CELEBRATING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Emeli Sandé
Musician
@emelisande
Emeli is an internationally renowned singer-songwriter, receiving an MBE in 2017 for her services to music. Best known for her hit single Next To Me, the Scottish singer recently came out as queer after meeting her girlfriend, classical pianist Yoana Karemova. Emeli stated that it had taken “many years” for her to find the strength to be herself, remarking that “falling in love with her gave me the strength I needed.” Notably, she performed at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics. Her new album, Let’s Say For Instance, arrived on 6 May, featuring hits from Brighter Days to Superhuman. This summer, she embarks on an array of tour dates, notably including Pride in London on 2 July.
Jake Daniels
Professional footballer
@Jake_Daniels11
Jake is an English professional footballer currently playing as a forward for EFL Championship club Blackpool. In May 2022, Jake became the first active male player to come out as gay since Justin Fashanu in 1990, describing it as a “weight off the shoulders” and a “huge relief.”
Owen Jones
Political commentator, journalist, activist
@OwenJones84
Owen is a Guardian columnist and the author of Chavs: The Demonisation Of The Working Class and The Establishment – And How They Get Away With It. He hosts two weekly web series, The Owen Jones Show and The Owen Jones Podcast.
Phyll Opoku-Gyimah Co-Founder and Executive Director at UK Black Pride, Executive Director of Kaleidoscope Trust
@MsLadyPhyll
Lady Phyll passionately advocates for the better treatment of LGBTQI people of colour, championing the rights of the community across the world. She focuses on creating safe spaces that celebrate love and community. She is a patron of akt, Co-Editor of SistaAnthology and a LinkedIn Changemaker.
Peter Tatchell
LGBTQI campaigner, activist
@PeterTatchell
Peter has been a powerful voice for LGBTQI and human rights advancement and has campaigned for 55 years. As Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, he continues this fight in the UK and globally. In 2022, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Burberry British Diversity Awards.
Jake & Hannah Graf
Trans activists, Patrons of Mermaids
@hannahw253, @JakeGraf1
Jake and Hannah, stars of Channel 4’s documentary Our Baby: A Modern Miracle, are proud to be the UK’s most prominent trans couple. Hannah was formerly the highest-ranking transgender officer in the British Army and Jake is an actor, director and producer. They are both trans rights activists.
Kizzy Edgell
Actor
@kizzy_edgell
Kizzy is a British actor best known for portraying Darcy Olsson in the Netflix adaptation of Heartstopper, a graphic novel series originally penned by Alice Oseman. Inspiring a new generation of LGBTQI youth, Heartstopper has been credited for its trans representation. Kizzy is bisexual, and recently worked with Stonewall, sharing what Pride means to them.
Anthony Watson
Founder and CEO at The Bank of London
@AnthonyWatson
Anthony is the first openly gay CEO of any British bank. He is a Patron of Diversity Role Models, an organisation embedding inclusion and empathy through education and role model storytelling. He was formerly the Non-Executive Director at GLAAD.
Suzi Ruffell
Comedian
@suziruffell
Suzi is a popular British comedian, appearing on numerous hit TV shows and co-hosting the critically acclaimed podcast Like Minded Friends with Tom Allen. Having come out at 21, she now has a popular podcast named Out With Suzi Ruffell where she explores inclusive topics about queer lives.
Munroe Bergdorf
Model, social activist
Munroe is a transgender model, writer and activist who uses her platform to amplify marginalised voices, offering insight and instruction on feminism, Diversity and LGBTQI topics. She has fronted campaigns for Illamasqua, Mulberry, Calvin Klein and in 2022, became the first transgender woman to appear on the cover of Cosmopolitan UK.
11 Sir Ian McKellen
Actor, activist
@IanMcKellen
As one of the UK’s most beloved and successful actors, Sir Ian has used his platform to advocate for legal and social equality for all LGBTQI people. He co-founded LGBTQI rights organisation, Stonewall, and is best known for his performances in The Lord of the Rings, X Men and Richard III.
12 Gok Wan
Stylist, presenter, designer
@therealgokwan
Gok is a British fashion consultant, author, TV presenter, actor, DJ, chef and event manager. He presented How To Look Good Naked from 2006 to 2010. He has previously collaborated with GAY TIMES on #GlobalPrideMakeover, raising awareness of the prejudice LGBTQI people continue to face globally.
13 Nancy Kelley
CEO at Stonewall
@Nancy_M_K
As CEO of Stonewall, Nancy strives to ensure that the benefits of social change are felt by all members of the LGBTQI community, including people of colour and those in poverty. In the last year, Stonewall has led the IVF equality campaign.
14 Jack Monroe
Author, cook, activist
@BootstrapCook
Food writer, journalist and campaigner, Jack rose to prominence with their food blog, A Girl Called Jack, where they shared recipes for tight budgets. Being non-binary, Jack is a vocal LGBTQI advocate who also campaigns on poverty issues.
15 Christopher Joell-Deshields
Executive Director at Pride in London
@PrideInLondon
Chris is Executive Director of Pride in London, London’s annual LGBTQI Pride festival and parade. A not-for-profit organisation, Pride in London is run by volunteers, with all surplus funds going towards supporting LGBTQI communities. He also leads on embedding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Sense, the national disability charity
16 Bobbi Pickard
Co-Founder of Trans In The City
@BobbityP
Bobbi is CEO at Trans In The City and Diversity and Inclusion Director at bp. Across her career, she has worked at BDO, Barclays Capital, BNP Paribas, and Allianz Insurance. Since its formation, she has transformed Trans In The City into a large organisation collaborating with over 250 companies.
