Linda Riley, the founder of the Pride Power List, certainly knows a thing or two about the LGBT+ community. With more than 20 years’ experience of furthering the cause of diversity and inclusion, Linda publishes DIVA, the iconic magazine for lesbians and bisexual women, and LGBT+ news site OutNews Global. She also co-founded the Australian LGBTI Awards, the British LGBT Awards, the Diversity in Media Awards and the European Diversity Awards.
One of just two British board members of US-based LGBT+ campaign group GLAAD, and a former adviser to the UK Labour Party on diversity issues, Riley is also a patron of anti-bullying charity Diversity Role Models and the Albert Kennedy Trust, a charity which helps homeless LGBT+ youth. It’s Riley’s personal experiences of coming out as a teenager which has driven her to dedicate herself to these important issues: “I knew I was gay from as early as I can remember. It scared me because, back then, there were really only two options: electric shock treatment to ‘cure’ you, or to run away from home. “I don’t blame my family for not understanding … back then, being gay just wasn’t seen as ‘normal’. So, although I was very young, I chose to leave home. It was an isolating experi-ence, not least because there were no role models standing up and saying ‘I am LGBT’. In fact, gay people only real-ly hit the headlines when the story was overwhelmingly negative, like when former Hollywood leading man Rock Hudson was outed after he had died of an AIDS related illness. It is fair to say there was a lot of fear around.
“It wasn’t easy being homeless at such a young age, and I truly don’t know what might have become of me if I hadn’t had the support of such a fantastic group of LGBT+ people around me. That’s one of the reasons I became a patron of the Albert Kennedy Trust. The rate of homelessness among LGBT+ youth is high, with many kids forced to leave home by their families. I want to give these young people hope, so they know that with a little support they will come through it, just like I did.
“The experiences I had growing up definitely made me want to work in diversity and inclusion. When I had my twin daughters, now 10 years old, it seemed even more important; I want them to grow up in a fairer, more equal world.
“Fortunately, there are many LGBT+ role models these days, and organi-sations like Stonewall make a huge difference. I also think that social media plays a huge part in acceptance, with people like YouTubers Rose and Rosie’s vlogs about sexuality and their relationship highlighting how much things have changed for the better. That said, I know all too well how ignorant trolls can turn social media into a nightmare. Twitter seems to be especially ineffective at monitoring hate speech or suspending accounts. I recently worked on a project called No2LGBTHate which leveraged a Thun-derclap campaign to urge Twitter to take action, reaching 29 million people … including Twitter HQ!
It is clear to me that the battle against homophobia, biphobia and transpho-bia is far from over and, until it is, I shall continue to celebrate and recog-nise the work of so many people in the LGBT+ community and our allies who make such a difference in changing opinions. That’s why this year I shall be proud to be on the DIVA bus in the Pride in London parade as well as on the Radio DIVA Women’s Stage in Leicester Square.”
One example of how there is so much more to do came last month, when Riley observed a comment thread on Piers Morgan’s Twitter feed. Morgan was not directly homophobic, but he did sit back and allow some of his fol-lowers to indulge in homophobic and transphobic abuse following his rigor-ous and –in part– aggressive interview with Fox Fisher and partner Owl. Mor-gan has influence and power, and to do nothing in circumstances like this could be seen as being complicit. There are huge problems overseas – too many to mention here. LGBT+ people are being killed in Uganda and imprisoned in Chechnya. “So,” Riley continues, “while we march at Pride and celebrate our freedoms, let us also call on the British Government to look at taking action against those regimes which encourage this appalling treat-ment of our brothers and sisters.”
1. Alan Carr
Comedian, television personality and author
@AlanCarr
Television and radio presenter Carr has been out and proud on British TV screens for over a decade. In 2016, Carr won LGBT Celebrity at the British LGBT Awards, giving an impassioned acceptance speech about LGBT+ rights around the world. He returned in 2017 to host the awards, which were streamed live worldwide by Unilad. He has also hosted the Ben Cohen Standup Foundation’s Annual Party, and later this year he will co-host the Albert Kennedy Trust Gala Dinner with Gok Wan.
