Celebrating some of the incredible individuals in the LGBTQIA community
When we produce the annual Pride Power List, I am reminded how grateful, proud and privileged I am to be part of such a progressive and forward-thinking community. This list is now in its 15th year and truly highlights those in our LGBTQIA community, and our allies, who consistently advocate and champion the diversity of our rainbow community. It’s a sign of our times that there are so many others, besides those highlighted here, that could have been chosen. When I think back and remember that when I founded this list I struggled to include 50 out and proud names, I am struck by how far we have come. This is incredibly heartening, given the increasingly troubled times we are living through. Despite living in a country where we can celebrate who we are and who we love openly, it is very discouraging to see that the UK has slipped to 17th on the IGLA-Europe Rainbow Map index - we were number one in 2015. I believe that a major factor in this decline is that the UK is simply not keeping up with the rest of Europe in giving our trans siblings equal rights; how can we tolerate a ban on conversion therapy if it does not include our trans siblings? Until we all have equal rights, none of us have equal rights. So while we celebrate Pride and these amazing people on the Pride Power List, let’s remember that there is still much work to be done. It is by standing together that we can achieve real change.
Linda Riley - Publisher, DIVA magazine
@AdeleRoberts
Broadcaster Adele was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021. She has consistently raised awareness of the condition, appearing on Celebrity Bake Off in 2023 for Stand Up To Cancer. A staunch advocate for LGBTQIA rights, she ran the 2023 London Marathon in support of the Attitude Magazine Foundation.
Actor
@yazdemand
Yasmin is fast becoming one of the most influential actors within the transgender community. Best known for her breakout role as Elle in Netflix’s hit LGBTQIA series, Heartstopper, she will also star in the highly anticipated 60th Anniversary special of the BBC’s Doctor Who.
Double Olympic Champion and media personality
@damekellyholmes
Receiving an MBE in 1998, Col Dame Kelly is a military veteran and retired international athlete. She won two gold medals at the Athens Olympics in 2004, and was awarded a DBE in 2005. She is a global inspirational speaker and a trusted voice for the LGBTQIA community.
Comedian, actor, author, and television host
@grahnort
Graham is a comedian, actor, author and television host. Best known for The Graham Norton Show, he has also provided BBC’s commentary for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2009. In 2019 he became a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. Graham is a staunch advocate for LGBTQIA rights.
Phyll Opoku-Gyimah
Co-Founder and Executive Director, UK Black Pride
@MsLadyPhyll
Lady Phyll is the nucleus of the celebration and protest that is UK Black Pride. She is also the executive director of Kaleidoscope Trust, working to uphold the human rights of LGBTQIA people globally. Phyll was honoured with the Outstanding Commitment to Diversity Award at the 2023 British Diversity Awards.
Founder and Group CEO, The Bank of London
@AnthonyWatson
Anthony was appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in His Majesty The King’s inaugural Birthday Honours for services to the LGBT community, to Equality and to Diversity. Anthony is the first openly gay CEO of a British bank and is outspoken about gay rights issues; he is a patron of Diversity Role Models.
Trans activists, Patrons of Mermaids
@hannahw253
@JakeGraf1
Jake and Hannah are the UK's foremost transgender couple. Jake is a multi award-winning director, writer and actor whilst Hannah is a decorated former British army officer working in the financial sector. Their memoir, Becoming Us, arrives in June 2023.
Comedian and writer
@josierones
Proudly gay and disabled, Rosie started her comedic career after being hired by Channel 4 through a disability scheme as a researcher, before moving onto stand-up at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In 2023, she is touring the UK with her Triple Threat show.
Olly Alexander
Singer and actor
@alexander_olly
The star of celebrated TV show It’s A Sin, Olly is also known for his solo music project Years & Years. Released in 2022, his latest album, Night Call, celebrates queerness. Headlining Mighty Hoopla in June 2023, he performed a touching rendition of Eyes Shut with the Trans Voices Choir.
11 Kit Connor
Actor
@kit.connor
Kit is an actor best known for his role as bisexual character Nick Nelson in Heartstopper, the hit Netflix teen series. For this, he won the Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Performance, with the show widely credited for its portrayal of LGBTQIA stories.
12 Peter Tatchell
LGBTQIA campaigner and activist
@PeterTatchell
Peter has been a powerful voice for LGBTQIA rights since 1967. Between 1971 and 1974 he was a leading figure in the Gay Liberation Front, and later the queer human rights group OutRage!. In 2022, he was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Burberry British Diversity Awards.
13 Munroe Bergdorf
Model and activist
@munroebergdorf
Munroe is an outspoken model, writer and trans and queer activist who came to the public eye as L’Oreal’s first transgender model in their UK campaign. She co-founded the club night Pxssy Palace and her memoir, Transitional: In One Way Or Another, We All Transition, was published in February 2023.
