Hong Kong, 2 February 2016 – Community Business, a not-for-profit organisation promoting responsible and inclusive business and a thought leader on Diversity & Inclusion in Asia, today announced the appointment of Mass Luciano, MR. GAY WORLDTM 2015, as Ambassador of its 2016 Hong Kong LGBT Inclusion Awards. Mass Luciano will play a key role in promoting the Awards to the business sector as well as the community in Hong Kong, raising the awareness of LGBT issues in Hong Kong and beyond.
A 36-year-old fashion designer, stylist and blogger, Mass Luciano was named MR. GAY HONG KONG and MR. GAY WORLDTM in 2015. Originally from Puerto Rico, Mass Luciano has lived in Los Angeles and Florence, and has been residing in Hong Kong since 2012.
“We are excited to have Mass Luciano on board to promote our 2016 Hong Kong LGBT Inclusion Awards. With Mass’ celebrity and global status as MR. GAY WORLDTM, we hope to draw attention to these awards and celebrate the great work that that is being made by companies, individuals and community groups towards LGBT inclusion here in Hong Kong,” said Mrs. Fern Ngai, CEO of Community Business. “We are also hugely impressed by Mass’s personal passion and commitment to promoting LGBT rights and believe he is the perfect ambassador for these awards and our wider LGBT work. We are confident that with his support, we can put the spotlight on the issues and drive more positive change in both the workplace and community.”
“I have always been personally committed to promoting greater inclusion for the LGBT community – we are under-represented and mis-represented in the community and the workplace,” said Mr. Mass Luciano. “I am privileged to leverage my position as MR. GAY WORLDTMto put a spotlight on the issue – both globally but particularly here in Hong Kong. Whilst there are many challenges, many organisations and individuals are already doing great things. If we are to drive greater awareness and continued progress in Hong Kong, it’s important to showcase and celebrate success. That’s why I am absolutely delighted to support Community Business’ 2016 Hong Kong LGBT Inclusion Awards – and encourage all organisations to participate.”
Following a strong response in the first year of the launch of the Hong Kong LGBT Workplace Inclusion Index and Awards in 2015, Community Business has introduced a number of important new awards for 2016, several of which have received corporate sponsorship.
2016 Award Categories
Corporate Awards
- LGBT Network Award
- LGBT Workplace Inclusion Initiative – Corporate NEW! sponsored by BNY Mellon
- LGBT Workplace Inclusion Initiative – SME NEW! sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills
Individual Awards
- LGBT Ally Award NEW!
- LGBT Executive Sponsor Award sponsored by J.P. Morgan
- LGBT Inclusion Champion Award sponsored by State Street
- LGBT Youth Inclusion Champion Award NEW! sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch
- Transgender Inclusion Champion Award NEW! sponsored by HSBC
Community Awards
- LGBT Advocacy Award NEW!
- LGBT Community Impact Award sponsored by Goldman Sachs
- LGBT Marketing Campaign Award NEW!
The 2016 Hong Kong LGBT Inclusion Awards are currently open for nominations with a deadline of Friday 26 February 2016. The shortlisted finalists will be disclosed in April 2016 while the winners of the awards will be announced at the 2016 Hong Kong LGBT Inclusion Awards Gala Dinner on Tuesday 17 May 2016 in commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT). The Gala Dinner will also be a fundraising event to ensure the ongoing sustainability of Community Business’ work to promote LGBT inclusion in Hong Kong and across the Asia region.
For details about the 2016 Hong Kong LGBT Inclusion Awards, including, sponsorship and the nomination process, please visit:http://bit.ly/HKLGBTa16 or contact Ivy Wong (ivy.wong@communitybusiness.org).
Press Release
