Welcome to the Pride Power List 2016, sponsored by BNP Paribas, nominated by members of the public and encompassing those fighting for equality.
This year’s list includes non-binary activists, politicians, CEOs of global companies and for the first time, YouTubers. Those in our top ten may already be well-known to you, but there are many on the list who are unknown outside of their immediate community. At a time when the worst violence in recent history has been perpetrated against our community, we must remember that even coming out is still an act of bravery. So we celebrate those people on this list. We celebrate each act of bravery that takes place across the LGBT+ community and encourage every single person to be inspired in the fight for equality.
1 Sir Ian McKellen, CH, CBE
Actor and LGBT rights advocate
@IanMcKellen
Widely regarded as one of the world’s best actors, Sir Ian McKellen is twice Oscar nominated and the recipient of every major theatrical award in UK and US. Since coming out on BBC Radio in 1988, he has become one of the UK’s greatest spokespeople for the LGBT community. He was a co-founder of LGBT rights organisation, Stonewall, and is a patron of many charities including FFLAG, GAY-GLOS, LGBT History Month; Oxford Pride; Pride London; The Albert Kennedy Trust and The Lesbian & Gay Foundation.
2 Stephen Fry
Actor, presenter, writer, comedian and activist
Regarded as one of the most outspoken celebrities on LGBT rights, Fry has used his presence on social media to comment on matters from equal marriage, to the Sochi Olympics and the boycotting of the Dorchester Hotel. In 2013, he presented a two-part documentary for BBC Two, Stephen Fry: Out There, in which he travelled the world to look at the lives of gay people in different parts of the globe, from Russia, to India.
3 Munroe Bergdorf
DJ, activist and feminist
@MunroeBergdorf
Transgender model and DJ, Bergdorf, has been featured in a national advertising campaign for Uniqlo. Bergdorf was named Marie Claire’s New Beauty Icon in their Redefining Beauty feature and as one of ES Magazine’s New Feminist Icons. She’s featured in a BBC viral video Things Not To Say To A Trans Person and the CNN documentary My Transgender Life. Bergdorf regularly donates her time to trans youth charities and Stonewall.
4 Claire Harvey
Senior Consultant, KPMG and Paralympian
@harveysprout
GB Sitting Volleyball Paralympic champion and Cambridge graduate, Harvey, has been heavily involved in diversity youth sports. In 2014 she led the government’s LGBT sports charter steering group and was appointed Changing Lives Champion at the Youth Sports Trust charity, she also became a patron of Just A Ball Game? – a charity which aims to challenge homophobia in sport. Since being thrown into the media spotlight, Harvey has been an outspoken advocate of LGBT rights.
5 Angela Eagle
First Shadow Secretary of State, Labour Party
@angelaeagle
Eagle was the first minister to come out as lesbian in 1997, and has been an active and successful champion of LGBT rights in parliament ever since, helping to push through key pieces of legislation for LGBT equality. As Shadow First Secretary of State, Eagle is the Labour’s most powerful out politician, and in 2015, she became the first LGBT MP to front Prime Minister’s questions. She is a patron of Just A Ball Game?, Liverpool Pride and the British Humanist Association.
6 Lord Cashman CBE
Labour peer and LGBT rights advocate
@mcashmanCBE
Before Labour peer, Lord Cashman became a founder of gay rights charity Stonewall, he made history as one half of the first gay kiss on mainstream British television, in EastEnders in 1987. His career as an actor came to an end when he moved into politics and served as an MEP for 15 years. In 2014 he took the Rainbow List’s number one spot as the most influential LGBT person in the UK. In 2015 Lord Cashman became Labour’s special envoy on LGBT issues worldwide. He continues to support LGBT rights and charities on a daily basis, making a genuine and tangible difference to the lives of many people.
