Celebrating some of the incredible individuals in the LGBTQIA community
1 Ncuti Gatwa (he/him)
Actor, @ncutigatwa
Beginning his acting career on stage in Dundee, Ncuti is best known for co-starring in Netflix’s Sex Education as Eric Effiong. He currently portrays the fifteenth reincarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, the first Black and queer actor to do so, and appeared in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie in 2023.
2 Yasmin Finney (she/her)
Actor, @yazdemand
Yasmin is an English actor and internet personality. Initially, Yasmin gained a following through her TikTok videos about her experiences as a Black British teenage trans woman. She starred as Elle Argent in the Netflix show Heartstopper and as Rose Noble in Doctor Who.
3 Andrew Scott (he/him)
Actor, #AndrewScott
Andrew is known for his roles in Sherlock, Fleabag, Pride and All Of Us Strangers. In early 2024, he spoke out about getting rid of the term ‘openly gay’ during a roundtable discussion for The Hollywood Reporter, and has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQIA rights across his career.
4 Bella Ramsey (they/them)
Actor, @BellaRamsey
Bella is a 20-year-old English actor and identifies as non-binary. They starred as Lyanna in Game Of Thrones, in Catherine Called Birdy, and most notably as Ellie in the HBO drama The Last Of Us alongside Pedro Pascal. They are an inspiring young voice in the queer community.
5 Munroe Bergdorf (she/her)
Model and activist, @munroebergdorf
Munroe, a prominent activist, model, author and broadcaster, is a British Vogue contributing editor. She is the author of Transitional, fronts MTV’s Queerpiphany, and has graced the covers of Vogue, Rolling Stone and more. In May, she appeared on the 40th anniversary Gay Times cover.
6 Alex Scott MBE (she/her)
Sports commentator, @alexscott2
A sports presenter, pundit and former professional footballer, Alex played as a right-back for Arsenal in the WSL and made 140 appearances for the England national team. She has been a, vocal supporter of LGBTQIA rights across her career, notably wearing a rainbow armband while presenting the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
7 Phyll Opoku-Gyimah (she/her)
Co-Founder and CEO, UK Black Pride, @MsLadyPhyll
Also known as Lady Phyll, Phyll is a British political activist. As co-founder and CEO of UK Black Pride, she champions intersectional advocacy, addressing the challenges of race, gender and LGBTQIA identities to combat systemic discrimination. She also serves as a member of Sky’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council.
8 Adele Roberts (she/her)
DJ and broadcaster, @AdeleRoberts
Alongside her work as a broadcaster, Adele is a fervent campaigner for LGBTQIA rights. She uses her athleticism to raise money for charity, including running the 2023 London Marathon for the Attitude Magazine Foundation, when she set the Guinness World Record as the fastest female with an ileostomy. Adele’s book, Personal Best, is out now.
9 Graham Norton (he/him)
Comedian, actor, author and TV presenter, @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.
10 Rosie Jones (she/her)
Comedian, writer and actor, @josierones
A British comedian, writer and actor, Rosie has described herself as proud to be both disabled and gay. She has cerebral palsy, and uses her platform to discuss her experiences, hoping to empower the wider community. In August 2024, she’ll be taking her show, Triple Threat, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
11 Cat Burns (she/her)
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. In July 2024, she will release her debut album, Early Twenties.
12 Anthony Watson CBE (he/him)
Founder and Group CEO, The Bank of London, @AnthonyWatson
LGBTQIA activist 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 LGBTQIA community, Equality and Diversity. Anthony is the first openly gay CEO of a British bank, and is a patron of Diversity Role Models.
13 Dame Kelly Holmes DBE OLY (she/her)
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.
14 Kit Connor (he/him)
Actor, @kit.connor
Kit is best known for his portrayal of Nick Nelson in Netflix’s Heartstopper, a coming-of-age show that explores LGBTQIA experiences. He came out as bisexual in 2022 after feeling forced to by pressure online but later described it as empowering. His character is also bisexual.
15 Joelle Taylor (she/her)
Poet and playwright, @jtaylortrash
Having penned four poetry collections, Joelle won the 2021 T.S. Eliot Prize, and the 2022 Polari Book Prize for LGBTQIA authors. She is a co-curator and host of Out-Spoken Live at the Southbank Centre, as well as being a Poetry Fellow at the University of East Anglia.
