Rainbow List 2015: 1 to 101
On a bleak weekend a ray of light. It's our annual celebration of the 101 most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Britain. An in its 16th year it's bigger, better and more inclusive that ever before. Congratulations to all those on the list
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It took nine judges more than seven hours to decide who would appear on this year’s Rainbow List. Thousands of public nominations came in by email and by post, in the way of drawings, letters and even in the form of a hand-made photo album delivered to our editor’s desk. It’s fair to say, the competition has never been tighter.
But our judges – activists, politicians, actors, performers, artists and the co-director of a queer hairdressing salon – all agreed about one thing. This list, in its 16th year, would be about pioneers. It would recognise and celebrate those who had paved the way for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality, but it would also actively celebrate those who, in 2015, fought for recognition from the intersection of different cultures, religions, and identities. It would celebrate those fighting adversity. It would celebrate those actively working to raise visibility and change lives.
When this list began at the start of the millennium it was known as the Pink List. It highlighted those who were then brave enough to be public about their sexuality. There were only 50 people in that first list. Now, at a time of unrivalled equality legislation for LGBT people (unfortunately we still have a long fight to entrench intersex rights legally), being “influential” is no longer synonymous with being famous and out.
This is still important, but we also need those who put their heads above the parapet in overlooked communities and in more hostile settings, in an effort to change hearts and minds. For this reason, you will notice that there are fewer of the Rainbow List stalwarts – politicians, entertainers and many of the brilliant journalists making up the traditional LGBTI press. This is not because we consider them less important, but because our judges did not think these sectors were necessarily where the biggest obstacles now lie. As new Rainbow List judge Phyll Opoku-Gyimah said: “I know that we had an eye for inclusion and fair heart while looking at equality, influence and grassroots activism.”
We have five new entries in the top 10 alone. Three intersex activists now occupy two of our top five spots, demonstrating just how important we think the fight for intersex rights is. Many famous names have been moved into our long-time champions list, which we celebrate heartily. We also use our international influencers list to celebrate those fighting for LGBTI equality from outside Britain. We have a brilliant list of up-and-coming people – whom we cannot wait to see more of in the years ahead.
But, for now, have a read and enjoy. We hope you’ll be surprised and inspired by our list. We hope you will appreciate the diversity of names – from an international supermodel confronting gender and sexuality norms to asylum-seekers fighting for equality in the face of entrenched resistance.
Congratulations to all who made the list and all the nominees who did not. You all make Britain better.
1. Riley Carter Millington
Actor
(New Entry)
The 21-year-old is the first trans man to top the Rainbow List. After decades of directors arguing that there were not any transgender actors to cast in high-profile roles, Millington is proving them wrong. Our judges felt his decision to play the character Kyle in EastEnders could help trans people – even save lives – and represents a landmark cultural moment.
2. Sarah Graham
Addiction expert and intersex advocate
(re-entry)
Graham sits on the Government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, and runs a weekly LGBTI addictions and recovery therapeutic group for all. But she is also one of this country’s most influential intersex advocates. She is also a stand-up comic.
3. Ruth Hunt
CEO, Stonewall
(8)
Just over a year into the job and Hunt has been widely praised for overseeing Stonewall’s historic move into campaigning for trans equality. After a consultation with more than 700 trans people, the organisation has now committed to be fully trans-inclusive by August next year.
4. Rikki Beadle-Blair
Film-maker and playwright
(84)
Beadle-Blair has made one of the biggest jumps up the list. The judges recognised his energy and commitment; in the past year he has presented Black Pride, directed a season of new writing by LGBTI playwrights at the Bush Theatre and has directed his own musical, Bromantics.
5. Dawn Rachel Vago and Holly Greenberry
Co-directors, Intersex UK
(New entry)
Vago and Greenberry have been tirelessly advocating for intersex rights behind the scenes for years, working to end unnecessary surgery and promote body autonomy for intersex children and adults. They work to raise public awareness and provide educational outreach.
