Unsung LGBTQ heroes, inspiring individuals and outstanding community organisations comprise the field of finalists of this year’s Honour Awards, NSW’s premier awards celebration for the LGBTQ community.

First held in 2007, the Honour Awards celebrates outstanding service to, and achievements within, the LGBTIQ community in NSW. The awards are also a gala fundraising event for ACON, NSW’s leading HIV and LGBTQ health organisation.

The 35 finalists were selected from over 230 nominations across nine categories covering the business, health, HIV, youth, community, entertainment, visual arts, media and cultural sectors.

The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony and cocktail party at the Ivy Ballroom in Sydney on Wednesday 17 August 2022.

ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill said the judging panel were impressed not only by the number of nominations, but also by their quality and variety.

“Across NSW are communities of vibrant, passionate, dedicated and hard-working LGBTQ people and allies, and our judging panel had a difficult task of selecting finalists from many worthy submissions.

“But the judges agreed that the finalists they have selected exhibited a truly outstanding commitment to supporting LGBTQ communities and deserved to be recognised for their efforts.”

The Honour Awards returns this year after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
Over 230 nominations were received in 2022 – a record for the Honour Awards.

“We were overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response to our callout for nominations this year,” Parkhill said.

“It has been wonderful to see so many of you draw attention to the amazing work of people and organisations in our communities. We thank you everyone who submitted a nomination and for being part of the Honour Awards.”

Finalists will join over 300 attendees including a host of media, entertainment, government, and community personalities for a fabulous night of fun and celebration at the Honour Awards ceremony and cocktail celebration, to be hosted by Faustina Agolley.

“We look forward to celebrating the excellence, strength, diversity and resilience of our communities at this year’s Honour Awards,” Parkhill said.

HONOUR AWARDS 2022 CEREMONY & COCKTAIL PARTY

Wednesday 17 August 2022
6pm – 11pm
Ivy Ballroom, 330 George St, Sydney
$100 per person (incl. quality wines and beers, delicious canapés & entertainment)
Tickets from www.honourawards.com.au

HONOUR AWARDS 2022 | FINALISTS

Read full biographies at www.honouraward.com.au/finalists

COMMUNITY HERO
Presented by Dowson Turco Lawyers

Ann-Marie Calilhanna: For her passionate and dedicated work in documenting Sydney’s vibrant LGBTQ culture over 20 years through photography.

Brodie Gray: For her work in supporting LGBTQ communities in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven and south coast regions of NSW.

Katherine Wolfgramme: For her tireless work as a trans advocate, activist and educator.

Nyx Harris: For their work in advocating for the health and wellbeing of sexuality and gender diverse autistic people.

YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD
Presented by people2people

David Connah: For his impressive work in promoting diversity and fostering LGBTQ inclusion in higher education and corporate Australia.

Isabella Calero-Rivarola: For her work in advocating and supporting LGBTQIA+ youth, as well as LGBTQIA+ people with disability.

Nicholas Steepe: For his passionate work championing sexuality and gender diverse communities in regional and rural NSW.

Jacob White: For his tireless work fighting for equal rights, achieving social justice and tackling HIV stigma.

COMMUNITY ORGANISATION
Presented by SBS

The Aurora Group: For its ongoing support for various LGBTIQ+ projects and initiatives through its grants programs.

BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation: For strengthening, empowering and elevating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQ+ community.

Strong Safe Fabulous: For providing support and resources for LGBTQIA+ parents and children to help prevent family violence.

Coastal Twist Festival: For delivering a vibrant and diverse LGBTIQ arts and culture festival in the NSW’s Central Coast.

HEALTH & WELLBEING
Presented by St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney

Yesim Karasu: For their passion, commitment and hard work in helping to improve the health and wellbeing of sexuality and gender diverse people.

Brahm Marjadi: For his work in LGBTQIA+ health advocacy and inclusion in the Western Sydney region, nationally and internationally.

Loretta Healey: For 25 years of service in sexual health.

Steve Spencer: For his tireless work in HIV advocacy as well as raising awareness of the health needs of bi+ Australians.

HIV HERO
Presented by Positive Life NSW

Ruan Uys: For his efforts to deliver programs and activities at the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation that connects people living with HIV.

Julie Bates & Basil Donovan: For their tireless work to improving the health and wellbeing of people living with HIV over the past 40 years.

Joanne Holahan: For 35 years of service as a nurse, starting at St Vincent’s in 1987 at the height of the AIDS crisis.

Andrew Buchanan: For a decade of outstanding service at the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Presented by Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

Fruit Box Theatre: For supporting queer artists and performers through its activities and programs.

Glitta Supernova: For over two decades work as an artist, performer, producer and culture-maker.

Dyan Tai: For his accomplishments as a performer, musician, artist and DJ.

Laura Hart: For her role in nurturing and supporting drag king culture in Sydney.

MEDIA AWARD
Presented by OUT@NBCUniversal

Courtney Act: For their extensive body of media work, particularly in television, and for supporting LGBTQ causes, charities and communities.

Jason Om: For his work as a broadcast journalist, author and speaker in elevating under-represented voices in the media.

Roz Bellamy: For their work as editor-in-chief of Archer Magazine, including – notably – Archer’s Disabilities issue published in December 2021.

Gary Nunn: For his diverse portfolio of articles published in Australian and global media that shines a light on LGBTQ issues.

BUSINESS AWARD
Presented by Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association

Sarah Barry & Victoria Spence, Life Rites Funeral: For providing end-of-life support, funerals and ceremonial services for LGBTQI+ communities.

Hank Paul: For his inclusion training programs for business owners and service providers in the wedding industry.

Ed Chiu & Burton Yuen, Stanley Burton: For establishing an underwear retailer for LGBTQIA+ communities with a focus on cultural diversity, age inclusion and body positivity.

Erin Spencer & Bec Cerio, Sock Drawer Heroes: For facilitating access to essential gender affirming products, resources and information.

CAYTE LATTA MEMORIAL AWARD FOR VISUAL ARTS
Presented by Friends of Cayte

Jeff McCann: A Sydney-based artist who specialises in community engagement projects, public art, collaborations, illustration, props and fashion.

Luke Stambouliah: An international portrait photographer who has exhibited widely and is known for shooting editorial portraits and publicity stills for Australia’s leading actors, artists and productions.

Samuel Luke: A trans artist who uses his authentic experiences as a vehicle to explore intimate and complex realities of the lived trans experience.

Read full biographies at www.honouraward.com.au/finalists

HONOUR AWARDS 2022 | OUR PARTNERS

PRINCIPAL PARTNER
Dowson Turco Lawyers

PRESENTING PARTNERS
SBS | people2people | St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney | OUT@NBCUniversal

COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras | Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association | Positive Life NSW | Friends of Cayte

MEDIA PARTNER
Star Observer

EVENT PARTNER
Merivale | Four Pillars Gin | Black Velvet Sydney | Crowd Comms

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Reg Domingo
rdomingo@acon.org.au
0400 358 109