2. Sir Ian McKellen, CH, CBE
Actor and LGBT+ rights advocate
@IanMcKellen
He is one of the biggest advocates for LGBT+ rights in British history. He was a co-founder of LGBT+ rights organisation, Stonewall, and is a patron of FFLAG, GAY-GLOS, LGBT History Month, Oxford Pride, Pride in London, The Albert Kennedy Trust and The Lesbian & Gay Foundation.
3. Graham Norton
Television and radio presenter, comedian and actor
@grahnort
The comedian and host of his own BBC chat show has become one of Britain’s best-loved personalities. Norton uses his popularity to speak out against LGBT+ injustice and recently featured as part of the Russian doll series, created by Mother Agency and sent to Russia to promote LGBT+ rights.
4. Ruth Davidson
MSP, leader of the Scottish Conservative Party
@RuthDavidson MSP
MSP and leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, Davidson’s 2015 election ad featured her same-sex partner. When a minority government was formed with the DUP, she publicly demanded assurances from Prime Minister Theresa May that no rescissions would be made to LGBT+ rights in the UK
5. Lord Waheed Alli
Media entrepreneur and politician
British multimillionaire media entrepreneur, politician and Labour life peer, Lord Alli is one of the few openly gay Muslim politicians in the world. Earlier this year he wrote to over 300 MPs and colleagues, urging them to pressure the UN to investigate alleged atrocities against LGBT people in Chechnya.
6. Phyll Opoku-Gyimah
Co-Founder, UK Black Pride
@MsLadyPhyll
One of the UK’s most prominent gay, black activists, Opoku-Gyimah is a trustee of Stonewall and co-founder, trustee and executive (formerly managing) director of UK Black Pride, which works to promote unity within black LGBT+ communities.
7. Olly Alexander
Singer, songwriter and actor
@alexander_olly
The lead singer of Years & Years and former Skins star Alexander has become a prominent figure in LGBT+ rights. He has spoken out about the need for better LGBT+ inclusion in Sex and Relationship Education at school and is collaborating with BBC3 on a documentary investigating the high prevalence of mental health issues in the LGBT+ community.
8. Munroe Bergdorf
DJ, activist and feminist
@MunroeBergdorf
Transgender model and DJ, Bergdorf has been featured in campaigns for L’Oreal and Uniqlo. She has been shortlisted in the British LGBT Awards, recognised as Marie Claire’s New Beauty Icon in their Redefining Beauty feature and named a New Feminist Icon by ES Magazine. She featured in the BBC viral video Things Not To Say To A Trans Person and the CNN documentary My Transgender Life. She regularly donates her time to trans youth charities and Stonewall.
9. Claire Harvey
CEO, Diversity Role Models and paralympian
@harveysprout
Cambridge graduate, former GB Sitting Volleyball Paralympic champion and inclusion expert Harvey was recently appointed chief executive of Diversity Role Models, a charity which aims to eliminate LGBT+ bullying in schools. In 2014, she led the government’s LGBT sports charter steering group and was appointed Changing Lives Champion at the Youth Sports Trust charity.
10. Owen Jones
Columnist, author, commentator and political activist
@OwenJones84
Guardian and New Statesman columnist Jones regularly defends LGBT+ rights in the media and recently challenged an anti-LGBT+ politician about his stance on marriage equality on BBC’s Daily Politics. He is the author of two books, The Establishment: And How They Get Away With It and Chavs: The Demonization Of The Working Class.
