Linda Riley, the founder of the Pride Power List, has more than 20 years’ experience furthering the cause of diversity and inclusion. Linda publishes DIVA, OutNews Global and also co-founded the Australian LGBTI Awards, the British LGBT Awards, the Diversity in Media Awards and the European Diversity Awards.
Working in equality, diversity and inclusion can be something of a roller-coaster ride. On the one hand, working to empower the disadvantaged in the workplace and in wider society can be immensely satisfying, while at the same time, one’s heart sinks when figures are published showing the feeble rep-resentation of women, people of colour, or people who identify as LGBT in, for example, the board-rooms of our top companies. While the law may prohibit discrimination against someone because of their sexuality, attitudes often lag far behind. A company may have a highly engaged CEO, laudable diversity policies and a few pages on its website showing a happy, smiley, rainbow workforce, but that doesn’t stop the daily sly comments from workmates and line managers, the microaggressions, the not-actually-funny banter or the non-materialisa-tion of invitations to work nights out.
If you can’t bring your whole self to work, then you can’t do your job properly. So, creating a warm, inclusive atmosphere isn’t just the decent thing to do, it’s good for business. That’s why, for me, the fight for LGBT equality can only be won with the support of our straight allies. Last month’s DIVA Awards were headline sponsored by Barclays, supported by Heathrow, with other sponsors including Procter & Gamble, PwC and the Royal Navy. This is groundbreaking: never before have such a collection of household-name organisations come together to support an event for lesbians and bisexual women.
How times have changed for the better was demonstrated at the DIVA Awards when Musician of the Year winner Lucy Spraggan reported that she hadn’t been on the receiving end of too much homophobia while the longer-established Horse McDonald spoke movingly about her countless struggles.
As a community, however, we cannot afford to be complacent and there is much to do to achieve full equality, especially for the trans community. Individual allies can play a huge part in breaking down barriers. Actor Denise Welch does not identify as LGBT but is a vocal supporter, as is singer Sinitta, Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities Dawn Butler MP and former Everton and Wales goalkeeper Neville Southall. These peo-ple have an audience far beyond the confines of the LGBT bubble, and the LGBT community is all the richer for their support.
At the same time, November’s DIVA Music Festival, which I co-founded with Heather Peace, is being headlined by KT Tunstall and Gabrielle, neither of whom identify as LGBT but both of whom count themselves as allies. Their huge fanbases ensure that our message bursts the sometimes inward-looking bubble.
To those who bemoan the fact that Pride has become too corporate and too straight, I say this. Yes, the old days of the Gay Liberation Front in the 70s, of taking to the streets against the loathsome Section 28 in the 80s or campaigning for an equal age of consent in the 90s did create a wonderful sense of LGBT unity, but now our fight has evolved to include fair minded businesses, politicians and private citizens who want to support what is undoubtedly right.
So let us not look back with too much rose-tint-ed nostalgia. Those days were uplifting and energising, and we accomplished a lot, but now it is time to break away from the past and embrace a future where everyone, irrespective of whom they choose to love, can celebrate how far we’ve come and join us in campaigning for a brighter, more equal future.
1 PETER TATCHELL
LGBT+ campaigner, human rights activist and Director, Peter Tatchell Foundation
@PeterTatchell
A lifelong campaigner, Peter Tatchell has been fighting for LGBT+ and human rights for the last 50 years. A member of the Gay Liberation Front, Tatchell marched in the UK’s first-ever Gay Pride, which had only 700 people. He is the founder and director of The Peter Tatchell Foundation, a human rights organisation. In 2018, he staged a one man protest in Russia (official government approval is needed for protests of two or more people) against the government’s treatment of LGBT+ people. Tatchell was arrested by Russian police while holding a poster which read: “Putin fails to act against Chechnya torture of gay people.” He left the country ahead of a court appearance scheduled for June 26 2018.
2 PHYLL OPOKU-GYIMAH
Co-Founder, UK Black Pride
@MsLadyPhyll
Phyll Opoku-Gyimah is a trustee of Stonewall and co-founder, trustee and executive director of UK Black Pride, which works to promote unity
within black LGBT+ communities. She also sits on the Board for Justice for Gay Africans. She turned down an MBE, saying “LGBTQI people are still being persecuted, tortured and even killed” across the world by laws put in place by the British Empire.
3 EDWARD ENNINFUL OBE
Editor, British Vogue
@Edward_Enninful
Respected fashion editor Edward Enninful became the first gay editor of British Vogue in 2017. He was a Top 10 Broadcaster or Journalist at the British LGBT Awards 2018. He recently invited Paris Lees to be part of a cover story feature, marking the first time an openly transgender woman had appeared in the infamous magazine.