7 Alan Carr
Comedian and television personality
@chattyman
Chatty Man presenter, Carr, has been hosting his own comedy show since 2009. Seven years of being out and proud on the television screens of the British public has seen him effect positive change on everyday perceptions of LGBT people. Carr has won several awards, including Best Entertainment Personality at the British Comedy Awards and LGBT Celebrity at the 2016 British LGBT Awards, where he gave an impassioned acceptance speech about LGBT rights around the world.
8 Anthony Watson
President & CEO, Uphold Inc, LGBT equality and human rights activist, Chair of Labour Business & Enterprise Council
@AnthonyWatson
Watson is a leading British business and technology Entrepreneur, and human and LGBT rights activist. His is the President & CEO of Uphold. The first non-American (and first Britain) ever appointed to the Board of GLAAD, a Patron of Diversity Role Models, where he speaks in schools about LGBT issues and diversity and Chair of the Labour Party’s Business & Enterprise Council, the first LGBT ever to hold that position.
9 Jack Monroe
Writer, journalist, activist and political commentator
@MxJackMonroe
Since coming out as non-binary transgender in 2015, food writer and LGBT activist Monroe has given their voice to bring greater understanding to non-binary identity.
10 Owen Jones
Columnist, author, commentator and political activist
@OwenJones84
Guardian and the New Statesman columnist and author of The Establishment and Chavs. Jones is a fiercely outspoken political campaigner and LGBT+ rights activist who was descriibed by Gay Times magazine as a “prominent voice for the LGBT community.”
11 Vicky Beeching
Theologian, writer, broadcaster, LGBT advocate and musician
Songs of Praise presenter and out Christian, Beeching works at the intersection of LGBT equality and faith, campaigning to make religion a more welcoming place for all.
@vickybeeching
12 Phyll Opoku-Gyimah
Co-Founder, UK Black Pride
One of the most prominent gay, black activists in the UK, Opoku-Gyimah is a trustee of Stonewall and the co-founder of UK Black Pride, which aims to promote unity within black LGBT communities.
@ukblackpride
13 Sue Perkins
Comedian, broadcaster, actress and writer
The Great British Bake Off presenter spoke out against the homophobia she faced from her doctor during fertility tests in 2015. She starts her live tour in Autumn 2016. @sueperkins
14 Mary Portas
Retail consultant and broadcaster
Retail guru and television presenter Portas was a high street business consultant for the government. She often speaks out in support of LGBT issues, is an advocate for same-sex families and has her own chain of charity outlets, which support Save the Children. @maryportas
15 Rosie Spaughton & Rose Ellen Dix
YouTube video bloggers and presenters
Rose Ellen Dix and Rosie Spaughton, known as Rose and Rosie, are British vloggers who regularly vlog about sexuality and LGBT issues. They won the 2016 Celebrity Rising Star award at the British LGBT Awards. @RoseEllenDix @RoxeteraRibbons
16 Jane Hill
BBC journalist & broadcaster
BBC News anchor Hill came out in the BBC’s Staff magazine and advocates for better LGBT representation on television. Hill married her partner, Sara Shepherd, in 2012. @JaneHillNews
17 Olly Alexander
Singer, songwriter & actor
The lead singer of Years & Years and former Skins star Alexander regularly vocalises that his lyrics are about same sex relationships and has spoken of the need for more gay role models.
@alexander_olly
18 Rebecca Root
Actress and comedian
Starring in BBC2’s Boy Meets Girl, Root, an LGBT advocate, became the first trans person to play a trans character in a mainstream sitcom. Series 2 will be released later this year. @rebeccaroot1969
19 Mhairi Black
SNP MP
The youngest MP to be elected to parliament in over 100 years, Black became one of 32 openly gay politicians in Westminster. When asked about her decision to come out, she replied, “I’ve never been in.” @MhairiBlack
20 Heather Peace
Actress, musician and LGBT rights activist
With her new EP Come Home and a television project complete this year, Peace has still managed a live tour and a 1st birthday party for her daughter, Annie. @heatherpeace
21 Graham Norton
Television and radio presenter, comedian & actor
The comedian and BBC host of his own chat show has become one of Britain’s best-loved personalities. Norton has used his popularity to speak out against LGBT injustice. @grahnort
22 Peter Tatchell
LGBT campaigner & activist
A lifelong campaigner, Tatchell has dedicated all of his life to furthering gay and human rights. He is the founder and director of The Peter Tatchell Foundation, a human rights organisation.
