The Stonewall Awards 2008

Hero of the Year – chosen by Stonewall supporters.

1. Rev’d Martin Dudley – blessed the civil partnership of two friends, both gay priests, in June at St Bartholomew’s Church in the City of London. Courageously defied critics demanding an apology, insisting he had no regrets.

2. Natalie Gamble – prominent in the campaign to secure equal legal recognition for same-sex families and an end to discrimination against lesbians in fertility treatment; spoke publicly of her own positive experience as a lesbian mum.

3. Brian Paddick – Formerly Britain’s most senior gay police officer, Brian Paddick turned his talent and outspokenness to the political arena with his nomination as the Liberal Democrat’s candidate to be Mayor of London.

4. Rt Rev’d Gene Robinson – openly gay Bishop of New Hampshire. Has bravely endured sustained personal attacks in recent months, as church debate on homosexuality has intensified. Recently barred from Lambeth conference.

5. Rose Troche – writer and director of smash hit US TV show The L Word, groundbreaking in its portrayal of lesbian lives and relationships. The show aired its fifth season in 2008 and remains hugely popular. She also directed the seminal Go Fish.

Bigot of the Year – chosen by Stonewall supporters.

1. Lord Devon – Earlier this year, the 18th Earl of Devon unlawfully refused to permit civil partnership celebrations as well as weddings at Powderham Castle, his ancestral seat.

2. Heinz – the corporation caved in to a small number of orchestrated complaints and withdrew their light-hearted Deli Mayo TV ad following claims that a so-called ‘gay kiss’ between two men would confuse and damage children.

3. Lillian Ladele – Islington registrar who refused to perform civil partnerships because of her disgust at same-sex unions, even though paid from the public purse to serve all the community.

4. Bishop of Motherwell – Roman Catholic bishop claimed gay people use the Holocaust to get sympathy. On Sir Ian McKellen’s New Year’s honour for services to equality said ‘A century ago, Oscar Wilde was locked up and put in jail.’

5. Iris Robinson MP – just weeks after suggesting that gay people could be ‘cured’, describing homosexuality as ‘disgusting’, ‘loathsome’ and ‘an abomination’, in June the Unionist MP went on to say: ‘There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality, than sexually abusing innocent children.’