Manchester and beyond.
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There were 16 winners recognised across the evening, including Village Manchester FC, which was awarded the Sports Club of the Year for almost thirty years as a trans-inclusive and welcoming space for LGBTQ+ footballers, Grounded Mcr for the Enterprise Award, and also Coronation Street for the Outstanding Entertainment Contribution, for their harrowing domestic abuse storyline involving gay couple Todd and Theo.
Once again, stars from across TV, radio, politics and influencers walked the carpet, including soap legend Annie Wallace, who was the first transgender person to portray a trans character in soap opera history on Hollyoaks, Corrie’s James Cartwright, Farrel Hegarty and Julia Goulding, Traitor’s stars Reece and Amanda, trans activist and reality star Ella Morgan, Drag Race UK finalists, Manchester legend DJ Paulette and former Lord Mayor and LGBTQ+ advisor to Andy Burnham, Carl Austin-Behan.
Amid a night of joyous celebration, messages of defiance in the face of growing ignorance and the stripping of LGBTQ+ rights were firmly on the agenda. Those stepping out on the purple carpet spoke about the ‘rise of the far right’
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, DJ Paulette, who was handed the Lifetime Achievement Award to honour her decades of creating safe, celebratory spaces for LGBTQ+ people through her contributions to queer nightlife, said LGBTQ+ rights are being ‘encroached on’.
“It’s perfectly clear that we need to make a point to the community that we are not alone,” she said. “There are people around us who really care, love us and will make sure that whatever rights are encroached on, we will make noise.
“We are seeing trans rights encroached upon and taken away. But if it starts with trans rights, then it becomes all of us. We have to be really clear and sure that if one minority is not safe, then all minorities are not safe. In that, we are all the same. And we have to be aware it’s all of us at risk.
“In terms of queer culture, we [in Manchester] are at the forefront and always have been of whatever is happening. When we were doing Flesh at the Hacienda in ’92, there wasn’t the same bar scene, so what we see along Canal Street was just starting then and there weren’t big huge events. It wasn’t even ok to walk down the street with your partner or gay friend.
“But in Manchester, we are great. We have such a flourishing scene because this is a place where anything is possible, even without very much, and we are fiercely creative. It’s a place of pioneers. There are many firsts here in Manchester and we keep making them.
“Now you can have queer nights wherever you want, but even though there’s been a lot of change there is still a long way to go.”
Hollyoaks’ Annie Wallace, who made history as the first transgender person to portray a transgender character on a British soap had a defiant message against the far right while championing Manchester as a ‘welcoming’ space for all.
“There’s a lot of LGBTQ+ awards in London, but Manchester has always been very queer-supportive, and awards like this highlights the city, but also the groups that don’t get the credit they deserve,” she said. “They work very hard against horrible Government policies and the rise of the far right, which never seems to stop rising. I wish they would take a lift back downstairs. It seems constant.
“I have always felt there’s no point in having recognition or ‘celebrity’ if you can’t use it to help and pay attention the causes for which you care. In the queer community, and especially the trans community, it feels like they are coming for everybody now. This is what we have to keep fighting. They are all coming from the same playbook, and that’s why we need to remain united as a community.
“Manchester is endlessly creative and changing all the time. It’s bucking the trend of the country. You only need to look at the thriving Canal Street. It’s always been welcoming. When I came down in ’99 to do work for Coronation Street, I instantly felt its embrace.”
Carl Austin-Behan, the city’s former Lord Mayor and LGBTQ+ advisor to Andy Burnham is one of the founding board members of the new Manchester Village Pride CIC. He was ousted from the Royal Air Force in the late ’90s for being gay at a time when it was illegal to be gay in the RAF. He told the M.E.N: “Nights like this remind people of why supporting and fighting for our rights is so important.
“Over the years, our rights have been eroded because of what’s going on here and across the pond. We need to make sure we keep promoting what LGBTQ+ people do, what they can bring to the table, and to be their true authentic selves to become a better society.
“These awards send out a strong message about how important it is to keep fighting for our rights, but to also make sure we are part of the mainstream and not hidden away in our closets. It’s about we are front facing, open and transparent in ourselves to make sure people can see us and our voices are always heard.”
And on the night there were dazzling performances from X Factor winner Louisa Johnson, up and coming ‘Fabulous’ hitmaker Meek and local drag comedy legend Bailey J Mills.
This year’s awards is the fourth hosted by Gaydio, the UK’s LGBTQ+ station which first emerged in Manchester in 2006. At last year’s ceremony, emotional and poignant tributes were played out in memory of drag star The Vivienne who tragically died aged just 32, remembering the performer as a ‘trailblazer’.
And TV legend Russell T Davies last year took the opportunity when winning his Icon award to issue a moving and emotional speech to crowds on HIV, taking a stand against global hatred and Elon Musk.
Kriss Herbert, Network Content Director at Gaydio said: “Four years on, the Gaydio Awards continue to uncover the incredible work happening in communities across the UK that might otherwise go unrecognised. This year’s winners – from volunteer organisers to pioneering charities, grassroots media to inclusive sports clubs – represent the best of what happens when the community comes together to create change.”
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