17 Olly Alexander
Singer, actor
@alexander_olly
Critically acclaimed star of 2021’s celebrated TV show It’s A Sin, Olly is also known for being the lead singer of Years & Years. His current album, Night Call, celebrates queerness and the tour of the same name features an all-queer support bill.
18 Sandi Toksvig OBE
Writer, actor, comedian, presenter, producer
@sanditoksvig
Coming out as a lesbian in 1994, Sandi is an author, comedian, presenter and writer. Co-founding the Women’s Equality Party in 2015, she is also a political activist and has penned an array of plays, novels and books for children. In 2022, she toured her new show, Next Slide Please...
19 Sue Perkins
Comedian, presenter
@sueperkins
Sue is a writer and comedian best known for presenting The Great British Bake Off alongside double-act partner Mel Giedroyc. She has been described as one of the UK’s best-loved TV presenters, with notable work including Just A Minute, Hitmen and Big American Road Trip.
20 Stephen Fry
Actor, presenter, writer, comedian, activist
@StephenFry
Stephen is famous for his appearances in QI, Blackadder, V For Vendetta, Wilde and more, as well as his many books. He has been widely recognised for his efforts to further LGBTQI visibility, notably receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 British LGBT Awards and the LGBTQI Celebrity Champion of the Year at the 2022 Rainbow Honours.
21 Paul Sinha
Comedian, doctor, broadcaster
@paulsinha
Paul is a British quizzer, comedian, doctor and broadcaster. He has written and performed on Channel 4, and is one of six chasers on The Chase. In December 2019, he married Oliver Levy, opening up about how difficult it was to come out as gay to his conservative Bengali family.
22 Lord Cashman of Limehouse CBE
Life Peer, LGBTQI activist
@mcashmancbe
Michael was a co-founder of Stonewall and a Labour politician for several decades. His autobiography, One Of Them: From Albert Square To Parliament Square, was published in 2020. His activism has been integral to the forward momentum of LGBTQI rights for over 30 years.
23 Ryan John Butcher
Editor at Pink News
@ryanjohnbutcher
Ryan is an award-winning web and magazine editor openly using his platform to support and promote the LGBTQI community, as well as providing entertaining media coverage. Pink News is the largest LGBT+ media organisation. He was previously Editor at Indy100 and Deputy Editor at Gay Times.
24 Cliff Joannou
Editor-in-Chief at Attitude magazine
@CliffJoannou
As Editor-in-Chief at Attitude Magazine, Cliff uses this platform to promote the fight against all forms of discrimination, from racism to transphobia. He is a powerful voice for the LGBTQI community, hosting Emeli Sandé’s first interview since coming out at the National Student Pride in 2022.
25 Dr Ranj Singh
TV presenter, columnist, author, doctor
@DrRanj
Dr Ranj co-created and presented the BAFTA-awarding-winning CBeebies show Get Well Soon. His novel, How To Grow Up (And Feel Amazing!) is a Sunday Times bestseller and was shortlisted for the Children’s Non-Fiction British Book Award 2022.
26 Hannah Bardell MP
Scottish National Party MP
@HannahB4LiviMP
Hannah has served as the Scottish National Party MP for Livingston since 2015. She currently undertakes the roles of Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Foreign Affairs Team Member), and Shadow SNP Spokesperson (International Development Team Member). She is a proud role model for the LGBTQI community.
27 Philip Schofield
TV presenter
@Schofe
Philip is a TV presenter currently co-presenting This Morning and Dancing On Ice. Working as a presenter for Children’s BBC from 1985 to 1987, Philip is a longstanding figure in British television. In 2020, he came out as gay and has since won a British LGBT Award for his efforts to increase LGBTQI visibility.
28 Dawn Airey
Interim Chair at Channel 4
@dawn_airey
A British media company executive, Dawn has worked in television for over 30 years. She was named as Interim Chair at Channel 4 in January 2022, having been appointed as Non-Executive Director in December 2021. She chairs FA Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship Football, the National Youth Theatre and the Digital Theatre.
29 Cathryn Wright
Managing Director at Sedulo
@sedulo_group
A specialist in charity governance, Cathryn leads the award-winning advisory firm and investment house’s London office, where she is passionate about building inclusive cultures within workplaces, especially within the financial services sector. She was previously Managing Director of Stonewall.
30 Wes Streeting
Labour MP
@wesstreeting
Wes is a British Labour Party politician, serving as the Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care since 2021 and the Member of Parliament for Ilford North since 2015. Openly gay, Wes was formerly the Head of Education at Stonewall, notably leading a campaign against homophobic bullying.
31 Horse McDonald
Musician
@horsemusic
Horse is an iconic singer and her current UK tour celebrates the 30th anniversary of her first album The Same Sky. Working with various LGBTQI causes, her latest collaboration NOT ALONE is with German charity 100% Mensch, featuring German LGBTQI artists and raising funds for queer Ukraninan charities.
32 Mhairi Black
Scottish National Party MP
@MhairiBlack
Mhairi is the SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South. Elected in 2015 at 20, she became the youngest MP elected to the House of Commons since 1832. Mhairi is as a lesbian and when asked about her decision to come out, she replied, “I’ve never been in”.
33 Annie Wallace
Actor, campaigner
@Anniewallace
Known for her role as Sally St. Claire in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, Annie is an actor using her platform for good. Annie is a trans woman and also a patron at Mermaids and Sparkle - The National Transgender Charity and Salford Pride.
