Trans Community Awards honour Queensland activists

Trans Awareness Week has kicked off in Brisbane with the annual Trans Community Awards.

Organised by the Many Genders One Voice group of the Queensland Council for LGBTI Health, the awards were held last night at Fortitude Valley’s Wickham Hotel.

Each year, the awards celebrate Queensland’s trans, non-binary, and gender diverse communities.

Veteran LGBTIQA+ ally and advocate Shelley Argent was honoured with the special ATSAQ Community Achievement Award by the Australian Transgender Support Association Queensland.

This year saw new nominees for many of the award categories.

Open Doors Youth Service was named Service Provider of the Year, and Leki Ganza took home Ally of the Year.

“I stand on the shoulders of giants who came before me,” said Ganza.

“We’ve been fighting this fight a long time.

“I [dedicate] this award to them and to my trans brothers and sisters and siblings.

“We will lift you up and put you on our shoulders and give you the world that you deserve.”

Medical/Health Professional of the Year went to Allan Bell from Brisbane Rainbow Inclusions.

Bell said the award was “an honour”.

“I always dreamt of working within our community and it proves that dreams really do come true,” they said.

Group of the Year was awarded to Haus of Alexander. 

Separated by just six votes, Event of the Year went to Brisbane’s beloved Trans Fair Day.

Non-Binary Activist/Advocate of the Year went to Blake Barber, and Trans Activist/Advocate of the Year was awarded to Aisya Zaharin.

“We exist, and we are here to stay,” said Zaharin.

Liv Elliot took home Young Activist of the Year, and Rural Activist/Advocate of the Year went to Zee Parks.

Parks said that they had moved to Brisbane after coming out in their regional hometown and finding it unsafe and unaccepting.

“You may be one person, but you can make an impact,” said Parks.

“I have, and so can you.”