This year the Lotus Awards celebrates 16 sweet years of showcasing the diversity of Melbourne’s Asian Gay Community. The famous local awards came from humble beginnings, starting as a weekly Wednesday ‘Asian and Proud’ night back in the early nineties, initiated by owner of the former Star Hotel, Fritz Maaten. It’s now become one of the most anticipated events in Melbourne’s queer calendar.
The Lotus night and the Lotus awards have had a long association with its original Abbotsford location, which used to be the Star Bar and then became the Opium Den. The Star is where the group first started their social get-togethers and was the first venue to host the Lotus Awards. And it was a legacy that the Opium Den was proud to continue until it sold this year.
The Lotus Awards then weathered a hotly contested ownership rights battle between the new owner of the venue, Peter Urbonas and the owner of Heaven’s Door, Brian Frewin.
Peter Urbonas said the famous ethenic pride night would be staying as part of the bars regular events and that it is a part of the venue’s legacy and heritage.
However, Commercial Road venue Heaven’s Door owner Brian Frewin, proved he had obtained legal naming rights for Lotus Nights and the annual Lotus Awards, as well as securing resident Lotus performers and DJs. And Heaven’s Door became the official new home of the Lotus awards.
“I’ve legally obtained the naming rights for Lotus from the Department of Business and Consumer affairs. Most of the people involved with Lotus have also come on board and are very enthusiastic about the change… And we are excited to give new life to this important community night” Frewin told Same Same.
“I’m a proud Rice Queen, and have been for a very long time as many in the community know. I and the businesses I run have been a supporter of the Lotus night and the awards since the very beginning, back in the 90’s, and I’m so so proud that that baton has be given to me, to take this amazing pride event to the next level.”The 16th Annual Lotus awards have already begun, and they continue over the coming weeks. Heaven’s Door explodes each Wednesday night in a celebration of gay oriental talent and pride. The traditional categories are all there, including Mr Lotus (sexiest buff Asian guy), Miss Lotus (Best Asian drag Performer), and the Mr Rice Queen Award (sexiest Asian-attracted white gay man). And this year, organizers have added a new award category – The Fried Rice Award for best Asian group performance. The attendances and the contestants are the best in the competition’s history, and according to Frewin this all has to do with the move of the event to the South Side and the fresh new approach by organizers.
“The award entrants are amazing this year, definitely some of the of the best I have seen in the history [of the awards]. It was time for a change for the Lotus awards, and our amazing attendances are proof that there is a lot of support on Commercial Road and this side of the river.” Says Frewin.
“Racism, mis-undestanding… and general attitude is a problem in the community, especially against the Asian community. Lotus night and the Lotus awards do a lot to combat that… It lifts visibility, and pride. It’s a safe and friendly place. We really believe in what the awards stand for, support the people and diversity in the community 100%. That’s why we work so hard to bring it into the ‘now’ and make it fresh and relevant. People feel that. What other venue is this packed on a Wednesday?”, Says Frewin
On the surface it may look like it’s all just about having a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun. But there is something much more powerful going on. In a world seemingly dominated by white, blonde and anglo, these awards provide a rare moment of positive celebration of Asian identity, bolstering a sense of self pride, and showcasing talent within the Asian gay community. Far removed from the usual political humdrum of many queer organisations, the Lotus awards address issues of racism and queer Asian visibility in the most effective way possible – through fun and entertainment.
Same Same is proud to be the online sponsor of the 16th Annual Lotus Awards which are currently on Wednesdays at Heaven’s Door on the following dates: Mr Lotus (Final) Nov 25, Mr Rice Queen Dec 2, Fried Rice Award Dec 9, Mr Rice Queen (Final) Dec 16.
Check out our fabulous photos from the 2009 Lotus Awards right here.
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