34 Dr Ronx
A&E doctor, TV presenter
Dr Ronx is an Emergency Medicine Doctor and TV Presenter. Community-focused, they are a self-described queer, Black, androgynous intersectional feminist, having raised thousands of pounds for communities across London. Dr Ronx actively champions LGBTQI representation, raising money for local charities. They are a self-described “youth bigger-upper”.
35 Hugo Greenhalgh
Editor at Openlynews.com
@hugo_greenhalgh
With over 25 years of journalism, Hugo is also the LGBT+ editor of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Reuters. He was nominated for a 2022 GLAAD Media Award in the Outstanding Online Journalism Article category for “LGBT+ Afghans Fear Being Forgotten 100 Days Since Taliban Takeover”.
36 Emily Bridges
Professional cyclist
Emily is a British cyclist and a transgender woman. She has raised awareness of the discrimination that trans people face in sport, citing transgender women as being the current “punching bag” in society. In 2019, Emily was selected to participate in the British Cycling’s senior academy.
37 Divina De Campo
Drag queen, singer, actor
@Divinadecampo
Divina is a drag queen, singer and actor best known for appearing on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. Featuring on The Voice and All Together Now, she also starred in The Ruby Slippers, a play that explores injustice in the LGBTQI community. She has previously worked with HIV charity The George House Trust.
38 Becky Hill
Musician
@BeckyHill
Becky is a singer, rising to prominence after appearing on The Voice UK. In 2021, she came out as queer, stating that though she’s “not 100%” on her label yet, “queer” is a term that she resonates with. She has been a staunch voice for the LGBTQI community and for her LGBTQI fans, even before coming out.
39 Josh Parry
Producer at BBC News
@joshparry
Josh is the LGBT+ Producer at BBC News, previously holding positions at BBC Breakfast and Liverpool Echo. He closely covered the Conversion Therapy Ban after it was announced that the Government would not be including trans people in its legislation, and recently interviewed LGBTQI activist Peter Tatchell.
40 Claire Harvey
Global Inclusion Lead at Vodafone
@harveysprout
Claire is a globally recognised Diversity and Inclusion expert with a passion for supporting businesses, universities and schools in creating inclusive cultures. A core team member of the GB Paralympic sitting volleyball team, Claire is also a member of the board of trustees for Diversity Role Models.
41 Heather Peace
Actor, musician
@heatherpeace
Joining the cast of Eastenders as Eve Unwin in 2021, Heather has featured in Lip Service, London’s Burning, Waterloo Road, Holby City and more. An out lesbian, Heather has been a visible WLW figure in her work as an actor and musician alike.
42 Gina Yashere
Comedian
@ginayashere
Starring in her co-created sitcom, Bob Hearts Abishola, Gina is a Nigerian-British comic who publicly came out as gay after moving from the UK to the US. Gina uses her comedic material to advocate for LGBTQI rights and against racism, creating a space for marginalised communities within comedy.
43 Julia Hoggett
CEO at London Stock Exchange Group
@JuliaHoggett
Julia is Chief Executive Officer at London Stock Exchange, a position she has occupied since April 2021. She was previously Director, Market Oversight Division at Financial Conduct Authority, and has held positions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, DEPFA ACS BANK and Depfa Bank. She is an out and proud lesbian.
44 Lisa Power MBE
LGBTQI rights campaigner
@alisapower
Lisa is a co-founder of LGBTQI charity Stonewall and the first openly gay person to speak at the United Nations. She received an OBE for her services to the LGBTQI community in 2011 and was the DIVA Hall of Fame winner for 2021.
45 Lianne Sanderson
Former professional footballer, Sky Sports pundit
@liannesanderson
Sky Sports pundit Lianne was capped 50 times for England, making her international debut in 2006. She is outspoken about the inequalities in the world of women’s sport and is a campaigner for LGBTQI rights. Lianne is committed to being authentically and unapologetically herself.
46 Dan Hughes
Managing Director at ThisGeneration
@danielhughespr
As Founder and Managing Director of communications agency ThisGeneration, Dan brings a wealth of public relations experience to leading LGBTQI events, including the Rainbow Honours and the DIVA Awards. He has worked with diverse clients, from Gordon Brown’s Labour government to the relaunch of Westlife.
47 Sophie Ward
Actor, writer
@sophieannaward
Sophie is a stage and screen actor and a writer. Her new book, The Schoolhouse, arrived in 2022. She is best known for her performances in Young Sherlock Holmes, Book Of Blood and A Village Affair, and this year, she joined the cast of the Agatha Christie adaptation The Mirror Crack’d.
48 Charlie Craggs
Trans activist, author
@Charlie_Craggs
With her Nail Transphobia campaign, Charlie rose to prominence as a transgender activist. Last year she fronted the BBC Three documentary Transitioning Teens and in 2022 took on a lead role in the Doctor Who spin-off podcast Doctor Who: Redacted, becoming the second transgender companion in the franchise’s history.
49 MNEK
Singer, songwriter, producer
@MNEK
A British singer, songwriter and record producer, MNEK has previously been nominated for a Grammy and won the ASCAP Vanguard Award. He has worked with The Saturdays, Madonna, Becky Hill, Rudimental, Misha B and more. He also collaborated with LGBTQI musicians Olly Alexander, Rina Sawayama and Ryan Ashley on the first LGBTQI songwriting camp.
