PREPARATIONS are being stepped up for a major free Pride celebration in Glasgow this summer. Mardi Gla is a new two-day festival organised by the LGBT Co-operative which they say will return the Pride movement to its roots.

It follows the Co-op’s first big event on Saturday which saw LGBT heroes in Scotland received awards at a glittering ceremony.

Organiser Euan McLeod said the extravaganza was “an amazing moment” not just for those who won a Proud Scotland award but also for the Co-op.

“It was a major milestone for us,” he said. “The reaction from guests was outstanding and everyone really got behind backing the nominees from all corners of Scotland and further afield with a show of love and affection that only a Glasgow audience can deliver.

“Guests warmed to the tears of emotion from May Miller on being recognised for her contribution to the LGBT community and wept with Janey Godley as she spoke movingly of her brother who passed as a result of the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s.

“Nathan Sparling of HIV Scotland then addressed guests to deliver the amazing news that in Scotland someone living with HIV and taking treatment will now live a completely normal life and cannot pass on the virus due to medical advances.”

Godley told the National afterwards that she had been “absolutely stunned” when it was announced that she had beaten off competition from film star Emma Thompson and singer Annie Lennox for the Celebrity Ally award.

READ MORE: Godley and Dugdale among winners at LGBT hero awards

“I genuinely did not think I would win,” she said. “I just thought I was there for a nice night out and it was a great night – so well organised.

“I was really teary about how we always as a society are told to embrace the gay community but we forget that they embrace us.

“My brother, Jim Currie, was a drug addict and got HIV but the gay community gave him friendship like he had never known. The Terence Higgins Trust got him help when there were no services for heterosexual people. They did not discriminate.

“The gay community were amazing and looked after him so well. They included my brother even though he was a difficult person to be around when he was on heroin.”

McLeod said the competition in the category was tough but Godley had been a deserving winner.

“It is testament to the work she has done to promote trans rights in particular that she was able to overcome better known nominees,” he said.

Dr Michael Farquhar, who shared the Inspiration gong with Maggie Kinloch, former deputy principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said he was “blown away” when he was announced joint winner.

Farquhar launched the NHS Rainbow Badge scheme in England and is now making progress in efforts to extend it to Wales and Scotland.

“It is a simple thing that we have been doing as we know LGBT people accessing health care still face hostile and negative perceptions,” he said.

“That affects the outcomes they get as they may be less keen to access health care. One in seven will not see a doctor or a nurse because they are worried about how they will be received.

“Our project tries to address this as health professionals who wear the badge are showing they understand what the issues are. The idea started as a personal thing but it has spread quite rapidly across hospitals in England and the Scottish Government has reassured us they are also planning to do something.”

Dr Farquhar added: “I think my award reflects the fact that I grew up in Scotland gay and I am aware of the issues and I’m now trying to do something to make things better.”

Mardi Gla is due to take place on July 20 and 21.

“Both Mardi Gla and Glasgow City Council are working together to try to make Glasgow a visitor destination for LGBT travellers as we seek to reaffirm our place as a proud European city among the turmoil of Brexit,” said McLeod.