Irish backing for gay marriage named best moment by Attitude awards

The moment people in Ireland voted Yes to gay marriage has been named the greatest of the year at the Attitude awards.

Sir Ian McKellen, Boy George and Saturdays star Frankie Bridge were among those who attended the ceremony at Banqueting House in London.

Winners included One Direction's Liam Payne, who was named Sexiest Man of the Year, while late fashion designer Alexander McQueen won the Legend award.

Payne, who did not attend the ceremony, said in an interview with Attitude magazine last month that he finds it "strange" that some countries have not made gay marriage legal.

Voters in Ireland made history inMay by becoming the first country in the world to legalise gay marriage by popular vote.

Other winners at Wednesday evening's ceremony were Newsnight host Evan Davis, named Man of the Year, television host Lorraine Kelly, who was named Honorary Gay, and SNP MP Mhairi Black was was named Politician of the Year.

The magazine is celebrating the awards with eight special covers featuring winners, and exclusive interviews.

Liverpudlian April Ashley, one of Britain's first transsexual women to have gender reassignment surgery, shared the Icon Award for Outstanding Achievement with Yoko Ono and Holly Johnson.

Magazine editor Matthew Todd said: "We're absolutely delighted to recognise such a wide variety of winners, all of whom have shaped the world of our readers, both gay and straight, trans and cisgendered. We're delighted to honour the legendary April Ashley MBE with an Icon Award.

"She is a woman who was living in truth and dignity long before the growing understanding of trans people's needs that we have finally begun to see. It's an honour for us to be able to celebrate her with this award and a special cover."

The special editions are available in-store and online.