@PeterTatchell
23 Lord Collins of Highbury
Labour peer and LGBT rights advocate
Lord Collins is a British life peer and member of LGBT Labour, who was outspoken about equal marriage during the Marriage (Same-sex Couples) Bill debate. @Lord_Collins
24 Daniel Winterfeldt
D&I Partner and Head of Capital Markets, CMS
A staunch supporter of many LGBT charities, Winterfeldt is also the founder of InterLaw, the leading LGBT legal network in the UK. He was head judge of the British LGBT Awards in 2016. @danielkamin
25 Asifa Lahore
Gay Muslim Drag Queen
The alter-ego of Asif Quraishi, a prominent British Pakistani drag artist and the UK’s first out Muslim drag queen. She has gone from strength-to-strength as a singer, songwriter and media personality. @AsifaLahore
26 Jacqui Gavin
Civil Servant
A civil servant and transgender rights activist, Gavin is Vice Chair of a:gender, Trustee and Patron of the Youth Trans Centre of Excellence and works with Diversity Role Models in schools. @jacqui_gavin
27 Sandi Toksvig
Writer, actor, comedian, presenter and producer
The new presenter of BBC news chat show QI and co-founder of the Women’s
Equality Party, Toksvig has been a lifelong supporter of gay rights, women’s rights, civil liberty and education. @sanditoksvig
28 George Shelley
Singer, songwriter, radio presenter and actor
Runner up of the 2015 I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Shelly choose not to be defined by his sexuality. @higeorgeshelley
29 Lou Englefield
Founding Director, Pride Sports UK
Working across all areas of sport, Englefield provides training, advice, guidance and insight on the participation of LGBT people in sport and tackling homophobia and transphobia. @LouEnglefield
30 Ben Summerskill OBE
Director, Criminal Justice Alliance
Summerskill was Chief Executive Officer of Stonewall and is credited with turning
the charity around. He is now Director of the Criminal Justice Alliance. @BenSummerskill
31 Vincent Francois
Regional Chief Auditor at Societe Generale
Founder of the LGBT network at Societe Generale and a member of the company’s diversity committee, Francois has been instrumental in the company’s involvement in many LGBT+ events and
charities. @vflondon
32 Paris Lees
Journalist, presenter & transgender rights activist
From DIVA journalist to the first transgender presenter for Radio 1 and Channel 4, Lees’ influence and work as a transgender campaigner has made a demonstrable difference to the community. @ParisLees
33 Sarah Waters
Author and novelist
Best-selling author of six lesbian novels, Waters’ work has greatly increased LGBT visibility in the public eye. She won the 2016 Lifetime Achievement award at the British LGBT Awards.
34 Ruth Davidson
Scottish politician, leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Davidson’s 2015 election ad featured her same-sex partner. She has spoken publicly about gay marriage and homophobic bullying in schools.
@RuthDavidsonMSP
35 Gok Wan
Fashion consultant, author and television presenter
From presenting television to writing books, Wan has gained a huge following. He uses this popularity to lend his support to a variety of charities, from Stonewall, Ditch the Label and West End Bares, to charities such as Refuge and PDSA. @therealgokwan
36 Sarah Garrett
MD, SPM Group Ltd
Co-founder of the UK’s biggest diversity events company, Garrett started with lesbian and bi magazine, g3, then went on to create the Alternative Parenting Show, British LGBT Awards and other LGBT events. @g3Sarahg
37 Andy Woodfield
Partner & Head International Aid Development Consulting, PwC
Founder of LGBT Network Glee@PwC, Woodfield is the most senior out role model at PwC UK. He is a trustee of Diversity Role Models and Action Breaks Silence. @andy_woodfield
38 Sophie Anna Ward
Actress and author
With a 40-year-long acting career, Ward was one of the first mainstream female actor to come out as lesbian. She regularly lends her voice to LGBT issues, with a focus on LGBT parenting.