50 Ben Hunte
Senior Reporter at Vice World News
@BenInLDN
Ben is an investigative journalist, looking at worldwide stories about LGBTQI people, race and inequality. Previously, he was the BBC’s first LGBT Correspondent, reporting on stories surrounding sexuality and gender. In May 2022, Ben was listed in Forbes 30 Under 30.
51 Jacquie Lawrence
Director of Jackdaw Media
Jacquie is a BAFTA award-winning television producer, writer and director. Formerly a Commissioning Editor for Channel 4, she oversaw Dyke TV, Queer Street and Coming Out Night. She adapted her novel, Different For Girls, into a web series and directed the documentary, Gateways Grind, which premiered at the 2022 BFI Flare Festival.
52 Arlene McDermott
Head of Business Management Group Legal and Compliance at LSEG
@LSEGplc
Arlene is dedicated to enhancing ways of working and promoting collaboration at LSEG. She is Global Co-chair of their LGBTQI network and has featured on the Global Diversity, Visible Lesbian 100 and OUTstanding lists.
53 Pav Akhtar
Director of Strategy at UK Black Pride
@pav_akhtar
Pav’s role at UK Black Pride seeks to enhance and celebrate LGBTQI people of colour across the UK. With a strong history of equality and inclusion leadership within the NHS and HR, Pav consistently stands up for LGBTQI rights.
54 Jane Hill
Journalist, broadcaster
@JaneHillNews
Jane presents the BBC News at One, the bulletins at six and 10 and the BBC News Channel. She is one of only a handful of out and proud lesbians in the TV newsroom and works on Diversity and Inclusion projects inside and outside the BBC.
55 Char Bailey
Activist, coach, writer
@char_bailey_
Char is a Coach, Writer and Facilitator specialising in holding space for LGBTQI youth to centre mental well-being and healing. She’s the Head of Wellbeing and Education at Birmingham Pride, a Board Member at Neurodiversity In Business, a Facilitator at WE CREATE SPACE and Education and Inclusion Officer at UK Black Pride.
56 Daniel Lismore
Fabric sculptor, designer, campaigner
@daniellismore
Daniel is a London and Coventry-based artist, model and climate activist. A self-described “Living Sculpture”, he creates elaborately designed, three-dimensional tableaux of figurative sculptures. His new show, Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken, opened in February 2022 at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry.
57 Tim Jarman
Diversity & Inclusion Lead for the UK, Ireland & Western Europe at Microsoft
@TimJarman
Tim has over 15 years’ experience as a Diversity and Inclusion professional with a proven track record of building cultures of allyship, inclusion and belonging. Tim is committed to LGBTQI equality in the workplace and beyond.
58 Reeta Loi
Co-Founder and CEO at Gaysians
@r_e_e_t_a_
Storyteller Reeta co-founded Gaysians, a volunteer-led movement supporting South Asian LGBTQI voices. With a career spanning over 20 years, Reeta is a powerful force for gender, race and LGBTQI equality working with VICE, GAY TIMES and TEDxLondon. Reeta also founded Tiger Iron Ltd, an agency rooted in Innovation, Culture and Community.
59 Liz Carr
Actor, activist
@thelizcarr
Winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for best supporting actress, playing a character based on the HIV researcher and wheelchair user Dr Linda Laubenstein, Liz has been campaigning for disability and LGBTQI rights for over 20 years. She is a role model, daily challenging bias to achieve her goals.
60 Berwyn Rowlands
Founder and Festival Director at Iris Film Festival
@BerwynR
Berwyn is a Welsh film producer who founded and leads the Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival. He was previously the Chief Executive of Sgrîn, Media Agency of Wales between 1997 and 2006. He was Director of the Welsh International Film Festival from 1989 to 1997.
61 Amazin LêThi
Global LGBTQI advocate, keynote speaker, athlete, cultural change leader
@amazinlethi
Amazin is the first Asian LGBTQI athlete ambassador for over five organisations. She is a Board Advisor for Queer Britain and the Vagina Museum. She has appeared on Voice of America, Forbes, Sky Sports, GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign.
62 Jayne Ozanne
LGBTQI rights campaigner
@JayneOzanne
Campaigning to safeguard LGBTQI people from abuse, Jayne is the Founder and Director of the Ozanne Foundation. Launched in 2017, the organisation works with religious organisations around the world to tackle prejudice and discrimination of LGBTQI people. She is the Founder and Chair of the Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition.
63 Val McDermid
Crime writer
@valmcdermid
Val is a best-selling crime writer, having sold over 17 million books across the globe. Her stories have been translated into over 40 languages. Her most recent TV series Traces aired in a BBC 1 primetime slot in January 2021, and her novel, Karen Pirie, is currently being adapted by ITV.
64 Valentino Vecchietti
Intersex activist, journalist
@ValentinoInter
Valentino works extensively in culture to create intersex inclusion, visibility and representation. In 2021, Valentino created the Intersex-Inclusive Pride Flag. It was internationally welcomed as the new Pride flag, culminating in Lewis Hamilton wearing Valentino’s flag on his helmet at the Qatar Grand Prix. Valentino founded Intersex Equality Rights UK.
65 Charlie Martin
Racing car driver, trans rights activist
@GoCharlieM
Charlie has striven to improve LGBTQI acceptance within motor sport. Since transitioning in 2012, she has provided vital trans visibility.