14 Emeli Sandé MBE
Musician
@emelisande
An acclaimed singer songwriter, Emeli’s debut album Our Version of Events has sold over 5.4 million copies to date and was the UK’s biggest selling album in 2012. Her latest endeavour, Let’s Say For Instance, arrived in 2022. That same year, she came out as queer.
15 Bella Ramsey
Actor
@BellaRamsey
Known for their roles in Game Of Thrones and The Last Of Us, Bella came out as non-binary in January 2023. Discussing gender identity in an interview with The New York Times, Bella described being gendered as something they don’t “particularly like.”
16 Owen Jones
Political commentator, journalist and 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.
17 Kizzy Edgell
Actor
@kizzy_edgell
British actor Kizzy shot to fame through their role as queer teen Darcy Olsson in the Netflix teen television series Heartstopper. They identify as non-binary and maintain a strong theme of LGBTQIA activism throughout their online presence.
18 Gok Wan MBE
Fashion expert, TV presenter, author and DJ
@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 LGBTQIA people continue to face globally.
19 Eva Echo
Trans activist and writer
@EvaEch0
Eva Echo is a transgender and mental health activist, writer and public speaker, drawing on her own experiences as an East Asian trans woman. She is director of innovation at Birmingham Pride and a director at Trans In The City. Eva sits on the Crown Prosecution Service’s hate crime panel.
20 Heather Peace
Actor and musician
@heatherpeace
Heather is an actor, musician and LGBTQIA rights activist, joining the cast of Eastenders in 2021 as openly gay character Eve Unwin. A patron of Manchester Pride, she is a supporter of LGBTQIA charities Diversity Role Models and akt.
21 Christopher Joell-Deshields
Chief Executive, Pride in London
@441_Man @PrideInLondon
Chris is Chief Executive of Pride in London, London’s annual LGBTQIA Pride festival and parade. A not-for-profit organisation, Pride in London is run by volunteers, with all surplus funds going towards supporting LGBTQIA communities. Chris also led on embedding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Sense, the national disability charity.
22 Lord Cashman of Limehouse CBE
Life Peer and LGBTQIA activist
@mcashmancbe
Michael is a co-founder of Stonewall and is a longstanding Labour politician. His autobiography, One Of Them: From Albert Square To Parliament Square, was published in 2020. His activism has driven LGBTQIA rights for over 30 years. Michael was recognised with the Lifetime Achievement at The Bank of London Rainbow Honours 2023.
23 Sir Ian McKellen
Actor and LGBTQIA activist
@IanMcKellen
Renowned for his remarkable stage and screen performances, Sir Ian has portrayed iconic characters from Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings to Magneto in the X-Men series. A founding member of Stonewall, Sir Ian has been a staunch campaigner for LGBTQIA rights since he came out publicly in 1988.
24 Nancy Kelley
CEO, Stonewall
@Nancy_M_K
Nancy is a lawyer and policy adviser who leads global LGBTQIA human rights organisation Stonewall, campaigning for a world where all LGBTQIA people are free to be themselves. She has a background in policy and campaigns across a wide range of social justice issues, including mental health, migration and poverty.
25 Dr Ranj Singh
Doctor, TV presenter, columnist and author
@DrRanj
Dr Ranj co-created and presented the BAFTA awarding-winning CBeebies show Get Well Soon between 2012 and 2015. His non-fiction title, How To Grow Up (And Feel Amazing!) is a Sunday Times bestseller. How To Be A Boy: And Do It Your Own Way was published in May 2023.
26 Bobbi Pickard
CEO and Co-Founder, Trans In The City
@BobbityP
Bobbi is a patron of FFLAG, Ambassador for MindOUT, Champion for Stonewall Housing, and a Diversity Role Model. Through Trans In The City, over the last year she has positively influenced how trans and non binary people are viewed in business globally, giving over 60 training sessions around the world.
27 Suzi Ruffell
Comedian
@suziruffell
Suzi is a critically acclaimed comedian, boasting five sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and an award-nominated 2021 tour show, Dance Like Everyone’s Watching. Her hit podcast series, OUT with Suzi Ruffell, celebrates the lives of LGBTQIA people and “coming out” through interviews with star studded guests.
28 Eugenio Pirri
CEO, Dorchester Collection
@eugeniopirri
A 30+ year award-winning hotelier, Eugenio started his career at 18 as a hotel room attendant. In July 2023, he begins a new journey as the Dorchester Collection’s CEO, a jointly shared role. An ardent advocate for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, he developed the company’s global “We Care” philosophy, ensuring all employees feel safe and respected.
29 Sandi Toksvig OBE
Writer, comedian and broadcaster
@sanditoksvig
Sandi is a Danish-British broadcaster with a career spanning 40 years. She has published several books, written plays and presented countless radio and TV shows including QI, The News Quiz, Extraordinary Escapes and The Great British Bake Off. She is a political activist and co-founder of the Women’s Equality Party.
