Sunday 17 September 2017

GOK WAN, CAPRICE, KEZIA DUGDALE AND MORE AT ICON AWARDS IN SCOTLAND



KEZIA Dugdale paid tribute to her girlfriend Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP Jenny Gilruth at the Icon Diversity awards. 

The former Labour leader was in a relaxed mood as she dined with Jenny and pals at the bash in the Hilton hotel. 

Picking up an award for Politician of the Year at the ceremony she joked: "It seems like the best way to win something was to resign as leader of the Scottish Labour Party."

She added: "We celebrated the life of a very good friend of mine Gordon Aikman and he actually taught me to live life well and if I've learned anything this year it's about spending time with people that you love and focusing on the things that are important to you so I'm delighted tonight. I'm spending a lot more time with my beautiful and amazing partner Jenny and also in standing up for things that are important to me, standing up for LGBT rights, doing what I can around the country."

Kezia and Jenny stayed at the event in Glasgow's Hilton hotel until the wee small hours before heading to the after party at Light nightclub for a dance. 

They mingled with a host of stars including supermodel Caprice, Gok Wan, John Amabile, Sean Batty, Caitlyn Van Beck, Jean Johansson and Youtuber Lucy Flight and Riyadh Khalif and showed a different side to their usual public image. 

Caprice said: "Its great that we are celebrating diversity and everyone is so friendly here."

John Amabile added: "Its so inspirational and so many people have been recognised tonight who are totally inspiring."

Amongst the winners were Jordan Daily, role model of the year from the TIE campaign which won charity of the year, and the Icon Award went to MND campaigner Gordon Aikman who passed in February. His husband Joe Pike who is the ITN political correspondent picked up the award on his behalf.

Scott Barclay from the Icon awards said: "We had politicians from the Tory Party, Labour, and SNP all attend the event for 563 people championing diversity across Scotland. 


Former councillor Rosa Zambonini was rushed to hospital after taking ill during the ceremony. 

Rosa won the award for Straight Ally in the night but was unable to stay to pick o the gong. 

Scott Barclay of the awards said: "We wish Rosa the very best and thank her for championing diversity in Scotland and for her advocacy of the trans community in Scotland. 

Rosa attended the ceremony but took ill half way through and had to be rushed to hospital. 

He added: "It's a shame Rosa wasn't there to collect her honour but we will get it to her. We wish her the very best."

Rosa said: "The award most deserved went to Kezia Dugdale a woman who has put up with relentless abuse, was outed unfairly and who I admire beyond words."