#Thankyou: NPO One Life launches the first Vienna International Pride Awards



Vienna, January 10th, 2023 - It's time to say “Thank You”: on International Thank You Day - January 11, 2023, Vienna-based NPO, One Life, announces the launch of  the Vienna International Pride Awards, a new annual campaign and event to thank and recognize the vital world of LGBTIQ+ equality heroes around the world. In partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and ILGA-World (the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association), this year’s awardees will be announced during a live-streamed event in Vienna planned for early June 2023. 
Awardees will be chosen by a highly experienced and diverse committee of LGBTIQ+ rights experts, chaired by Jeffrey O’Malley, Senior Advisor, LGBTI Inclusion, Africa for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 
The public, around the world, will be encouraged to nominate equality heroes who are making a big difference to the advancement of LGBTIQ+ equality. Details of this process will be announced shortly.  
Separately, from 11 January and leading up to the Awards there will be a social media campaign where individuals are encouraged to post online and say “Thank You” to someone who has made a difference to their own LGBTIQ+ journey in life, under the hashtag #ThankYou. These highly personal and emotive posts will set the tone for the Awards.
Equality for all people is a fundamental right, however, hundreds of millions of LGTBIQ+ people worldwide continue to face inequality, rejection, poverty, violence, torture and even death. The Vienna International Pride Awards shines a light on those who are doing incredible work around the world for the advancement of LGBTIQ+ equality, inclusion, and rights. In doing so, the aim is to motivate and inspire more people to take personal action and support progress towards universal LGBTIQ+ equality.
The idea for the International Pride Awards came from Tony Gregory, an award-winning television director. He describes the guiding vision of the Vienna International Pride Awards as: “A world where the rainbow of differences and preferences of LGBTIQ+ people are not only tolerated, but deeply and universally accepted and cherished”.
Highlight: The event is planned for early June, 2023 
The event will take place for the first time in Vienna in June, 2023 and will be broadcast internationally via livestream. There will be a range of Awards that recognize highly visible individuals and unsung heroes across a range of categories that include political champions, grass roots activists and storytellers. Award winners do not have to be LGBTIQ+, but must have shown exceptional vision, courage, selfless commitment, or determination to advance LGBTIQ+ equality. 
The project’s mission is designed to motivate and inspire everyone to share, talk about, and participate in the pursuit of equality - whether through heroic efforts or everyday acts. In addition, any surplus funds from the project will be donated to ILGA World to support their global network of more almost 2000 member organizations from 169 countries campaigning for LGBTIQ+ rights. 
John Amaechi, one of the most high profile gay athletes and an Ambassador for the Vienna International Pride Awards, commented,
“I am delighted to support the Vienna International Pride Awards. It can be tempting to believe that equity for LGBTIQ+ people is a done deal. Still, across the world, from the United States to Ghana and beyond, we are seeing legal and societal advancements we might have thought permanent being challenged and overturned. It’s never been more important to celebrate the global achievements of LGBTIQ+ people and inspire all of us to continue to be proactive in seeking positive change across the world."