66 Grace Petrie
Musician
@gracepetrie
English folk singer-songwriter Grace is an iconic lesbian figure in the music industry. Her body of work includes Connectivity, Queer as Folk and Heart First Aid Kit. Viewing her butch identity as central to her stage performances, Grace has also been vocal about the need to dismantle transphobia.
67 Ki Griffin
Actor, activist
@itskisces
Portraying non-binary character Ripley Lennox in Hollyoaks, Ki is a visible LGBTQI figure as a Black, queer, non-binary, intersex person. Speaking at London Trans+ Pride in 2021 with Intersex Equality Rights UK, Ki constantly stands up for the LGBTQI community, working to support people across the UK born with intersex variations.
68 Dan Gillespie Sells
Singer-songwriter, performer
@DanGSells
As well as being the lead vocalist and front person of The Feeling, Dan is the composer of the hugely popular stage musical, Everyone’s Talking About Jamie. Dan is a proud patron of the Albert Kennedy Trust.
69 Sarah Savage
Author, trans activist
@OhSarahSavage
Sarah is a trans woman, children’s author and Chair and CEO of Trans Pride Brighton, a position she has occupied since 2013. As an author, her books explore trans and non-binary-focused stories that allow children to have conversations with the adults in their lives about gender.
70 Mandu Reid
Leader of the Women’s Equality Party
@ManduReid
The Leader of the Women’s Equality Party, Mandu is the first Black, bisexual woman to lead a British political party. In 2015, she founded The Cup Effect, a charity working to eliminate period poverty by donating menstrual cups across the UK and East Africa. She is a mentor for The Women In Sport Programme.
71 Jacqui Lloyd
Senior Vice President and Apprenticeship Lead at Citi
@Jaklloyd
Jacqui is the Co-Chair of Citi Pride LGBT Network, delivering initiatives, programmes and events that support and empower LGBT+ network members. She is also a Diversity Role Model working alongside Diversity Role Models, attending workshops within schools and tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in the UK.
72 Pearl Mackie
Actor
@Pearlie_mack
Making history as the Doctor’s first openly gay companion in Doctor Who, Pearl brought Black queer representation to the Whovian world back in 2017. She provided more visibility when she came out as bisexual during Pride Month in 2020. Credits include The Long Call, Sour Hall, Doctors, Friday Night Dinner and Gods Of Medicine.
73 Libby Baxter-Williams
Director of Biscuit
@we_are_biscuit
Libby is the Director of the bisexual advocacy organisation, Biscuit. She hosts events specifically for bisexual people, campaigns against bi erasure and works with LGBTQI organisations to make their bisexual representation better. Libby also runs @OurBiSecrets - Bisexuals Confess, anonymous confessions from bisexual people, as a side project to Biscuit.
74 Iman Qureshi
Writer
Iman is an award-winning writer working across screen, stage and radio. In 2018, she won the Papatango New Writing Prize for her breakout play THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR, and in 2022, her play The Ministry Of Lesbians debuted at Soho Theatre, with Iman citing that she wanted to create a “lesbian mecca”.
75 Roxy Bourdillon
Editor-in-Chief at DIVA magazine
@RoxyBourdillon
First joining DIVA in 2016, Roxy is the Editor-In-Chief of the world’s leading magazine for LGBTQI women and non-binary people. Previously occupying the role of Managing Editor, she has interviewed everyone from Rose and Rosie to Rachel Weisz, and was named in The Attitude 101: LGBTQ+ Trailblazers Changing The World.
76 Benjamin Butterworth
Journalist, broadcaster
@benjaminbutter
Benjamin is a journalist and broadcaster. He is currently the Late Editor/Senior Reporter for the i newspaper, the sister publication of The Independent. He has also contributed to The Washington Post, The Independent and The Guardian. He frequently covers LGBTQI news and politics.
77 Yasmin Finney
Actor
Yasmin made her debut in the 2022 Netflix adaptation of Heartstopper, based on Alice Oseman’s popular graphic novel series. In May 2022, it was confirmed that Yasmin would star in the upcoming series of Doctor Who alongside newly appointed Ncuti Gatwa. She appeared on GLAAD’s 20 Under 20 list.
78 Hayley Vaughan
Talent Attraction and Acquisition at EY
#HayleyVaughan @EY_UKI
Hayley is Co-Chair of Unity, EY’s LGBT+ network in the UK and Ireland, driving the Unity strategy within the network. She speaks on panels discussing authenticity and shares her own experiences on intersectionality at events such as WorkPride, Recfest and Recruiter Magazine.
79 Lewis Oakley
Bisexual activist, writer
@lewyoaks
A proudly bisexual Londoner, Lewis uses his voice as a blogger to further awareness of bi issues. He has contributed to Metro, Huffington Post, UK Black Pride and Vada Magazine, notably speaking up about becoming a parent as a bisexual man.
80 Abigail Thorn
YouTuber, actor, trans activist
@PhilosophyTube
Abigail created the popular YouTube channel PhilosophyTube after the rise in university tuition fees. She wanted to make philosophy universal for all, and so used the knowledge she took from her degree to create free, accessible content. In 2021, she came out as trans.
81 Joel Fisher
Turnaround and Restructuring Strategy Executive at EY-Parthenon
#JoelFisher @EY_UKI
Joel is Co-Chair of Unity, EY’s LGBT+ network in the UK and Ireland, working with EY leadership to raise awareness of LGBT+ issues and driving allyship. Joel speaks on many panels and is known for his development of the concept of “Invisible Prejudice”.