4 GOK WAN
Fashion consultant, author and television presenter
@therealgokwan
Presenter and author Gok Wan has used his television fame to lend his support to various LGBT+ charities, including anti-bullying charities. He hosted the 2017 Attitude PRIDE Awards and regularly appears as a fashion expert on This Morning, where he helps viewers to achieve body confidence.
5 SANDI TOKSVIG
Writer, actor, comedian, presenter and producer
@sanditoksvig
Toksvig is a lifelong campaigner for LGBT+ & women’s rights,civil liberty and is a co-founder of the Women’s Equality Party. She was one of the first high-profile lesbians to come out in the public eye. Toksvig was told by a TV executive that her homosexuality meant she’d never work again, but over twenty years later, her long and successful career is still going strong. In 2018 she won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British LGBT Awards.
6 RUTH HUNT
Chief Executive, Stonewall
@ruth_hunt
As Chief Executive of Stonewall, Hunt has succeeded in making Europe’s largest gay rights organisation more inclusive by spearheading its commitment to campaign for trans equality, a historic move. Under Hunt’s leadership, Stonewall withdrew from the annual Pride in London parade in 2018 to focus its attention on Black Pride UK.
7 CLAIRE HARVEY MBE
CEO, Diversity Role Models and Team GB Paralympian
@harveysprout
Cambridge graduate, former GB Sitting Volleyball Paralympic champion and inclusion expert Claire Harvey is the chief executive of Diversity Role Models, the charity which aims to eliminate homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in UK schools. In 2017 she was awarded an MBE for her services to Diversity, Inclusion and Sport. Her previous roles saw her expertise in diversity being employed at the Criminal Justice System, KPMG, and after leading the government’s LGBT+ sports charter, as a Changing Lives Champion at Youth Sport Trust.
8 ALAN CARR
Comedian, television personality and author
@AlanCarr
One of Britain’s leading television presenters, Alan Carr has been out and proud on British television screens for over a decade. In 2016, he won LGBT+ Celebrity at the British LGBT Awards, giving an impassioned acceptance speech about LGBT+ rights around the world. He returned to host the Awards in 2017. Earlier this year, Carr married his partner, Paul Drayton in a ceremony performed by singer/songwriter, Adele, who was ordained for the occasion.
9 SIR IAN MCKELLEN, CH, CBE
Actor and LGBT+ rights advocate
@IanMcKellen
One of the most successful actors and biggest advocates for LGBT+ rights in British history, Sir McKellen came out as gay in 1988 just after Section 28 had been passed. He is a co-founder of LGBT rights organisation Stonewall and is patron of FFLAG; GAY-GLOS; LGBT History Month; Oxford Pride; Pride in London; The Albert Kennedy Trust and The Lesbian & Gay Foundation. He has said that he would like to be remembered most for his LGBT+ rights activism. A documentary on his life, Playing the Part was released in 2018.
10 JAKE GRAF AND HANNAH WINTERBOURNE
Actor/Director, British Army Officer and transgender rights campaigners
@JakeGraf1 and @HannahW253
Actor and director, Jake Graf and the highest-ranking transgender officer in the British Army, Hannah Winterbourne, are a married couple who campaign tirelessly for transgender rights. They support numerous LGBT+ charities including Stonewall, RUComingOut and AKT. Both Graf and Winterbourne are patrons of the charity Mermaids, and both have served as a judge at the British LGBT Awards.
11 NICOLA ADAMS
Professional boxer
@NicolaAdamsOBE
Nicola Adams is the first LGBT+ person to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. Currently, she is the reigning Olympic, World, Commonwealth Games and European Games champion at flyweight. In 2012 she was named the most influential LGBT+ person in Britain by the Independent’s Pink List. In 2016 she was No.1 on DIVA Magazine’s Powerlist and won the British LGBT Award for Sports Personality.
12 MHAIRI BLACK
Scottish MP
@MhairiBlack
Entering parliament in 2015, Mhairi Black was the youngest MP to be elected in over 100 years. Black uses her position to advocate for LGBT+ rights and has been vocal about the homophobic abuse she receives. In a 2018 poll to mark the 100-year anniversary of some women getting the vote, she was named the second most influential woman in Britain.
13 OWEN JONES
Columnist, author, commentator and political activist
@OwenJones84
Guardian columnist and New Statesman contributor Owen Jones uses his influence to defend LGBT+ rights in the media and famously walked out on a Sky news interview about the Pulse massacre after the hosts downplayed its homophobic nature. He is the author of two books, The Establishment: And How They Get Away With It and Chavs: The Demonization Of The Working Class.
14 LORD MICHAEL CASHMAN CBE
Labour Peer, actor, former MEP and LGBT+ campaigner
@mcashmanCBE
Lord Cashman has been an integral figure in the fight for LGBT+ rights in the UK and was one of the founder members of Stonewall. He was the first person to portray a same-sex kiss on mainstream TV, an incredibly brave move for an actor in 1987 Britain. Lord Cashman uses his influence to continue campaigning for LGBT+ rights to this day.
