Gay Project

Gay Project’s Out & Outstanding in Cork Awards is a celebration recognising the exceptional contributions of volunteers, allies, and community champions who bring pride, unity, and positive change to the LGBTI+ community in Cork. Honouring leaders from sports, culture, arts, corporate/community allies, advocacy, and more, this awards night shines a spotlight on those who inspire, with their commitment to inclusivity and impact. Join us in celebrating their dedication to building a stronger, more vibrant community for all!

Categories

  • Description: Honors a sports club that has made exceptional contributions to promoting sportspersonship, inclusivity, and community engagement.
  • Eligibility: Open to all sports clubs affiliated with the Gay Project, with a minimum of six months of activity.
  • Description: Recognises a peer support/social group that has provided an outstanding platform for tackling social isolation, building community, and promoting inclusivity.
  • Eligibility: Open to all peer support/social groups affiliated with the Gay Project.
  • Description: This award celebrates an individual whose artistry has had a transformative impact on the LGBTI+ community. Whether through visual art, literature, music, performance, or other media, this award honours those who use their creative voice to inspire, challenge, and uplift. Their work not only entertains but also promotes deeper understanding, visibility, and pride within the LGBTI+ community and beyond.
  • Eligibility: Open to LGBTI+ artists, authors, and entertainers who have actively contributed their talents in the past year. Eligible nominees should demonstrate a commitment to representing LGBTI+ voices, themes, or experiences through their work and have a record of positive community engagement or influence.

Description: A committee that has made a significant positive impact within Cork’s LGBTI+ community. Through their collective efforts, this committee has fostered inclusion, visibility, creating meaningful change and connection across the community.

Eligibility: Open to all groups affiliated with the Gay Project.

  • Description: Celebrates a drag artist who has inspired, entertained, and contributed significantly to LGBTQ+ culture and representation in Cork in 2024/2025.
  • Eligibility: Open to Munster based drag performers.
  • Description: Recognises a public or state agency that has demonstrated exceptional support and advocacy for LGBTI+ inclusivity. This award celebrates initiatives, policies, or programmes that foster a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for LGBTI+ individuals within their organisation and the wider community.
  • Eligibility: Open to state agencies and public institutions, that have implemented meaningful actions supporting LGBTI+ inclusivity. Eligible nominees might include those who have developed inclusive policies, provided LGBTI+ sensitivity training, engaged in advocacy for LGBTI+ individuals. 
  • Description: Recognises an Educational Organisation that has demonstrated exceptional support and advocacy for LGBTI+ inclusivity. This award celebrates initiatives, policies, or programmes that foster a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for LGBTI+ individuals within their organisation and the wider community.
  • Eligibility: Open schools and educational organisations that have implemented meaningful actions supporting LGBTI+ inclusivity. Eligible nominees might include those who have developed inclusive policies, provided LGBTI+ sensitivity training or created supportive resources or programmes for LGBTI+ individuals. Also open to college/university bodies such as student unions, societies and other groups working within the educational sector that provide support to students.
  • Description: Acknowledges a for-profit, small business that has demonstrated exemplary support for LGBTQ+ rights, inclusion, and community engagement.
  • Eligibility: Open to all for-profit businesses with under 20 staff, based in Cork with a track record of supporting LGBTI+ initiatives and promoting an inclusive workplace.
  • Description: Acknowledges a for-profit, large business that has demonstrated exemplary support for LGBTQ+ rights, inclusion, and community engagement.
  • Eligibility: Open to all for-profit businesses with over 20 staff, based in Cork with a track record of supporting LGBTI+ initiatives and promoting an inclusive workplace.
  • Description: Recognises a Night-Time Economy Venue  that has shown outstanding commitment as an ally to supporting LGBTI+ individuals, promoting inclusivity, and safe spaces.
  • Eligibility: Open to venues with activities between 6pm and 6am, showing active allyship in supporting LGBTI+ rights, inclusion and well-being.
  • Description: Recognises a community organisation/NGO that has shown outstanding commitment as an ally to supporting LGBTI+ individuals, promoting inclusivity, and safe spaces.
  • Eligibility: Open to nonprofit or community organisations showing active allyship in supporting LGBTI+ rights, inclusion and well-being.
  • Description: Recognises an outstanding event organised by a group or individual that has promoted community, visibility, and support for LGBTI+ causes.
  • Eligibility: Open to all events organised within the past year in Cork.
  • Description: Honours a young volunteer or group (under 25) who has contributed significantly to LGBTI+ youth advocacy, engagement, or support.
  • Eligibility: Open to volunteers under 25 or youth-oriented groups who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to youth-related issues.
  • Description: Honours an individual or group that has contributed to promoting health, wellness, and/or mental well-being within the LGBTI+ community.
  • Eligibility: Open to volunteers, groups, or organisations involved in health or wellness initiatives for the community in Cork.
  • Description: Recognises an ally who has consistently shown support for the LGBTI+ community over a significant period, making a lasting impact.
  • Eligibility: Open to individuals with a record of allyship in a sustained, impactful way.
  • Description: Celebrates a volunteer who has dedicated several years to the LGBTI+ Community and has made a lasting impact.
  • Eligibility: Open to volunteers with five or more years of promoting inclusivity for the LGBTI+ community.
  • Description: For the most dedicated and impactful volunteer who has gone above and beyond in service to the LGBTI+ community in Cork.
  • Eligibility: Open to all volunteers across any group or committee.