16 Sandi Toksvig OBE (she/her)
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.
17 Nancy Kelley (she/her)
Executive director, DIVA Media Group, @Nancy_M_K
In 2024, Nancy took on the role of executive director of DIVA Media Group. She has a background in policy, and campaigns across a wide range of social justice issues, including mental health, migration and poverty. She was the chief executive officer of LGBTQIA charity Stonewall from 2020 to 2023.
18 Owen Jones (he/him)
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.
19 Christopher Joell-Deshields (he/him)
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.
20 Jude Guaitamacchi (they/them)
Trans activist and campaigner, @becomingjude
Jude is a speaker and trans+ rights campaigner, and founder of Trans Solidarity Alliance (TSA), the national advocacy network advancing the rights and conditions of trans people in the UK. They made history by chairing the first all-trans panel briefing in UK Parliament with TSA.
21 Sue Sanders (she/her)
CEO, School’s OUT UK, @suesanders03
For over 50 years, British LGBTQIA rights activist Sue has challenged all forms of oppression. She is CEO of Schools OUT UK, which aims is to visibilise LGBTQIA people in all their diversity. Sue also co-founded LGBT+ History Month and The Classroom, a website which provides resources on LGBTQIA issues for use across the curriculum.
22 Edward Enninful OBE (he/him)
Former British Vogue editor-in-chief, @edward_enninful
With an illustrious career in the media as both an editor and stylist, Edward was formerly the editor-in-chief of British Vogue and the European editorial director of Condé Nast. He was appointed fashion director of i-D magazine when he was just 18 years old, where he worked for over 20 years.
23 Alan Carr (he/him)
Comedian, broadcaster and writer, @chattyman
A British household name, Alan Carr is a comedian, broadcaster and writer best known for his talk show, Chatty Man, which he hosted from 2009 until 2017. Since 2019, he has regularly appeared as a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, and in 2021, began hosting Interior Design Masters.
24 Dr Ranj Singh (he/him)
Doctor, TV presenter, columnist and author, @DrRanj
Dr Ranj presented the BAFTA awarding-winning CBeebies show Get Well Soon between 2012 and 2015. His latest book, How To Be A Boy: And Do It Your Own Way was published in May 2023, and he is playing Lance in the UK and Ireland tour of the awarding-winning musical & Juliet.
25 Layton Williams (he/him)
Actor and singer, @LaytonWilliams
Layton is best known for appearing in TV series Bad Education, as well as Strictly Come Dancing. Layton is gay, and says he is proud to be the representation he never had growing up. From June 2024, he’ll be joining the cast of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club as The Emcee.
26 Lord Michael Cashman CBE (he/him)
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.
27 Jake Graf & Hannah Graf MBE (he/him, she/her)
Trans activists, patrons of Mermaids, @hannahw253, @JakeGraf1
Jake and Hannah made history by becoming one of the UK’s first transgender parents. Jake is an award-winning director, writer and actor while Hannah is a decorated former British army officer working in the financial sector. Their memoir, Becoming Us, was published in June 2023.
28 Sue Perkins (she/her)
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. She has been vocal about her ADHD diagnosis, helping to raise awareness of neurodiversity.
29 Gok Wan MBE (he/him)
Stylist, 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, and has previously collaborated with Gay Times on #GlobalPrideMakeover, raising awareness of the prejudice LGBTQIA people continue to face globally.
30 Heather Peace (she/her)
Actor and musician, @heatherpeace
Heather is known for her roles in Waterloo Road and EastEnders. She came out as a lesbian to her mother when she was 19 and has since been a prominent supporter of LGBTQIA Equality. She is a patron of Manchester Pride and has worked with other LGBTQIA charities such as Stonewall.
31 Eva Echo (she/they)
Trans activist and writer, @EvaEch0
Eva is a trans activist, writer and public speaker, passionate about trans rights and mental health. Eva is well known for their courageous legal action against NHS England in the High Court, challenging the unlawful waiting times for trans patients. They are also part of the Crown Prosecution Service’s hate crime panel.
32 Bobbi Pickard (she/her)
CEO and co-founder, Trans In The City, @BobbityP
Bobbi is CEO of Trans in the City, an organisation she founded to elevate trans and non-binary people in business, now having over 400 organisations collaborating on furthering trans awareness globally. Bobbi is patron of FFLAG, Golden Champion of Stonewall Housing, EDI associate of The Wellcome Trust, and a Diversity Role Model.