82 Emma Springham
Chief Marketing Officer at TSB
@EmmaSpringham
Emma is chair of the TSB Diversity and Inclusion groups and is passionate about driving change. As an openly gay executive senior leader, Emma encourages employees to be their authentic selves in the workplace. Through leadership talks, podcasts and executive round tables, Emma keeps pushing forward the change agenda.
83 Sue Sanders
Chair at Schools OUT UK
@suesanders03
Sue is Professor Emeritus of The Harvey Milk Institute, Chair of Schools OUT UK, and Co-Founder of both LGBT+ History Month and The Classroom. She has worked as a teacher, tutor and lecturer in both London and Sydney, and has campaigned for LGBTQI inclusive education in the classroom for over 40 years.
84 Joseph Galliano
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Queer Britain
#JosephGalliano @QueerBritain
Joe is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Queer Britain, the UK’s first national LGBTQI museum which opened in May 2022. The museum brings together unique artefacts and stories which celebrate lives that have impacted Britain and helped shape our society.
85 Ryan Atkin
Professional football referee
@ryantatkin
Ryan is a professional football referee and senior manager within the railway industry, and has taken part in the EFL Championship and Leagues 1 and 2. In August 2017, he came out as gay and has since campaigned for LGBTQI equality in sport.
86 John Whaite
Professional chef, Strictly Come Dancing finalist
A baker, chef, television presenter and author, John appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 with professional dance partner Johannes Radebe as the first male same-sex couple. Having struggled with an eating disorder, John is an advocate for mental health and body positivity with an LGBTQI focus.
87 Alexandra D’Sa
Actor, entrepreneur
@_AlexDSa
Alex is a South Asian lesbian, actor and entrepreneur. She is a Co-Founder of House of Pride, an organisation creating spaces and experiences for the LGBTQI community. She is also a Co-Founder of SHADES, a platform for South Asian creatives in the UK and Head of Programs at WERKIN, a mentoring and leadership company.
88 Rosie Jones
Comedian, actor, author
@josierones
Appearing on The Last Leg, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, QI and Hypothetical, Rosie is a visible figure for the LGBTQI community. Speaking on the intersections of being gay and disabled, Rosie has incorporated her cerebral palsy into her comedic style. In 2022, she appeared as a recurring character in Casualty.
89 Philip Baldwin
Human rights and LGBTQI activist, columnist
@philipcbaldwin
Philip is a human rights activist living with HIV. He is known for his campaigning around LGBTQI issues, HIV, homelessness, asylum and faith inclusion. In 2021 he was elected to the eleventh General Synod of the Church of England and he is a Stonewall Role Model.
90 Chay Brown
Director of TransActual
@TransActualUK
Chay is Director of TransActual, a game-changing organisation that provides a positive antidote to transphobia online. They educate others about trans people’s lives and the issues the community faces, working to share reliable information about trans issues and amplify the rights of trans people.
91 Heather Paterson
SayIT
@heatherpaterson
Heather is the CEO of SAYiT, a Sheffield-based organisation providing support and social opportunities for young LGBTQI people. She is the LGBT+ Columnist at Exposed Mag and Co-Chair of the Sheffield LGBT+ Multi-Agency Network, an organisation working to represent and support Sheffield’s LGBTQI community.
92 Bethany Black
Comedian, actor, writer
@BeffernieBlack
Bethany is a stand-up comedian, actor and writer. As an actor, she was the first trans person to play a trans character in a British TV series, as well as the first trans actor in Doctor Who. She is a lesbian and lives with her wife.
93 Louisa Compton
Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4
@louisa_compton
Louisa originally joined Channel 4 as Commissioning Editor for News and Current Affairs in 2018, producing Dispatches including Growing Up Poor: Britain’s Breadline Kids. She previously launched the BAFTA winning Victoria Derbyshire programme on BBC.
94 Mark Armario
Head of Operations at BT
#MarkArmario @bt_uk
Mark joined BT as Head of Operations for BT Customer Care in the North West of England in July 2021 and continues his proud support of LGBTQI communities. Previously Mark has led Barclay’s headline sponsorship of Liverpool Pride and in 2018 he took responsibility for spearheading Barclay’s UK Pride activities.
95 Krishna Omkar
Founder and Principal at Return on Equity Ltd
@krishnaomkar
Krishna is a globally recognised thought-leader on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He co-convened the 2019 UN consultation on LGBTQIA+ rights and is now working on re-convening this consultation in 2023. In April 2022, Krishna joined the board of Human Rights First, the only non-US board member in the history of the organisation.
96 Deon Pillay
Head of Marketing Operations at Legal & General
@Deonpillayuk
Deon is Head of Marketing Operations at Legal & General Investment Management. He is also Co-Chair of LEGIT, the organisation’s Diversity and Inclusion Resource Group supporting its LGBTQI colleagues and allies. He won LGBTQI Corporate Champion at the 2022 Rainbow Honours.
97 Holly Greenberry
Founder and Co-Director at Intersex UK
@GreenberryHolly
Holly campaigns for intersex rights and is Founder and Co-Director of Intersex UK, a charity focusing on intersex education and consultancy, raising public awareness for the intersex community. She has previously been listed as an Amnesty 100 Year Suffragette, appearing on the UK Rainbow List and the DIVA Power List.
98 Rob Davey
Trustee of Bi Pride UK
@robertdavey
Rob works to improve Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in the workplace and is currently Chief Executive Officer at AIPEX B.V. He is a Vice Chair at Bi Pride UK, an organisation creating a safe space for bi people in the UK, having previously been on their Board of Trustees.
