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SUPPORT: Ade Adepitan and Tessa Sanderson (right)

SEVERAL WELL-known black celebrities have given their backing to an awards ceremony that honours people who promote diversity.

Comedienne Gina Yashere, six-time Olympian Tessa Sanderson, singer Beverly Knight, who sang at the Paralympics opening ceremony, and Ade Adepitan, Paralympics basketball champion and TV presenter, have endorsed the National Diversity Awards.

The prestigious black tie event is designed to showcase the efforts of those who have demonstrated outstanding devotion to enhance equality, diversity and inclusion with today’s society.

This year’s awards ceremony is taking place at the Midland Hotel in Manchester on September 21.

EXCITING

Adepitan, who was commentator during the recently concluded London 2012 Paralympics Games, said: “The diversity of The UK keeps our country endlessly exciting and interesting. Many parts of Britain inherit a great mix of people and we are constantly growing and taking in new ideas.”

He added: “Being from a BME (black and ethnic minority) and disability background, I have overcome many barriers in my lifetime and think it is vital that others are commended for the amazing work that they do in the field of inclusion. Each individual differs to the next and there couldn’t be better time to focus on the positives of this. The National Diversity Awards will be a night full of celebrations and unity, which is what we need to represent as a nation.”

Among those attending the ceremony is presenter Amal Fashanu, who did the BBC Three documentary Britain’s Gay Footballers.

Fashanu went to 10 Downing Street to discuss tackling racism and homophobia in football with Prime Minister David Cameron.

She did so after learning that her uncle, Justin Fashanu, the only professional footballer to ‘come out’ as homosexual, was devastated by the rejection of his own family.

He suffered years of abuse after his revelation and committed suicide in 1998.

INCLUSION

Fashanu added: “There are people from every part of this beautiful world integrated and living together, all thanks to the work of those who have strived for equality and inclusion within society. To those people we must all show our gratitude.”