33 Rylan Clark (he/him)
TV and radio presenter, @Rylan
A TV and radio presenter, Rylan rose to fame after competing on The X Factor in 2012, where he finished in fifth place. In 2024, he released a documentary entitled Rylan: Football, hom*ophobia And Me, in which he, as a lifelong West Ham supporter, explored the complicated relationship between LGBTQIA fans and football.
34 Jake Daniels (he/him)
Professional footballer, @officialjakedaniels
19-year-old Jake is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Blackpool. He came out as gay in 2022, becoming the UK’s only male professional footballer to be publicly out at the time. In 2023, he won the Gamechanger Award at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards.
35 Cathryn Wright (she/her)
Managing director, Sedulo, #CathrynWright @sedulo_group
Cathryn is MD of award-winning national advisory firm and investment house Sedulo. Prior to this, Cathryn was MD of human rights charity Stonewall. She is also a trustee of Manchester International Festival and Factory International, and throughout her career has worked to build inclusive workplaces and improve working practices for LGBTQIA people.
36 Sir Ian McKellen (he/him)
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.
37 Kate Osborne (she/her)
Former Labour MP, @KateOsborneMP
As a Labour MP for Jarrow Kate served on the Women and Equalities Committee, the Backbench Business Committee and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross. An LGBTQIA activist and campaigner, in 2023 Kate made headlines for challenging Kemi Badenoch on her views on transgender children.
38 Suzi Ruffell (she/her)
Comedian and writer, @suziruffell
Suzi is a critically acclaimed comedian, boasting five sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 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.
39 Dawn Airey CBE (she/her)
Chair, FA Women’s Super League & Women’s Championship Football @dawn_airey
A veteran of the media industry, Dawn is the Chancellor of Edge Hill University, and chairs the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and Championship board, the National Youth Theatre and the educational platform Digital Theatre+. She is a non-executive director of Channel 4, Getty Images, Grosvenor Estates and Blackbird. Dawn was awarded a CBE in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours for services to theatre and charity.
40 Crystal (she/her)
Drag queen, @crystal.will.see.you.now
Crystal is a drag performer, TV host and personality who rose to fame after she competed in the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, which premiered in 2019. She has since appeared on Canada’s Drag Race, Group Sext, Celebrity Karaoke Club Drag Edition and Call Me Mother.
41 Horse McDonald (she/her)
Musician, @horsemusic
One of Scotland’s most celebrated singers, Horse is an 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”. Her latest album, The Road Less Travelled, was released in May.
42 Eugenio Pirri (he/him)
CEO, Dorchester Collection, @eugeniopirri
A 30+ year award-winning hotelier, Eugenio started his career at 18 as a hotel room attendant. In 2023, he began a new journey as the Dorchester Collection’s CEO. An ardent advocate for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, he developed the company’s global ‘We Care’ philosophy, ensuring all employees feel safe and respected.
43 Val McDermid (she/her)
Author, @valmcdermid
Val created the first British lesbian detective in her debut, Report For Murder, in 1987. Since then she’s sold over 19 million books, many featuring LGBTQIA characters. Her bestselling books have been translated into more than 40 languages, and she’s also a regular broadcaster on radio and TV.
44 Arlo Parks (she/her)
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. In 2023, she released her second album, My Soft Machine.
45 Bradley Riches (he/him)
Actor, @Brad_riches
Bradley is best known for portraying James McEwan in Netflix’s Heartstopper, a coming-of- age series that explores LGBTQIA love in all its forms. In November 2023, Bradley released his debut book, “A” Different Kind Of Superpower, and in 2024, he appeared as a housemate on the 23rd series of Celebrity Big Brother.
46 Gilly Flaherty (she/her)
Former professional footballer, @gilly_flaherty
A former professional footballer, Gilly played for the likes of Liverpool, West Ham United and Arsenal across her colourful career, having made her debut with Millwall Lionesses. She previously held the record for the most appearances in the Women’s Super League, reaching her 176th appearance in November 2022.
47 Duncan James (he/him)
Singer and actor, @mrduncanjames
A singer, TV presenter and actor, Duncan is best known as a member of boy band Blue, who shot to fame with hits including All Rise and One Love. Duncan first came out in 2009, and has since been a vocal supporter of LGBTQIA rights.
