Tatchell dedicates his award to “heroic Russian LGBTI activists”
Conchita Wurst and Peter Tatchell will receive a Berlin Pride Soul of Stonewall Award at a Gala celebration this Friday night (20 June), along with Nigerian activist Dorothy Aken’Ova.
Tatchell will dedicate his award for “Exceptional Achievement” to Russian LGBTI campaigners and their straight allies.
The awards are bestowed by the Berlin Pride Association (Berliner CSD e.V).
“It is a huge honour to receive this award alongside Conchita and Dorothy. I’m a huge admirer of Dorothy’s work in Nigeria. She has been an outstanding champion of the rights of women and sexual minorities. Conchita made a huge global impact at Eurovision, challenging gender stereotypes and promoting gender diversity,” said Peter Tatchell, Director of the human rights organisation, the Peter Tatchell Foundation.
“I dedicate my receipt of this award to the heroic, inspirational Russian LGBTI activists and their straight allies. They are doing amazing work in conditions of great adversity; risking arrest and violence. Their sacrifice and courage is awesome. Together with LGBTI activists in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East, they are in the frontline of the global struggle for LGBTI human rights.
“I’ve been campaigning for LGBTI rights and other human rights for over 47 years. I could never have done half of what I’ve achieved without the support of other equally committed activists. This award is for them too.
“I’ve done my bit but so have many, many others. Together, collectively and cumulatively, we’ve made huge strides for LGBTI rights in many parts of the world. Despite the recent setbacks in Russia, Uganda, Nigeria and India, the overall global trend is towards LGBTI liberation. It’s an unstoppable worldwide trend.
“My idealism is undiminished from when I first began campaigning in 1967. My motto is: Don’t accept the world as it is. Dream of what the word could be – and then help make it happen.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the Berlin Pride Association for honouring me with this award. It is a huge privilege to follow in the footsteps of previous winners such as Claudia Roth, Edwin Cameron, Kasha Nabagesera, Gunter Grau, Volker Beck and Helmut Graupner.
Soul of Stonewall Award Recipients:
Resistance Award: Dorothy Aken’Ova – Executive Director of International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights (INCRESE) in Nigeria Exceptional Achievement Award: Peter Tatchell – Director, Peter Tatchell Foundation
Special Award: Conchita Wurst – Winner Eurovision song contest 2014
National Award: Heute Show – German weekly pro-LGBT satire show
International Award: Honey Maid – “This is wholesome” campaign