99 Geffrye Parsons
CEO and Founder at The Inclusion Imperative
Geffrye is CEO and Founder of The Inclusion Imperative, an organisation providing Diversity and Inclusion training on a consultancy basis, focusing on LGBTQI issues. A coach, writer and speaker, Geffrye is an award-winning LGBTQI disruptor and is a trustee for Diversity Role Models, GiveOut and Pride In Tennis.
100 Rob McDowell
Chair at Welfare Scotland
@robmcd85
Rob is Chair at Welfare Scotland, a non-profit working to shape and improve Scotland’s social security system. He is also a Member of the Poverty & Inequality Commission, providing independent advice to Scottish ministers and proposing solutions to reduce inequality. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
CORPORATE ALLIES
Caroline Frankum
@FrankumCaroline
Caroline is Global Chief Executive Officer, Profiles Division at Kantar. Championing Diversity and Inclusion in her work, she is a Global Co-Chair of The Women Business Collaborative Advisory Group and the Global Executive, sponsor and ally of Pride@Kantar, an organisation providing a safe space for over 700 LGBTQI employees globally.
Curt Hess
@hess_curt
Curt is Chief Operating Officer at 10x Banking. Since winning the Straight Ally of the Year Award at the Out In the City and G3 Magazine Awards in 2014, Curt has championed LGBTQI issues in every aspect of his work. He has previously worked at Barclays, Citi and Bank of America.
Ian Donaldson
As Executive Sponsor of Atlanta’s Diversity & Inclusion Forum and OurPride LGBTQ+ network, Ian champions Equality. A promising young footballer, Ian was inspired by his tough upbringing to launch Football For Change, promoting social mobility by helping others from similar backgrounds who face barriers to unlock their full potential.
June Sarpong OBE
@junesarpong
June is a TV presenter and executive. She is currently a panellist on Sky News’ The Pledge. In November 2019, she was appointed as the BBC’s first Director of Creative Diversity. In 2018, she featured as a special guest in a partnership between Stonewall and Channel 4 for National Coming Out Day.
Karen Bosher
@Bosher16
Karen is Managing Director of Premium, Urban and Venture Brands at Greene King. A passionate advocate for the LGBTQI community, she provides a powerful voice for Diversity & Inclusion at Greene King. Focused on isolation and mental health, Karen is championing this both at Greene King and across the broader hospitality sector.
Peter Markey
@petermarkey
Peter is Chief Marketing Officer at Boots and is Executive Sponsor for their LGBT BRG Network. He ensures that Boots’ marketing activities reflect the richness of the communities it serves. He won Diversity Champion at the European Diversity Awards 2021 and was Highly Commended at the 2022 Rainbow Honours as Corporate Ally.
Rebecca Skitt
@RebeccaSkitts
Co-President and Group Chief Administrative Officer at the Bank of London, Rebecca is helping to build the world’s first purpose built global agency, clearing and transaction bank. Prior, she was CEO and Board Director at 10x Banking, previously holding positions at Permira, The Co-Operative Group, Barclays and Unilever.
Sue Fox
Sue is Company Director at ScottishPower, and was formerly Country CEO, Channel Islands and Isle of Man at HSBC. The former Executive Ally for HSBC’s D&I Allies group, Sue supported events, implemented training and published content to improve inclusion during her tenure.
Wincie Knight
Wincie is VP Global Inclusion Strategy at ViacomCBS Networks International, an organisation responsible for many of the world’s most iconic entertainment brands including Channel 5, Network 10, Nickelodeon and MTV. She is a brilliant advocate, proudly championing a company culture centred on belonging.
Zaheer Ahmad MBE
Zaheer has won multiple awards as a Diversity and Inclusion thought leader. He joined GSK as their Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in January 2021. He works collaboratively with business leaders and department heads to create a shared vision, facilitating a truly inclusive culture for everyone.
CELEBRITY ALLIES
Beverley Knight
@Beverleyknight
Beverley is a recording artist and musical theatre actor, having released her debut album, The B-Funk, in 1995. She is a patron of The Terrence Higgins Trust and won the Attitude Ally Award in 2016. She notably fired her ex-band members for refusing to play at Pride on Clapham Common.
Claire Sweeney
@clairesweeney
Claire is an English actor, singer and television personality best known for her roles as Lindsey Corkhill in Channel 4's Brookside and Roxie Hart in Chicago. Claire's character, Lindsey, enjoyed Brookside's second same-sex kiss. She has performed with the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus in support of people living with HIV and AIDS.
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel is an English actor best known for portraying Harry Potter in the popular film franchise. Daniel has worked across LGBTQI suicide prevention, honoured with the Trevor Hero Award in 2011 by The Trevor Project. In 2020, he published a letter on their website affirming his support for the trans community.
Davina McCall
@ThisisDavina
Davina is a TV presenter best known for presenting Big Brother between 2000 and 2010, known for its Diversity. In 2022, she was shortlisted for a British LGBT Award for her allyship, and shared in a 2017 Attitude Magazine interview that she celebrated her 21st birthday at Heaven Nightclub in London.
Jade Thirlwall
Little Mix member Jade Thirlwall has consistently shown up for her LGBTQI fans. An Ambassador for Stonewall, she was awarded the Gay Times Honour for Allyship in 2021. Jade continuously supports LGBTQI communities through her social media and her vocal allyship.
