Wick-based LGBTQ+ group Stepping Out nominated for Proud Scotland Award as Caithness represented on national stage

Wick-based LGBTQ+ group Stepping Out have been nominated for a national award.

The 2025 Proud Scotland shortlists have been released ahead of the event on Saturday, May 31 in Glasgow, and Caithness has been represented amongst the finalists.

Stepping Out describe themselves as “a friendly group offering a safe space to meet up to socialise, make connections and access support and guidance”, available for 16 to 25-year-olds and meeting at The Haven every Thursday evening.

They are also involved in organising what is hoped to by Caithness’ first ever Pride march later this year, with Thurso set to host an event in June.

Hopefully, though, the celebrations can begin a few weeks early as Stepping Out has been shortlisted in the charity/group initiative category at the Proud Scotland Awards.

The award recognises the impact or actions taken to support the LGBTQI+ community by a charity organisation or group initiative, and was won last year by Pride In Moray.

Stepping Out are contending for the prize alongside the Haus of Nunsence, LGBT Health and Wellbeing, LGBT Youth Scotland, the Queer Breakfast Club in Grangemouth and Stirling Pride; with the initial nominations coming from members of the public.

While Stepping Out are representing Caithness at the awards, there are several other Highland finalists across the event too.

Popular Inverness cafe Xoko Bakehouse have been shortlisted in the Corporate Ally category, going up against Edinburgh-based law firm Shepherd Wedderburn, Stirling hotel Hotel Collesio and Glasgow-based media company Go Radio.

Venus Guytrap, who hosted and performed at Highland Pride in recent years, has also received a back-to-back shortlisting in the entertainer category, where he will hope to claim the prize ahead of Doctor Bonk, Garry King, Graham Irving-Cole, Robert and May Miller and Shut Up and King.

Inverness-based Fire Service employee Karla Stevenson has also been shortlisted in the Public Services category, where she battles Kurtis McToy, Lee Cockburn, the NHSGGC LGBTQ+ Staff Forum, the Police Scotland Citizens Panel and Waverley Care.

Social enterprise Somewhere: For Us, whose co-founder Kath Pierce is based in Grantown, is also up for the leadership award alongside Graham Ferguson, Sister Babeushka and Tony McCaffery.

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