The 12th annual Feather Awards which were held at the Constitution Hill in Braamfontein, South Africa on Wednesday night saw a number of LGBTIQ personalities receive accolades for their advocacy work towards the rights of the sexual and gender minority community. Among these was the Executive Director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, Dr Frank Mugisha who received the Feather African Award of the Year.

Dr Mugisha who is also the recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award and Thorold Rafto Memorial Prize 2011 shared that he was humbled to have been nominated and given this award.

“It’s an honor for the LGBT community in Uganda to receive this award from South Africa. This re-affirms what we have been saying, LGBT rights are human rights and we are part of the African society. The award comes at a time when the LGBT community in Uganda needs so much support and solidarity from Africa and around the world, we need the solidarity and combined effort given the times we are working in now, because of the Covid Pandemic,”  Dr Mugisha said of the relevance of this prestigious award.

The Feather Awards are an annual South African event dedicated to uplifting the names of LGBTIQ+ activists who are doing important work in communities across the country and continent at large. The wards also pay homage to supportive media bodies, LGBTIQ+ student movements and selected role models who enrich and back the community.

Below is a list of the overall winners

Best-styled Individual

Thishiwe Ziqubu

Hunk of the Year

Gorata Nzimande

Hot Chick of the Year

Siphesihle Ndaba

Sports Personality of the Year

Siya Kolisi

Best Rainbow Parent

Napo Masheane

Best LGBTIQ Student Movement

Rainbow UCT

Best LGBTIQ Initiative: Public Sector

Constitution Hill

Best LGBTIQ Initiative: Private Sector

Engage Men’s Health

Diva Extraordinaire of the Year

Refilwe Modiselle

Media Award of the Year

“Motswako”

Social Media Personality of the Year

Coconut Kelz

Cutest Couple of the Year

Vaivi Swartz and Sape Maodi-Swartz

Role Model of the Year

Dr Dulcy Stapler Rakumakoe

Drama Queen of the Year

Somizi and “Dinner at Somizis”

Socialite of the Year

Olwethu ‘Olwee’ Mlotshwa

Musician of the Year

Master KG

Fag Hag of The Year

Shumi Dantile and Siv Ngesi

African Feather of the Year

Frank Mugisha

Simon Nkoli Award

Gloria Bosman