30 Sue Perkins
Comedian and presenter
@sueperkins
Sue is a broadcaster, comedian, writer and one half of comedy act, Mel and Sue. She co-hosted The Great British Bake Off, has presented multiple travel documentaries and is the host of Radio 4’s Just A Minute. Her Netflix show, Perfectly Legal, was nominated for a BAFTA in 2023.
31 Stephen Fry
Actor, presenter, writer, comedian and activist
@StephenFry
Renowned actor Stephen has tirelessly advocated for LGBTQIA rights and mental health awareness. He is known for portraying his idol, Oscar Wilde, in the film Wilde (1997), further appearing in It’s A Sin, QI, Blackadder, and more. Stephen has worked with many charities, including Stonewall and the AIDS Memorial Campaign.
32 Cliff Joannou
Editor-in-chief, Attitude magazine
@CliffJoannou
Cliff uses Attitude magazine as a platform to promote the fight against all forms of discrimination, from racism to transphobia. He is a powerful voice for the LGBTQIA community, hosting Emeli Sandé’s first interview since coming out at the National Student Pride in 2022.
33 Hannah Bardell
Scottish National Party MP
@HannahB4LiviMP
Hannah has served the Scottish National Party as MP for her home town of Livingston since 2015. An openly proud lesbian, she currently undertakes the roles of Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Foreign Affairs Team Member), and Shadow SNP Spokesperson (International Development Team Member).
34 Ryan John Butcher
Head of News, PinkNews
@ryanjohnbutcher
An award-winning web and magazine editor, Ryan is currently Head of News at PinkNews, the world’s largest LGBTQIA media organisation. Beginning his career at Lincolnshire Media, he went on to work at Gay Times and indy100. His areas of expertise include LGBTQIA rights, politics, education, music, film, lifestyle and fashion.
35 Lianne Sanderson
Former professional footballer and broadcaster
@liannesanderson
Lianne is an openly gay former professional football player who debuted for England in 2006 as part of the England squad for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She began her training with Arsenal in 1997 as part of their youth programme and is now a sports broadcaster.
36 Val McDermid
Author
@valmcdermid
Val is a Scottish author best known for her crime novels and was the first student to be admitted into St Hilda’s College, Oxford, from a Scottish state school. In recognition of her achievements she has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Sunderland.
37 Nadia Whittome
Labour MP
@nadiawhittomemp
Having previously been a care worker and hate crime worker, in 2019 Nadia became the youngest member of the House of Commons, representing her home city as the Labour MP for Nottingham East. She is a socialist and a passionate campaigner against poverty and injustice.
38 Arlo Parks
Singer-songwriter
@arloparks
Arlo is a British singer and songwriter whose studio album, Collapsed In Sunbeams debuted in 2021 to critical acclaim, peaking at number three on the UK Album Charts and earning her nominations for the 2021 Brit Awards including for Best New Artist.
39 Lucy Spraggan
Singer-songwriter
@lspraggan
A fierce voice for LGBTQIA representation, Lucy found fame as a contestant on The X Factor in 2012; she has gone on to release six studio albums with her latest, Balance, due in August 2023. Her memoir, Process: Finding My Way Through, will be published in July.
40 Megan Jayne Crabbe
Writer, influencer and campaigner
@meganjcrabbe
Megan is a best-selling author, presenter and host with over a million followers across her social media. Her book, Body Positive Power, is a call to arms for anyone that has struggled with their image. She has worked with major broadcasters including the BBC, Universal Studios and Channel 4.
41 Cathryn Wright
Managing Director, Sedulo
#CathrynWright @sedulo_group
Cathryn heads up award-winning national advisory firm and investment house Sedulo’s London office. Prior to this, Cathryn was Managing Director of human rights charity Stonewall. She is also a Trustee of Manchester International Festival and Factory International, and is committed to building inclusive working cultures.
42 Ben Hunte
Global Correspondent VICE News
@BenInLDN
For VICE Ben investigates stories about LGBTQIA people, race and inequality across the world. He previously worked at the BBC, where he was the broadcaster’s first-ever LGBT correspondent, going on to work as the West Africa correspondent. In May 2022, Ben was listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
43 Julia Hoggett
CEO, LSE plc
@JuliaHoggett
Julia joined the London Stock Exchange Group in April 2021 and is its first openly gay CEO. She held the positions of Director of Market Oversight and Head of Wholesale Banking Supervision at the Financial Conduct Authority. Julia is number two in OUTstanding’s 2022 list of top LGBTQ+ Executives.
44 Pearl Mackie
Actor
@Pearlie_mack
Pearl gained international recognition for her portrayal of Bill Potts, the first openly gay companion of the Doctor in BBC’s Doctor Who. She captivated audiences with her performances and uses her platform to fight for LGBTQIA rights. In 2022, she announced her engagement to her girlfriend, Kam Chhokar.
45 Cat Burns
Singer-songwriter
@catburns
Double-platinum-selling artist Cat was the biggest-selling British female artist of 2022 and gave a superb performance of her viral smash, Go, at the 2023 BRIT Awards, where she was nominated for three gongs, including the coveted Rising Star award. Cat is currently on tour with friend and collaborator Sam Smith.