11 Peter Tatchell
LGBT+ campaigner and activist
A lifelong campaigner, Tatchell has spent the last 50 years furthering LGBT+ and human rights around the world. He is the founder and director of The Peter Tatchell Foundation, a human rights organisation. @PeterTatchell
12 Stephen Fry
Actor, presenter, writer, comedian and activist
A British national treasure, Fry is incredibly outspoken about LGBT+ rights, regularly using his presence on social media to comment on matters from equal marriage to the Sochi Olympics. In 2013, he presented a two-part documentary for BBC Two, Stephen Fry: Out There, in which he travelled the world learning about the lives of gay people all over the globe, from Russia to India. In 2017, he hosted the BAFTAs for the twelfth time. @stephenfry
13 Heather Peace
Actor, musician and LGBT+ rights activist
Peace has been a prominent figure in the LGBT+ community for over 20 years. She currently co-hosts Radio DIVA every Tuesday with Rosie Wilby. She is a patron of Manchester Pride and supports Stonewall, Diversity Role Models and the Albert Kennedy Trust. @heatherpeace
14 Vicky Beeching
Writer, broadcaster, LGBT+ campaigner and musician
Singer, songwriter, presenter and out Christian, Beeching works at the intersection of LGBT+ equality and faith, campaigning to make religion a more welcoming place for all. In 2017 she was given the Thomas Cranmer Award for Worship by the Archbishop of Canterbury. @vickybeeching
15 Ruth Hunt
Chief Executive, Stonewall
As Chief Executive of Stonewall, Hunt has succeeded in making Europe’s largest gay rights organsiation more inclusive by working to further the rights of the transgender community, a historic move that will shape the charity’s work going forward. @ruth_hunt
16 Jane Hill
BBC journalist and 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 Amy Lamé
London’s first night czar
American-born British resident Lamé is a presenter, writer and performer. Her LGBT-themed media works and success with LGBT+ night, Duckie, earned her the position of “night czar”. She was appointed by London’s mayor Sadiq Khan in 2016. @amylame
18 Mhairi Black
SNP MP
The Member of Parliament for Paisley and Renfrewshire South since 2015, Black was the youngest MP to be elected to parliament in over 100 years. Re-elected in 2017, Black talks openly about her sexuality and has been one of the most vocal MPs on LGBT+ rights. @MhairiBlack
19 Sarah Garrett MBE
CEO, SPM Group Ltd
Co-founder of the UK’s biggest diversity events company, Garrett started her career with lesbian and bi magazine, g3. She went on to create the Alternative Parenting Show and the British LGBT Awards. In 2017, she received an MBE for her services to diversity. @SarahGarrettSPM
20 Anthony Watson
Founder, chairman and CEO, Uphold Bank
As the first openly gay chief information officer of a Fortune 100 company, Watson has striven to be a role model for his LGBT+ colleagues. He was the first Briton to be appointed to the board of directors of GLAAD in the US. He is a Stonewall ambassador and a treasurer of the Albert Kennedy Trust. Watson also speaks in schools about LGBT+ issues and diversity, and supports several other LGBT+ charities across Europe. @AnthonyWatson
21 Philip O’Ferrall
Executive Vice President, MD, Viacom International Media Networks
Executive Vice President of Viacom International Media Networks, O’Ferrall is Executive Champion for Viacom’s LGBT+ group, Viacom Emerge. He was a British LGBT Awards judge in 2016 and 2017. He’s also a non-executive director of Travesty Media, alongside comedian and writer Alan Carr. @MTVoferrall
22 Jacqui Gavin
Civil servant
A civil servant and transgender rights activist, Gavin works as lead for Diversity and Inclusion in the Department for International Trade. She also works with Diversity Role Models in schools and is a judge for the European Diversity Awards. @jacqui_gavin
23 Sandi Toksvig
Writer, actor, comedian, presenter and producer
Toksvig is a lifelong campaigner for LGBT+ rights, women’s rights, civil liberty and education. She is a co-founder of the Women’s Equality Party and will host Channel 4’s new series of The Great British Bake Off with Noel Fielding. @sanditoksvig
24 Paris Lees