48 Nadia Whittome (she/her)
Former Labour MP, @nadiawhittomemp
Nadia is a British politician who, as the previous Labour MP for Nottingham East, is the current candidate for the same constituency ahead of the July general election. She is an advocate for migrants and refugees, people of colour, disabled people and the LGBTQIA community.
49 Moud Goba (she/her)
National manager, Micro Rainbow, @MsMGoba
Moud is an 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. In 2023, she was honoured with BET International’s Global Good Award for “fostering LGBTQ+ safe spaces and refugee integration in society”.
50 Matt Terry (he/him)
Singer and songwriter, @mattterry
Matt was crowned the 13th winner of The X Factor in 2016, with his debut single, When Christmas Comes Around, subsequently released that December. It peaked at number three in the UK charts, and his debut album was later released in 2017. In March 2024, Matt came out as gay.
51 Annie Wallace (she/her)
Actor, @theanniewallace
Annie is best known for her role as Sally St. Claire in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, for which she is the one of the first transgender people to play a transgender character in British soap history. A staunch supporter of trans rights, she has previously appeared on Celebrity Mastermind, where Mermaids was her chosen charity.
52 Michael Gunning (he/him)
Former professional swimmer, media personality, @michaelgunning1
Michael is a Jamaican-British competitive swimmer best known for participating in the 200-metre butterfly event. He competed in the 2017 and 2019 World Aquatics Championships. He came out as gay on the television show The Bi Life in December 2018 and is Jamaica’s first openly gay athlete.
53 Charlie Condou (he/him)
Actor and activist, @charliecondou
Charlie is a patron of Diversity Role Models and the akt, and has volunteered with the Terrence Higgins Trust. He also set up Out With The Family, through which he hosts events for LGBTQIA families. As an actor, he appeared in the likes of Holby City and Coronation Street.
54 Lianne Sanderson (she/her)
Broadcaster and former professional footballer, @liannesanderson
Lianne is a 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.
55 Lucy Spraggan (she/her)
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 seven studio albums with her latest, Balance, released in August 2023. Her memoir, Process: Finding My Way Through, was published in July 2023.
56 Megan Jayne Crabbe (she/her)
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 who has struggled with their self-image. She has worked with major broadcasters including the BBC, Universal Studios and Channel 4.
57 Hannah Bardell (she/her)
Former Scottish National Party MP, @HannahB4LiviMP
The current Scottish National Party candidate for Livingston ahead of the general election in July, Hannah previously served the constituency from 2015 until 2024. An openly proud lesbian, she has undertaken the roles of SNP Spokesperson for Consular Affairs and International Engagement, Founder and Chair of the APPG on Deaths Abroad, Consular Service and Assistance.
58 Peter Tatchell (he/him)
LGBTQIA campaigner and activist, @PeterTatchell
Peter has been campaigning for human rights for 57 years and been involved in over 3,000 protests and campaigns. He is best known for his work with LGBTQIA social movements. His Peter Tatchell Foundation works to promote the human rights of individuals, communities and nations, in the UK and internationally.
59 Sophie Ward (she/her)
Actor and writer, @sophieannaward
Sophie Ward is an actor and author of A Marriage Proposal (2014), Love And Other Thought Experiments (2020), which was longlisted for the Booker Prize, and The Schoolhouse (2022). Last year, Sophie starred in The Swell, a play centring LGBTQIA love, at The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond.
60 Kit Morey (they/them)
Commissioning editor (VP), Channel 5 / Paramount, @kit_morey
Kit has worked in television since the late 90s and is currently commissioning editor at Paramount. Onscreen, Kit strives to make each programme they commission have inclusive casting and storytelling, giving voices to those too often underrepresented. Off-screen Kit is executive champion for Paramount’s PROUD ERG, advocating for the LGBTQIA community.
61 Dame Julia Hoggett (she/her)
CEO, London Stock Exchange plc, @JuliaHoggett
Julia joined the London Stock Exchange plc 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. She was listed as number two in OUTstanding’s 2022 list of top LGBTQ+ Executives. Julia received a DBE for services to business and finance in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2024.
62 Char Bailey (she/her)
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.
