Emma Prach

QUEER OF THE YEAR 2023 (runner-up)

TELL US WHAT YOU’VE BEEN UP TO SINCE WINNING YOUR AWARD IN 2023?

Since winning my award Project Sonrisa has officially incorporated as a charity! We’ve done a whole heap of new projects - including a piece of research on mental health, representation and intersectionality. The charity has grown and we have a fabulous team of people behind our mission. Personally I’ve also gotten more involved in LGBTQ+ organisations and recently joined the Scottish Queer International Film Festival (SQIFF) board as a trustee as well as taking up the role of Chair of the board in November 2024. In my professional life I’m now working with ‘The Bike Station’ a charity working across Edinburgh and Perth as their communications officer. This is such a fabulous organisation committed to creating a more sustainable future for Scotland. The Bike Station is known for their work in sustainable and active travel, generational change as well as healthier and more connected communities.

WHAT DID WINNING YOUR CATEGORY MEAN TO YOU?

I felt so positively me for the first time in ages! It was a validation of not only the impact of my work but also my identity and sense of belonging. I had never won an award before so it was so lovely to feel so appreciated.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT EVENTS LIKE THE QSAs ARE IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG LGBTQ+ PEOPLE?

In times when hate crimes are on the rise and it’s becoming increasingly unsafe to be ‘out’ we need safe, inclusive and affirming places for young LGBTQ+ to be themselves and be safe. The QSA’s are a powerful tool for change and part of a bigger fight against oppression and inequality.

OUR THEME FOR 2025 IS ‘QUEER POWER’. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW POWER DOES AND DOES NOT APPLY TO YOUNG LGBTQ+ PEOPLE AND/OR THE WIDER LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY?

To me, queer power is the freedom to live life authentically, embracing who you truly are without fear or compromise. It’s rooted in resilience—the strength to stand out, unapologetically, and the courage to face a world that often asks us to shrink. Representation is crucial; seeing others like me express themselves boldly gives me the power to be brave, to be myself, and to carve out space for all queer identities. Queer power is also about intersectionality—recognizing that our strength lies in supporting one another, regardless of our differences. Together, we’re unstoppable. When we stand united, we become the living proof that authenticity is our greatest strength.

ANNABEL LEE (they/them)

ACTIVIST OF THE YEAR 2021
Read interview here
CHRIS MATTLEY (he/him/his)

ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR: EDUCATION 2022
Read the interview here
LAURA WELLS (they/them)

GRADUATE OF THE YEAR 2022 (now RISING STAR)
Read interview here
EMMA PRACH (any)

QUEER OF THE YEAR (runner-up) 2023
Read interview here
LOUISE-ANNE DE BELEN (any)

ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR: STUDENT 2024
Read interview here
LUNA MIDDLETON-ROY (she/they)

QUEER OF THE YEAR 2024
Read interview here