@sophieannaward
39 Annie Wallace
Actress, campaigner & lobbyist
Wallace was the first transgender person to play a regular transgender character
in a UK soap opera, marking a historical moment in trans visibility. She donates her time to Manchester’s Gayfest, Mardi
Gras and Pride. @anniewallace
40 Hannah Winterbourne
Captain, British Army
The highest-ranking transgender soldier in the British Army, Winterbourne is also Patron of the charity, Mermaids and an ambassador for LGBT Sport Cymru.
@hannahw253
41 Riley Carter-Milligan
Actor
As the first ever female-to-male transgender character played by a female-to-male transgender person in a UK soap, Carter-Milligan’s role as Kyle in EastEnders represents a shift in trans visibility.
@MrRileyCarter1
42 Lord Waheed Alli
Media entrepreneur and politician
British multimillionaire media entrepreneur, politician and Labour life peer, Lord Alli is one of only a few openly gay Muslim politicians in the world.
43 Russell T Davies OBE
Television producer and screenwriter
The BAFTA-winning screenwriter is best known for LGBT dramas, Queer as Folk, Cucumber, Tofu and Banana and has also written for the Doctor Who series. In 2008 he was appointed an OBE. @TheWriterOfPain
44 Charlie Condou
Actor & LGBT Family campaigner
Best known for his role in Coronation Street, Condou is also the co-founder of Out with the Family LGBT family networking group and is an outspoken LGBT advocate. @Charliecondou
45 Jane Czyselska
Editor, DIVA Magazine
The editor of DIVA Magazine since 2004, Czyselska has become a prominent figure in LGBT rights, lending her voice to many campaigns. She is also a qualified counsellor. @Czyselska
46 Philip O’Ferrall
Senior Vice President, Digital Media, MTV
Senior Vice President of Viacom International Media Networks, Ferrall, is Executive Champion for Viacom’s LGBT group, Viacom Emerge. He’s also non-executive director of Travesty Media, alongside comedian and writer Alan Carr.
@MTVoferrall
47 Dan Hughes
PR and Comms Specialist,PRD Associates
Hughes is one of the UK’s rising stars in PR. He started his career in TV before advising The Labour Party and Angela Eagle MP. He advises a variety of organisations on PR strategy. @DanHughesOnline
48 Michael Salter MBE
Chairman, Pride in London
A former aide to David Cameron and government advisor on LGBT issues, Salter has been the driving force behind Pride in London since leaving Number 10.
49 Vinay Kapoor MBA
UK Head of D&I, EMEA CIB Diversity Council, BNP Paribas
The founder of BNP Paribas’ Diversity Week, Kapoor is also Head of Diversity and Inclusion at BNP Paribas UK and is committed to driving the success of the group’s D&I agenda. @VinayinLondon
50 Stella Duffy OBE
Novelist, playwright, stage performer and theatre director
The Room of Lost Things author, who is married to playwright Shelley Silas, has twice been named Stonewall Writer of the Year for her work. She was awarded an OBE in the 2016 Queen’s Birthday Honours. @stellduffy
51 Susan Calman
Scottish Comedian
Lawyer-turned-comedian, Calman is best known for her regular appearances on comedy panel shows QI, The News Quiz, and Have I Got News For You. @SusanCalman
52 Mark Gossington
Partner – FS Risk and Regulation, PwC
Creator of the LGBT UK Leaders & Advocates Social Media Powerlist, Gossington is also a sponsor of GLEE@ PwC, a Stonewall Ambassador and a Purple Circle Sponsor of the Albert Kennedy Trust. @markgossin
53 Alison Camps
Deputy Chairman, Quadrangle Group
Camp volunteers her time as Marketing Director for Pride in London and is responsible for the award-winning marketing and advertising campaigns #FreedomTo and #PrideHeroes. @AliCamps
54 David Hockney OM CH RA
Painter, printmaker, stage designer and photographer
Considered to be one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Hockney’s early work was an open exploration of his sexuality when homosexuality was still illegal. #davidhockney
55 Jake Graf
Writer, director, actor, and trans advocate
The first transgender man to appear on the cover of gay lifestyle magazine QX, Graf has been campaigning for years to increase trans acceptance in the public eye. @JakeGraf1
56 Mandy McBain MBE
Client Account Manager, Stonewall
Responsible for development and delivery of the MOD Diversity Strategy throughout the Naval Service, McBain developed the first Naval Service LGBT Forum. She now works with Stonewall on their Workplace Programme.
