Boyzone honoured by gay campaigners (From Congleton Guardian)

Boyzone honoured by gay campaigners

10:22pm Thursday 5th November 2009

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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.

Stephen's partner Andrew Cowles, with whom he was in a civil partnership, accepted the award on behalf of Boyzone and said: "When Boyzone did their video a year ago it featured Stephen with another man; the other guys just respected Stephen and my - our - relationship."

He added: "It was not a press stunt - they wanted to show Stephen as he was."

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

"I also want to say thanks for your support in the last few weeks, especially over press handling," he added.

Stephen died last month of natural causes while on holiday in Majorca.

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

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

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