WINNERS ANNOUNCED 2022
Stephen Fry, Paul O’Grady, and Claire Sweeney lead the winners at The Bank of London Rainbow Honours 2022
- Comic Julian Clary and drag superstar Victoria Scone hosted the star-studded event at London’s 8 Northumberland Avenue
- Accolade was also presented to Brookside legend Claire Sweeney
- Finance giant The London Stock Exchange and pubs powerhouse Greene King were bestowed with big prizes
Fry, a world-renowned author and actor, was named Celebrity Champion of the Year at the annual LGBTQI awards extravaganza, held in association with Founding Partner The Bank of London. It was hosted by comedian Julian Clary and RuPaul's Drag Race UK alumnus Victoria Scone.
The Bank of London Rainbow Honours is one of the UK’s biggest LGBT+ awards events which celebrates the best British and international LGBTQI talent, as well as the allies and organisations who support them.
ITV’s For the Love of Dogs star O’Grady was given a special recognition award for his stellar work to advance the rights of LGBTQI people in Britain and around the world.
Brookside icon Claire Sweeney, who is currently starring in the West End’s Proud Cabaret show, scooped the Celebrity Ally of the Year Award while RuPaul’s Drag Race UK was named Media Moment of the Year.
The London Stock Exchange Group, a staple of the city, was honoured with Large Brand of the Year while pubs giant Greene King was bestowed with the LGBTQI Network gong.
Mermaids, a charity which has been supporting transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children, young people and their families since 1995, was honoured with Charity of the Year and was presented with a cheque for £10,000 by the headline sponsor The Bank of London.
Meanwhile, Eugenio Pirri of the luxury hotelier the Dorchester Collection won Inspirational Role Model of the Year, with global pension fund Legal and General collecting Outstanding LGBTQI Network Group and Pete Markey from retailer Boots was named Corporate Ally.
UK Black Pride, Europe’s largest celebration for LGBTQI+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American and Middle Eastern-descent, collected the coveted Community Initiative of the Year prize and a cheque from sponsors GSK for £5,000.
Rupert Whitaker and Martyn Butler, founders of the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK's leading HIV and sexual health charity, were prized with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Commenting on the winners, Julian Clary said:
“There were so many deserving LGBTQI people and allies who have been recognised this evening. It is fantastic to be part of this awards ceremony.”
Rainbow Honours founder, Linda Riley, said:
“We were delighted to be able to pay tribute to the wonderful LGBTQI people, celebrities, brands and allies who have spent the past 12 months advancing the rights of our community. All of the winners and nominees are incredibly deserving.”
Anthony Watson, Founder and Group Chief Executive of The Bank of London, added: “At The Bank of London, we’re proud to be marking Pride Month by sponsoring The Bank of London Rainbow Honours – a celebration to shine a light on every aspect of LGBTQ community (and our allies) and honour those individuals who went above and beyond, often in the face of intense criticism and hostility. We warmly congratulate the well deserved individuals and organisations who have been honoured today”.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS AND HIGHLY COMMENDED NAMES BELOW
RAINBOW HONOURS CHOICE AWARD
Winner - Paul O’Grady
This Generation - LGBTQI CORPORATE CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
Winner - Deon Pillay - Legal & General
Highly Commended - Jamie Christon - Chester Zoo
Focus - HOUSING PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
Winner - Riverside
Highly Commended - Folio
The Bank of London - SMALL BRAND OF THE YEAR
Winner - myGwork
Highly Commended - Gay's the Word
Optum - INSPIRATIONAL ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR
Winner - Eugenio Pirri - Dorchester Collection
Highly Commended - Sarah Rock - Fladgate
Denovo Legal Services - LARGE BRAND OF THE YEAR
Winner - London Stock Exchange Group
Highly Commended - TikTok
Ruebik - OUTSTANDING LGBTQI NETWORK GROUP
Winner - Legal & General - LGBT+ Allies Network
Highly Commended - BP Pride
NEW LGBTQI NETWORK
Winner - Greene King - The Village Greene
Highly Commended - NHS - BHRUT LGBT+ Network
GSK - COMMUNITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
Winner - UK Black Pride
Highly Commended - Intersex Equality Rights UK
CORPORATE ALLY OF THE YEAR
Winner - Pete Markey - Boots
Highly Commended - Sarah Breeden - Bank of England
The Bank of London - CHARITY OF THE YEAR
Winner - Mermaids
CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Winner - Naz and Matt Foundation - Out And Proud Parents Day
Highly Commended - Terrence Higgins Trust - 'Life Really Changed...'
Deliveroo - CAMPAIGNER / INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
Winner - Yasmin Benoit
Highly Commended - Peter Tatchell
CELEBRITY ALLY OF THE YEAR
Winner - Claire Sweeney
Highly Commended - Lewis Hamilton
Jackdaw Media - MEDIA MOMENT OF THE YEAR
Winner - RuPaul's Drag Race UK
Highly Commended - It's a Sin
Sedulo - LGBTQI CELEBRITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
Winner - Stephen Fry
Highly Commended - Emeli Sande
Raytheon - LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Rupert Whitaker and Martyn Butler - Terrence Higgins Trust