57 Horse McDonald
Singer and songwriter
The Scottish singer and songwriter has been a vocal supporter of LGBT rights throughout her career and has been called an LGBT hero by MSP Angela Crawley. @horsemusic
58 Charlie Craggs
Founder of Nail Transphobia
Craggs has taken the message of trans equality nationwide with her Nail Transphobia campaign, an accessible and effective way of engaging people with the journey of trans visibility and acceptance. @Charlie_Craggs
59 Scott Nunn
President, Commercial & Creative, Gay Star News
With over a decade of experience in LGBT media, Nunn is the co-founder of Gay Star News website – the world’s only 24/7 LGBTI news service with partner Tris Reid-Smith.
@mrscottnunn
60 Carl Austin Behan
Lord Mayor of Manchester
A former Mr Gay UK, Behan was dismissed from the RAF for his sexuality. This year he became the youngest and first gay Lord Mayor of Manchester. @CarlAustinBehan
61 Susie Green
CEO of Mermaids
Green has worked with Mermaids, the charity that supports children and young people with gender variance for almost 15 years, providing direct advocacy and support to the trans community. @Mermaids_Gender
62 Wes Streeting
Politician, Labour Party
Former Head of Education at Stonewall, Streeting worked to tackle homophobia in schools. He is a Labour MP and continues to speak openly about LGBT issues.
@wesstreeting
63 Chris Bryant
Politician, Labour Party
Shadow leader of the House of Commons, Bryant won the Stonewall Politician of the Year award in 2011 and was a key figure in the vote for gay marriage in the Commons. @RhonddaBryant
64 Tris Reid-Smith
Co-Founder of Gay Star News
The Former editor of LGBT publication Pink Paper, Reid-Smith is co-founder of Gay Star News website – the world’s only 24/7 LGBTI news service with partner Scott Nunn.
@trisrs
65 Colin Campbell-Austin
Head of Talent, Resourcing and People Development, Telegraph Media Group
An openly-gay role model at the Telegraph Media Group, Campbell-Austin creates a workplace environment that strongly encourages diversity. He also donates his time as a judge of the British LGBT Awards and the European Diversity Awards.
@ColinCAustin
66 Steven Cox
Executive Director Public Sector/VP, Head of Public Sector at Fujitsu
At Fujitsu Cox formed Shine, the company’s LGB+ networking group and has used his position on the executive board to visibly lead the company’s LGB+ agenda. @StevenAJC
67 Baroness Liz Barker
House of Lords, Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrat life peer, Baroness Barker came out during a powerful speech in the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill debate. She remains a powerful force for positive change in Westminster.
