Last night Victoria’s diverse community showed just how much they love an awards night. CQ’s in the city was packed for the ALSO awards – the first queer awards night in Victoria in nearly three years.

Over 300 people glammed up for the event and were treated to diverse entertainment ranging from the burlesque of Voodoo Trash Dolls through to drag favourites and performers from Opera Australia. Amongst the attendees was Dr Helen Szoke, the CEO of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Brian Tee and openly gay Deputy Lord Mayor Gary Singer. Not to mention the most brilliantly attired bunch of poofs, dykes, trans-folk, kings and queens that Victoria has to offer.

Those famous words “and the winner is” were spoken 17 times throughout the night, recognising deserving winners and quiet achievers, favourite DJs and lifetime achievements, as part of the full spectrum of the community.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees:

Outstanding Media – JOY 94.9
Outstanding Business – Hares & Hyenas
Popular performer (non-drag) – Luke Gallagher
Popular Venue Personality/Worker – Bumpy
Outsanding Community Event – Midsumma Festival
Outstanding Community Contribution – 1st Asia Pacific Outgames
Quiet Achiever – joint winners Felicity Marlowe (Love Makes a Family/Rainbow Families Council and Ken Campagnolo (bi football trainer)
Popular One Nighter/Alternative Venue – Abode
Screaming Achiever – Abode
Outstanding Community Campaign/Initiative – Drama Down Under (Victorian AIDS Council)
Popular DJ – Miss Eleni
Emerging Group/Network/Organisation – Gay dads
Popular Costumier – Rita le Coqueater
Popular Show – Classics @ The Greyhound
Popular Drag Performer – Nova China
Popular Venue – The Peel
ALSO Appreciation Award – Dr Lynne Hiller for research into SSA youth
Lifetime Achievement – Bruce McKenzie (DT’s Hotel).

A well laid out room complete with large screens made sure that nobody missed a thing, although the high level of general background noise was frustrating at times. The consistent rudeness of some in the crowd who insisted on talking over those presenting and receiving awards annoyed plenty more people, including yours truly.

However, good food, good service by the students from William Angliss Catering and most of all, a great sense of community overcame the downers. In the words of Bob Downe, if there were any “tears and tantrums” well, they weren’t seen in public. In defiance of drag time, the awards section of the evening finished 30 minutes early – yes, early! Logies organisers, beat that!

Well done to the ALSO Foundation for taking the risk, for organising an awards night and for doing it well. Victoria’s queer and allied community is already looking forward to 2009.