15 MUNROE BERGDORF
Model and activist
@MunroeBergdorf
Major campaign and runway model Munroe Bergdorf is passionate about defending the rights of trans people and people of colour. She’s covered trans issues for UN Women, Teen Vogue and DIVA Magazine amongst other, and in 2018, her first documentary What Makes A Woman? Aired on Channel 4 to great acclaim. She regularly donates her time to trans youth charities.
16 GRAHAM NORTON
Television and radio presenter, comedian and actor
@grahnort
The comedian and BBC host of his own self-titled chat show has been openly gay throughout his career. Norton has used his popularity to speak out against LGBT+ injustice, putting his name to the successful marriage equality campaigns in Ireland and Australia. Earlier this year he won a BAFTA TV award for Entertainment to add to his many other accolades.
17 HEATHER PEACE
Actor, musician and LGBT+ rights activist
@heatherpeace
From actor to musician, Peace has been a prominent figure in the LGBT+ community for over 20 years. With four albums and an upcoming UK tour, she also 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.
18 PHILIP BOURCHIER O’FERRALL
Head of Viacom Velocity International, Executive Vice President, Viacom
@MTVoferrall
Philip O’Ferrall is Executive Champion for Viacom’s LGBT+ group, Viacom Emerge. He has been a British LGBT Awards judge for three years, featured on the OUTstanding List 2017 and also won a Diversity in Media award in 2017. He’s a non-executive director of Travesty Media, alongside comedian Alan Carr and actor, Scott Neal.
19 LORD WAHEED ALLI
Media entrepreneur and politician
Lord Alli is one of only a few openly gay Muslim politicians in the world and one of the highest profile BAME LGBT+ politicians in the UK. He advocates for LGBT+ rights around the world, using his influence to inspire change at government level. This year he urged the prime minister to advance the decriminalisation of homosexuality across the Commonwealth.
20 PARIS LEES
Journalist, presenter, feminist and transgender rights activist
@ParisLees
The first transgender presenter for Radio 1 and Channel 4, Lees has been highly influential as a transgender campaigner. She began her career writing for LGBT+ press and has since become the first openly transgender model to feature in British Vogue and also the first transgender woman to feature on the front cover of DIVA magazine.
21 STEPHEN FRY
Actor, presenter, writer, comedian and activist
@StephenFry
Award-winning actor, Stephen Fry, is incredibly outspoken about LGBT+ rights, using his influence in the media to comment on LGBT+ issues. He filmed a series for BBC Two in which he looked at the lives of gay people across the world. In 2017, Fry made an appearance with his husband in a music video celebrating love. In 2018, he revealed he had been fighting prostate cancer. Pride Power List wishes him a
speedy recovery.
22 ANTHONY WATSON
CEO Uphold Inc, LGBT+ equality and human rights activist, Chair of Labour Business & Enterprise Council
@AnthonyWatson
Antony Watson was the first openly gay chief information officer of a Fortune 100 company and the first Briton to be appointed to the board of directors of GLAAD, the US-based LGBT+ organisation monitoring discrimination in the media. He is a Stonewall ambassador and a treasurer of the Albert Kennedy Trust.
23 JANE HILL
BBC journalist and broadcaster
@JaneHillNews
Award-winning journalist and broadcaster for the BBC, Hill came out in the BBC’s staff magazine just under a decade ago and has been advocating for better LGBT+ representation ever since. In 2017, she hosted the Diversity in Media Awards.
24 LUCY SPRAGGAN
Singer and songwriter
@lspraggan
Now a worldwide success, Spraggan competed on X Factor in 2012 as an openly gay woman and won legions of loyal fans. She consistently supports LGBT+ charities and Pride events, and uses her fame to highlight LGBT+ issues. In 2018, she won a DIVA Award for Music Festival Musician of the Year.
25 HANNAH BARDELL
SNP MSP for the Livingston Constituency
@HannahB4LiviMP
The SNP MSP for Livingston gained fame with her Trainspotting-inspired anti-Brexit speech based on the “Choose Life” monologue. Last year Bardell presented a BBC documentary about the experiences of LGBT+ politicians. She campaigns for LGBT+ rights, and has spoken
in Parliament to condemn anti-LGBT+ attitudes and call for better representation in the media. In 2018 she won the Radio Diva – Politician of the Year Award.
26 DUNCAN JAMES
Actor, singer and DJ
@mrduncanjames
Duncan James rose to fame in the early 2000s in the boyband, Blue, before becoming an actor and joining the television soap, Hollyoaks. James came out as bisexual in 2009, and later came out as gay. He supports the Albert Kennedy Trust and has cohosted the British LGBT Awards twice.
