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American singer Lady Gaga has been nominated for another award, this one not having as much to do with her music as her commitment to creating a better world, in particular for lesbians and gays. The nomination, announced on Sept. 23, 2011, is for a Stonewall Award, sponsored by Stonewall, a U.K. lesbian and gay advocacy group. Lady Gaga is nominated in the "Hero of the Year' award category for working toward improving the lives of those in the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgendered and queer (LGBTQ) community. The awards are open to anyone who has contributed to the fight for equality for that community and are inclusive of straight persons. This is the sixth year awards have been handed out by the group that began in 1989. They've grown and now have offices in England, Scotland and Wales and have been involved in many campaigns, including, as their websie says "helping achieve the equalisation of the age of consent, lifting the ban on lesbians and gay men serving in the military, securing legislation (and) allowing same-sex couples to adopt." There are multiple categories including 'Entertainer of the Year', 'Broadcast of the Year,' 'Publication of the Year' and 'Writer of the Year.' Some of the others up for a Stonewall this year include actors Christopher Plummer, Jane Hazlegrove and Matt Smith; the journalist Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, says the 2011 nominees are a varied group. "This year’s Stonewall Award nominees include out gay sport stars, regional, national and sector publications, popular TV shows and popular LGB and straight entertainers," Summerskill said in a press release. "The diversity of those nominated for an award demonstrates how gay equality is embedding itself into 21st century British life. We think that’s a real cause for celebration." Over the past 2 plus years as she has climbed to massive fame, Lady Gaga has marched with the LGBTQ community and make political speeches advocating the rights of LGBTQ people. She has campaigned for the repeal of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (DADT) policy of the U.S. military and has appeared publicly with gay and lesbian members of the U.S. armed forces. In her music she continues to write about and celebrate diversity and the rights of those in the LGBTQ community. Further, she works in other areas of social change including, along with other celebrities such as Canadian pop singer, Justin Bieber, the fight against bullying. The two causes meet as often those bullied are from the LGBTQ community. The Stonewall Awards ceremony takes place in London on November 3; as of this writing there was no word on whether Lady Gaga will be in attendance.
Lady Gaga: 'Hero of the Year'
Lady Gaga Fights Against Bullying
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