6. Matthew Ogston
Founder, Matt and Naz Foundation
(New entry)
Ogston is tackling homophobia triggered by religion. He set up the Matt and Naz Foundation after his fiancé, Naz, took his own life last year, days after his religious family confronted him about his sexuality. The motto of the foundation is “Be the person that you were born to be”.
7. Cara Delevingne
Model
(New entry)
Delevingne is one of the few models who talks openly about sexuality and she has also spoken about her relationship with musician St. Vincent. “Being in love with my girlfriend is a big part of why I’m feeling so happy with who I am these days,” Delevingne said.
8. Jack Monroe
Chef, author and campaigner
(Re-entry)
Monroe came out as trans this year and wrote about those living outside strict gender norms. “Non binary means outside of the binary gender norms of ‘male’ and ‘female’. It’s somewhere in between, one of the many shades between the society-imposed candy pink and baby blue.”
9. Patrick Strudwick
Journalist
(11)
Strudwick took up the position of BuzzFeed’s first United Kingdom LGBT editor this year, introducing his writing to a whole new generation. He said at the time he wanted to “reach out to everyone on the rainbow spectrum (and beyond), to help to find and tell our stories”.
10. Cyril Nri
Actor
(New entry)
The shock killing of Lance, the character played by Nri in gay drama Cucumber, was one of the most unsettling scenes on TV this year and sparked a discussion around homophobia and internalised shame. Nri is also well known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
11. Rebecca Root
Actor
(18)
Root helped achieve a quiet revolution by starring as Judy in BBC2’s Boy Meets Girl, the first mainstream UK sitcom to cast a trans actor in a leading transgender role. The sitcom was praised for helping to foster public understanding. A second series has been commissioned.
12. Owen Jones
Author and newspaper columnist
(No change)
Author of the polemics Chavs and The Establishment, Jones has spoken out for trans rights in his column in The Guardian, calling for gay people to embrace the trans community and become “allies” against transphobia. He continues to campaign despite a backlash from some quarters.
13. Vicky Beeching
Religious commentator
(3)
Beeching co-presents BBC1’s spiritually themed talk show Sunday Morning Live. Her campaigning to make religion a more welcoming place for LGBTI people includes speaking out against so-called “pray the gay away” therapies. She received more than 200 public nominations.
14. Keegan Hirst
Rugby league player
(New entry)
Hirst made headlines around the world this summer when became the first British professional rugby league player to come out as gay. Hours after making his announcement, the Batley Bulldogs captain received a massive cheer as he took to the field against Dewsbury Rams.
15. Wayne Dhesi
Website founder
(New entry)
Dhesi founded RUComingOut.com in 2012, encouraging people to share their positive stories of coming out to help others who are afraid to go public with their sexuality. Hundreds have contributed their stories, and the site now has an average monthly traffic of up to 15,000 visitors.
16. DJ Ritu
Radio host and promoter
(New entry)
DJ Ritu co-founded Club Kali 20 years ago, named after the Hindu goddess associated with empowerment. Open to “attitude-free” connoisseurs of all cultural backgrounds, Club Kali has acquired near-legendary status among clubbers and provided a safe space for the Gaysian community.
17. Annie Wallace
Actress
(New entry)
Last month Annie Wallace became the first transgender actress to have a regular role in Channel 4’s popular soap Hollyoaks, as a transgender teacher. Previously, she worked in a consultative role for the character of the transgender Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street.
18. Mawaan Rizwan
Actor, comedian and YouTuber
(New entry)
Rizwan’s sketches have racked up nearly 20 million views on his YouTube channel, which has almost 90,000 subscribers. Last month he hosted the documentary How Gay is Pakistan? on BBC3 – which explored attitudes towards homosexuality in his country of birth.
19. Bisi Alimi
LGBT and HIV campaigner
(80)
The activist came out on Nigerian television in 2004 and co-founded the Kaleidoscope Trust, which aims to uphold the human rights of LGBT people internationally. Alimi confronted Nigel Farage this year over his comments on so-called health tourists seeking HIV treatment.
