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Beth Ditto, Paul O'Grady, Sarah Waters, Ben Bradshaw and Boyzone are shortlisted
Stonewall
Nominees for 2009 Stonewall Awards announced
Stonewall has announced the shortlists for its 2009 awards honouring people who have made a positive contribution to lesbian and gay equality in Britain in the past year.
Entertainer of the Year nominees are singer Beth Ditto, comedian Stephen K Amos, actor Russell Tovey, TV personality Mary Portas and boyband Boyzone.
Times columnist Joan Bakewell, Diva editor Jane Czyzselska and Independent columnists Janet Street Porter and Johann Hari are shortlisted for Journalist of the Year, with Dustin Lance Black (for Milk), Paul O'Grady (for At My Mother's Knee), Sarah Waters (for The Little Stranger), Nicholas De Jongh (for Plague Over England) and Geraldine Bell (for The Gulf Between Us) nominees for Writer of the Year.
The politicians on the list are the new Commons Speaker John Bercow, the secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport Ben Bradshaw, Labour MP Chris Bryant and Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone.
A celebrity judging panel including comedian and TV personality Sue Perkins, BBC radio and TV presenter Evan Davis and former basketball player John Amaechi will choose the winners of these categories, as well as those of Sports Award and Publication and Broadcast of the Year.
Hero of the Year, with nominees including poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, and Bigot of the Year, with the best known nominees probably being the notorious Westboro Baptist Church duo Fred Phelps and Shirley Roper-Phelps, are being voted on by thousands of Stonewall supporters across Britain. The Stonewall & Barclays Community Group of the Year will also be voted for by Stonewall supporters.
Ben Summerskill, Stonewall chief executive, said: "The Stonewall Awards recognise talented people who use their skills to champion lesbian, gay and bisexual equality in Britain. Every year the competition ups a notch - an encouraging sign that lesbian and gay visibility is gaining confidence."
The fourth annual Stonewall Awards ceremony, sponsored by Barclays, will be on November 5 at the V&A in London, with Gok Wan hosting.
Tickets are available from bimla.safka@stonewall.org.uk / 020 7593 1875
