Paying homage to our best

This Saturday night the annual Pride Week Awards honour the heroes of our community -“ though some nominees have proven less heroic than once expected.

Opposition leader Mark Latham has been nominated for best community supporter for publicly declaring that mateship be expanded to include gay men and lesbians.

Latham has since voted against gay marriage in the lower house, along with fellow nominee for best supporter, Tanya Plibersek, although Plibersek has previously been one of the ALP’s most outspoken supporters of same-sex rights.

Nominees for the 2004 Sydney Star Observer Pride Week Awards are submitted by readers in the categories best community member, best community supporter, outstanding community group, best villain, most innovative community event and sexiest male and female.

Most winners are determined by public online voting (which has now closed).

This year’s nominees include drag queens, DJs, pollies and poster boys. Bob Brown and Rodney Croome are among the nominees for outstanding community member, while bar manager Sarah Denning and Lesbians On The Loose editor Merryn Johns (pictured) are on the list for sexiest female.

Previous winners include Somali Cerise (sexiest female), Justice Michael Kirby (outstanding community member) and Archbishop George Pell (villain of the year).

In true awards fashion the evening is one of glitzy performances as well as sincere speeches. Guest stars Brown Skin and Mystique will perform, along with DJs Shigeki and Kelly Lynch. The event will be hosted by drag king Sexy Galexy, drag queens Portia Turbo and Claire de Lune and DJ Kate Monroe, with Galexy and de Lune also putting on a show.

The SSO Pride Week Awards are held this Saturday 3 July at Erskineville Town Hall at 7:30pm. Phone 9550 6188 for bookings or for more info visit www.pridecentre.com.au.

The event is presented by Sydney Star Observer and the Sydney Pride Centre.