27 LIZ CARR
Actor, comedian and disability rights campaigner
@thelizcarr
Actor and comedian Liz Carr is best-known for her role on BBC’s Silent Witness. She is an LGBT+ and disability rights campaigner, who highlights the lack of lesbian and LGBT+ representation in media. In 2017 she took part in the Pride in London #LoveHappensHere campaign. Earlier this year, she called out retailer Marks And Spencer for refusing a trans person entry to a changing room.
28 AMY LAMÉ
Writer, performer, presenter and London’s night Czar
@amylame
Amy Lamé is a presenter, writer and performer with LGBT+ themed media works. She cofounded the hugely successful Olivier-award-winning performance-club-night and collective, Duckie, which earned her the position of “Night Czar” by London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, in 2016. She has also written a gay history book for children, From Prejudice to Pride: A History of the LGBTQ+ Movement.
29 CHARLIE CONDOU
Actor and columnist
@charliecondou
Charlie Condou is best-known for his role on soap opera, Coronation Street. He has been incredibly vocal in advocating for LGBT+ rights, particularly around educating on LGBT+ parenting. Condou serves on an LGBT+ advisory panel to Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities Minister, Dawn Butler. He has co-hosted the British LGBT Awards twice.
30 ALISON CAMPS
Co-Chair and Marketing Director, Pride in London
@AliCamps
In addition to her full-time job as Partner and Deputy Chairman at Quadrangle, Camp volunteers her time as Co-Chair of Pride in London and is responsible for the award-winning marketing and advertising campaigns #NoFilter and #LoveHappensHere. In 2017, she was named Activist of the Year at the 2017 DIVA Awards. She is also an LBWomen Ambassador.
31 TIM JARMAN
Assistant Director for Diversity and Inclusiveness, EY
@TimJarman
Diversity and Inclusion expert Tim Jarman regularly speaks at diversity conferences and volunteers with various LGBT+ charities. He is a Steering Committee member for National Student Pride and on the global Advisory Board of the IDAHOT Committee. Jarman is consistently featured in LGBT+ power and diversity professional lists.
32 RUTH DAVIDSON
Scottish politician, leader of the Scottish Conservative Party
Named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2018, MSP and leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, Ruth Davidson, was the first openly-gay leader of a major UK political party. Her 2015 election ad featured her same-sex partner, and when the DUP minority government was formed, she publicly demanded assurances that no rescissions would be made to LGBT+ rights.
33 ADELE ROBERTS
Radio presenter and DJ
@adeleroberts
Adele Roberts rose to fame as one of the housemates in Big Brother 3 in 2002. Openly bisexual, she currently presents BBC Radio 1’s Early Breakfast Show. She has spoken publicly about the challenges of being LGBT+ and working in commercial radio. She supports mental health charity HeadsTogether and LGBT+ organisations such as Stonewall, Pride in London and National Student Pride.
34 CHARDINE TAYLOR STONE
Cultural producer, writer and feminist activist
@misschazmatazz
Chardine Taylor-Stone is an award-winning writer, cultural producer, feminist activist. She founded Stop Rainbow Racism, which aims to stop racist performances in LGBTQ venues. She is the Inclusion and Education Officer for Black Pride UK and has been featured in DIVA Magazine’s Power List 2016 and in Buzzfeed’s ‘Most Inspiring British LGBT People Of 2016‘. In 2017 Taylor-Stone won the British LGBT Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to LGBT+ Life’.
35 OLLY ALEXANDER
Singer, songwriter, activist and actor
@alexander_olly
The lead singer of Years & Years and former Skins actor Olly Alexander is almost as famous for his LGBT+ activism as he is for his chart successes. Alexander hasn’t shied away from using same sex lyrics, speaking out about homophobic bullying or the need for better LGBT+ inclusion in Sex and Relationship Education at school. In 2017 he made a documentary for the BBC, Growing Up Gay.
36 MICHAEL BRUNT
Chief Operating Officer and Publisher, Economist
@michaelbrunt
One of the few openly gay leaders at The Economist, Michael Brunt mentors younger LGBT+ staff and was a founder and launch member of Wilde, The Economist’s LGBT and ally network. He also promoted the Economist’s Pride and Prejudice campaign, the world’s first global summit on the detrimental economic effects of LGBT discrimination. He also helped to develop and launch the first LGBT+ network for the
advertising industry, Pride AM.
37 SARAH GARRETT MBE
CEO, SPM Group Ltd
@SarahGarrettSPM
Co-founder of the UK’s biggest diversity events company, Garrett began her career with the launch of lesbian and bisexual 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.
38 EVAN DAVIS
TV and radio presenter, and author
@EvanHD
Newsnight presenter and former presenter of Dragons’ Den and the BBC’s Today Programme, Evan Davis has been openly out as gay throughout his career. He is a supporter of LGBT+ charities and organisations such as Student Pride, RUComingOut and Stonewall. In 2016, he won the LGBT Broadcaster or Presenter Award at the British LGBT Awards.