68 Tim Jarman Assistant
Director for Diversity and Inclusiveness, EY
Jarman leads EY’s strategy for LGBT issues across the UK and Ireland, on the Steering Committee of National Student Pride, a member of the global Advisory Board of IDAHOT and a Trustee of the United Nations Association. @TimJarman
69 Michael Brunt
Chief Marketing Officer & MD, Circulation, The Economist
As one of the few openly gay leaders at The Economist, Brunt mentors LGBT staff, and is a regular participant and organiser of LGBT networking events. @michaelbrunt
70 Juno Roche
Trans activist and Blair Peach Award winner
A former teacher who came to prominence after a trans rights speech at an NUT conference, Roche campaigns tirelessly for trans rights and is a Patron of Trans sexual-health centre CliniQ. @JustJuno1
71 Jonathan Phang
Television Personality, agent and journalist
A former model agent and judge on Britain’s Next Top Model, Phang also writes and presents for gay news website, Outnews Global. @Jonathan_Phang
72 Suran Dickson
CEO Diversity Role Models
A former teacher, Dickson is the founder of Diversity Role Models, a charity which tackles homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in schools. @surandickson
73 Elly Barnes MBE
VEO and Founder of Educate & Celebrate
Barnes is the Founder and Chief Executive of the charity Educate & Celebrate, an organisation whose remit is to ensure schools are LGBT ‘friendly’. @elly_barnes
74 Juno Dawson
Author and activist
Award-winning young adult author Dawson is a trans activist and regular contributor to various magazines and television programmes on sexuality and identity. She’s also a School Role Model for Stonewall. @junodawson
75 Denny Tu
Head of Strategy and Planning, Sky
Sitting on Sky’s creative senior leadership team, Tu serves a mentor to emerging LGBTI talent at the company. He is actively involved in HRC, the Albert Kennedy Trust and Stonewall. @dennytu
76 Ben Cohen
CEO, Pinknews
A technology correspondent for Channel 4 News, Cohen founded LGBT news
site Pink News. He also founded the Out4Marriage campaign for same-sex marriage. @benjamincohen
77 Ruth Hunt
Chief Executive, Stonewall
During her time as the Chief Executive of Stonewall, Hunt has worked to make the gay rights organsiation more inclusive by campaigning to further the rights of the transgender community. @ruth_hunt
78 Mark McLane
Global Head of Diversity, Barclays
At Barclays, McLane has developed a global D&I strategy and introduced innovative approaches to communication and product design for the LGBT community. @MQMcLane
79 Ollie Locke
Television Personality, presenter and writer
Made In Chelsea star Locke is one of the few openly bisexual men in the spotlight. He regularly supports LGBT+ events and often discusses the difficulties he has faced as a bisexual man. @ollielocke
80 Bisi Alimi
Gay rights activist, public speaker and blogger
A Nigerian gay rights activist, Alimi was the first person to come out as gay on Nigerian television. He is Executive Director of the Bisi Alimi Foundation and co-founded The Kaleidoscope Trust. @bisialimi
81 Emma Woollcott
Legal Director, Mishcon de Reya
Outside of her role at Mishcon de Reya, Woollcott founded Pink Law, a pro bono legal advice service for LGBT people. She also volunteers for Diversity Role Models and Action Breaks Silence. @ecwoollcott
82 James Ledward
Publisher, G-Scene
A former Liberal Democrat council candidate and publisher of Brighton and the South Coast’s Gscene magazine, Ledward has been a leading force in connecting the LGBT+ community and pushing for greater acceptance. @gscene1
83 Robert McDowall Campaigner, co-founder & chair, The LGBT Network
A gay rights campaigner, McDowall pushed for equal marriage rights in Scotland in his role as the co-founder and chair of The LGBT Network. He is also a member of the Equality council and director of SWSAN. @RobMcd85
84 Ali Berryman
COO, Barclaycard UK Consumer Business
At Barclaycard UK, Berryman is the COO for Spectrum UK, the LGBT network. She was a British LGBT Awards judge in 2016 and also volunteers her free time to Albert Kennedy Trust, Diversity Role Models and Stonewall.
