Stonewall Awards 2010

[Perdita]

Three soaps have been nominated for the Stonewall Broadcast Of The Year award.

EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have been recognised for running high-profile storylines featuring gay characters in the last 12 months, PA reports.

Earlier this year, Walford-based soap EastEnders saw Syed Masood and Christian Clarke have an affair as practising Muslim Syed struggled with reconciling his sexuality and his faith.

In Emmerdale, Aaron Livesy has been seen to accept that he is gay, and has embarked on a relationship with Jackson Walsh after overcoming a series of violent outbursts.

Meanwhile, Coronation Street has featured best friends Sophie Webster and Sian Powers begin a lesbian relationship, much to the shock of Weatherfield's residents.

The three soaps face Dispatches: Africa's Last Taboo and The Sex Education Show in the same category.

Other categories for the awards include 'Entertainer Of The Year', which will see EastEnders' John Partridge, actor Colin Firth and Glee's Jane Lynch compete.

The fifth annual Stonewall Awards will take place on Thursday, November 4 at VnA in London.


:thumbsup:

[alan45]

ITV soap Coronation Street and EastEnders actor John Partridge have both been honoured at this year's Stonewall Awards.

Corrie won the 'Broadcast of the Year' gong at last night's ceremony, which celebrated those who have made a positive impact on the lives of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the past 12 months.

The Weatherfield show has featured its first ever lesbian storyline this year, focusing on long-standing character Sophie Webster's (Brooke Vincent) blossoming romance with best friend Sian Powers (Sacha Parkinson).

Corrie had faced competition from rival soaps EastEnders and Emmerdale in the category, as well as factual Channel 4 programmes The Sex Education Show and Dispatches: Africa's Last Taboo.

Meanwhile, Partridge won the 'Entertainer of the Year' prize for his role as Walford's Christian Clarke, who has found love with Syed Masood (Marc Elliott) on screen despite the fierce objections of the practising Muslim's family.

According to Pink News, Partridge paid tribute to EastEnders' former series story producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins at yesterday's event, praising him for managing to "tell a gay story at 7.30 in the evening".

The 39-year-old had been nominated in the 'Entertainer' category alongside stars including Colin Firth and Glee's Jane Lynch.

Others who were recognised on the night included rugby star Gareth Thomas, who was named 'Hero of the Year' for his decision to speak publicly about his homosexuality.

Speaking of the winners, Stonewall's chief executive Ben Summerskill commented: "This has been a landmark year. All three major soaps have featured compelling depictions of lesbian and gay characters. All three main parties have made gay equality a central, vote-winning election issue. And rugby now has its first openly gay professional player. We're proud to have seen all these successes of modern Britain reflected at the Stonewall Awards ceremony."

[tammyy2j]

Stonewall Awards ???????????

Never heard of them before