20. Dr Jay Stewart
Co-founder of Gendered Intelligence
(65)
Gendered Intelligence supports trans youth and helps educational services and businesses become more trans-inclusive. He was awarded an MBE for his services to the trans community earlier this year and has led projects with institutions including the Science Museum and the Wellcome Trust.
21. Ruth Davidson
Leader of Scottish Conservatives
(4)
Her performance at this year’s UK Conservative Party conference led to suggestions that Davidson could be a future national party leader – though she has said she does not want the job. The working-class Scot is unafraid to criticise her own party, as she did recently on tax credits.
22. Matthew Todd
Editor of Attitude Magazine and playwright
(56)
The award-winning editor has also written Blowing Whistles, a play about gay culture. Todd has recently used his position to campaign on homophobic bullying in schools and colleges, and this year Attitude inaugurated its Pride awards, celebrating members of the LGBT community.
23. Juno Roche
Activist and former teacher
(87)
Roche campaigns for transgender issues and works for trans teachers to remain in work while transitioning. She co-founded Trans Workers UK and the Trans Teachers Network. She received the NUT’s Blair Peach Award this year, for outstanding contribution to equality.
24. Liz Carr
Actress. broadcaster, comedian
(66)
Carr is a regular on BBC1’s Silent Witness as forensic examiner Clarissa Mullery. The wheelchair-using disability campaigner, who has spoken out against the Assisted Dying Bill, also performs as part of Abnormally Funny People. She is currently writing Assisted Suicide: The Musical.
25. Abbey Kiwanuka and Edwin Sesange
Directors, OPDG
(New entry)
The duo run the UK branch of Out and Proud Diamond Group, which helps LGBTI asylum seekers and refugees fleeing persecution because of their sexuality or gender. They provide legal and emotional support, while campaigning for LGBTI equality worldwide.
26. Payton Quinn
Activist and comedian
(New entry)
The non-binary activist was one of two people behind the petition to rescind Germaine Greer’s invitation to speak at the University of Cardiff student union. Despite concerns over freedom of expression, the “no platforming”, generated support for the activist for highlighting prejudice.
27. Jane Czyzselska
Editor of Diva magazine
(Re-entry)
Since 2004, Czyzselska has edited DIVA, which remains Britain’s only glossy newsstand magazine for lesbians and bi women, offering everything from inspiration to news. The former Rainbow List judge is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in her magazine.
28. Angela Eagle
Shadow First Secretary of State
(20)
Under Labour’s new leadership, Eagle is now the most powerful woman in opposition. A galvanising force in the party, she took the job, she said, because she wants Labour to be “full of feisty women making a fuss”. In 1997, she became the first MP to come out as a lesbian.
29. Dr Jay Hayes-Light
Director of the UK Intersex Organisation
(New entry)
Hayes-Light runs UKIA, an advocacy group for intersex people. The group, founded in 2000, campaigns against non-consensual surgeries and hormonal treatments on intersex babies and young people, as well as working to promote intersex rights and awareness.
30. Mhairi Black
The UK's youngest MP
(New entry)
In May, while studying politics at university, Black, 21, became the youngest MP to sit in the House of Commons since 1832. The Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP’s maiden speech, watched more than 600,000 times on YouTube, was lauded across the House.
31. Campbell X
Film-maker
(New entry)
The former Rainbow List judge and head of the production company BlackmanVision is arguably one the leading film-makers of contemporary British queer cinema. The Stud Life wants to turn the 'spotlight on people who are often kept in the shadows'
32. Michael Salter
Chair of Pride in London
(Re-entry)
Salter was awarded an MBE for public service this year, shortly after leaving his No 10 post as a special adviser on broadcasting to David Cameron, as well as on LGBT engagement policies. He continues in his role as chair of London’s annual celebration of LGBT+ communities.
