The Australian Human Rights Commission has announced the nominees of the 2014 Human Rights Awards.
Western Australia’s Young Person of the Year, James Clarke, has been nominated for the 2014 Young Peoples’ Human Rights Medal in recognition of his work advocating for the rights of LGBTI young people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Clarke runs a campaign called ‘Unity in the Community’ which aims to fight bullying. He is vice captain of Lockridge senior high school and publicly speaks about issues regarding race, sexuality and discrimination.
Noel Tovey, actor, author, choreographer and dancer has been nominated for the Human Rights Medal for his work advocating for Indigenous Australians and the LGBTI community. Tovey gained acclaim for his book and stage play, both entitled ‘Little Black Bastard’, based on his early experiences with discrimination. He has also established the Noel Tovey Scholarship Fund and Noel Tovey Award for achievement with the aim of providing young peoples with performing arts education. He is a patron of Val’s Cafe, a Victorian organisation which aims to improve the lives of older LGBTI people.
Nominated for the Law Award is the international law firm Allens, which has performed ongoing pro bono work promoting social justice in Australia, in particular for the LGBTIQ community. The firm assisted Australian Marriage Equality with its intervention in ‘Commonwealth Vs Australian Capital Territory’ and provided specialist advice in the recent High Court in NSW that lead to the establishment of a third ‘non-specific sex’ gender category. Allens is also the first law firm to become a part of Pride in Diversity.
Anna Brown has been nominated for The Tony Fitzgerald Community Award, which is given to a person who has a track record in promoting and advancing human rights in the Australian community on a not-forprofit basis. Brown works as a human rights advocate and lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, where she focuses on the rights of LGBTI people. She also volunteers at several LGBTI organisations including the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby.
The organisation Transgender Victoria has been nominated for the Community Award, which is awarded to a not for profit organisation that has shown dedication for advancing and promoting human rights in Australia. Transgender Victoria provides valuable services to transgender people and their families, friends and strives to provide justice, equity, health and community opportunities for transgender Australian.
Tim Bishop has been nominated for a Radio Award for his broadcast ‘My Man and Me’, which addresses the stigmatization of race, sexuality and illness and the importance of being able to live and love in freedom, told through the story of his relationship with his late partner, Matthew.
Tim Toni, Carly Schmidt, Dora Weekley, David Grusovin and David Forster have been nominated for a Television Award for the SBS program ‘Living With the Enemy’, in which people with opposing ideological viewpoints were asked to live together. In one episode, a gay couple cohabited with an Anglican minister who was opposed to same sex marriage.
The winners of the 2014 Human Rights Awards will be announced this Wednesday in Sydney from 5.30pm.