63 Nicola Butler (she/her)
Founder and CEO, NoteWorthy, #NicolaButler @Noteworthy.Experiences
Nicola is the owner and managing director of NoteWorthy, an exquisite travel experiences company, specialising in travel experiences for the ultra-high net worth US leisure visitor to the UK, Ireland, Paris and Normandy. Nicola works closely with charities and generates £500,000 per year to various causes with the visits from her clientele.
64 Natasha Devon MBE (she/her)
Writer, campaigner and broadcaster, @_natashadevon
A writer, campaigner and broadcaster, Natasha conducts research on mental health, body image and social equality. She has a weekly phone-in show on LBC. She has been a vocal trans ally, notably resigning from her position as a columnist with the Times Educational Supplement in solidarity with the trans community.
65 Charlie Craggs (she/her)
Trans activist and author, @Charlie_Craggs
Dubbed “the voice of a community” by Vogue, Charlie is best known for her award-winning campaign, Nail Transphobia, her LAMBDA-nominated book, To My Trans Sisters, and her BBC documentary Transitioning Teens. After a video of her experiencing hate crime on the tube went viral, Charlie set up free self-defence classes for trans people.
66 Jane Hill (she/her)
Journalist and broadcaster, @JaneHillNews
A BBC broadcaster and journalist, Jane currently fronts the BBC News at Six and Ten and weekend bulletins. She was the UK’s first openly gay newsreader on terrestrial TV and advocates about the importance of LGBTQIA representation on television and the greater representation of gay women.
67 Jacquie Lawrence (she/her)
Director, Jackdaw Media, #JacquieLawrence
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, directed Gateways Grind and produced Stone, a short film that navigates trans issues.
68 Arlene McDermott (she/her)
Head of Business Management Group Legal and Compliance, London Stock Exchange Group, @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.
69 Roxy Bourdillon (she/her)
Editor-in-chief, DIVA magazine, @RoxyBourdillon
As well as editing the leading magazine for LGBTQIA women and non-binary people, Roxy is an award-winning writer. Published in Cosmopolitan, The Guardian, Woman&Home and more, she was recognised in The Attitude 101 as an LGBTQ+ Trailblazer Changing The World. Her debut book, What A Girl Wants, is out in April 2025.
70 Daniel Lismore (he/him)
Fabric sculptor, designer and campaigner, @daniellismore
Daniel is an 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”, a site-specific installation based on the studio environment that is instrumental to his practice, at Giant Gallery Bournemouth. In 2024 he appeared in Netflix’s Geek Girl.
71 Reeta Loi (she/her)
Founder and CEO, Gaysians, @r_e_e_t_a_,
Reeta founded Gaysians, a volunteer-led movement supporting South Asian LGBTQIA voices. With a career spanning over 20 years, Reeta is a powerful force for gender, race and LGBTQIA Equality, working with Gay Times and TEDxLondon. Reeta also founded Tiger Iron Ltd, an agency rooted in innovation, culture and community.
72 Yasmin Benoit (she/her)
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, which takes place on April 6 each year.
73 Jordan Gray (she/her)
Comedian and singer, @talldarkfriend
A comedian and singer, Jordan competed on the fifth season of The Voice, reaching the semi-finals. In 2022, she was nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award for her show, Is It A Bird?, and appeared on Friday Night Live, where she performed a song about her experiences as a transgender woman.
74 Pav Akhtar (he/him)
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-executive director of Healthwatch England and a long-standing board member of UK Black Pride, where he tackles the intersections of race, faith and sexual orientation.
75 Rebecca Paisis (she/her)
Director of operations & event planning, Pride In London, @rebecca_paisis
A seasoned event organiser and LGBTQIA advocate with over 12 years’ experience, Rebecca conceived and launched pioneering events like Winter Pride, Out On The Dock, and Pink Oktoberfest. She actively supports organisations including Stonewall, THT, Imann Muslim LGBT and Diversity Role Models.
76 Valentino Vecchietti (she/her)
Intersex activist and writer, @ValentinoInter
Valentino is the creator of our current global Pride flag, the Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag, she works globally to create LGBTIA+ Inclusion, representation and funding. Valentino is also the founder of Intersex Equality Rights, an intersex-led organisation focused on research, campaigns and advocacy.
77 Mawaan Rizwan (he/him)
Actor and comedian, @mawaanr
Mawaan is a Pakistani-born British actor and comedian who began his career as a YouTuber and later went on to create and star on the BBC Three comedy Juice. He came out to his parents at the age of 24 and presented the BBC documentary How Gay Is Pakistan?