@beenaberry75
85 Victor Nieves
Director, EMEIA Capital Markets, EY
Nieves is a Director in EY’s Capital Markets centre, helping European companies navigate complex accounting and regulatory requirements. A passionate advocate for LGBT equality, he leads EY’s Unity UK&I Network and chairs OUTstanding’s membership committee. @TheVictorNieves
86 Tom Guy
Founder of National Student Pride
As founder of National Student Pride, Guy has created a positive LGBT+ event for students across the country, with focus issues such as mental health and coming out. @Tom_Guy_
87 Tim Sigsworth MBE
Chief Executive, The Albert Kennedy Trust
Chief Executive of The Albert Kennedy Trust and activist, Sigsworth received an MBE for his work in the LGBT community, which began in his teen years participating in the Section 28 rallies. @TimSigsworth
88 Patrick Cash
Playwright, spoken word poet and contributing editor for Attitude Magazine
Playwright, Cash has been influential in opening conversations about chemsex and substance abuse across the LGBT community. He hosts the gay men’s wellbeing forum, Let’s Talk About Gay Sex & Drugs, in association with 56 Dean Street.
@paddycash
89 Gary Everett
Artistic Director, Homotopia
As artistic director of the two-month Liverpool-based queer arts festival, Homotopia, Everett has been an integral part of the event’s success and 12-year- growth. @HomotopiaFest
90 Niranjan Kamatkar
Creator GFEST- Gaywise Festival, @GFEST London
Kamatkar is the creator and Artistic Director of GFEST – Gaywise FESTival, the two-week arts festival in London and platform for LGBTQI artists, organisations and venues to promote LGBT and Queer arts. @NiranjanGFEST
91 Neil Amin-Smith
Violinist, Clean Bandit
Violinist with Clean Bandit and outspoken political and LGBT+ advocate, Amin- Smith is openly gay in the music industry and regularly comments on LGBT issues, pushing for equality. @neil_milan
92 Sarah Jane Moon
Fine artist and portrait painter
Award-winning artist Moon addresses issues of LGBT identity and visibility in her portraiture and is a supporter of Stonewall and the Terence Higgins Trust. @sarahjane_moon
93 Mark Abrahams
Finance and Military Capability Strategy, UK MoD
Wing Commander Abrahams is the Royal Air Force’s most senior out gay man. He is Chair of the RAF LGBT Forum and consults with the RAF Equality and Diversity team.
94 Lee Marshall
Co-founder of Stonewall, Trustee of Ben Cohen
As a senior manager within the Church of England’s administrative bodies, Marshall is the is the only out LGBT member of the Executive Leadership Team in Church House. He co-founded the Church House LGBT network over five years ago. @lee_sw8
95 Matthew Todd
Playwright, comedian and journalist
Playwright, author and award-winning magazine editor Todd has been
running one of the UK’s best-selling gay magazines, Attitude, since 2008. His first book, Striaght Jacket, is published by Bantam Press this year.
@MrMatthewTodd
96 Jim McSweeney
Manager, Gay's The Word
McSweeney has kept the UK’s only dedicated lesbian and gay book shop relevant and influential in the community for almost 40 years.
@gaystheword
97 Christopher Drennen
Managing Director, Institutional Advisory & Solutions, BNP Paribas
Drennen is one of the most senior out leaders at BNP Paribas and is involved in promoting a broad array of community- building and social development programmes. He is also a sponsor of Diversity Role Models and a supporter of the Albert Kennedy Trust.
98 Lt Cdr Chris Wood
Royal Navy, Co-Chair, LGBT Network - Compass
Naval officer Woods is co-chair of the Royal Navy’s LGBT network, Compass and a visible senior role model. Woods championed the network’s expansion from ‘LGBT’ to support all people who identify across the wider spectra of sexual orientation and gender identity. He
is a strong advocate of LGBT+ rights and contributes to the Royal Navy’s diversity and inclusion policy.
@RNCompass
99 Paul Roberts OBE
Chief Executive, LGBT Consortium
Chief Executive for LGBT Consortium, Roberts has played an integral role in the development of the organisation and has worked within the LGBT voluntary sector for 12 years. @LGBTConsortium
100 Scott McGlynn
Author, journalist & celebrity interviewer
Author and blogger McGlynn writes about LGBT issues to change the experience of isolated LGBT teens. His first book, Out details his struggles with homophobia while growing up.
@ScottyMcGlynn