HOME >> METRO SHANGHAI
Third annual Asia LGBT Milestone Awards come to Shanghai
By Wang Han Source:Global Times Published: 2016/5/19 18:38:01
The third edition of Asia LGBT Milestone Awards & Forum (ALMA 2016 Awards & Forum) will be held in Shanghai on June 26. This event is being organized jointly by Singapore's well-known LGBT periodical ELEMENT and ShanghaiPRIDE, a local annual weeklong festival.
According to Hirokazu Mizuhara, founder of ALMA and Vice President of Singapore's EPIC Media (ELEMENT's holding company) (pictured inset), the theme of this year's awards is "differences can co-exist in harmony," a widely shared ancient Chinese philosophy by Confucius, who believed that every individual should be equally respected in society regardless of gender, belief or sexual orientation.
For this year's ceremony, representatives from LGBT communities and NGOs, public figures, entrepreneurs and business leaders are expected to attend. Individuals and groups across Asia whom have made great contributions to the region's LGBT communities in 2015 will be awarded.
Mizuhara also pointed out that ALMA is more a celebration than a competition. "It is a platform to commemorate those events that had an impact in Asia's LGBT communities in the past year, which mark key milestones in our movement," he said.
In terms of his purposes for setting up the awards, Mizuhara told the Global Times that the mission of ALMA is not to bring tangible changes to LGBT groups in Asian countries, but to record milestone moments within those groups. He added that ALMA itself has become a milestone moment for the LGBT community in Asia.
Outreach
Apart from awards ceremony, ALMA will also host two panel discussions - "The Emergence of China for a Global Pink Dollars Market" and "The Importance of Workplace Diversity and Inclusion." Confirmed keynote speakers for the discussions include Tony Tenicela from IBM, Paul Choi from Goldman Sachs and John Tanzella from International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association.
"ALMA is also a platform for nonprofit organizations, experts and representatives from LGBT communities around the region to exchange their knowledge and share information," said Mizuhara.
According to official information, ALMA is the region's premier LGBT event aimed at celebrating key occasions, programs, activities and initiatives for the LGBT community in Asia.
ALMA was founded in 2014 by Singapore's ELEMENT magazine. It often takes place in March or April and will tour around Asia to different cities and countries. Previously it has been held in Singapore and Thailand.
"Individuals, organizations and businesses across Asia who have put in tremendous effort for the LGBT community all deserve recognition, so we are honored to bring the third Asia LGBT Milestone Awards to be a part of the 8th ShanghaiPRIDE lineup," Li Leilei, Outreach Manager for ShanghaiPRIDE, explained to the Global Times.
Similar ideas were echoed by Henk Meyknecht, General Manager of Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai and a member of the organizing committee of ALMA 2016. He said that as one of Europe's oldest hotel companies, Kempinski recognizes the importance of equal opportunities regardless of gender, race, religion or lifestyle.
Milestones
According to Li, this year's shortlist is dominated by individuals and groups who have used legal methods to improve social situations for people of the LGBT persuasion. In China, there were many such milestone moments.
"For example, Fan Popo won a legal battle which allows his gay documentary movies to be shown uncensored. Also, Qiu Bai challenged the usage of homophobic textbooks in schools. The homosexual couple Sun Wenlin and Hu Mingliang filed a lawsuit to legalize same-sex marriage," said Li.
He pointed out that not all the legal battles described above were successful, but he believed that the fact that those issues were discussed publicly and covered in the State media is a breakthrough of its own.
"These individuals show that being LGBT does not have to be a secret anymore. It is no longer something that has to remain hidden," said Li.
In addition to individuals, many companies in Asia are also starting to uphold LGBT rights. "For instance, Alibaba hosted an online contest where lesbians and gays could 'win' a same-sex marriage. Also, the agency Wunderman sponsored a professional advertisement campaign for Shanghai PRIDE, and media group Orange Entertainment launched an LGBT feature channel," said Li.
ShanghaiPRIDE was founded in 2009. This nonprofit festival is dedicated to raising awareness and visibility and promote acceptance for the LGBT community in China through various cultural and social activities.