78 Grace Petrie (she/her)
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. She is currently taking her self-described “lesbian comedy show”, Butch Ado About Nothing, across the UK.
79 Colin Kimber (he/him)
Operations director, Pareto Facilities Management, #ColinKimber @ParetoFM
Colin’s commitment to fostering Inclusivity within Pareto Facilities Management and the LGBTQIA community highlights his dedication to creating a supportive and diverse workplace culture for all. His multifaceted contributions, including active involvement in industry networks, events, research and mentoring programmes, make him a driving force for positive change.
80 Pearl Mackie (she/her)
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 May 2024, she announced her marriage to Kam Chhokar.
81 Libby Baxter-Williams (she/her)
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’ experience, she actively contributes to local and national Pride events, conducts workshops, and writes about bi+ issues. In 2020, Libby initiated the #CelebrateBiWomen campaign.
82 Charlie Martin (she/her)
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.
83 Ella Morgan (she/her)
Relaity TV star, @ellamorganc
Ella is an award-winning trans advocate, having risen to fame after becoming the first transgender woman to appear on Married At First Sight UK. Ella uses her platform to elevate trans rights, and in 2024, she joined the Celebs Go Dating Agency, where she hopes to meet the love of her life.
84 Matt Dowie (he/him)
Global Diversity and Inclusion director, HSBC Innovation Banking, #MattDowie @HSBCInnovationBanking
Matt is passionate about creating inclusive workplaces and is responsible for the design and delivery of a multi-year Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy at HSBC Innovation Banking. Matt is a huge advocate of a more evidence-based approach to DEI and is a firm believer in the lasting power of storytelling.
85 Sarah Savage (she/her)
Author and trans activist, @OhSarahSavage
Sarah is the CEO of Trans Pride Brighton. She is a trans activist who elevates LGBTQIA themes in her children’s books, having penned Are You A Boy Or Are You A Girl?, as well as She’s My Dad!: A Story For Children Who Have A Transgender Parent Or Relative, and He’s My Mom!
86 Juno Dawson (she/her)
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. Her latest novel, The Shadow Cabinet, was published in June 2023.
87 Mark Armario (he/him)
EE senior learning experience manager, BT Group, @MJPArmario, @bt_uk
A group of 1,300 LGBTQIA colleagues and allies, Mark has been co-chair of BT Group Pride network for the last 15 months. During his tenure they have participated in 14 Prides across the UK, provided support for Switchboard LGBT+ and opened Lesbian Visibility Week by hosting a workplace conference. #ConnectForGood.
88 Adam Wilson (he/him)
Marketing programme manager, Virgin Media O2, #AdamWilson @vmo2news
Adam is co-chair of the Proudly Network within Virgin Media O2. His passion and energy for Inclusion pushes the business forward to new heights, including their first ever entry into the Stonewall Top 100. Using his position as a power for good, he is committed to empowering the workforce, from executive to front line, to be better allies.
89 Philip Baldwin (he/him)
Human rights activist and writer, @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, akt, Terrence Higgins Trust, Positively UK, and Rainbow Migration, further serving as a trustee of the Ozanne Foundation.
90 Chay Brown (he/him)
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.
91 Meri Williams (they/them)
CTO, Pleo, @geek_manager
Meri is an experienced CTO and leader of technology organisations who thrives when coaching and mentoring other people. A published author and international speaker, they are the chair of The Lead Developer conference and a tech advisor for Kindred Capital. Until recently Meri was a trustee at Stonewall, the UK’s leading LGBTQIA rights charity.
92 Krishna Omkar (he/him)
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. In April 2022, Krishna joined the board of Human Rights First, the only non-US board member in the history of the organisation. In 2024, Krishna served as a judge for the Rainbow Honours.
93 Stephanie Fuller (she/her)
CEO, Switchboard LGBT+, @switchboardLGBT
Stephanie joined Switchboard LGBT+ in early 2021 as general manager, bringing with her more than 15 years experience of operating at senior level in a variety of non-profit organisations. Responsible for leading the effective day-to-day running of Switchboard, Stephanie is passionate about empowering and enabling their volunteers.
