The Apcom Hero Awards this year honours LGBTI advocates and celebrates Thailand’s milestone in passing the Marriage Equality bill.
The Apcom Foundation, an Asia-Pacific LGBTI advocacy foundation based in Thailand, earlier this month posted a video clip on their Facebook page about the return of its annual Apcom Hero Awards.
It was stated that this year the Hero Awards returns for a ninth edition under the theme “Celebration Of Equality”, marking Thailand’s historical achievement in marriage equality and that the event will be hosted by just one person for the first time.
Midnight Poonkasetwattana, Apcom Foundation executive director, said in a video clip they have been organising the Hero Awards annually in Bangkok for LGBTI advocates who uphold and promote the rights of people living with HIV, equality and human rights across the Asia-Pacific region.
There are 10 award categories — Business Ally, Community Ally, Community Hero, Community Organisation, Health and Wellbeing, HIV Hero, LBQ Her, Social Justice Hero, Transgender Hero and Young Achiever.
“This awards shine a spotlight on the LGBTI community as well as those who have made significant contributions to HIV response in this region while bringing guests from around the world to celebrate activists and connect diverse stakeholders ranging from diplomatic missions, government, community-based organisations, private sector, academia, allies and the media,” he added.
Regional community partners Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/Aids; the Asia Pacific Transgender Network; and the Asian Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association will also join the Hero Awards. Midnight explained that the number nine carries a deep significance as a symbol of luck, prosperity and success in Thai culture.
This year the Hero Awards highlight the celebration of equality and honour Thailand’s passing of marriage equality on Jan 23 (the third country in Asia after Taiwan and Nepal and the first in Southeast Asia).
This award is co-hosted by the Dutch, British, Australian, German and Irish embassies and supported by other agencies.
Midnight also pointed out that this year’s award ceremony will be much more special as it will be hosted by Mel Heifetz, the 97th recipient of the Philadelphia Award who established the GLBT Fund of America at the Philadelphia Foundation in 2007.
According to the Philadelphia Award Website, Heifetz was a key person who addressed homelessness among LGBTI communities. He also kept several HIV/Aids nonprofit organisations afloat and at the peak of the crisis in the 1980s, he put countless uninsured people on his company’s health insurance plan.
Midnight added that individual support meant that not only the organisation but individuals could play a vital role in celebrating equality and justice.
“We welcome everyone to join this celebration to create an equal society in Thailand and beyond the Asia-Pacific region,” he ended.
To join the event, individuals need to purchase tickets through Line: Apcom Foundation.