Journalist, presenter and transgender rights activist
The first transgender presenter on Radio 1 and Channel 4, Lees has huge influence as a transgender campaigner. In 2016 she received an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from Brighton University. @parislees
25 Sarah Waters
Author
Bestselling 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. This year she has worked with the National Trust on the LGBTQ history of its historic places. #sarahwaters
26 Angela Eagle
MP for Wallasey, Labour Party
Eagle was the first minister to come out as a 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. In 2015, she became the first LGBT+ MP to front Prime Minister’s questions. She is a patron of Just A Ball Game? and Liverpool Pride. @angelaeagle
27 Gok Wan
Fashion consultant, author and television presenter
Presenter and writer Wan has always used his popularity to support LGBT+ charities. He will host the 2017 Attitude PRIDE Awards and in 2016 he spoke at Stonewall’s Education for All Conference. @therealgokwan
28 Rebecca Root
Actor and transgender rights campaigner
The star of BBC 2’s Boy Meets Girl was the first trans person to play a trans character in a mainstream sitcom. In 2017, she was in the cast of TransScripts, an award-winning play telling trans people’s stories in their own words. @rebeccaroot1969
29 Andy Woodfield
Partner Lead for 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, Action Breaks Silence and Opening Doors London. @andy_woodfield
30 Lucy Spraggan
Singer and songwriter
Spraggan’s appearance on X Factor in 2012 as an openly gay woman won her legions of loyal fans. She consistently supports LGBT+ charities and Pride events, and uses her fame to highlight LGBT+ issues. @lspraggan
31 Alison Camps
Co chair and Marketing Director, Pride in London
Camp volunteers her time as co chair and marketing director of Pride in London and is responsible for the award-winning advertising campaigns #FreedomTo and #PrideHeroes. In 2017, Camps co-wrote an open letter to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, calling on the government to take action on alleged genocide of gay and bisexual men in Chechnya. @AliCamps
32 Annie Wallace
Actor, campaigner and lobbyist
In 2016, Hollyoaks star Wallace became the first transgender actor to receive a BAFTA nomination. She was also the first transgender person to play a transgender character in a UK soap opera, marking a historic moment in trans visibility. She donates her time to Manchester’s Gayfest, Mardi Gras and Pride. @anniewallace
33 Lord Collins of Highbury
Labour peer and LGBT+ rights advocate
Lord Collins of Highbury is a British life peer and patron of LGBT Labour, who has been outspoken on LGBT+ rights in parliament, particularly during the Marriage (Same-sex Couples) Bill debate. @Lord_Collins
34 Russell T Davies OBE
Television producer and screenwriter
The BAFTA-winning screenwriter is best known for his LGBT+ dramas, Queer as Folk, Cucumber, Tofu and Banana and has also written for the Doctor Who series. At the 2017 British LGBT Awards, he won the Lifetime Achievement award and gave a powerful acceptance speech on the importance of fighting for LGBT+ and human rights. In 2008 he was appointed an OBE. @TheWriterOfPain
35 Hannah Bardell
SNP MP
The MP has represented Livingston, Scotland since 2015. Earlier this year, Bardell’s Trainspotting-inspired anti-Brexit speech based on the “Choose Life” monologue went viral. @HannahB4LiviMP
36 Michael Salter-Church MBE
Co chair, Pride in London
A former aide to David Cameron and government advisor on LGBT+ issues, Salter-Church has been the driving force behind Pride in London since leaving Number 10. In 2017 he co-wrote a letter to Boris Johnson urging the government to take action against the alleged genocide of gay and bisexual men in Chechnya. #MichaelSalterChurchMBE
37 Vinay Kapoor
UK Head of Diversity and Inclusion, and 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. In 2017 he was a Top 10 Diversity Champion at the British LGBT Awards. @VinayinLondon
38 Liz Carr
Actor, comedian and disability rights campaigner
