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Celebrity

11th Mar 2022

Mark Feehily awarded for campaign on changing Ireland’s surrogacy laws

Ellen Fitzpatrick

Fair play, Mark.

Mark Feehily has been awarded a British Diversity Award for his work campaigning for changes to be made to Irish surrogacy laws and support for LGBT+ families.

The singer is quite private when it comes to his life as a father, wanting to give his daughter privacy but has been campaigning for an immediate change to these laws.

Mark and his fiance Cailean O’Neill welcomed their daughter Layla through surrogacy in 2019, deeming them the “happiest Dads in the world”.

Since coming out in 2005, Mark has been a voice for LGBT+ rights in Ireland, and since having a child, his advocacy for surrogacy laws is even stronger.

Accepting his award, Mark said: “This is an incredible honour and the most meaningful award I have collected in my career.”

The Westlife star added that despite winning many awards throughout his music career as part of the boyband, the Global Recognition Award for Diversity was “something special.”

 

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Saying that he feels “very proud” and hopes the win can help some way “towards highlighting the issues still faced by LGBT+ families who want to start families of their own.”

“There is still a lot to do and our work will not stop until we have achieved full equality,” he added.

Mark wasn’t the only singer to win big on the night, Little Mix’s Leigh Anne Pinnock was recognised for her work against racism.

The singer women the Media Champion award for her ground-breaking BBC documentary, Race, Pop and Power, which showed her experience of being a black woman in the music industry.

Sky Sports presenter Jamie Carragher won the Inspirational Role Model of the Year award for his work with a number of social mobility charities.

British Diversity Awards founder, Linda Riley, said: “I’d like to congratulate all of the deserving winners at this year’s Burberry British Diversity Awards

“The awards shine a light on the individuals, organisations, charities and unsung heroes who help to make the world and workplaces a better place for others across all strands of diversity.”