33. Suran Dickinson
CEO, Diversity Role Models
(10)
Dickson founded Diversity Role Models in 2011 after leaving her teaching career. The organisation works to reduce homophobic bullying in schools. It provides training to teachers and staff at 40 schools, with the aim of “making schools safer and better places to learn”.
34. Munroe Bergdorf
Monroe, DJ and trans advocate
(New entry)
Bergdorf has made a name for herself as a DJ and has worked with the fashion industry, both as a model and a designer. The trans advocate has said: “I want people to know that it’s OK to be different, and that you shouldn’t be scared of being the person you are.”
35. Khakan Qureshi
Founder, LGBT support group in Birmingham
(New entry)
Qureshi set up the first LGBT support group for South Asians in Birmingham, called Finding A Voice, for those aged 18 onwards, regardless of their faith or culture. He is working to change attitudes towards LGBT Asians and help eradicate homophobia.
36. Andrew Moffat
Assisstant Head, Parkfield Community School
(New entry)
Moffat received 80 public nominations – mostly from teachers who praised his free Challenging Homophobia In Primary Schools resource, now used in scores of schools to provide teachers with a curriculum that promotes equality. His motto is: “There are no outsiders.”
37. Dominic Treadwell-Collins
Producer, EastEnders
(New entry)
Treadwell-Collins has created a trans storyline for the BBC’s soap and has cast a transgender actor for the role – the first trans male actor in a leading trans role. Last month 21-year-old Riley Carter Millington (see No 1) joined the cast in a ground-breaking moment for television.
38. Sabah Choudrey
Activist
(New entry)
The Pakistani trans activist is a youth worker with Gendered Intelligence and gave a TEDx talk in Brixton in London this year sharing their experiences of being a “hairy brown girl, an angry brown man and a queer brown person”. One of the co-founders of Trans Pride Brighton.
39. Linda Riley
Owner, Global Diversity Awards
(61)
Riley, a former property developer, uses her influence to help many LGBT and women's charities. She is one of two British citizens to be on the board of directors of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation in the US. Also produces events such as the European Diversity Awards and Global Diversity List.
40. Charlie Craggs
Founder, Nail Transphobia
(New entry)
Craggs runs a DIY project using nail art to tackle transphobia. The idea is simple but effective: people get their fingernails done with the campaign logo and then upload it to social media with the hashtag #NailTransphobia. The aim is to spread awareness.
41. Father Andrew Foreshew-Cain
Vicar
(New entry)
Foreshew-Cain defied bishops opposed to gay marriage when he married his partner, Stephen, last year. He won election to the Church of England’s General Synod last month, and pledged to campaign for the church to deal with sexuality in an “honest and compassionate way.”
42. Canon Jeremy Pemberton
Clergyman
(New entry)
When he married his partner last year Pemberton became the first priest to disregard the Church of England’s ban on same-sex marriage. He was barred from working and took the church to an employment tribunal – which recently ruled that he had not been discriminated against. He fights on.
43. S Chelvan
Barrister
(new entry)
Chelvan, a barrister and LGBTI activist, has an international reputation in LGBTI asylum law. He developed a model based on recognising difference, stigma, shame and harm, which is now used routinely in LGBTI asylum cases. It is globally recognised by the UNHCR, governments, NGOs and lawyers.
44. Jacqui Gavin
Senior Civil Sevant
(New entry)
Gavin is vice-chair of the National Transgender Cross Civil Service Network, known as a:gender. She was named one of the most influential transgender people in Britain in the Pride Power list earlier this year. She volunteers with Diversity Role Models.
45. Anthony Watson
CEO, Uphold
(44)
Watson’s career has included a senior role at Barclays, where he was the first out gay chief information officer of a Fortune 100 company. He’s a Stonewall ambassador and the first Briton to be appointed to the board of directors of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation in the US.
46. Dr Meg John Barker
Senior lecturer at the Open University
(39)
Barker’s seminal guide to love, sex and relationships, Rewriting the Rules, was published in 2013, and the work continues in a blog of the same name. Dr Barker, a psychotherapist, also co-edits Psychology & Sexuality, and was lead author of the highly influential Bisexuality Report.
