And the Icon nominees are ...
BY MADDY SEARLE
THE Icon Awards – rewarding those who have actively supported LGBT+ rights in Scotland – have announced their shortlist of nominees. The awards were founded last year as a way of encouraging and promoting diversity in Scotland, with prizes given to rising stars and role models who further the cause. The Sunday Herald sponsors the awards, but has no involvement in the nomination process.
Hannah Rodger, one of the Sunday Herald’s top journalists, has been nominated for the media award. She said: “I’m delighted to have been nominated for this year’s Icon Awards as I feel passionately about LGBTI equality in Scot- land. I’m grateful to the Sunday Herald for supporting my work – it is a paper which has always campaigned to raise awareness of important issues, such as homophobia and gender identity. I hope my articles have gone some way towards changing things for the LGBT community.”
More than 20,000 votes have been cast by the public in order to help determine the 2016 finalists for the awards. The final list of nominees was determined by a select committee, who will also decide on the winners.
Scott Barclay, chair of the Icon Awards, said on the judging and decision of finalists: “I am thrilled to present an inspirational group of candidates who have truly championed diversity in Scotland… I couldn’t be happier with our final nominees.”
This year, the award ceremony will take place on October 23 at the Hilton, Glasgow, and will feature performances from Chesney Hawkes and his band, as well as Glasgow samba band Samba Ya Bamba and Vangelis Polydorou, of BBC1’s The Voice.