In alphabetical order
This category recognises an LGBT+ individual delivering content on screen or in the news. The top 10s will have an impact the public’s view of the LGBT+ community.
EDWARD ENNINFUL
Editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Edward Enninful has been a fundamental part of the fashion industry over the past few years, and has used this to promote his LGBT+ inclusion. His Pride keynote speech in 2019 spoke of the importance of diversity and intersectionality within the British LGBT+ community, an issue which truly needs to be addressed. In addition, Enninful has been outspoken about the experiences of young gay models, and the work that needs to be done in the fashion industry to improve its support of the LGBT+ community.
JAMIE WINDUST
As an accomplished journalist, Jamie Windust has written for everyone from The Independent to Gay Times. However, Windust’s repertoire is not limited to journalism, they are a model, author and public speaker too. It’s no surprise that The Evening Standard has named them as one of London’s most influential people. In 2020, Windust even released their first book, In Their Shoes: Navigating Non-Binary Life which confronts issues faced by the gender-diverse in modern day.
JOE LYCETT
Comedian and TV presenter, Joe Lycett (pseudonym Hugo Boss) is an icon in more than one way. Dating back to his earliest comedy routines, Lycett has been open about his sexuality in a casual, and normalising manner, and has called for more compassion within the community itself. Outside of the community, Lycett has taken a public stand in a public open letter against his MP Roger Godsiff over his comments on LGBT+ education to those in primary school. Joe has been featured on podcasts such as My Dad Wrote a Porno, and even hosted his own TV show; Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back. More recently, Joe has been hosting The Great British Sewing Bee.
PHILLIP SCHOFIELD
ITV presenter and household name Phillip Schofield took a brave stand when he came out on live television in February 2020, and later via a heartfelt Instragram post. Philip discussed the many struggles he had in accepting his sexuality, stating that “with the strength and support of my wife and my daughters, I have been coming to terms with the fact that I am gay.” Phillip is a regular on daytime television as a host of This Morning alongside Holly Willoughby, and was previously on Dancing on Ice.
ROSE & ROSIE
The dynamic duo of Rose and Rosie may have begun their career as YouTubers with over 100 million views on their channel, but they quickly expanded their work into radio, television, podcasts, and even published their first book, Overshare: Love, Laughs, Sexuality and Secrets. The couple have been open about their experiences within the LGBT+ community and have actively shared their same-sex pregnancy journey with their loyal audience via their podcast, Parental Guidance.
DR RANJ SINGH
ITV’s resident medic, Dr Ranj Singh has been open about the difficulty he faced in coming to terms with his sexuality within his South Asian upbringing, addressing it at length in a 2018 edition of Attitude. In addition, Dr Singh has been frank about the mental health issues he has struggled with as a result of the difficulties facing the LGBT+ community, and the prejudices he has faced within the NHS as a consequence of his openness about his sexuality.
STEPH MCGOVERN
As a former BBC presenter, Steph McGovern is a frequent face on British TV with many highly successful shows under her belt. Following the birth of her first child with long-term girlfriend in 2019, her latest project, The Steph Show launched on Channel 4. Since the pandemic, Steph has taken the show into her home, discussing current affairs, entertainment and lifestyle.
SUZI RUFFELL
Comedian Suzi Ruffell celebrated 2019 with a win in the Best Club Comic category in the Chortle Awards. She has had three sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival, a BBC show Keeping it Classy, and appearances on Mock the Week and The News Quiz. Suzi references her LGBT+ identity throughout her comedy work, normalising being working class and gay. She has continually supported the LGBT+ community throughout her career, donating her time to charities such as Stonewall and akt.
Ruffell told Diva magazine: “I’ve always tried to be funny. It’s how I have protected myself. When I was at school I didn’t have a lot of friends. I knew I was gay. I was really worried people were going to find out the truth about me and comedy was the deflector. If I wasn’t gay, I probably wouldn’t be a comic.”
TOM ALLEN
The suited and booted Tom Allen has made a name for himself not only as a comedian, but also as a writer and an actor. Allen has been outspoken about issues in the LGBT+ community, including gay shame. However, Allen’s openness about his sexuality came about through an experience of a homophobic attack in 2014. In recent years, Tom has become a familiar face on British TV, hosting Bake Off: The Professionals and The Apprentice: You’re Fired. He has also been a contestant on Bake Off, Mock the Week, and Celebrity Catchphrase.
TOM READ WILSON
You might recognise the winning smile of Tom Read Wilson from his work as the charming receptionist on Celebs go Dating, but Tom’s skillset also includes frequent appearances in theatre, and in concert of cabaret. During the pandemic, Tom has been using his social media platform to launch a ‘Word of the Day’ series, to share his love of language with his audience. He also uses his platform to promote charitable content, including the Pick the Theatre campaign – founded by Tom himself to provide support to the theatre industry, which has been greatly affected as a result of the pandemic.