39 OLLIE LOCKE
Television personality, presenter and entrepreneur
@ollielocke
Made In Chelsea star Locke is one of the few out gay men in reality TV. He regularly supports the LGBT+ community and has spoken out about the ‘difficulty’ of coming out as gay and the backlash he faced for originally coming out as bisexual. In 2017, he co-founded a gay dating app, Chappy, which asks users to pledge to be nicer and not discriminate or be disrespectful to each other.
40 BISI ALIMI
Gay rights activist, public speaker and blogger
@bisialimi
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. In 2017 he served as a judge for the British LGBT Awards.
41 DR RANJ SINGH
TV presenter, author, columnist and doctor
@DrRanj
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 and champions LGBT+ physical and mental health needs across his social media platforms. He supports various charities, including Stonewall and FreedomToDonate.
42 ANGELA EAGLE
MP for Wallasey, Labour Party
@angelaeagle
Angela Eagle was the first MP to come out as a lesbian and has been an active 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.
43 HORSE MCDONALD
Singer and songwriter
@horsemusic
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. She is a patron of LGBT+ helpline, Switchboard. In 2018, she won the DIVA Hall of Fame Award.
44 ANDY WOODFIELD
Partner and Head International Aid Development Consulting, PwC
@andy_woodfield
Founder of LGBT Network Glee@PwC, Woodfield is the most senior out role model at PwC UK. He was a judge at the National Diversity Awards and has featured on the OUTstanding List of Leading LGBT+ Executives. He is a trustee of Diversity Role Models, Action Breaks Silence and Opening Doors London.
45 DR ELLY BARNES MBE
CEO and Founder, Educate & Celebrate
@elly_barnes
Dr Elly Barnes is the founder and chief executive of the charity Educate & Celebrate, an organisation that works to transform schools into LGBT+ friendly institutions and tackle homophobic bullying. In 2011, she was the most influential LGBT+ person in Britain in the Independent on Sunday’s ‘Pink List’.
46 JULIE WILSON CEO
Optimus Cards
Julie Wilson is CEO of Optimus cards and advocates for an inclusive working environment. She spearheaded Optimus’ sponsorship of the Women’s Stage at Pride in London in 2017 and donates her time to LGBT rights organisation Stonewall as a Top Table Ambassador.
47 DANIEL WINTERFELDT
Partner, Reed Smith
@dkwinterfeldt
Founder and co-chair of InterLaw Diversity Forum, the leading LGBT+ legal network in the UK, Daniel Winterfeldt also organises the annual Winter Carnival event, which raises funds for the Albert Kennedy Trust. He also regularly raises funds and donates his time to support numerous LGBT+ charities. He was a judge of the British LGBT Awards in 2016 and 2017.
48 DR CHRISTIAN JESSEN
TV presenter and doctor
@DoctorChristian
Dr Christian Jessen became a household name with the Channel 4 series Embarrassing Bodies. In 2014 he produced Undercover Doctor: Cure Me I’m Gay, which investigated gay cures. Dr Jessen specialises in HIV and sexual health and has written for Attitude magazine. He was featured in the Independent’s Pink List in 2011 and 2012.
49 KELLY VALENTINE HENDRY CDG, CSA
Casting Director
@KVHendry
Kelly Valentine Hendry is a casting director and founder of inclusive company KVH Casting. Hendry advocated for better LGBT+ representation in film and television. She was shortlisted as an Inspirational Role Model in the 2018 DIVA Awards.
50 SOPHIE ANNA WARD
Actor and author
@sophieannaward
With a 40-year acting career, Ward was one of the first mainstream actors to come out as a lesbian in the UK. A lifelong campaigner for LGBT+ rights, she has focused on LGBT+ parenting, which is an issue close to her heart. In 2018 Ward won Inspirational Role Model of the Year at the DIVA Awards. She has co-hosted the British LGBT Awards twice.
51 KIKI ARCHER
Author
@Kikiarcherbooks
Kiki Archer is a best-selling lesbian fiction novelist and author of eight books. She won Independent Author of the Year Award in the 2013 Ultimate Planet Awards. In 2018 she won the Best Author Award at the DIVA Awards.
52 DAN HUGHES
Founder, Daniel Hughes PR
@DanHughesOnline
Hughes is the founder of Daniel Hughes PR, a leading LGBT+ PR firm which manages the British LGBT Awards’ and DIVA Awards’ PR. He is a former TV publicist. and has advised the Labour Party on communications.
53 RYAN JOHN BUTCHER
Acting editor, indy100
@RyanJohnButcher
Ryan John Butcher is a journalist and the former Deputy Editor of Gay Times. He is now acting editor of Indy 100, writing and commissioning on a variety of topics including entertainment, politics and LGBTQ issues.