47. Dr Stuart Lorimer
Consultant psychiatrist
(New entry)
One of the leading experts in gender transition, and a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Dr Lorimer is a consultant at the UK’s largest gender identity clinic, at Charing Cross Hospital in London, where he has been based for more than a decade.
48. Lewis Hancox
Film-maker and trans advocate
(Re-entry)
Since appearing in Channel 4’s My Transsexual Summer three years ago, Hancox, co-created the My Genderation documentary project and earlier this year a series of short films about British transgender and non-binary people called My Trans Story was hosted on C4’s website.
49. Tamal Ray
Great British Bake Off finalist and anaesthetist
(New entry)
Ray earned many fans during his time on BBC1’s GBBO, and the NHS doctor has since written about coming out and the freedom it gave him. “I no longer felt a pressure to conform to some ‘red blooded’ male identity – I could be my own cake- and cartoon-loving man,” he said.
50. Fox Fisher
Trans activist
(Re-entry)
The co-creator of Trans Pride Brighton and My Genderation documentary project has helped develop a new acting course for transgender students at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. He also recently co-wrote a children’s book Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl?
51. Mobeen Azhar
Journalist and film-maker
(50)
The Bafta-nominated journalist made the pioneering documentary Chemsex for BBC2 and Radio 4 this year, exploring the use of certain drugs on London’s gay scene. His latest work, The Muslim Sex Doctor, is about a Bradford imam who uses the Koran to counsel Muslims about sex.
52. Inga Beale
CEO, Lloyds of London
(New entry)
Beale is the first woman to top the OUTstanding list for top 100 LGBT executives. She is the first female CEO of Lloyd’s and one of the few out bisexual business leaders. She has spearheaded the Inclusion@Lloyd’s initiative, which was set up to ensure that Lloyd’s is an inclusive business.
53. Bethany Black
Actor and comedian
(Re-entry)
Black, who played trans character Helen Brears in Russell T Davies’s Cucumber, Banana and Tofu, is to become the first out transgender actor to appear in Doctor Who. The comedian has been described as Britain’s only “goth, lesbian, transsexual stand-up comedian”.
54. Jonathan Cooper
CEO, Human Dignity Trust
(New entry)
The leading human rights barrister heads the Human Dignity Trust, an organisation that challenges anti-gay laws worldwide. Cooper edits several publications on the subject and has developed a number of human rights training programmes which are used worldwide.
55. Tom Daley
Diver
(15)
Daley won individual bronze in the 10-metre platform event and team gold with Rebecca Gallantree at the 2015 World Aquatic Championships. Last month, the Olympic bronze medallist announced his engagement to Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black.
56. Casey Stoney
Footballer
(9)
Stoney was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list this year after reaching the World Cup semi-final with the England football squad. Earlier this month she and her partner and former team-mate Megan Harris celebrated their twins’ first birthday.
57. Nicola Adams
Boxer
(16)
The former Pink List No 1, Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion, and awarded an MBE for her services to sport, Adams won gold at the European Games in Baku this summer. She is determined to become world champion in February in Kazakhstan.
58. Jacq Applebee
Writer, poet, zinester and activist
(New entry)
Applebee is a co-founder of Bisexuals of Colour, a social and activist group that addresses the needs of people of colour, including those of mixed heritage. She will edit a forthcoming book, Purple Prose: Bisexuality in Britain, which is currently being crowdfunded.
59. Kim Watson
Media and marketing director
(New entry)
Former judge of the Rainbow List, and media and marketing director at Millivres Prowler Group, which publishes Gay Times and DIVA, Watson has been involved with LGBTI media for more than 20 years. In 2013, she co-founded She17, an acoustic music event in London.
60. Emily Brothers
Labour's first out trans Parliamentary candidate
(New entry)
The disability rights campaigner became the first out transgender Labour candidate to run for a Westminster seat when contesting this year’s general election. Last year, she responded to an article by Sun journalist Rod Liddle and won an IPSO ruling against the newspaper.
