Stonewall win for Boyzone

Saturday, November 07, 2009

BOYZONE have been honoured by gay campaign group Stonewall for the late Stephen Gately’s contribution to raising awareness.

The band were named entertainers of the year at Stonewall’s annual awards event at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum on Thursday night.

Gately died last month of natural causes as the band prepared to work together again.

The judges took account of his "brave decision to come out" at the height of the band’s success.

They also noted that the band "made pop history with their video featuring a same-sex couple". The video was for the single Better.

Gately’s partner Andrew Cowles accepted the award on behalf of Boyzone.

He said the other band members, who were unable to attend the event, would have been "so proud".

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, November 07, 2009