54 CHARLIE KING
Celebrity personal trainer and columnist
@CharlieKing85
Charlie King is best-known as a star of The Only Way Is Essex, and came out as gay on ITV’s This Morning shortly after leaving the show. He is a celebrity personal trainer and wrote a column for Gay Times for two years.
55 BRIAN ASHMEADSIERS
Partner, PwC
@AshmeadSiers
Having recently joined PwC, Brian Ashmead-Siers has quickly become the new Partner Sponsor for PwC’s LGBT+ network, GLEE. He is a co-founder of The Alliance Network – a professional LGBT+ network in Birmingham and was a judge at the 2018 British LGBT Awards. He supports various LGBT+ charities.
56 VICTORIA BROOM
Actor and writer
@victoriabroom
Victoria Broom has a long career in film and television and has written two LGBT+ shorts, Life In Colours and Love Without Boundaries. In 2018, she played a lesbian character in popular thriller Marcella on ITV. She stars in the lesbian web series Different For Girls and won a DIVA Choice Award in 2017. She co-hosted the 2018 DIVA Awards.
57 POLLY SHUTE
Director of Strategic Partnerships, Pride in London
@shute_polly
Polly Shute is the Director of Development & Strategic Partnerships and a board member of Pride in London. She has broad experience of the charity sector, having worked with charities including the British Heart Foundation and vinspired.
58 VINCENT FRANÇOIS
Regional Chief Auditor, Societe Generale
@vfLondon
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 support of many LGBT+ events and charities.
59 BARONESS LIZ BARKER
House of Lords, Liberal Democrats
@LizBarkerLords
Liberal Democrat life peer and Lords Spokesperson for the Voluntary Sector, Baroness Barker came out as lesbian during a powerful speech in the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill debate. She supports a wide range of LGBT+ charities.
60 MICHAEL SALTER-CHURCH MBE
Co-Chair, Pride in London
A former government advisor on LGBT+ issues, Salter-Church has been a driving force behind Pride in London since leaving Number 10. Last year, he cowrote a letter to Boris Johnson urging the government to take action against the alleged genocide of gay men in Chechnya. In 2017, he featured on the OUTstanding List of LGBT Executives.
61 CHARLIE CRAGGS
Trans activist and author
@charlie_craggs
Charlie Craggs is a trans activist and the founder of the award-winning campaign, Nail Transphobia, which delivers manicures while educating people on trans issues. She also edited a compilation of trans essays called To My Trans Sisters, focusing on advice from almost 100 trans women, from politicians and musicians to models. @charlie_craggs
62 BOBBY COLE NORRIS
Television personality and presenter
@BobbyCNorris
Bobby Cole Norris is best known as a star of The Only Way Is Essex. He has been openly gay since being on the show and has publicly defended gay rights. Norris has supported LGBT+ organisations such as RUComingOut and in 2017 he became Celeb’s Go Dating’s first LGBT+ contestant.
63 FRANCESCA HARRIS
Business Development Manager, PwC
@Fran_Harris01
Francesca Harris is the co-founder of the Alliance Network, which brings professional LGBT+ networks in the Midlands together to share best practice and opportunities. She won the Barclays Diversity Champion of the Year Award at the DIVA Awards 2018. She is a member of LBWomen and a mentor for Diversity Role Models.
64 DR. LIAM HACKETT
Founder and CEO, Ditch The Label
@DiageoLiam
Dr. Liam Hackett is CEO of anti-bullying charity Ditch the Label, one of the largest pro-equality and anti-bullying charities in the world. Ditch the Label now operates in the UK, USA and Mexico. Hackett regularly comments on homophobic cyber-bullying in international news. In 2018 he became the youngest recipient of an honorary degree from the University of Sussex.
65 PEMA RADHA
Director, Strategy Execution – Global Advisory, EY
@LondonWarbler
Pema Radha is the Co-Chair of EY’s LGBT network, Unity UK&I. She is an ambassador for LBWomen and is a role model for Diversity Role Models. She also supports Stonewall.
66 DAVID AMES
Actor
@semadivad
Actor David Ames is best known for his role as gay character Dominic Copeland on BBC’s Holby City. The Attitude magazine cover star has spoken about being an out actor.
67 WES STREETING
MP, Labour Party
@wesstreeting
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. In 2018, he called for an end to the ban on rainbow flags in Parliament (flags of all colours are prohibited by parliamentary authorities).
68 JAMES FROST
Owner and CEO, Gay Times magazine
@gaytimesmag
Since taking ownership of Gay Times magazine in 2017, James Frost has strived to make the publication more diverse and representative of the LGBT+ community. He supports various charities, including Albert Kennedy Trust, Terrence Higgins Trust and Centrepoint.
69 VAL MCDERMID
Author
@valmcdermid
The award-winning Scottish crime writer is best-known for her popular suspense novels, which have been adapted for television. She regularly raises money for charities such as LGBT Youth Scotland. In 2016, she presented a series charting the history of same-sex relationships for the BBC’s Gay Britannia season.