61. Elly Barnes
Founder and CEO, Educate & Celebrate
(21)
Since topping the then Pink List in 2011, Barnes has continued to dedicate herself to transforming schools through her Ofsted-recognised teacher training and resource programme that aims to successfully eradicate homophobia, biphobia and transphobia from schools.
62. Monty Moncrieff
CEO, London Friend
(37)
London Friend supports the health and mental wellbeing of the LGBT community in and around the capital. Under Moncrieff’s leadership, the charity is taking a lead on raising awareness about substance misuse in the LGBT community, particularly in relation to chemsex.
63. Joe Holliday
Author
(New entry)
Holliday’s autobiography She’s a Boy was published this year, detailing his experience of being born with a rare birth defect. He was raised as a girl, but identifies as male, now campaigning to end the use of cosmetic surgery on children born with indeterminate gender.
64. Suki Sandhu
Founder and CEO, OUTstanding
(New entry)
The entrepreneur runs OUTstanding, the professional network for LGBT senior executives and their allies, to improve diversity within the boardroom and create more visible role models to inspire the next generation of leaders. He is also a Stonewall ambassador.
65. Bryan Kirkwood
Executive Producer, Hollyoaks
(New entry)
Kirkwood uses his senior position at Hollyoaks to raise awareness of difficult issues that have included male sexual assault and the reality of living as a gay man with HIV. Hollyoaks won the Broadcast of the Decade prize at the Stonewall Awards earlier this month.
66. Diriye Osman
Author
(New Entry)
The Somali-British short-story writer, essayist, critic and visual artist frequently explores sexuality and mental health in his work. His debut, Fairytales for Lost Children, won the 2014 Polari First Book Prize for a book that explores the LGBT experience.
67. Aderonke Apata
Activist
(41)
The activist, a lesbian who fled persecution in her native Nigeria, now campaigns for LGBT asylum seekers to stay in the UK. She recently handed in a petition urging the Nigerian president to repeal the country’s anti-LGBT laws. Her own legal case to remain in the UK is ongoing.
68. Ayla Holdom
Search and rescue pilot
(93)
The decorated RAF officer is Britain’s first out transgender military pilot and used the publicity after a red-top paper outed her to highlight trans issues. Holdom is the trans rep in the RAF Freedom Network, has worked with All About Trans and is on Stonewall’s trans advisory group.
69. Moud Goba
LGBTI refugees mentor
(New entry)
A Zimbabwean refugee living in the UK, Goba has more than 15 years’ experience working with LGBTI communities. She supports other LGBTI refugees as a mentor at the not-for-profit organisation Micro Rainbow International. She won an Attitude Pride award earlier this year.
70. Laurie Penny
Journalist and author
(Re-entry)
Laurie Penny chose this year’s National Coming Out Day to come out as genderqueer. She tweeted: “Hi. I’m pansexual, polyamorous and a genderqueer woman.” The committed feminist is a 2015 Fellow at Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society.
71. James Dawson
Author
(82)
The best-selling young-adult author, who came out as transgender earlier this year, has been hailed as a leading role model through his work, which includes This Book Is Gay and Spot the Difference – shortly to be placed in every primary and secondary school in the UK.
72. Daniel Winterfeldt
Head of International capital markets, CMS
As well as being head of international capital markets at CMS, a business-focused law firm, Winterfeldt is its diversity and inclusion partner. He is the founder of the InterLaw Diversity Forum, a network for LBGT people working in the legal sector, and a patron of the Albert Kennedy Trust.
73. Juliet Jacques
Writer
(74)
Jacques’ Guardian column chronicling her transition was longlisted for an Orwell Prize. This year, Jacques released her well received memoir, Trans, described as “a story of growing up, of defining yourself, and of the rapidly changing world of gender politics”.
