International Pride Awards Honour Five Global LGBTIQ+ Equality Heroes

Five remarkable advocates for LGBTIQ+ equality were celebrated at the first-ever International Pride Awards in Cape Town, South Africa, on Wednesday.

The event, hosted by South African trans activist and artist Yaya Mavundla, took place alongside the ILGA World Conference, which this week brought together LGBTIQ+ activists from across the globe to discuss issues affecting the community.

The awards are a joint initiative by ILGA World and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“In a time of significant challenges and pushback, it is crucial to celebrate those who strive tirelessly for LGBTIQ+ equality and inspire others to take action towards an inclusive future,” said Jeffrey O’Malley, Senior Advisor on LGBTI Inclusion for Africa at UNDP.

Julia Ehrt, Executive Director of ILGA World, added, “Through the International Pride Awards, we recognise all those who keep paving the way for a more equal world, reaffirming our dedication to a future where everyone can thrive free from fear and prejudice.”

The awardees were honoured before an audience of over 1,000 LGBTIQ+ human rights defenders and allies from around the world, with additional participants joining via live stream. The awards also featured a live musical performance by South African musician Bongeziwe Mabandla.

The honourees, hailing from Angola, Brazil, Namibia, Nepal, and Russia, were celebrated through powerful and emotional video stories showcasing their achievements and resilience in the face of challenges like discrimination, persecution, poverty, and marginalisation.

The ceremony was briefly disrupted when a distraught LGBTIQ+ activist from Ukraine took to the stage, criticising the community for not advocating as strongly for the plight of Ukrainians in equal measure as their support for the Palestinian people.

Here are the five LGBTIQ+ equality heroes recognised for their extraordinary contributions:

Movement Building in the Face of Hostility Award: Ruslan Savolainen

Ruslan has been involved in LGBTIQ+ activism in Russia for almost 20 years. After the movement was labelled extremist and criminalised, he fled Russia to continue his work.

Celebrating Diverse Lives Award: Immani Da Silva

Angolan writer, model, visual artist, actress, presenter, and social activist, Immani uses her experiences as a trans woman and public figure to raise awareness and foster understanding of LGBTIQ+ issues in Angolan society.

Emerging Leader Award: Aaditya Raj

As an indigenous genderfluid man living with disabilities, Aaditya advocates for LGBTIQ+ people with disabilities, striving to raise awareness and create opportunities for them. He founded Rainbow Disability Nepal, the country’s first charity dedicated to this cause.

Extraordinary Ally Award: Lize Ehlers

As co-CEO of Drag Night Namibia, Lize uses art for advocacy and social change. Recently appointed to the board of Equal Namibia, she fights to end state-sanctioned homophobia and intersectional discrimination in Namibia.

Lifelong Pursuit of Equality Award: Sonia Corrêa

A veteran researcher and advocate for gender equality, health, and sexuality for 50 years, Sonia co-chaired the drafting committee of the Yogyakarta Principles, which apply international human rights law to sexual orientation and gender identity. Since 2002, she has worked with the Brazilian Interdisciplinary Association for AIDS, co-chairing the Sexuality Policy Watch programme.