46 Roxy Bourdillon
Editor-in-chief, DIVA Magazine
@RoxyBourdillon
At the helm of the leading magazine for LGBTQIA women and non-binary people, Roxy has significantly impacted queer media. The award-winning writer has been published in Cosmopolitan, Curve, L-Mag, and more. In 2022, her work earned her a place in The Attitude 101: LGBTQ+ Trailblazers Changing The World.
47 Jack Monroe
Author, cook and activist
@BootstrapCook
Jack is a British food writer and journalist, campaigning for poverty and hunger relief issues, who rose to prominence through their blog, A Girl Called Jack, now renamed Cooking On A Bootstrap, where inexpensive recipes are shared. They have campaigned alongside organisations such as Unite and Oxfam.
48 Jude Guaitamacchi
Trans activist and campaigner
@becomingjude
Jude is an LGBTQIA advocate, motivational speaker, brand consultant and model. The first non-binary face of Harrods Beauty for the My Beauty Is Being Myself campaign, they have appeared in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, The Independent, BBC and VICE. They are dedicated to paving the way for equality.
49 Sue Sanders
Chair, School’s OUT UK
@suesanders03
For over 50 years, British LGBTQIA rights activist Sue has challenged all forms of oppression. As chair of School’s OUT UK, which aims to visibilise LGBTQIA people in all their diversity, she also co-founded LGBT+ History Month and The Classroom, a website which provides resources on LGBTQIA issues for use across the curriculum.
50 Dawn Airey
Chair, FA Women’s Super League & Women’s Championship Football
@dawn_airey
A veteran of the media industry Dawn held senior positions at ITV, Channel 5 and BSKYB. Previously CEO of Getty Images, she now chairs the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and Championship, Digital Theatre and National Youth Theatre and is a non-executive director for Channel Four, Grosvenor Estates and Blackbird.
51 Jane Hill
Journalist and broadcaster
@JaneHillNews
BBC broadcaster and journalist, Jane currently fronts the BBC News at One, as well as the News at Six and Ten and their 24 hour news channel. She was the UK’s first openly gay newsreader on terrestrial TV.
52 Rebecca Paisis
Director Of Operations & Event Planning, Pride in London
@PaisisRebecca
A seasoned event organiser and LGBTQIA advocate with over twelve years of experience, Rebecca launched Findhrr, a leading lifestyle and dating app for lesbian and bisexual women. She actively supports organisations including Stonewall, THT, Imann Muslim LGBT, and Diversity Role Models.
53 Horse McDonald
Musician
@horsemusic
One of Scotland’s most celebrated singers, Horse is a unique and iconic singer-songwriter. She’s been writing, recording and performing for over 30 years. Q Magazine described her as owning “one of the finest voices of modern times, soul and intelligence combined.” She is currently working on her 11th album.
54 Arlene McDermott
Head of Business Management Group Legal and Compliance, LSEG
@LSEGplc
Arlene is dedicated to enhancing ways of working and promoting collaboration. She is global co-chair of LSEG’s LGBTQIA network, Pride, and has featured on the Global Diversity, Visible Lesbian 100 and OUTstanding lists. Arlene is on the London School of Economics Advisory Board for their Diversity and Productivity project.
55 DJ Fat Tony
DJ and author
@thefattony
Over his career LGBTQIA activist Fat Tony has transitioned from being one of the club scene’s most notorious DJs into one of fashion’s most sought after performers. He is a meme “curator”, with an Instagram following of 338K. Now 16 years sober, Tony’s memoir, I Don’t Take Requests, was published in 2022.
56 Becky Hill
Musician
@BeckyHill
Identifying as queer, Becky, an English singer and songwriter was introduced to the wider public on hit reality television show, The Voice UK where she reached the semi-finals. Since then, she has achieved chart-topping hits such as Gecko (Overdrive) and has won two Brit Awards.
57 Charlie Craggs
Trans activist and author
@Charlie_Craggs
Charlie is a transgender activist and author from London. Launching her campaign, Nail Transphobia in 2013 in the attempt to reduce transphobia, she has since published her first book in 2017, To My Trans Sisters. In 2022 she landed a leading role in the podcast, Doctor Who: Redacted.
58 Jacquie Lawrence
Director, Jackdaw Media
BAFTA award-winning television producer, writer and director Jacquie was formerly a Commissioning Editor for Channel 4; she oversaw Dyke TV, Queer Street and Coming Out Night. She adapted her novel, Different for Girls, as a web series and directed Gateways Grind, which premiered at the 2022 BFI Flare Festival.
59 Abigail Thorn
Actor
@PhilosophyTube
Actor, playwright, and creator of Philosophy Tube, Abigail stars in Sky’s Django and BBC’s Ladhood. She wrote and starred in her debut play The Prince last year, winning an Off West End Award and three Broadway World Awards including Best New Play and Best Lead Actor.
