Journalist Paris Lees, broadcaster Clare Balding and campaigner Peter Tatchell have topped the Independent on Sunday Pink List for 2013. The list honours the 101 most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in Britain. Nominated by the public and curated by a panel of judges, the list is designed to highlight LGBT heroes – both those in the public eye and the unsung heroes and heroines dedicated to campaigning for progress and equality.

With equal marriage dominating the news agenda this year, campaigners such as Tatchell are featured heavily in the top ten of the list, with the creators of the equal marriage media campaign – Out4Marriage, Benjamin Cohen, Mike Buonaiuto and James J Walsh – at number 7.

The Pink List was established in 2000 and has become a widely received and warmly embraced register of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who have worked hard to promote progress and equality in the UK. Lisa Markwell, Editor of Independent on Sunday, said: ‘The Pink List has evolved to become an authoritative celebration of influential lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people throughout the country, and every year, it generates a huge amount of positive feedback and powerful stories of courage and bravery. This year the list has been thoroughly shaken up – we are looking forward to seeing the response it brings.’

Actress and musician, Heather Peace, said: ‘My wife and I devour the Pink List on publication each year and we spend ages discussing it, praising it, arguing about it and lamenting the people who aren’t there. As to whether we actually need it anymore? I think we’ll need it until there are enough visible gay role models in the media generally for gay kids to look up to and we’ll certainly need it until the day comes that children aren’t bullied at school for being gay.’

The top 10 reads as –
1) Paris Lees
2=) Clare Balding
2=) Peter Tatchell
4) Nicola Adams
5) Ruth Hunt
6) Owen Jones
7) Benjamin Cohen, Mike Buonaiuto and James J Walsh
8) Jackie Green
9) Phyllis Opoku-Gyimah
10) Sue Perkins

The paper also released an international Pink List as a precursor to the Pink List. The International Pink List is topped by Puerto Rican boxer Orlando Cruz; footballer Robbie Rodgers, who plays for LA Galaxy is number two; and critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Frank Ocean at number three. The remainder of the list features leading figures from the worlds of fashion, media, politics and entertainment.

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The remainder of the list is published in the Independent on Sunday and can be viewed on their website.

You can follow the Independent on Sunday on Twitter, and to follow the Pink List conversation, follow the hashtag #pinklist2013.