A tribunal found that Warren Paul "abused and humiliated" an employee on the grounds of sexual orientation
The organiser of a prestigious LGBTI awards ceremony has defended himself after it emerged he was accused of homophobic bullying in 2007.
Warren Paul, who runs Paramount Creative, founded the Icon Awards this year to celebrate diversity and achievement within Scotland’s LGBTI communities.
The glitzy event, held last Friday, featured Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst and was sponsored by the Royal Air Force as well as LGBT partners Pride Glasgow and Pride Edinburgh.
But it has been revealed the entrepreneur was previously rebuked by an industrial tribunal for systematically bullying a gay employee who worked for Paul’s CP Publishing, calling him “a wee poof” and a “cream puff” before eventually sacking him.
As a result Paul was ordered to pay his victim what was then the biggest pay out of its kind in the UK – £118,000.
At the time the tribunal chairman said: "The conduct of the respondent was high-handed, malicious, insulting and oppressive.
I had to stand up for gay rights in a way no one else ever has - Warren Paul
Warren Paul
“It resulted in injury to feelings and ultimately depression which affected him for around 18 months, impacting on his ability to work and enjoy his usual social relations and activity.
"Mr Paul overtly abused and humiliated him on the grounds of his sexual orientation persistently over that period of time."
In a statement to TFN, Paul claimed the case had a “profound effect” on him leading to a desire to repay the LGBT community via the awards. He was now a “proud employer” of LGBTI people and is, he claims, a defender of gay rights.
Paul said: “We've been overwhelmed by the support from the LGBTI community, media, government and the Scottish public.
“The Icon awards was created to bring LGBTI rights to the world and let everyone know what we are all the same no matter what beliefs we have.
“Going back to 2007, that period of my life had a profound effect on how I viewed people and life in general. I decided that I could either retreat to the background, or step up and stand up for the LGBTI community in atonement.
"I decided on the latter. I am a proud employer of LGBTI people and I have since decided that I had to stand up for gay rights in a way no one else ever has.
“My team and myself have dedicated the last year working hard to build bridges within the community and I've very proud to be an ambassador for the LGBTI community who have taken me into their hearts.”
Paul’s firm Paramount Creative also runs the Scottish Italian Awards, the Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards, and the Scottish Home Improvement Award.
Karen Docwra, Fundraising Manager for Waverley Care said £8,500 was raised through a raffle and two auctions held during the event and thanked all who donated.
"The money raised will help our work supporting people living with HIV or Hepatitis C across Scotland," she said.
"We are very grateful to the many guests who bought raffle tickets or bid in the auctions, and to the individuals and businesses that donated prizes for our fundraising.
"We received no proceeds from the event itself and we welcomed the opportunity to raise funds at the event.
"We’re a charity who works with individuals from a diverse range of communities, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
"The fabulous generosity of the hundreds of people involved in the fundraising on the night will allow us to make a huge difference to the lives of many people who access our services.”
It is not known if any of the proceeds from the Icon Awards, which is a commercial enterprise, went to any partner charities.