60 Liz Ward
Director of Programmes, Stonewall
#LizWard @StonewallUK
At Stonewall Liz leads the Workplace, Empowerment, Education and Sport teams, delivering the Diversity Champions programme, coordinating workshops and conferences and ensuring the sport sector is inclusive for all. Her work aims to ensure LGBTQIA people are free to be, free to exist, and celebrated at every turn.
61 Alexandra D’Sa
Actor and entrepreneur
@_AlexDSa
As the co-founder of the House of Pride and armed with a background in financial services and technology, Alexandra is on a mission to create safe lifestyles spaces that celebrate and fortify the creative, professional and personal talent of queer communities worldwide.
62 Benjamin Butterworth
Journalist and broadcaster
@benjaminbutter
Benjamin is a senior reporter at i Newspaper; he has also contributed to The Guardian, The Independent and The Washington Post. He writes regularly on LGBTQIA rights issues, and in January 2023, delivered a talk about woke culture at The Oxford Union, the world’s most prestigious debating society.
63 Yasmin Benoit
Model, writer and asexual campaigner
@theyasminbenoit
Yasmin is a British model, asexual activist, writer, and speaker. Described as the “unlikely face of asexuality” by Cosmopolitan Magazine, she launched the UK’s first asexual rights initiative with Stonewall, started the #ThisIsWhatAsexualLooksLike movement, and co-founded International Asexuality Day (April 6).
64 Ki Griffin
Actor and intersex activist
@itskisces
Ki is a British non-binary intersex actor and LGBTQIA advocate who debuted on television show, Hollyoaks. Since then, they starred in new short LGBTQIA parent film, Kindred, by Bambou Kenneth and in Molly McGlynn’s semi-autobiographical feature film, Bloody Hell, exploring a teenage girl’s experience with MRKH syndrome.
65 Char Bailey
Activist
@char_bailey_
Char is an award-winning facilitator and a director at Birmingham Pride UK, autism advocate within the LGBTQIA community and board member at Neurodiversity In Business. She is also involved with organising UK Black Pride as their education and inclusion officer.
66 Deon Pillay
Head of Marketing Operations, Legal & General Investment Management
@Deonpillayuk
Deon is a culture carrier and diversity champion for Legal and General, working tirelessly to drive LGBTQIA inclusion both internally and in the wider industry, resulting in the organisation winning three awards in 2022. He champions LGBTQIA Inclusion for ethnic minorities by sharing his personal story.
67 Valentino Vecchietti
Intersex activist and journalist
@ValentinoInter
Writer and artist Valentino created the Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag in 2021. She is the founder of Intersex Equality Rights UK, an intersex-led organisation working to create systemic change for support and inclusion in schools, universities and workplaces. She is also a diversity speaker and consultant advocating for intersex visibility and representation.
68 Sarah Savage
Author and trans activist
@OhSarahSavage
Sarah is a trans woman, children’s author and Chair and CEO of Trans Pride Brighton, a position she has held 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.
69 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.
70 Libby Baxter-Williams
Director, Biscuit
@we_are_biscuit
Libby, a dedicated advocate for the bisexual community, serves as Director of Biscuit, an organisation focused on supporting bisexual+ women. With 15 years of experience she actively contributes to local and national pride events, conducts workshops, and writes about bi+ issues. In 2020, Libby initiated the #CelebrateBiWomen campaign.
71 Juno Dawson
Trans activist and writer
@junodawson
Juno is a British author specialising in young adult fiction and non-fiction, whose works often feature LGBTQIA themes. As a transgender woman she represents the LGBTQIA charity Stonewall as their School Role Model. In 2020, her novel, Meat Market won the YA Book Prize.
72 Jessica Kellgren-Fozard
YouTuber, TV personality and disability activist
@JessicaOOTC
Jessica is a deaf and disabled YouTuber, with a following of over 900k subscribers on YouTube and 335k followers on Instagram, who advocates for the LGBTQIA community and spreads awareness of people living with disabilities or chronic illnesses. Jessica lives with her wife Claudia and their 10-month-old son, Rupert.
73 Sophie Ward
Actor and writer
@sophieannaward
Dr Sophie Ward is an actor and author. Her first book was A Marriage Proposal (2014). Her novel, Love And Other Thought Experiments (2020) was longlisted for the Booker Prize. Her latest novel, The Schoolhouse, described by The Times as “stylish, pacy, and genuinely frightening” is now out in paperback.
74 Moud Goba
National Manager, Micro Rainbow
@MsMGoba
Moud is a LGBTQIA and human rights activist with over 15 years’ experience working with grassroots community groups; she is currently Chair of the Board of Trustees at UK Black Pride. She was named as one of the BBC 100 women in 2022 and was the recipient of a Kaleidoscope Lifetime Achievement Award.
75 Daniel Lismore
Fabric sculptor, designer and 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. In 2023 he exhibited Studio Visit aiming to give visitors a unique insight into the creative process and the development of his work in Giant Gallery Bournemouth.