74. James Morton
Manager, Scottish Transgender Alliance
(24)
Morton heads the leading advocacy and support organisation for transgender people in Scotland. He gave evidence to the Women and Equalities Committee’s inquiry in Parliament into trans equality earlier this year, focusing on trans experience within employment.
75. Mikey Walsh
Writer
(70)
Walsh's best-selling first book Gypsy Boy charted his experience of growing up gay in the Traveller Community. His books have been highly praised and described as "life changing" by Rainbow List voters. Gypsy Boy is currently in development with BBC Films.
76. Tim Sigsworth
CEO, The Albert Kennedy Trust
(75)
Sigsworth has provided as strong a voice as ever over the past year, helping to bring attention to the disproportionate number of young LGBT homeless people. The Albert Kennedy Trust provides safe accommodation for LGBT young people in Manchester, London and Newcastle.
77. Scottee
Performer
(New entry)
Scottee describes his work as touching on “outsiderness; race, sexuality, class, age and gender” and his documentary about staging a fat pride talent show, My Big Fat Documentary, was broadcast on Radio 4 this year. He is also an ambassador for Gendered Intelligence.
78. Rose Neelam
Faith Communities Officer, Black Pride
(New entry)
The qualified youth worker has long supported Muslim youth on issues of sexuality, Islamophobia and empowerment. She founded Global, a LGBT interfaith think tank, and has worked with the Safra Project to support LGBT Muslim women on housing, welfare and social support issues.
79. Stephanie Hirst
DJ
(98)
The award-winning former Capital FM and Hit40uk DJ made a return to the airwaves this year as a host on BBC Radio Manchester. Since announcing her transition on air, Hirst has been a vocal voice for the trans community. She is also a mentor on Change One Thing campaign on ITV’s Lorraine.
80. Heather Peace
Actress and musician
(25)
The singer and actress has spent this year touring, headlining various Pride events and welcoming her first daughter into the world. She remains a patron of the Peter Tatchell Foundation and is involved with charities, including Diversity Role Models and The Albert Kennedy Trust.
81. Helen Belcher
Campaigner
(Re-entry)
A founder of Trans Media Watch, a charity that aims to improve media coverage of trans and intersex issues, Belcher presented the charity’s evidence at the Leveson inquiry and recently gave evidence before the Women and Equalities Committee in Parliament.
82. Jo Harvey Barringer
Managing Director, Broken Rainbow
(New entry)
Harvey Barringer heads the LGBT domestic violence charity Broken Rainbow, which assists 5,000 people every year. She helped ensure the organisation has kept its Home Office funding, allowing it to continue working with both LGBT victims and the perpetrators of domestic abuse.
83. Simon Tarrant
Director, Winter Pride Art Awards
(New entry)
The artist and curator directs the awards, which were described by one nominator as a “fantastic event celebrating the LGBTQI community”. Next year’s awards will explore sexuality, gender and identity. He is also guest-curating this year’s GFEST, currently running in London.
84. Paul Martin
CEO, LGBT Foundation
(48)
Martin, who has awarded an OBE in 2011, has overseen a name change from the Lesbian and Gay Foundation to the LGBT Foundation to include bisexual and trans people more visibly in its services. The Foundation offers everything from sexual health testing to support groups.
85. Sören Stauffer-Kruse
Counselling psychologist
(New entry)
Stauffer-Kruse specialises in relationship problems, sexual difficulties, anxiety and depression. He has considerable experience working in the field of gay and lesbian psychology and works in gay men’s sexual health for the Terrence Higgins Trust.
86. Toni Hogg
Service Manager, Antidote
(New entry)
Hogg has “literally saved lives” through her work with LGBT drug and alcohol users for more than 15 years, said one nominator. She works at Antidote, a drug and alcohol service at the charity London Friend. She won an Attitude Pride award earlier this year.
87. Jake Graf
Film-maker
(New entry)
Graf has been raising awareness and acceptance around trans issues through his real and relatable films. His latest, Chance, was released this year and has won multiple awards. He was also the first trans man to appear on the cover of gay lifestyle QX magazine.