Newspaper headline: Freedom fighters
According to Hirokazu Mizuhara, founder of ALMA and Vice President of Singapore's EPIC Media (ELEMENT's holding company) (pictured inset), the theme of this year's awards is "differences can co-exist in harmony," a widely shared ancient Chinese philosophy by Confucius, who believed that every individual should be equally respected in society regardless of gender, belief or sexual orientation.
For this year's ceremony, representatives from LGBT communities and NGOs, public figures, entrepreneurs and business leaders are expected to attend. Individuals and groups across Asia whom have made great contributions to the region's LGBT communities in 2015 will be awarded.
Mizuhara also pointed out that ALMA is more a celebration than a competition. "It is a platform to commemorate those events that had an impact in Asia's LGBT communities in the past year, which mark key milestones in our movement," he said.
In terms of his purposes for setting up the awards, Mizuhara told the Global Times that the mission of ALMA is not to bring tangible changes to LGBT groups in Asian countries, but to record milestone moments within those groups. He added that ALMA itself has become a milestone moment for the LGBT community in Asia.
Outreach
Apart from awards ceremony, ALMA will also host two panel discussions - "The Emergence of China for a Global Pink Dollars Market" and "The Importance of Workplace Diversity and Inclusion." Confirmed keynote speakers for the discussions include Tony Tenicela from IBM, Paul Choi from Goldman Sachs and John Tanzella from International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association.
"ALMA is also a platform for nonprofit organizations, experts and representatives from LGBT communities around the region to exchange their knowledge and share information," said Mizuhara.
According to official information, ALMA is the region's premier LGBT event aimed at celebrating key occasions, programs, activities and initiatives for the LGBT community in Asia.
ALMA was founded in 2014 by Singapore's ELEMENT magazine. It often takes place in March or April and will tour around Asia to different cities and countries. Previously it has been held in Singapore and Thailand.
"Individuals, organizations and businesses across Asia who have put in tremendous effort for the LGBT community all deserve recognition, so we are honored to bring the third Asia LGBT Milestone Awards to be a part of the 8th ShanghaiPRIDE lineup," Li Leilei, Outreach Manager for ShanghaiPRIDE, explained to the Global Times.
Similar ideas were echoed by Henk Meyknecht, General Manager of Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai and a member of the organizing committee of ALMA 2016. He said that as one of Europe's oldest hotel companies, Kempinski recognizes the importance of equal opportunities regardless of gender, race, religion or lifestyle.
Milestones
According to Li, this year's shortlist is dominated by individuals and groups who have used legal methods to improve social situations for people of the LGBT persuasion. In China, there were many such milestone moments.
"For example, Fan Popo won a legal battle which allows his gay documentary movies to be shown uncensored. Also, Qiu Bai challenged the usage of homophobic textbooks in schools. The homosexual couple Sun Wenlin and Hu Mingliang filed a lawsuit to legalize same-sex marriage," said Li.
He pointed out that not all the legal battles described above were successful, but he believed that the fact that those issues were discussed publicly and covered in the State media is a breakthrough of its own.
"These individuals show that being LGBT does not have to be a secret anymore. It is no longer something that has to remain hidden," said Li.
In addition to individuals, many companies in Asia are also starting to uphold LGBT rights. "For instance, Alibaba hosted an online contest where lesbians and gays could 'win' a same-sex marriage. Also, the agency Wunderman sponsored a professional advertisement campaign for Shanghai PRIDE, and media group Orange Entertainment launched an LGBT feature channel," said Li.
ShanghaiPRIDE was founded in 2009. This nonprofit festival is dedicated to raising awareness and visibility and promote acceptance for the LGBT community in China through various cultural and social activities.
Hirokazu Mizuhara, founder of ALMA and Vice President of Singapore's EPIC Media
Representatives from LGBT communities, NGOs and organizers of ALMA 2016 Awards & Forum pose at a press conference in Shanghai recently. Photos: Courtesy of ALMA 2016 Awards & Forum
Newspaper headline: Freedom fighters
Posted in: Metro Shanghai