Here are the finalists in ‘best of the best’ LGBT awards

The “best of the best” of the queer scene in Bristol and beyond is being celebrated in ShoutOut Radio’s Listeners’ Awards 2023.

Designed to honour performers, writers, businesses, events, pubs, campaigners and more, the list gives people a chance to have their say on who in the LGBTQ+ community deserves special recognition.

The Gold Awards are the community radio show’s most prestigious awards and categories are Most Diverse Company – under which the Watershed, University of Bristol and Duchess Media are nominated – the “Make It Happen” Award and Hero of the Year.

One finalist in Hero of the Year category is Bristol’s own Kaz Self, organiser for Trans Pride South West and “a passionate advocate of LGBT+ people, sharing her beliefs for quality and protection of those within the LGBT+ space”.

Other nominees are Lucy Clark, the first FA referee to come out as trans, Aida H Dee, creator of Drag Queen Story Hour, Shea Coffee, founder of Medway Pride Radio and John Stockton, Mr Leather 2020 and key figure in supporting the community throughout the pandemic.

Familiar faces among those shortlisted in the main section are Sing Out, the South West’s largest LGBTQ+ choir, Bristol Butch Bar and Bristol Pride.

Under the Best Community Event Category is Pride Comic Art Festival, the UK’s only LGBTQ+ comic festival founded by Chris Lock and Nathan J Adam who aim to reveal the “rich and vibrant” underground gay comic scene.

Those wrestling for a win in the Best Bar section are OMG Bar on Frogmore Street versus Old Market favourites Bristol Bear Bar, Old Market Tavern and Old Castle Green, as well as Proud Bar in Weston-super-mare.

As well as celebrating the queer pubs and bars, the awards also make a toast to the Best Bar Person. Those making the final are Robin Freeman (Queen Shilling), Andy Nichols (Queen Shilling), Mike Dante Crosby (Old Market Tavern), Mike Coe (Old Castle Green) and Steve Keating (Bristol Bear Bar).

Best Restaurants feature the Old Market Tavern, the Phoenix, Bambalan, Mugshots and Eat Your Greens – an independent Totterdown vegan cafe.

The awards culminate in a ceremony at Old Market Assembly, which will be live broadcast or guests can get tickets for free – photo: Rob Browne

Listened to by 100,000 people every week, ShoutOut Radio is one of the region’s leading LGBTQ+ radio stations and gives a platform to a range of queer voices that might not otherwise be heard.

The team, who broadcast on Thursdays at 7pm from BCfm, said: “This year, the ShoutOut Listeners’ Awards are back again – and they are bigger than ever!

“Born from the demise of the Pink Paper and their awards, the ShoutOut team decided back in 2012 to bring about their very own version.

“Whilst we spend a lot of the year interviewing and talking to some amazing people and organisations, many of whom you give a lot of praise to as well, we decided to help by giving you, our listeners, a voice.

“The ShoutOut Listeners’ Awards are your chance to tell us who you think is the “best of the best” – those people, groups, businesses, etc. that deserve special recognition.”

To see the full list of finalists and vote in ShoutOut Radio’s Listeners’ Awards 2023, visit: www.shoutoutradio.lgbt/awards (voting closes at midnight on January 31)

Tickets for the awards ceremony are available from Monday and can be found on their website

Main photo: Tim Maynard

Read next:

• A glimpse into the hidden histories of Old Market
• Bristol’s LGBT+ radio show celebrates 10 years
• ‘A watershed moment for putting LGBTQ+ people on the map’

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