The organization KyivPride has announced the finalists for the second KyivPride Awards 2023 in the field of LGBTI+ activism.
The awards will be presented in five categories: "LGBTI+ Volunteer of the Year," "LGBTI+ Business Friendly of the Year," "International Ally of the Year," "LGBTI+ Organization of the Year," and "Queer Blogger of the Year."
The voting will be open until October 29th, and the award ceremony is scheduled for November 7th in Kyiv. Additionally, they have decided not to have a separate category for military LGBTI+ activists, as the organizers believe that all defenders deserve attention and gratitude.
Among the finalists for the "LGBTIQ+ Friendly Business of the Year" category are Comfy, Vodafone, and the publishing house "ÐидавниÑÑво." These are companies that expressed support for the LGBTIQ+ community during Pride Month in June 2023.
"First, we want to express our gratitude and acknowledge those who are currently defending Ukrainian statehood and the nation on the frontlines. These heroes, serving in the military, simultaneously contribute to the establishment of human rights by their visibility and activism. These are just a few of the many LGBTQ+ military personnel whom you have nominated. We have decided not to conduct voting in this category, as all defenders are deserving of attention and appreciation" wrote organizers.
Among the LGBTIQ+ volunteers, the nominees include Vladislav Shast, Dzhul SÑrousa, and Artur Ozerov, while among the bloggers, the finalists are Ksenia Termasina, Sasha Dragli, and Vitaliy Tsaryuk.
Voting for the selected candidates will continue until October 29th via this link. The awards ceremony will take place on November 7th in Kyiv and will be live-streamed on KyivPride's social media channels.