Votes Pour In For The Nominees Of The First New Zealand LGBTI Awards

By Ciaran Warner

Voting will close on Friday for the first New Zealand LGBTI Awards, with Director and MD of the Awards Silke Bader delighted with the enthusiastic response to the voting process.

The nominees, which include businesses, charities, destinations and individuals across twelve categories, have collectively received over 2000 votes, which Silke says has already made the first New Zealand LGBTI Awards more of a success than the Australian LGBTI Awards in Sydney.

“New Zealand is a progressive country, and we believe these Awards create a public platform which helps us move from a place of tolerance to one of celebration,” Silke says.

The LGBTI Awards are an opportunity for members of the Kiwi LGBTI community, and their allies, to be recognised for their contribution in the fight for equality in New Zealand.

Having enjoyed success in London and Sydney in recent years, the LGBTI Awards are now hosting their inaugural ceremony in New Zealand, which will take place at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland on November 29th.

Welcome drinks will be provided after the red carpet, which will commence at 6pm, after which the awards dinner will take place from 7:30pm until 10:30pm. 160 tickets have already been sold for the event.

“The Awards are all about creating a celebration, and exclaiming loudly that our community is one to be celebrated for its individuality and strengths,” Silke says.

The Awards have also announced their support for Youthline, a New Zealand charity that offers support and guidance to the youth of New Zealand and their families when needed.

A raffle will be held on the night of the Awards, with all proceeds going to Youthline.

Several Kiwi celebrities have already thrown their weight behind the Awards, including Tamati Coffey, a former television host turned politician who will be the MC on the night of the Awards, comic duo Jools and Linda Topp, who have been nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award, and actress Lucy Lawless, who has been named Ambassador to the New Zealand LGBTI Awards.

The Topp Twins and Tamati are openly gay, while Lawless is a staunch supporter of the rainbow community.

Several international celebrities are also included in the shortlist, including Kiwi pop singer Lorde, actors Hugh Jackman and Sir Ian McKellan, and ‘Orange Is The New Black’ stars Ruby Rose and Lea Delaria.

To cast your vote before the deadline of August 31st, click here.

Contact New Zealand LGBTI Awards:
Email: silke@newzealandlgbtiawards.co.nz
Phone: +61 2 8097 0054
Website: http://www.newzealandlgbtiawards.com
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/lgbti_nz
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSbpixysMQ3czoelIgzixGQ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-zealand-lgbti-awards/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzlgbtiawards/

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