70 ALI BERRYMAN
Chief Operating Officer, Barclaycard UK
@beenaberry75
Ali Berryman donates much of her free time and influence to LGBT+ causes. In 2015, she was listed as an Out at Work Top 50 LGBT Executive and has been featured on the OUTStanding List of Leading LGBT Executives. She has been a British LGBT Awards judge, and is a trustee of Diversity Role Models.
71 SIMON JONES
PR Specialist
@simonjonespr
Founder of Simon Jones PR, Jones is one of the UK’s leading entertainment publicists, working with household names from across music and television.
72 LIANNE SANDERSON
Professional footballer
@liannesanderson
Professional football player Sanderson was one of the first openly gay players in England. She played midfield for the Western New York Flash of the National Women’s Soccer League, as well as Arsenal and the England team. In 2017 she won the DIVA Sports Personality of the Year award.
73 KRISHNA OMKAR
Associate, King & Spalding
@krishnaomkar
Krishna Omkar has played an instrumental part in his firm’s LGBT network group, PRISM. He also takes on pro-bono work for LGBT+ organisations and is involved in trying to legalise same-sex relationships in his home country of India. He has featured on the OUTstanding list of Leading LGBT Executives and the Out at Work Top 50 list. In 2018, he was Stonewall’s Gay Role Model of the Year.
74 SUKI SANDHU
Founder and CEO, Involve: OUTstanding, Empower & HERoes
@mrsukisandhu
Sandu is the founder & CEO at Involve, OUTstanding, Empower and HERoes, making him one of the UK’s leading specialists in diversity. He is also a Stonewall Ambassador and supports numerous LGBT+ charities by donating a percentage of his business profits.
75 LA VOIX
Variety Performer
@LaVoixTheShow
La Voix was a finalist on Britain’s Got Talent, and the only drag queen to ever make it to the final stage of the competition. She has also appeared in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie. La Voix performs at gay pride and charity events around the world and puts a recognisable LGBT+ face into mainstream theatre.
76 MARGOT JAMES
Conservative Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries
@margot_james_MP
Entrepreneur, Conservative politician and MP for Stourbridge, Margot James was the first openly lesbian Conservative MP. In 2018, she backed plans for an LGBT+ history museum in London. She has featured in the Independent’s Pink List for half a decade and has been nominated for several awards.
77 SUE SANDERS
Professor Emeritus, Harvey Milk Institute
@suesanders03
Sue Sanders is a professor at the largest queer studies institute in the world and has been fighting to progress LGBT+ rights for the last four decades. She is the founder of the annual LGBT History Month and is also a Chair of Schools OUT UK. She has advised various government bodies on LGBT+ issues.
78 KEZIA DUGDALE
MSP, Labour
@kezdugdale
In 2016, Kezia Dugdale became the fourth Scottish party leader to come out. In 2017 she appeared on a BBC documentary about the experiences of LGBT+ politicians. She is a strong supporter of civil partnerships for opposite-sex couples and has spoken out against the church blocking same-sex adoptions.
79 SALLY EDWARDS
Author, poet and LGBT+ disability campaigner
@eddigator1
Sally Edwards is the author of two books focusing on disability and LGBT+, written after she had retired from a successful Inclusive Dance career. Last year she performed at the Diva Literary Festival in Birmingham.
80 DANIEL LISMORE
Artist, designer, writer
@daniellismore
Daniel Lismore is an artist, designer, celebrity stylist, writer and campaigner that has been named by British Vogue as “England’s most outrageous dresser”. A walking piece of art, Lismore has exhibited his creations across the country and is also the author of Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken.
81 DARREN STYLES
Publisher, Attitude Magazine
@bydarrenstyles
Darren Styles is the publisher and first gay owner of Attitude Magazine. He also owns Winq, the luxury lifestyle magazine for gay men, amongst other titles. He is a patron of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and has been featured on the OUTstanding List of Leading LGBT Executives.
82 RYAN ATKIN
Professional referee
@RyanTAtkin
Ryan Atkin is the first publicly ‘out’ official in British football. He has spoken to Sky Sports about being a gay man in football in the hopes that others will be able to follow in his footsteps. He is a supporter of Stonewall.
83 INDIA WILLOUGHBY
Journalist and newsreader
@indiawilloughby
Broadcaster and journalist India Willoughby became the first trans woman to present an episode of Loose Women in 2016. She was the first transgender person in the UK to be appointed the Independent Chair of a Football Association Equality Panel.
84 CARRIE LYELL
Editor, DIVA Magazine
@Seej
Carrie joined DIVA, Europe’s best-selling magazine for lesbians and bi women, as Editorial Assistant in 2013, having previously written for Pink Paper, Lesbilicious and The Guardian. She was made editor in 2017 and is passionate about amplifying queer women’s voices in the media. In 2018, she joined the Iris International Prize jury panel.
