PRESS RELEASE
Inspiring 7th Asia-Pacific HERO Awards 2023 calls for new HERO nominations
2023 HERO Awards Nominations is open! Nominate now: Link Nominations closes on Friday 5 May 2023 at 23:59, Thailand time!
Bangkok, 12 April 2023—APCOM together with three regional community partners, Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (APN+), the Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN) and the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association Asia (ILGA Asia) are extremely proud and excited to announce that the nominations for the 2023 HERO Awards are now open! Please nominate and honour those active in the LGBTQI and HIV field in your country and throughout the Asia-Pacific region!
Standing for HIV, Equality, and Rights, the HERO Awards is an annual gala event set in Bangkok. The award evening shines a light to the region’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) communities, as well as those who made significant contributions to the HIV response in the Asia-Pacific region.
Community members, supporters and allies throughout the region are invited to nominate individuals and organisations across 10 categories who directly help others, whose work is improving the wellbeing of others, or whose achievements are inspiring others: Business Ally, Community Ally, Community Hero, Community Organisation, COVID-19 Hero, Health & Wellbeing, HIV Hero, Social Justice, Transgender Hero, and Young Achiever.
Henry Koh, Executive Director of ILGA Asia
“The HERO Awards are a tribute to the unwavering commitment of LGBTIQ activists who have dedicated their lives to defending and promoting the rights of our communities. At ILGA Asia, we recognise the importance of supporting and recognising these leaders so that they can continue to carry out their pivotal work.”
Nachale Boonyapisomparn
Regional Steering Committee and Thai Foundation Board of APTN
“Recognizing all trans and non-binary heroes is revolutionary. Because mainstream history never taught us the legacy of trans people, it is our duty as activists for SOGIESC rights and trans rights to restore the legacy of trans people who put so much effort and dedication into advancing LGBTIQ+ human rights.”
Davi Ardiansyah
Young People Living with HIV Officer of APN+
“You don’t need big numbers to change the world and create impact. What you are doing right now is enough, even if you are only helping one person. When you give something with all your heart and soul to help and save a friend or a stranger, it is enough. Because one person is one life. And one life already matters.”
Impact and result of HERO Awards 2022
The HERO Awards 2022 convened physically almost 500 participants from 30 countries covering celebrities, special guests, community representatives and advocates, members of Bangkok’s diplomatic missions, corporate and entertainment field to pay tribute to the extraordinary contributions of individuals and organisations who have improved the lives of LGBTQI people, and people affected by and living with HIV throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Through this platform, the public reached and viewed about 160,482,000 times through APCOM press release, media coverage, newsletters, and social media channels.
H.E. Dr Angela Macdonald
Ambassador of Australia to Thailand
“The Australian Embassy is proud to host the 2022 HERO awards event tonight, which recognises outstanding service in HIV response across Asia and the Pacific. We have supported APCOM’s work over many years. LGBTQI rights are human rights which we will continue to fight for in every forum. The work of human rights defenders and civil society groups like APCOM is crucial to upholding LGBTQI rights across the region,”
How would you like to support the event?
No matter who you are, how big your organisation, how small your agency, there’s always room for you to contribute and be a part of the community. Apart from the visibility gained from the event, supporters will help raise awareness of the human rights and strengthen LGBTQI communities in tackling stigma and discrimination, violence, harassment, inequality and inequity in the region. Furthermore, the contributions will provide immediate responses needed by the grassroots LGBTQI communities who are significantly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in Asia Pacific under the campaign #CoronaAPCOMpassion COVID-19 Emergency Fund. Finally, the supporters will advocate to form new real HEROes for our LGBTQI and HIV communities now and in the future. All of these means that you are also our HERO who never leaves us behind.
Feel free to talk with us on the sponsorship: apcom@apcom.org | events@apcom.org | +66 (0) 2399 1145
Media contact:
Suriya Phongphunngam (Bobo)
APCOM Foundation
Tel: 095 249 1950 | LINE: bobobito
Email: suriyap@apcom.org
Warin Pattarapatumthong (Audi)
TQPR Thailand
Tel: 096 964 6428
Email: audi@tqpr.com