Jeremy Vine
@theJeremyVine
Jeremy is a presenter, broadcaster and journalist best known as host of The Jeremy Vine Show BBC Radio 2 lunchtime programme. To mark Trans Day Of Visibility in 2020, Jeremy Vine appeared alongside other celebrity allies on The Sarah O'Connell Show's round-up on how to be a trans ally.
Jodie Whittaker
Jodie is an actor best known for her roles in Doctor Who, Broadchurch and St Trinian's. Debuting in 1963, Doctor Who is a quintessential British classic and has recently embraced queerness. The latest series explored the relationship between sidekick Yaz and The Time Lord.
June Sarpong
@junesarpong
June is a TV presenter and executive. She is currently a panellist on Sky News' The Pledge. In November 2019, she was appointed as the BBC's first Director of Creative Diversity. In 2018, she featured as a special guest in a partnership between Stonewall and Channel 4 for National Coming Out Day.
Lewis Hamilton
@LewisHamilton
Sir Lewis is a Seven-Time Formula One™ World Champion and driver for Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team. Lewis has condemned Saudi Arabia for its anti-LGBTQI laws ahead of the Grand Prix and wore intersex designer Valentino Vecchietti’s Pride Progress flag design on his helmet at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Sadiq Khan
@SadiqKhan
Re-elected Mayor of London in May 2021, Sadiq has supported the LGBTQI community throughout his career, appearing at Prides and speaking out for LGBTQI rights. He was originally elected in 2016. In 2022, he flew the Lesbian Pride flag at City Hall to mark Lesbian Visibility Week.
Sinitta
@sinittaofficial
Sinitta is an American born, British singer. In 2012, she was one of the first to give support to the Out4Marriage.org campaign calling for global equal marriage for LGBTQI couples. In 2018, she released the Pride anthem, Shine With Pride. Her 2021 project, Attinis 16, saw Sinitta mentor an array of young LGBTQI singers.
POWER PARTNERSHIPS
Adele Roberts & Kate Holderness
@AdeleRoberts | @KateHolderness
Both brilliant broadcasters in their own right, Adele and Kate have appeared on E4’s Celebrity Coach Trip and presented the DIVA Awards 2021. Adele has raised awareness of bowel cancer, sharing her own experiences online. In 2022, she was presented the DIVA Choice Award at the DIVA Awards.
Anita Asante & Beth Fisher
@NicenNeetz | @BethFisherSport
Anita is an English football defender playing for Aston Villa in the FA Women’s Super League. She is also an Amnesty International Ambassador. Beth joined ITV Wales as their sports reporter in 2019 after 15 years of playing hockey professionally. In 2020, they gave their first interview as a couple for Lesbian Visibility Week.
Chris Paouros & Tabitha Morton
@chrispaouros | @TabithaMortonWE
Chris is Co-Chair of Proud Lilywhites, the award-winning official Spurs Women LGBTQ+ Supporters’ Association. She is a trustee at Kick It Out and Just Like Us, with 25 years’ experience as a Charity and Business Leader. Tabitha is Deputy Leader of the Women’s Equality Party and CEO at More United.
Dustin Lance Black & Tom Daley
@DLanceBlack | @TomDaley1994
Dustin is an author, campaigner and filmmaker, known for his biopic of gay American politician, Harvey Milk. Tom is an extremely successful British diver, using his platform to speak up about LGBTQI rights. The pair married in 2017 and are now parents to son Robbie.
Elton John & David Furnish
@eltonofficial | #DavidFurnish
Pop superstar Elton and filmmaker and former advertising executive David have been a couple for over two decades. Together they raise millions for charity and in 2014 they were awarded the Human Rights Campaign Equality Award. The pair originally met at a dinner party at Elton’s house in 1993.
Fox Fisher & Owl
@theFoxFisher | @UglaStefania
Fox is an award-winning content creator. As well as writing and illustrating their own books, they co-run My Genderation with Owl, and create illustrations for platforms such as The Guardian, Metro, iNews and GAY TIMES. Owl is a journalist, filmmaker, author and activist. Together, they penned the Trans Teen Survival Guide and the Trans Teen Survival Workbook.
Lexie Lenoir & Aisha Shaibu
#LexieLenoir | @aisha2_shaibu
Lexie is Founder and Planner at Queer Weddings UK, and Head of Operations at UK Black Pride. Aisha is Head of Community at UK Black Pride and the Founder of Moonlight Experiences, a company decolonising travel and centring LGBTQI safety. Together, the couple provide inclusive content on LGBTQI travel as The Queer Nomads.
Michelle Hardwick & Emma Atkins
@ChelleHardwick | #EmmaAtkins
Michelle and Emma portray Vanessa and Charity in popular ITV soap, Emmerdale. In 2018, the characters - affectionately known as “Vanity” by fans - got engaged. Michelle stated that the show helped her to come out as gay, with the pair having done much for LGBTQI representation onscreen.
Ollie & Gareth Locke
@ollielocke | @garethplocke
Ollie and Gareth are known for their appearances on Channel 4’s hit reality TV show Made In Chelsea. The duo were wed in The Natural History Museum in December 2020 after COVID scuppered their original plans, and they have been vocal about their journey to parenthood on the show.
Rupert Whitaker & Martyn Butler
@RupertWhitaker | @Martyn_Butler
Rupert and Martyn founded the Terrence Higgins Trust in 1982 after the death of Rupert’s partner, Terrence from the first AIDS-related illness in the UK. In 2022 they were awarded the Rainbow Honours Lifetime Achievement and received OBEs for their services to charity and public health in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours.