PinkNews nominated for gay contribution award
PinkNews.co.uk has been shortlisted as Publication of the Year in the Stonewall Awards.
Nominees were announced today for the 2006 ceremony which includes awards recognising the contribution to the gay community of broadcasters, writers and publications such as PinkNews.co.uk which is the only lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) news service shortlisted along with lesbian magazine Diva, The Economist, Guardian Unlimited, and The Independent.
PinkNews.co.uk has been at the forefront of stories of importance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community including the recent controversy over the appointment of Ruth Kelly as Secretary of State for Women and Equality, despite a poor voting record on gay rights and membership of Catholic sect Opus Dei.
The publication was the first to reveal that Liberal Democrat Party President Simon Hughes is bisexual and carried an exclusive interview with him on the subject.
Conservative Party Chairman Francis Maude condemned the policies he once voted for and blamed Tory homophobia for the death of his brother in an exclusive PinkNews.co.uk interview earlier this year.
Additionally, the website was the first publication to name Ashley Cole as the player at the centre of an alleged “gay orgy” and carried exclusive interviews with Mr Cole’s legal team.
Website founder Benjamin Cohen said: “I am delighted that the website which started just over a year ago has been nominated alongside luminaries such as The Independent and The Guardian.
“It is testament to the high quality of journalism at the publication.”
Ben Summerskill, Stonewall chief executive, said: “We’re delighted at the range of lesbian and gay talent recognised by the Awards shortlist. But we’re equally delighted that so many people across the media and political worlds have been giving positive support to gay people too.”
The winner will be announced at the Royal Academy of Arts on 2 November 2006, hosted by actor Sir Ian McKellen.