Actor and comedian Carr is best known for her role on BBC’s Silent Witness. She is an active LGBT+ and disability rights campaigner, who regularly speaks out about the lack of lesbian representation in media. @thelizcarr
39 Ollie Locke
Television personality, presenter and writer
Made In Chelsea star Locke is one of the few out gay men in reality TV. He regularly supports the LGBT+ community. In 2017, he launched a gay dating app, Chappy. @ollielocke
40 Susan Calman
Scottish comedian
Scottish comedian and presenter of Channel 4 quiz The Boss, Calman is known for her regular appearances on comedy panel shows like QI, The News Quiz, and Have I Got News For You. She regularly speaks out about LGBT+ issues and advocates for better LGBT+ representation. @SusanCalman
41 Vincent Francois
Regional Head of Audit, Société Générale
Founder and chair of the UK LGBT+ network at Société Générale, Francois has been instrumental in the company’s support of many LGBT+ events and charities. @vflondon
42 Val McDermid
Crime writer
The Scottish crime writer is best known for her popular suspense novels. She regularly writes about LGBT+ issues and raises money for charities such as LGBT Youth Scotland. @valmcdermid
43 Mark Gossington
Partner, PwC
Creator of the LGBT Social Media Powerlist, Gossington is also a sponsor of GLEE@PwC, a 2017 British LGBT Awards judge, a Stonewall Ambassador and a Purple Circle Sponsor of the Albert Kennedy Trust. @markgossin
44 Sophie Anna Ward
Actor and writer
With a 40-year-long acting career, Ward was one of the first mainstream actors to come out as a lesbian. She regularly lends her voice to LGBT+ issues with a focus on LGBT+ parenting. @sophieannaward
45 Chardine Taylor-Stone
Award-winning cultural producer, writer, feminist and activist
Taylor-Stone is the founder of Stop Rainbow Racism, which works to stop racist performances in LGBTQ venues. In 2017 she won the Outstanding Contribution to LGBT+ Life award at the British LGBT Awards. @misschazmatazz
46 Russell Tovey
Actor
Tovey is an actor best known for his roles in the TV series Being Human and the film The History Boys. Tovey uses his status to highlight LGBT+ issues and says that being gay “made his career”. @russelltovey
47 Daniel Hughes
PR Director, PRD Associates
Hughes is the founder of PRD Associates, a leading LGBT+ PR firm which manages the British LGBT Awards’ PR. He is a former TV publicist and has advised the Labour Party on communications. @DanHughesOnline
48 Suki Sandhu
Founder and CEO, OUTstanding
Founder & CEO at UPstanding, OUTstanding & Audeliss. Suki is also a Stonewall Ambassador and supports numerous LGBT+ charities by donating a percentage of his business profits. @mrsukisandhu
49 MNEK
Singer, songwriter and record producer
Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer MNEK has said he feels that it’s his responsibility as a gay, black man to be a role model for BME LGBT+ youth. @MNEK
50 Daniel Winterfeldt
Partner and Senior Diversity Consultant, Reed Smith
Founder and co-chair of InterLaw Diversity Forum, the leading LGBT+ legal network in the UK, Winterfeldt regularly raises funds to support LGBT+ charities. He was head judge of the British LGBT Awards in 2016 and 2017. @dkwinterfeldt
51 Jeanette Winterson OBE
Writer
Winterson is a writer most famous for her groundbreaking novel, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. She often speaks out in support of LGBT+ issues. Winterson received an OBE in the 2006 New Year Honours. @Wintersonworld
52 Horse McDonald
Singer and songwriter
The Scottish singer-songwriter has been a vocal supporter of LGBT+ rights throughout her career and has been called an LGBT+ hero by MSP Angela Crawley. She is a patron of LGBT+ helpline, Switchboard. @horsemusic
53 Wes Streeting
Labour MP
In his former role as Head of Education at Stonewall, Streeting worked to tackle homophobia in schools. He is a Labour MP and was endorsed by LGBT+ rights activist Sir Ian McKellen in the 2017 General Election. @wesstreeting
54 Chris Bryant
Labour MP
Former 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 same-sex marriage in the Commons. In 2016, Bryant declared he had left the Church of England, stating its stance on homosexuality was as bad as slavery. @RhonddaBryant
55 Baroness Liz Barker
Liberal Democrat Peer