76 Charlie Martin
Racing car driver and trans rights activist
@GoCharlieM
Charlie is a transgender activist and British racing car driver competing in endurance racing. Overcoming huge adversity since transitioning mid-way through her career, she works with leading LGBTQIA charities Stonewall, Mermaids, Athlete Ally and Racing Pride to improve visibility, acceptance and inclusion in motorsport.
77 Mandu Reid
Leader of the Women’s Equality Party
@ManduReid
Mandu leads on the Party’s campaigns in response to the pandemic and subsequent cost of living crisis to make lasting change for women’s equality. In 2015 she founded The Cup Effect - a charitable social enterprise, advocacy, and campaigning organisation that tackles period poverty in the UK and globally.
78 Hayley Vaughan
Assistant Director, EY
#HayleyVaughan @EY_UKI
Hayley is an assistant director in EY’s talent attraction and acquisition team and is also co-chair of EY’s LGBTQIA network, Unity. She champions diversity, equity and inclusivity throughout the recruitment process and also within the wider business, with the aim of creating a better working world.
79 Emma Springham
Chief Marketing Officer, TSB Bank
@EmmaSpringham
Emma is passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion in her marketing, creative and team culture. During her career she has worked for Post Office, Royal Mail, Allianz, NatWest and Barclays. She is focused on LGBTQIA issues and mental health, and was listed in the OUTstanding Top 100 Executives 2021.
80 Reeta Loi
Founder and CEO, Gaysians
@reetaloi
Reeta 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.
81 Victoria Broom
Writer and Actor
@victoriabroomofficial
Victoria is an award-winning actor and writer known for playing Karen in the BBC1 comedy series Cheaters and Sasha in the Emmy winning series Marcella. She features in Seize Them! which is due out this year, and she is in development with two of her own LGBTQIA projects.
82 Tim Jarman
Diversity & Inclusion Leader - UK, Ireland, Western Europe, Netherlands & Switzerland, Microsoft
@TimJarman
With over 15 years’ experience in Diversity & Inclusion, Tim has committed his career to building cultures of allyship, inclusion and belonging. His work championing LGBTQIA workplace inclusion, in particular to the trans and non-binary community, has earned him a place on the annual UK Pride Power List since 2016.
83 Claire Harvey
Head of Inclusion, Wellbeing and Engagement, TP ICAP
@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 also co-founded Schools’ Inclusion Alliance.
84 Pav Akhtar
Director of Strategy, UK Black Pride
@pav_akhtar
Pav is an equality and employment law specialist whose career has spanned the public, private and voluntary sectors. He is a Non-Exec Director of Healthwatch England and he is a long-standing board member of UK Black Pride where he tackles the intersections of race, faith, and sexual orientation.
85 Bryony Jackson-Doward
General Manager, EE
#BryonyJackson @EE
The general manager of telecoms company EE, Bryony attended her first Pride event in 2003 in Manchester, recalling her surprise at seeing so many people from the LGBTQIA community coming together for visibility, validation and celebration. She is passionate about civil rights and social action, as well as animal welfare.
86 Joel Fisher
Manager, Liquidity, Working Capital and Business Resilience, EY-Parthenon
#JoelFisher @EY_UKI
Joel is Co-Chair of Unity, EY’s LGBTQIA network in the UK and Ireland, working with EY leadership to raise awareness of LGBTQIA issues and driving allyship. Joel speaks on many panels and is known for his development of the concept of “Invisible Prejudice”.
87 Grace Petrie
Singer-songwriter
@gracepetrie
Grace exploded onto the scene in 2010 with the emotive Farewell To Welfare, an anti-austerity anthem that gained her a reputation as the “voice of a generation”. Since then she has toured internationally and amassed an army of fans. Her 2022 album Connectivity reached number one in the UK download chart.
88 Philip Baldwin
Writer, human rights and LGBTQIA activist
@philipcbaldwin
A dedicated human rights activist, Philip is known for his passionate advocacy for LGBTQIA rights, HIV awareness, homelessness, asylum seekers, and faith inclusion. Philip supports organisations like Stonewall, Albert Kennedy Trust, Terrence Higgins Trust, Positively UK, and Rainbow Migration, further serving as a trustee of the Ozanne Foundation.
89 Chay Brown
Director of Operations, TransActual
@TransActualUK
Chay co-founded TransActual, a game-changing organisation that provides a positive antidote to transphobia online. They educate people 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.
90 Amazin LeThi
LGBTQIA advocate, keynote speaker, athlete and cultural change leader
@amazinlethi
A speaker, athlete and author, Amazin LeThi is the first Asian LGBTQIA 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.
91 Stephanie Fuller
Chief Executive Officer, Switchboard
@switchboardLGBT
Appointed as the CEO of Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline in 2022, Stephanie is a charity leader with years of experience in the sector, having worked for akt and as a trustee for Palace For Life Foundation. Her team recently published an impact report highlighting why thousands of people reach out to Switchboard.