94 Marty Davies (they/she)
Joint CEO, Outvertising, @marjoda
Marty is an award-winning creative strategist, campaigner, writer, advertising industry thought- leader and changemaker. They were the first transgender columnist for Campaign, where they cover LGBTQIA+ representation in advertising. They also founded Smarty Pants Consultancy, and were named one of Campaign’s Future Leaders in 2022 and a Campaign A-Lister for 2024..
95 Deon Pillay (he/him)
Head of marketing technology, enablement, and governance, 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. In May 2024, he was named on the INvolve - The Inclusion People Empower Top 100 Global Future Leaders for the sixth year running.
96 Kat Parsons (she/her)
Group Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Centrica
Kat is dedicated to creating an inclusive and progressive workforce. With a passion for Diversity and Inclusion, she has earned numerous awards, including the Head of Diversity & Inclusion Award at both the 2023 DIVA Awards and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Tech Awards.
97 Marie-Helene Tyack (she/her)
Global Inclusion, Diversity & Belonging manager, Allianz Commercial, #Marie-HeleneTyack, @Allianz
Diversity and Inclusion are at the heart of Marie-Helene’s career. As an out gay woman, Inclusion, visibility and acceptance have always been constant drivers for her. She has been intrinsic in increasing the awareness and importance of Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging topics across the company and wider insurance industry.
98 Jacqui Rhule-Dagher (she/her)
Associate, Hogan Lovells International LLP, @DagherRhule
Jacqui is dedicated to promoting LGBTQIA Inclusion and raising awareness surrounding intersectionality. In 2023, Jacqui founded Legally Lesbians, an initiative that saw 25 lesbian lawyers write about their careers and the importance of lesbian visibility. In 2024, she was named Diversity Champion of the Year at the DIVA Awards.
99 Mzz Kimberley (she/her)
Actor, cabaret performer and activist, @mzzkimberley
Mzz Kimberley is one of the UK’s most fashionable artists, an outstanding actor and cabaret performer, a passionate activist for the LGBTQIA community, patron of cliniQ, the health service for the trans and non-binary communities, ambassador for ParaPride, supporting the disabled community, and patron of AIDS Memorial UK.
100 Geffrye Parsons (he/him)
Founder and CEO, The Inclusion Imperative, @ginger_ninja_jedi
An award-winning Diversity, Equality and Inclusion consultant, Geffrye was previously named among the top 100 LGBTQIA executives globally. He has also been recognised as LGBT+ Inspirational Leader of the Year at the British LGBT Awards, and in his work as a speaker, has extensively covered hate speech, conversion therapy, disability and bullying.
Corporate Allies
The people making a difference in the world of business
Caroline Frankum (she/her)
Global chief executive officer, Profiles Division, Kantar, @FrankumCaroline @kantar
Multi-award-winning Caroline passionately and actively focuses on transforming workplaces in meaningfully sustainable ways by shining a spotlight on underrepresented groups to create more inclusive, diverse environments. As global executive sponsor and ally of Kantar’s Pride@Kantar ERG, Caroline helps provide a safe community for over 700 LGBTQIA employees across the globe.
Dr Zaheer Ahmad MBE (he/him)
Head of Unifying Culture, BDO UK LLP, #DrZaheerAhmad @bdoaccountant
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.
Devi Verdi (she/her)
Vice president global head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, CBRE, #DeviVerdi @CRBE
Devi is a thought-leader with over 25 years’ experience across operational, strategic commercial, HR, D&I across global markets. She sits on a number of UK and global Diversity and Inclusion business councils and is WeQual Finalist 2024 in the People category.
Erica Bourne (she/her)
Chief people officer, London Stock Exchange Group, #EricaBourne @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.
Fiona Vines (she/her)
Chief Inclusion, Equity & Diversity officer, BT Group, @FionaVines @BTGroup
Fiona leads BT Group’s strategy on gender balance, racial and LGBTQIA Equity, and accessibility for people with disability. In 2023, she completed a Master’s of Social Anthropology at SOAS University of London. Fiona is committed to inclusive and equitable societies and workplaces where no one is left behind.
Matthew Jeffery (he/him)
Head of EY UKI Talent Attraction and Acquisition, EY
Matthew has created a culture and team that embraces Diversity and Inclusion through empowering team members, creating a safe environment for them to operate in, and focusing on their overall wellbeing.