2025 Shortlist & Winners

Best LGBTI+ Sports Club

  • Frontrunners & Briskwalkers Cork
  • Na Laochra Aeracha
  • Cork Hellhounds RFC
  • Winner: Na Laochra Aeracha

Best LGBTI+ Peer Support/Social Group

  • Gayze Gaymes
  • Queer Bike Rides Cork
  • Gender Rebels
  • Winner: Queer Bike Rides Cork

Outstanding Ally Award: Public/State Agency

  • HIQA – Health Information and Quality Authority
  • Blackrock Primary Care
  • HCA Department – St. Finbarrs Campus
  • Winner: HIQA 

Best LGBTI+ Artist/Arts Group

  • Toma McCullim (Salt & Pepper LGBT+ Arts Collective)
  • Litreacha 
  • Ink-Lusive LGBTI+ Art Group
  • Winner: Toma McCullim

Drag Artist of the Year

  • Abra Kedavre
  • Boo Boo Oopsie
  • Lucrecia Luna
  • Winner: Boo Boo Oopsie

Best Health & Wellness Initiative 

  • Couch to 5k (Frontrunners & Briskwalkers Cork)
  • Cork Trans Peer Support
  • Peer Walk (Gender Rebels)
  • Winner: Peer Walk (Gender Rebels)

Volunteer of the Year 2025

  • Em Dorman (Queer Sheds Cork)
  • Mary White (Cork Pride)
  • Denis Cronin (Choral Con Fusion)
  • Winner: Denis Cronin

LGBTI+ Community Group Committee of the Year

  • Frontrunners and Briskwalkers Cork
  • Gayze Gaymes
  • Na Laochra Aeracha
  • Winner: Gayze Gaymes

LGBTI+ Community Event of the Year

  • Cork Pride 5k (Frontrunners & Briskwalkers)
  • Gayme For Your Life (Gayze Gaymes)
  • GAA Match Na Laochra Aeracha vs Aeracha Uladh (Na Laochra Aeracha)
  • Winner: Cork Pride 5k, Frontrunners & Briskwalkers

Outstanding Ally Award: Community Org/NGO

  • Sexual Health Centre
  • Traveller Visibility Group
  • Mayfield Arts
  • Winner: Traveller Visibility Group

Outstanding Ally: Night-Time Economy Venue

  • The Friary
  • The Pav
  • Nudes Crafts & Cocktails
  • Winner: Nudes Crafts & Cocktails

Outstanding Ally Award (Large Business 20+ staff)

  • Eli Lilly
  • Pfizer
  • Cloudera
  • Winner: Eli Lilly

Outstanding Ally: Small Business Under 20 Staff

  • Powered by Rory
  • MT Fitness & Recharge Coffee
  • Ruairi’s Kitchen
  • Winner: Powered by Rory

Outstanding Ally: Educational Organisation

  • CCFET: Douglas Street Campus
  • North Mon Co-Ed
  • Carrigtwohill Community College
  • Winner: CCFET Douglas Street Campus