85 ANDY WEST
TV personality
@AndyWestTV
Former Newsline reporter West left his job at the BBC after the channel refused to axe Tyson Fury from their Sports Personality shortlist over his homophobic views. He starred in Celebrity Big Brother in 2016. He is currently writing his first novel.
86 MARK ANDERSON
Executive Vice President, Customer at Virgin Atlantic
@Mavhols
Mark Anderson is the Executive Vice President of Customer at Virgin Atlantic. He is a founding member of the TTG LGBT Network and is passionate about equality in the travel industry. He is a judge for the British LGBT Awards and was featured on the 2017 OUTStanding Leading LGBT Executives List.
87 EMMA WOOLLCOTT
Partner, Mishcon de Reya
@ecwoollcott
Emma Woollcott is Head of Reputation Protection at Mishcon de Reya. She founded the firm's Pride Network, and established its support for Pink Law, a pro bono legal advice service for LGBT+ people. She is on the advisory board for P3 (the LGBT+ parenting network), volunteers for Diversity Role Models and was a founding trustee of Action Breaks Silence.
88 JONATHAN PHANG
Journalist, TV chef and former model agent
@Jonathan_Phang
With a career spanning over 25 years, former model agent and judge on Britain’s Next Top Model, Jonathan Phang also writes and presents for gay news website, Outnews Global.
89 PAV AKHTAR
Director of Strategy at UK Black Pride
@pav_akhtar
Pav Akhtar began his LGBT activism as a school boy against Section 28. He went on to chair the Muslim LGBT+ group, Imaan; served on Pride in London's board; advised the Mayor of London and, as Head of Equality in the Department of Education, funded anti-homophobia work in schools. Pav is a Governor of Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and Director of UK Black Pride.
90 IAN MASSA-HARRIS
Events Producer, voice coach and makeup artist
@ianmh
Ian Massa-Harris is part of the Strategic Delivery Team that reshaped Pride In London. He produced the first-ever Pride’s Got Talent. He is also Head of Operations at W.I.G., an organisation which aims to improve the lives of those affected by HIV and AIDS.
91 WILLIAM J CONNOLLY
Editor, Gay Times magazine
@gaytimesmag
Willian J Connolly is a journalist and editor of Gay Times magazine. He uses his media influence to highlight LGBT+ issues.
92 WANDA GOLDWAG
Chair of the Office of Legal Complaints, Legal Ombudsman
@wandagoldwag
Goldwag has spent a lifetime fighting to further the rights of the LGBT+ community. She is the former managing director of gay website, Queercompany, and also co-funded the publishing of magazine Phase, Britain’s first gay style magazine.
93 RIKKI BEADLE-BLAIR MBE
Actor, director, playwright and activist
@RikkiBB
Rikki Beadle-Blair is the creator of award-winning documentaries, plays and performances focusing on the LGBT+ and black communities. In 2016 he was awarded an MBE for his services to drama.
94 SUZI RUFFELL
Comedian
@suziruffell
Suzi Ruffell uses comedy as a platform for her LGBT+ activism. Her solo show, ‘Keeping It Classy’ had a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival. She donates her time to Stonewall and various other LGBT+ organisations.
95 REETA LOI
Writer, musician and activist
@r_e_e_t_a_
Reeta Loi is the co-founder and CEO of Gaysians.org, an umbrella organisation representing the interests of the British Asian LGBT+ community. She writes a monthly column for DIVA magazine and is the Community Engagement Officer for UK Black Pride.
96 MARK ARMARIO
Director of Premier UK, Barclays
@MarkArmario
Mark Armario is a member of Barclays’ LGBT+ network, Spectrum and has been instrumental in Barclays’ headline sponsorship of Liverpool Pride and sponsors of the Family Hub area at Leeds Pride.
97 VICTOR NIEVES
Director, EMEIA Capital Markets, EY
@TheVictorNieves
Victor 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 is a supporter of Stonewall.
98 SCOTTY MCGLYNN
Presenter and author
@scottymcglynn
In 2016, author and journalist McGlynn published a book, Out, about his experiences of growing up gay in a small Welsh town. He presents a regular showbiz and LGBT+ podcast, the Scotty McGlynn Show.
99 JEN BRISTER
Comedian, writer and actor
@JenBrister
Jen Brister is a regular performer on UK and international comedy circuits, using the stage to talk about LGBT+ life. She is a supporter of Stonewall and has hosted various comedy nights to fundraise for them.
100 TIM ALLEN
Partner, PwC
Tim Allen has always been out at work and is one of the partner sponsors of the PwC network “GLEE”. He sits on the ICAEW LGBT focus group, is a Stonewall Top Tier Ambassador, a Friend of the Terrence Higgins Trust and is in the OUTstanding mentor program.
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