Liz Noble (she/her)
Vice president human resources UK, DHL Express, #LizNoble @dhlexpressuk
Personally passionate about fairness and Equity, not least as the proud mother of a trans daughter, Liz aims to bring this passion to the workplace to eradicate LGBTQIA prejudice. As a role model, Liz continues to be a vocal ally and encourages others to get involved through her enthusiasm and positivity.
Pete Markey (he/him)
Chief marketing officer, Boots UK, @petermarkey @BootsUK
Pete is the executive sponsor for Walgreens Boots Alliance’s Pride Alliance (LGBTQIA) business resource group in the UK, as well as being an executive sponsor for Boots UK’s Marketing For Change initiative, which helps to foster Diversity and Inclusion across its marketing activity.
Rebecca Skitt (she/her)
Deputy chief executive 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, and has held positions at Permira, The Co-Operative Group, Barclays and Unilever.
Wincie Knight (she/her)
Senior vice president OGI International Markets, Paramount, @winciek
Wincie works alongside both internal and external stakeholders to implement initiatives that embed Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) and belonging within the company’s strategic priorities. A powerful ally, Wincie’s role in fostering Paramount’s commitment to LGBTQIA DEI has influenced the company’s teams, partnerships, content and business.
Celebrity Allies
Using their platform to stand up for our community when it counts
Alison Hammond (she/her)
TV personality and actor, @alisonhammond55
Alison is a British television personality and actor. She brings joy to screens with her infectious laughter and outrageous personality. She has worked on ITV shows Loose Women and This Morning. She is a huge LGBTQIA ally and lives with her son and gay best friend.
Beverley Knight (she/her)
Singer-songwriter and actor, @beverleyknight
Beverley is an English singer, songwriter, actor and radio personality. She released her first album, The B-Funk, in 1995. Heavily influenced by American soul music icons such as Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin, Knight has released nine studio albums. Her allyship for the LGBTQIA community is well-known and she says that her relationship with the community is very tight.
Claire Sweeney (she/her)
Actor, singer and TV personality, @ClaireSweeney
Claire is an English actor, singer and television personality, best known for her portrayal of Lindsey Corkhill on Channel 4’s Brookside which follows a sapphic storyline. She has also starred in touring productions of Chicago, Guys And Dolls, Tell Me On A Sunday, Legally Blonde and Educating Rita.
Daniel Radcliffe (he/him)
Actor, #DanielRadcliffe
Daniel is best known for his portrayal of Harry Potter which led him to rise to fame aged 12. He has always been an advocate for LGBTQIA rights and has worked with The Trevor Project alongside trans youth on their video series Sharing Space. He also regularly shares his views on trans rights, often condemning J.K.Rowling’s stance.
Dawn Butler (she/her)
Former Labour MP, @DawnButlerBrent
Dawn was elected as Labour MP for Brent South in 2005, and served 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 A Purposeful Life, was published in August 2023.
Dermot O’Leary (he/him)
Broadcaster, @dermotoleary
Dermot is an English broadcaster. He has worked with ITV on The X Factor, This Morning and currently presents the BBC Radio 2 Saturday breakfast show. His radio show frequently stars LGBTQIA personalities and he is a longstanding ally.
David Tennant (he/him)
Actor, @David_Tennant
David is a leading TV and stage actor perhaps best known for playing the 10th incarnation of Doctor Who. He is a staunch LGBTQIA ally, from expounding the importance and joy of Pride month to wearing badges in support of the community, including recently a trans Pride-themed TARDIS pin which inadvertently raised thousands for the charity akt.
Jade Thirlwall (she/her)
Singer, @jadethirlwall
Little Mix member Jade Thirlwall has consistently shown up for her LGBTQIA fans and was awarded the Gay Times Honour for Allyship in 2021. Jade has spoken extensively in support of trans rights and is an ambassador for LGBTQIA charity Stonewall. She has also appeared as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
Sadiq Khan (he/him)
Mayor of London, @SadiqKhan
Sadiq won his third mayoral election in May 2024 and he consistently uses 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”. As part of Pride 2023, he announced new rainbow plaques to celebrate London’s LGBTQIA communities.
Sinitta (she/her)
TV personality and singer, @Sinitta
With hit songs like So Macho, Sinitta regularly performs at festivals including Pride In London. In 2012, she was one of the first to give support to the Out4Marriage.org campaign calling for global equal marriage. In 2023 she won Celebrity Ally of the Year at the DIVA Awards.