88. Colm Howard-Lloyd
LGBTory Chairman
(New entry)
A political speechwriter and activist, Howard-Lloyd was elected chairman of LGBTory – the national organisation for LGBT Conservatives – last year. He is also chair of trustees of The Food Chain, a charity which provides meals and nutritional support for people living with HIV.
89. Jane Fae
Journalist
(58)
Fae, who writes for everyone from the New Statesman to the Daily Mail, describes herself as a feminist, journalist and campaigner on political and sexual liberty. She is also a regular contributor to the LGBT press and an active supporter of the Consenting Adult Action Network.
90. Jess Coal
UK Trans Info
(68)
Coal heads up the voluntary organisation UK Trans Info, which focuses on improving the lives of trans and non-binary people. In May it led a campaign asking all general election candidates to pledge support for non-binary rights. About 20 per cent of candidates did so.
91. Manjinder Singh Sidhu
Life coach, activist, author
(New entry)
Sidhu’s highly personal videos, in which he speaks about his experience of being gay and Sikh, have reached a huge number of people. His YouTube channel includes a video of his mum addressing the parents of LGBT Asians about acceptance, in Punjabi. This has been viewed 100,000 times.
92. Alex Feis-Bryce
Director, National Ugly Mugs Scheme
(New entry)
National Ugly Mugs, a scheme managed by the UK Network of Sex Work Projects, is committed to providing greater access to justice and protection for sex workers. Feis-Bryce is also a member of the National Police Working Group on Prostitution.
93. Amelia Lee
Strategic director, The Proud Trust
(New entry)
Lee co-founded LGBT Youth North West, now renamed the Proud Trust, a network of LGBT youth groups in the North of England that constitutes one of the largest providers of LGBT awareness training in schools. The trust also runs the LGBT centre in Manchester.
94. Mazyar Shirali
Founder, Persian LGBT Advisory Service
Shirali founded the service in 2008, offering help and support to Persian-speakers arriving in the UK. Many will have been persecuted in their home country on account of their sexuality. Shirali works to help new arrivals integrate into society by offering practical help and advice.
95. Greygory Vass
Co-director, Open Barbers
(New entry)
Vass co-founded Open Barbers – a queer-friendly hairdressers for all genders and sexualities, boasting a community space and a sliding-scale of payment depending on what clients can afford. Vass led the development of the Open Barbers education programme.
96. C N Lester
Co-founder, Queer Youth Network and musician
(92)
Lester raises awareness of gender fluidity and trans rights. The genderqueers activist is a regular commentator, keen to stress multiple narratives around being non-binary, and recently criticised the "grey areas" in law when transgender Tara Hudson was jailed in a male prison.
97. Charlotte Northrop
Cambridge PhD student and campaigner
(New entry)
Northrop gained significant press attention earlier this year when she successfully changed the formal dress code at her Cambridge University college to make it non gender-specific. Now students can wear either trousers or skirts regardless of their gender identity.
98. Megan Key
National Probation Service
(New entry)
Key is responsible for interpreting national equality strategy in the service. She won Positive Role Model for LGBT at the National Diversity Awards and was a finalist in the National Probation Awards. She is also a volunteer with Diversity Role Models.
99. Lisa Egan
Disability Rights Campaigner
(76)
Egan is an established voice challenging the way disabled people are viewed by society, chronicling the cuts that disproportionately affect disabled people, and discussing society’s treatment of mental health. Her work has been published by The Guardian and BBC blog Ouch!
100. Kaite Welsh
Journalist
(New entry)
Welsh’s column in The Daily Telegraph explores various issues surrounding sexuality and gender. She recently wrote a bristling piece condemning Germaine Greer’s views of transgender people. She also helps other women through the WoMentoring Project.
101. Crispin Blunt
Conservative MP
(71)
Blunt, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, has recently questioned the value of renewing Trident. He supported the Assisted Dying Bill earlier this year, and last year argued the importance of providing refuge to LGBT people seeking escape from oppression.
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