Liberal Democrat life peer and Lords Spokesperson for the Voluntary Sector, Baroness Barker came out as a lesbian during a powerful speech in the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill debate. She supports a wide range of LGBT+ charities. @LizBarkerLords
56 Tim Jarman
Assistant Director for Diversity and Inclusiveness, EY
Diversity and Inclusion expert, Jarman is committed to driving positive LGBT+ narratives. He regularly speaks at diversity conferences and volunteers with Stonewall and National Student Pride and champions LGBT+ inclusiveness in sport. @TimJarman
57 Michael Brunt
MD, Circulation and Chief Marketing Officer, The Economist
One of the few openly gay leaders at The Economist, Brunt mentors LGBT+ staff and was a founder and launch member of Wilde, The Economist’s LGBT+ and ally network. @michaelbrunt
58 Juno Roche
Trans activist and Blair Peach Award winner
Trans education expert Roche is a former teacher who came to prominence after a trans rights speech at an NUT conference. She campaigns tirelessly for trans rights and is a patron of trans sexual-health centre CliniQ. @JustJuno1
59 Polly Shute
Director of Development & Strategic Partnerships and Board Member, Pride in London
Shute is the driving force behind fundraising for Pride in London and has a broad experience of the charity sector, having worked with charities including the British Heart Foundation and vinspired. @shute_polly
60 Mark Anderson
Executive Vice President of Customer, Virgin Atlantic
As of January 2017, Anderson is the Executive Vice President of Customer at Virgin Atlantic Airways. A passionate supporter of equality in travel, he is a founding member of the TTG LGBT+ Network and was a judge for the 2017 British LGBT Awards. @MAvhols
61 Ben Summerskill OBE
Director, Criminal Justice Alliance
Summerskill is the former Chief Executive Officer of Stonewall and is credited for turning the charity around. He is now Director of the Criminal Justice Alliance. @BenSummerskill
62 Alycia Eyo
Actor
Actor Eyo is best known for her roles in TV series Emmerdale and prison drama Bad Girls. Eyo is a patron of LGBT Youth North West, the Proud Trust and Manchester Pride. @Alicya75
63 India Willoughby
Journalist, presenter and newsreader
Last year, Willoughby became the first transgender woman to present on an episode of ITV’s Loose Women and has since made appearances on Lorraine. In October, she became the UK’s first openly transgender newsreader @IndiaWilloughby
64 Elly Barnes MBE
CEO and Founder, Educate & Celebrate
Barnes is the founder and chief executive of the charity Educate & Celebrate, an organisation that works to transform schools into LGBT+ friendly institutions. @elly_barnes
65 David Ames
Actor
Actor David Ames is best known for his role as Dominic Copeland on the BBC’s Holby City. The Attitude magazine cover star has spoken of being an out actor. @semadivad
66 Justine Greening
Conservative MP, Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities
Conservative politician Greening has been MP for Putney since 2005. In 2016, on the day of Pride in London, she tweeted that she was in a happy, same-sex relationship, making her the first openly LGBT+ woman to serve in the UK cabinet. @JustineGreening
67 Stephanie Hirst
Radio and TV presenter
Radio host and TV presenter Hirst is also a trans rights campaigner. Earlier this year, she was “the voice” of Channel 4 to mark International Transgender Day of Visibility. She is a Fellow of the Radio Academy. @StephanieHirst
68 Bisi Alimi
Gay rights activist, public speaker and blogger
Nigerian gay rights and HIV activist Alimi was the first person to come out as gay on Nigerian television. He is the executive director of the Bisi Alimi Foundation and co-founded The Kaleidoscope Trust. This year he served as a judge for the British LGBT Awards. @bisialimi
69 Juno Dawson
Author and activist
Award-winning young adult author Dawson is a trans activist and regular contributor to magazines and television programmes on sexuality and identity. She’s also a School Role Model for Stonewall. @junodawson
70 Kiki Archer
Novelist
