Clementine Ford has asked for her name to be removed from the a nomination for the 2019 LGBTI Awards.
The author took to Twitter to express her frustration with being nominated as an ally of the LGBTI community.
“I wasn’t aware I had been nominated for this and have asked to be removed from this short-list. I’m not an ally but a proud and out member of the queer community. This is the second year I’ve had to clarify this to the organisers behind this corporate event.” Ford posted to Twitter.
Ford’s name does not currently appear among the nominees for Ally of the Year. The other nominees include PFLAG’s National spokesperson Shelly Argent, rugby player David Pocock, marriage equality advocate Sharyn Faulkner, transgender rights advocate Rebekah Robertson, ally network coordinator Renae Smee, Facebook employee Mia Garlick, theatrical artist Joshua Maxwell, researcher Michaelle Telfer, and human rights advocate Alison Battisson.
Ford’s not the only nominee to ask for her name to be removed. Transgender rights advocate Cate McGregor has formally rejected a nomination to be considered as a local icon and asked for her name to be taken off the list.
The remaining nominees for the icon category are Ian Thorpe, Hannah Gadsby, Troye Sivan, Tim Dormer, Tash Sultana, Judi Connelli, Jordan Raskopoulos, Harry Cook, Andreja Pejic and Jade Kevin Foster.
Last year many people were left scratching their heads when Bindi Irwin was named LGBTI Ally of the Year for her outstanding contribution to the fight for marriage equality.
The Awards are held in Sydney in March, this year Western Australian entertainer Feminem has been nominated, as well as local community group TransFolk of WA.
OIP Staff