92 Jacqui Lloyd
Senior Vice President, Head of Apprenticeships & Diversity Programmes, Citi
@Jaklloyd
Jacqui leads on Apprenticeships and Diversity Programmes. She was the Co-Chair of Citi’s LGBTQ Network, Pride, for over four years and continues to be an active, visible lesbian role model, involved in extensive advocacy and inclusion work, helping to drive LGBTQ equality within financial services.
93 Mark Armario
Senior Learning Consultancy Manager BT, EE and Plusnet
@MJPArmario @bt_uk
Mark is co-chair of the BT Group Pride Network with a strong history of supporting and advocating for LGBTQIA communities in previous organisations, including Barclays and Liverpool Football Club. As part of BT’s 2023 Pride celebrations Mark has helped bring to life BT Group’s “Celebrate Your Identity” Pride message at Prides across the UK.
94 Krishna Omkar
Founder, Return on Equity Ltd
@krishnaomkar
Krishna is a globally recognised thought-leader on Diversity. 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.
95 Hugo Greenhalgh
Editor, Openly
@hugo_greenhalgh
With over 25 years of journalism experience, Hugo is the LGBTQ+ editor of Openly, a Thomson Reuters Foundation initiative delivering impartial LGBTQIA news. 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.
96 Kat Parsons
Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging UK & Ireland, ISS Facility Services UK
@KatParsonsISS
As Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at ISS – and the innovator behind their award-winning Menopause Awareness Project – Kat champions neurodiversity, LGBTQIA awareness and equality. Her efforts help create workplaces where individuality is more than just celebrated; it’s key to collective success.
97 Marie-Helene Tyack
Global Inclusion, Diversity & Belonging Business Partner Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty
#Marie-HeleneTyack @Allianz
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion have always been at the heart of Marie-Helene’s career. As an out gay woman, vulnerability, visibility and acceptance are her constant drivers. Drawing on her own lived experience, she passionately champions belonging, whilst ensuring an environment of psychological safety to encourage others to be authentically themselves.
98 Helen Belcher
Activist and politician
@HelenCBelcher
A Liberal Democrat politician, Helen is currently a Wiltshire & Corsham Town Councillor. She is also the Co-Founder of Trans Media Watch, a charity working to improve media coverage of transgender and intersex issues. She was appointed an OBE in the 2023 New Year Honours for her outstanding services to the transgender community.
99 Margot Slattery
Global Group Head of Diversity & Inclusion and Belonging, ISS A/S
@margmargot
Margot works with the Board and Executive Team to make ISS truly a global Inclusion company in the workplace space. She is committed to furthering the Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging agenda within and outside work and is a member of different boards and NGOs.
100 Jacqui Rhule-Dagher
Litigation Associate, Hogan Lovells International LLP
@DagherRhule
Jacqui understands that intersectionality is key to diversity, equity and inclusion. She is a lawyer and member of The Law Society’s LGBTQ+ solicitors network steering committee. Jacqui has written articles for DIVA, PinkNews and The Lawyer. She has also acted as a panellist for FTSE 100 companies.
Corporate allies
The people making a difference in the world of business
Caroline Frankum
Global Chief Executive Officer, Profiles Division, Kantar
@FrankumCaroline
@kantar
Caroline is a multi-award-winning member of Kantar’s Executive Team. She passionately and actively focuses on transforming workplaces in meaningfully sustainable ways by shining a spotlight on underrepresented groups, creating more inclusive, diverse environments. As Global Executive sponsor and ally of Pride@Kantar ERG Caroline helps provide a safe community for over 700 LGBTQIA employees.
Darren Miles
Group Chief Information Officer, Centrica
@centricaplc
Darren is passionate about creating a culture where anyone can succeed, making colleagues feel valued. He fosters a culture of allyship, ensuring the leadership team role model best behaviours. Darren understands that allies are key to helping every voice be heard and leads from the front to encourage everyone along the same path.
Erica Bourne
Chief People Officer, LSEG
@LSEGplc
Having joined LSEG in January 2023, Erica is on a mission to drive progress. Transforming the company’s Diversity and Inclusion agenda, she was previously Chief People Officer at Burberry. Prior to this, Erica spent over 12 years at American Express where she held numerous leadership roles in HR and Corporate Development.
Cdre Mel Robinson CBE ADC
Commander Maritime Reserves
@CdreMelRobinson
@RNReserve
Throughout a career in a male dominated environment, Mel has overcome multifacetted challenges, developing robust resilience and empathy. A proactive use of a senior platform to openly embrace and celebrate LGBTQIA talent has promoted a more inclusive culture within the Maritime Reserves, empowering personnel to challenge unacceptable behaviour.
Louise Bailey
I&D Accelerator, OVO Energy
@LouiseB24901347
@OVOenergy
Louise is a vocal and active ally both in her workplace and community. She is a Director of Trans In The City and member of Pride in Energy and Proud Scotland. Louise works hard to educate others to create a more LGBTQIA-friendly world where everyone belongs.