Kiki Archer is a bestselling lesbian fiction novelist. She won Independent Author of the Year Award in the 2013 Ultimate Planet Awards and was a Lambda Literary Award finalist this year. @Kikiarcherbooks
71 Liam Hackett
Founder and CEO, Ditch The Label
Hackett is the CEO of equality and anti-bullying charity Ditch the Label, one of the largest pro-equality and anti-bullying charities in the world. @DiageoLiam
72 Lou Englefield
Founding Director, Pride in Sport
Working across all areas of sport, Englefield provides training and guidance about LGBT+ people in sport, tackling homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. @LouEnglefield
73 Kezia Dugdale
MSP, leader of the Scottish Labour Party
Dugdale has been the leader of the Scottish Labour party since 2015. In 2016, she became the fourth Scottish party leader to come out. A strong supporter of same-sex marriage and civil partnerships for opposite-sex couples, she has also spoken out against the church blocking same-sex adoptions. @kezdugdale
74 Ali Berryman
Chief Operating Officer, Barclaycard UK
At Barclaycard UK, Berryman is involved in LGBT+ network Spectrum UK. She was a British LGBT Awards judge in 2017 and 2016. She volunteers her free time to the Albert Kennedy Trust, Diversity Role Models and Stonewall. @beenaberry75
75 Victor Nieves
Director, EMEIA Capital Markets, EY
Nieves is co-chair of the Unity LGBTA network at EY and has been active in a number of Global and European D&I initiatives. He donates his time to Stonewall and was part of the team which helped lead EY’s efforts in being named Stonewall Employer of the Year in 2012. @TheVictorNieves
76 Rosie Wilby
Comedian, writer and radio presenter
Wilby is a stand-up comedian, singer-songwriter and Radio DIVA presenter. She founded and presented Out In South London, an LGBT+ radio show. @rosiewilby
77 Harvey Brown
Award-winning film director, creative director, art director and set designer.
Brown is an openly gay, award-winning film director, creative director, art director and set designer, who has worked with some of the world’s top brands and supermodels. @HarveyBBrown
78 Dr Christian Jessen
TV presenter and doctor
TV presenter Dr Jessen became a household name with the Channel 4 series Embarrassing Bodies. In 2014 he produced and starred in the documentary series Undercover Doctor: Cure Me I’m Gay, investigating gay cures. Dr Jessen specialises in HIV and sexual health. @DoctorChristian
79 Charlie King
Celebrity personal trainer and Gay Times columnist
Star of The Only Way Is Essex, King came out as gay on ITV’s This Morning shortly after leaving the show. He is now a columnist for Gay Times and a celebrity personal trainer. He made a guest return to TOWIE in 2017. @CharlieKing85
80 Victoria Broom
Actor and writer
Broom had appeared in over 40 TV programmes and films. After realising she was never cast in lesbian roles, she wrote two LGBT+ shorts, Life In Colours and Love Without Boundaries, which were both well-received. She recently starred in the lesbian web series Different For Girls and won a DIVA Choice Award in 2017. @victoriabroom
81 Dr Ranj Singh
TV presenter, author, columnist and doctor
Resident doctor on ITV’s This Morning and presenter and creator of kids show Get Well Soon, Dr Singh often discusses the issue of LGBT+ acceptance in the Asian community. He has a regular column in Attitude Magazine. @DrRanj
82 Andy West
Journalist and TV personality
Former Newsline reporter West was suspended from his job at the BBC when he said he was “ashamed” to work there. His comment came after the BBC refused to axe Tyson Fury from their Sports Personality shortlist over his homophobic views. Big Brother star West is currently working on an LGBT+ panel show featuring gay men for ITV. @AndyWestTV
83 Jonathan Harvey
Writer, author and playwright
Harvey’s work has earned him many awards including the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. He is best known for the play Beautiful Thing and the TV series Gimme, Gimme, Gimme. @JOJEHARVEY
84 Lianne Sanderson
Professional footballer
Professional football player Sanderson was one of the first openly gay players in England. She played midfield for the Western New York Flash in the National Women’s Soccer League, as well as for Arsenal and England. In 2017 she won the DIVA Sports Personality of the Year award. @liannesanderson
85 Emma Woollcott
Legal Director, Mishcon de Reya
Woollcott founded and co-chairs Mischcon’s Pride Network. Outside work she founded Pink Law, a pro bono legal advice service for LGBT+ people. She also volunteers for Diversity Role Models and Action Breaks Silence. @ecwoollcott
86 Simon Jones
Publicist for music and television
Founder of Simon Jones PR, Jones is one of the UK’s leading entertainment publicists, working with household names from across music and television. @simonjonespr
87 Tom Knight
Journalist and campaigner
LGBT+ and HIV campaigner Knight is a columnist for Gay Times magazine and was shortlisted for Journalist of the Year 2016 at the European Diversity Awards. He donates his time to the Terrence Higgins Trust, Pride in London and #PrideinthePark. @TJ_Knight
88 Margot James
Conservative MP
Entrepreneur, Conservative politician and MP for Stourbridge since 2010, James was the first openly lesbian Conservative MP. In 2011, she received a Lifetime Achievement award in the Independent’s Pink List. @margot_james_mp
89 Tim Sigsworth MBE
Chief Executive of The Albert Kennedy Trust
Sigsworth has spent a lifetime campaigning for the LGBT+ community. In 2016, he received an MBE for his services to LGBT+ people. @TimSigsworth
90 Jen Brister
Comedian, writer and actor
Stand-up comedian, writer and actor Brister is a regular performer on UK and international comedy circuits, weaving LGBT+ life into her routines. A staunch supporter of Stonewall, she has hosted various fundraising comedy nights. She also donates her time to several other LGBT+ charities. @JenBrister
91 Matthew Todd
Journalist and author
Award-winning journalist and author Todd was the editor of Attitude magazine for eight years, overseeing an historic issue featuring HRH Prince William on the cover. He is the author of Straight Jacket - How To Be Gay and Happy. @mrmatthewtodd
92 Steven Davies
British cricketer
British cricketer Davies, who has played for England, came out in an interview with the Telegraph in 2011, making him the first professional cricketer to come out as LGBT+. @SteveDavies43
93 Joanna Cherry
SNP MP
Scottish QC and SNP politician Cherry was elected Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South West in 2015. @joannaccherry
94 Michelle Hardwick
Actor
Hardwick is an actor best known for her roles on ITV series Emmerdale and The Royal. She came out as a lesbian in 2013, saying that it felt good to finally talk about it. @ChelleHardwick
95 Pippa Dale
Head of Global Markets Roadshows, BNP Paribas
Dale is a founding member of LBWomen, a not-for-profit, multi-identity initiative started by the British LGBT Awards. In 2016 she was listed as a leading LGBT+ executive in the OUTstanding and FT rankings. @thepippadale
96 Scott McGlynn
Presenter, blogger and author
In 2016, McGlynn published Out, a book about his experiences of growing up gay in a small Welsh town. He presents a regular showbiz and LGBT+ podcast, The Scott McGlynn Show. @ScottyMcGlynn
97 Julie Wilson
Group CEO, Optimus Cards Group
Wilson is a board member of Empowering Financial and Social Inclusion. She also dontates her time to Stonewall where she is a Top Table Ambassador. #JulieWilson
98 Wanda Goldwag
Chair of the Office of Legal Complaints, Legal Ombudsman
In addition to her career, Goldwag has spent a lifetime furthering the rights of the LGBT+ community. Former managing director of gay website, Queercompany, Goldwag also co-funded the publishing of magazine Phase, Britain’s first gay style magazine. @wandagoldwag
99 Beth Dowling-Jones
Chair of Trustees, Diversity Role Models
Dowling-Jones is the chair of trustees of Diversity Role Models, a charity working with schools to tackle homophobic bullying. @BeffunDJ
100 Christina Riley
Co chair LGBT Network, Balfour Beatty
Chair of the LGBT Construct network at Balfour Beatty, Riley is an active public speaker for LGBT+ and mental health support. She won the LGBT+ Corporate Rising Star award at the 2017 British LGBT Awards. She is also a Diversity Role Model, a Fairness Inclusion Respect Ambassador and sits on several LGBT+ network committees. @LGBTconstruct