Victorian Pride Awards 2023

A Decade of Honouring Excellence in Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ Communities

The Victorian Pride Awards have marked a significant milestone in the celebration and recognition of achievement within Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ communities, having been an essential part of our collective journey since 2014.

As we wrapped up the 2023 Victorian Pride Awards, we not only celebrated the 10th anniversary of GLOBE Victoria’s Awards programme, which began as the GLOBE Awards but have grown into the expansive, inclusive celebration we cherish today, but we also looked back on a decade of milestones and achievements that have brought us closer together.

The Victorian Pride Awards stand as our state’s premier event for acknowledging, highlighting, and celebrating the contributions of a diverse array of organisations and individuals that have been instrumental in benefiting and uniting the Victorian LGBTIQA+ communities.

This year’s celebration was held on Friday, 15th March 2024, at the iconic Melbourne Town Hall, and it was indeed a night to remember, filled with joy, camaraderie, and reflection on a decade’s worth of progress and unity.

As we move forward, we eagerly anticipate the 11th Victorian Pride Awards. We look forward to seeing everyone next year to continue this tradition of recognition and celebration, as we keep building on the foundation of inclusivity, excellence, and community that defines us.

Stay tuned for more information on the upcoming event, and how you can be a part of celebrating Victoria’s vibrant LGBTIQA+ communities.

Our Winners

GLOBE Victoria is proud to announce the 2023 Victorian Pride Awards winners!

Checkout the 2023 Winners

Check out the 2023 Victorian Pride Awards Program

Check out the program from the night and learn more about our fantastic finalists – and winners!

Download the 2023 program

Victoria's premier LGBTIQA+ awards program

To date, we have

Awarded 101 Victorian individuals and organisations
Hosted over 3,500 LGBTIQA+ people and allies at our award ceremonies
Generated more than $176,000 that has been reinvested into Victorian LGBTIQA+ communities through GLOBE Victoria’s annual Community Grants and Scholarship program.

Learn more about our Community Grants and Scholarship program

Our 2023 Stellar Entertainment Lineup

Brihony Dawson

The 2023 Victorian Pride Awards will be hosted by none other than Brihony Dawson – a rare entertainment force who has proven themselves a sought-after MC and presenter in the queer, corporate and sporting spheres as well as social and television.

Brihony was part of the hosting team for the ABC’s World Pride coverage in 2023, was the first non-binary tv host on a major network in Australia and has done the rounds as a vocalist at Mardi Gras, Midsumma, Life Ball, Vienna Pride, and other major pride events across the globe.

Sheldon Riley

Known for his entrancing vocals and avant-garde style, Sheldon Riley has firmly established himself as a name to remember. He made a powerful impact at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest as a Grand Finalist and has received international acclaim for his unique sound and electrifying performances on “The Masked Singer” and most recently “America’s Got Talent – All Stars”, where he stunned audiences around the world. Headlining the 2023 Victorian Pride Awards, Sheldon is currently focused on his eagerly awaited debut album and upcoming European and US shows.

Zoë Badwi

Zoë burst on to the scene in 2008 with the club smash ‘Release Me’, which spent 7 consecutive weeks at #1 in the Australian ARIA Club Chart and scored ARIA and APRA nominations. In 2010 her hit ‘Freefallin’’ stormed to the top 10 ARIA singles chart, becoming the #6 most played track in the country. Zoë created ‘Torches’ to become the Official Anthem of the 2014 Sydney Mardi Gras, and has continued to perform, write, feature on, and release numerous dance anthems.

Melbourne Gay & Lesbian Chorus

The Melbourne Gay & Lesbian Chorus (MGLC) is an award-winning choir with a passionate commitment to camaraderie through music. They are also Australia’s longest running LGBTQIA+ choir, whose members have challenged stereotypes and stood as proud role models in the community since 1990. Led by Musical Director, Stephanie Teh, MGLC is a wholly inclusive choir that welcomes all peoples.

Adam Noviello & Friends

Coming to our stage fresh from performing at St Kilda Festival 2024, singer-songwriter and actor Adam has been described by Mama Alto as “The long lost love child of Troye Sivan & Lady Gaga”. We can’t wait to see what Adam and friends have in store for us with their much-anticipated performance, choreographed by Christopher Politis.

We’ll also be treated to performances by pianist Hayden Dun, before we hit the dancefloor with DJ Mz Rizk.

Message from the Premier

In Victoria, equality is not negotiable.

Instead, we’re proud to be a place where everyone can be who they truly are.

That hasn’t happened by accident. It’s because LGBTIQA+ organisations and individuals have fought long and hard.

As a Government, we’re very proud to stand with you – not just talking the talk on equality, but walking the walk.

That includes building the Australian-first Victorian Pride Centre. Delivering adoption equality. Ensuring trans and gender diverse Victorians have a birth certificate that reflects their true identity. And putting an end to harmful so-called conversion practices.

And we are proud to back the organisations that support and celebrate equality.

For more than 10 years, the GLOBE Victorian Pride Awards have recognised the achievements of LGBTIQA+ communities.

They have ensured LGBTIQA+ individuals are not only visible, but celebrated. I want to congratulate all the nominees and winners – and to say an enormous thank you. Thank you for helping to make our state a safer, kinder and more inclusive place. It’s something we can all be proud of.

A message from the Hon Harriet Shing – Minister for Equality

The Victorian Government is proud to support the 2024 GLOBE Victorian Pride Awards through the Celebrating LGBTIQA+ Communities Fund – our flagship program supporting organisations to connect and celebrate Victorian LGBTIQA+ communities.

In February 2022, the Victorian Government launched our first LGBTIQA+ strategy, ‘Pride In Our Future’. It’s a 10-year plan to ensure that all LGBTIQA+ Victorians feel safe, are healthy, have equal human rights, and can live wholly and freely.

Achieving this vision will take sustained work, passion and advocacy and will require all of us to work collaboratively and inclusively. Central to this work will be the contribution and guidance of our LGBTIQA+ leaders, groups and organisations, from metropolitan Melbourne to our rural and regional communities, and everywhere in between.

Together we are achieving remarkable things, and together this work will continue.

Advocating for and working toward LGBTIQA+ recognition and inclusion can be challenging, deeply personal, and for some, isolating. I thank GLOBE for creating the Victorian Pride Awards which allow us to come together to connect with our friends, colleagues and communities to celebrate and recognise all that we are, and all that we do.

The progress we’ve made towards creating a safer, more inclusive Victoria has, in large part, come about through the efforts of each and every person in attendance at the Victorian Pride Awards, and many who are not able to be here – and for that, I thank you. Awards just like this make and keep us visible, and they highlight our strength and our
achievements.

My warmest congratulations to all nominees and winners – your work continues to drive our world-leading approach to equality, and the pride that we all deserve.

Hon Harriet Shing (she/her)
Minister for Equality