Pete Markey
Chief Marketing Officer, Boots UK
@petermarkey
@BootsUK
Pete is an active and outspoken ally, championing DEI. He is an Executive Sponsor for Boots UK’s Marketing for Change initiative, which helps to foster Diversity and Inclusion across its marketing activity, and is also the Executive Sponsor for Walgreens Boots Alliance’s Pride Alliance (LGBT+) ERG in the UK.
Rebecca Skitt
Co-President and Group Chief Administrative Officer, The Bank of London
@RebeccaSkitt
@thebankoflondon
Rebecca focuses on the growth and global development of the Group, fully embracing The Bank of London’s ethos of harnessing and actively celebrating everyone’s unique talents, passions and perspectives. Previously she was CEO and Board Director at 10x Banking, previously holding positions at Permira, The Co-Operative Group, Barclays and Unilever.
Rishi Jain
Senior Manager - Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Liverpool Football Club
#RishiJain @LFC
Rishi proudly represents and supports the LGBTQIA through his role at LFC and in the wider community. With more than 15 years’ experience, he has been named on the Global Diversity List as a Top 20 Diversity Professional and his previous work led to recognition at the European Diversity Awards 2019.
Tim Riecken
Team Administrator & Co-lead of the Pride Steering Committee, National Grid
@nationalgrid
Tim leads National Grid’s Pride committee, where his passion and determination has shone through by highlighting issues and sharing experiences to both the community and the wider workforce. Tim is a leading business ally; he is a driving force for improving the company’s culture including leading on setting up a trans support network.
Zaheer Ahmad MBE
Associate Non-Executive Director in Common, NHS
Zaheer is a multi-award-winning Diversity and Equity thought leader. As a global subject matter expert, he works collaboratively with business leaders to create a shared vision and drive transformational change across the organisation. Zaheer is an inspirational leader with the ability to empower individuals and create a truly inclusive environment for everyone.
Celebrity Allies
Using their platform to stand up for our community when it counts
Alison Hammond
TV presenter
@AlisonHammond
The 2023 British Diversity Awards Celebrity Ally of the Year, Alison is a staunch LGBTQIA ally, living alongside her gay best friend and her son. A much loved presenter, she has been true to herself throughout her career; speaking out about racism and fatphobia, and bringing her unique perspective to British TV.
Claire Sweeney
Actor, singer and TV personality
@ClaireSweeney
Claire is 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 is a proud LGBTQIA ally and has performed with the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus in support of people living with HIV and AIDS.
Davina McCall
TV presenter
@ThisisDavina
Known for presenting Big Brother between 2000 and 2010, Davina is one of the nation’s best-loved TV presenters. Consistently advocating for greater Diversity, Davina has always shown up for her LGBTQIA fans. In 2022, she was shortlisted for a British LGBT Award for her allyship.
Dawn Butler
Labour MP
@DawnButlerBrent
Dawn was elected as Labour MP for Brent South in 2005, and has been serving Brent Central since 2015. Making history as the first elected Black female government minister serving in a Labour government, she has a blue plaque in her honour. Her autobiography arrives in August 2023.
Jade Thirlwall
Singer
@jadethirlwall
Little Mix member Jade Thirlwall has consistently shown up for her LGBTQIA fans. An Ambassador for Stonewall, she was awarded the Gay Times Honour for Allyship in 2021. The video for Cheat Codes envisages a love story between a girl and a mermaid, and was hailed for its LGBTQIA representation.
Jeremy Vine
TV personality and broadcaster
@JeremyVineOn5
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.
June Sarpong OBE
British television presenter and executive
@junesarpong
June is one of the world’s leading speakers, educators, and Top 10 DEI executives with over two decades of experience. She made history in 2019 when she became the first ever Global Director of Creative Diversity for the BBC, using this position to ensure fair representation of all minorities, including the LGBTQIA community.
Nicola Sturgeon
Former First Minister of Scotland
@NicolaSturgeon
Nicola served as First Minister of Scotland from 2014 to 2023. During that time, she established a legacy as a staunch LGBTQIA ally, overseeing the passing of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill that looked to simplify the process for trans people applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate, though this was later vetoed by the UK Government.
Sadiq Khan
Mayor of London
@SadiqKhan
Mayor of London since 2016, Sadiq has consistently used his platform to advocate for the rights of LGBTQIA Londoners. In 2022, he stood with the trans community after the UK Government failed to include trans people in a proposed ban on “conversion therapy” and continues to work with the Metropolitan Police to eliminate hate crime against the LGBTQIA community.
Sinitta
TV personality
@Sinitta
With hit songs like So Macho, Sinitta regularly performs at festivals including London Pride. In 2012, she was one of the first to give support to the Out4Marriage.org campaign calling for global equal marriage. She is also known for her acting in West End shows and appears frequently on The X Factor.