Leicester Diamonds Baseball Club, which was set up for all women and non binary people in Leicestershire, has been shortlisted for a national Pride award.
Leicester Diamonds Baseball Club has been shortlisted for the LGBTQ+ Club of the Year award, in the inaugural Gaydio Pride Awards.
“The awards will celebrate the extraordinary efforts that bring Pride to every corner of the UK, honouring the LGBTQ+ members and allies making the biggest impacts,” said a spokesman for the awards, which feature 10 categories including, ‘Charity’, ‘Volunteer’ and ‘LGBTQ+ Champion of the Year’.
Leicester Diamonds Baseball Club were set up following the pandemic, in September 2021, to bring baseball to all women and non binary people in Leicestershire.
The team, which is based at the city’s Western Park, currently has over 40 members.
“We are honestly so honoured to have been shortlisted for this award,” Abi Battisto, Co Founder of the club told the Leicester Times.
“We are super proud of what the club has achieved so far and the community and in such a short space of time as well. What we have built is something that has become so special to all of our members and will continue to grow and make sure we are doing our bit for our community, all while swinging some bats and hitting some home runs in the process.
“Seeing the magical things all the nominees are doing and the impact they are having on their communities is incredible, so it feels really amazing to be part of the shortlist!” they added.
Also nominated in the team’s category are: Gay Outdoor Club, Manchester Village Spartans, Outdoor Lads and Trans Radio UK Football Club.
Gaydio listeners and members of the public were asked to nominate the people, charities, and organisations they felt were making a real difference in their area, with the nominees then shortlisted by dedicated community panels, to ensure winners are chosen as fairly as possible, and represent the very best LGBTQ+ people and charities from all over the UK.
Beth Cunningham has been a member of Leicester Diamonds since the club’s very first training session.
“I’ve been absolutely hooked ever since,” she said. “The community and sense of family that we have built in such a small space of time is amazing and in just a year and a half we have become one of the largest women’s and non-binary folk baseball clubs in the UK. I am so proud to be a member of a club that is working to support, encourage and empower women, non-binary folk and all members of the LGBTQIA+ community.”
The winners of the awards will be revealed at the Gaydio Pride Awards ceremony at Manchester’s Hilton Hotel on Friday, February 10, and revealed on air shortly after.
For more information, visit: https://gaydioprideawards.co.uk/
For more information about Leicester Diamonds Baseball Club, visit: https://www.leicesterdiamonds.co.uk/
