The Independent Pride List 2024: the LGBT+ people making change happen
Britain is proud to be viewed as an accepting and inclusive nation, never better seen than during its annual Pride celebrations. Yet support must be year round in order to make positive changes in laws and attitudes to ensure the country is an inclusive environment in which everyone can thrive.
In an election year in which trans issues continue to be weaponised in politics in an attempt to win votes, LGBT+ inclusive sex education has become yet another polarising issue, along with the ongoing discourse around toilet use. And earlier in the year, horrific details of the tragic and disturbing murder of 16-year-old trans teen Brianna Ghey pushed the issue into full view for everyone to see.
Sobering figures from Stonewall reveal almost half of young LGBT+ people have thought about trying to take their own life, they are also twice as likely to suffer bullying, anxiety and other mental health issues.
Key cultural queer moments of the past 12 months include the EastEnders storyline with Zack Hudson. The soap worked with the Terrence Higgins Trust to update the public’s knowledge that people on effective HIV treatment cannot pass the virus on. The BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing also had its second male same-sex dancing couple competing on the show, and they even came joint second.
Previous annual lists have included the likes of Suzy Eddie Izzard, Dame Kelly Holmes, Miriam Margolyes and Gok Wan. Their omission from this year’s list is not to say they’re no longer valued in this space, much to the contrary.
Some people from last year have featured again as it’s key not to underestimate the importance of visibility by taking LGBT+ people into the homes of middle England. Longevity of careers and dedication to the cause have also earned some people a consecutive place on this year’s list.
Included in the list are those deemed important trailblazers and visible ambassadors in the community.
Reflecting The Independent’s philosophy of making change happen, the Pride List is not just a roll-call of big names but honours the influence of those making a difference to LGBT+ lives in Britain and beyond. Publishing the list today marks the start of Pride Month, which culminates in the annual Pride in London march on Saturday 29 June.
1. Ncuti Gatwa
With the return of the world’s most famous doctor this year, Ncuti Gatwa has become the 15th incarnation. He is not only the first person of colour to play the part, but also the first openly queer person to do so. His starring role gave visibility to queer people of colour, marking a pivotal moment in the TV show as it celebrated its 60th birthday.
Gatwa, who came out publicly as queer last August, first appeared in the Christmas Doctor Who specials in 2023, but you may recognise the Scottish-Rwandan actor from Netflix’s hit Sex Education, where he played Eric Effiong and earned a Bafta, or as one of the Ken dolls in the hit Barbie movie.
Gatwa has also used his platform to criticise the government’s anti-trans rhetoric. He said trans people have been used as a scapegoat, and openly attacking trans people is being normalised, leading to an increase in hate crimes against the trans community.
2. Alex Scott
Former professional footballer, and now top sports commentator, Alex Scott is known for representing England with the mighty Lionesses and Great Britain in the London 2012 Olympics as well as fronting the Women’s World Cup football coverage in July 2023 and for taking part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2019.
This year, Scott has spoken about the racist and misogynistic abuse she has previously suffered, including being trolled online after being wrongly named as replacing Sue Barker in A Question of Sport. She said the trolls had claimed she only got her BBC job because she was “ticking some mythical ‘diversity box’”. Though she doesn’t often speak about her relationships, she confirmed her relationship with singer-songwriter Jess Glynne late last year after keeping it under wraps for some time.
3. Victoria McCloud
As the UK’s first trans judge, Victoria McCloud was also the youngest judge of the Queen’s Bench (now King’s Bench) when appointed aged just 40 in 2010. McCloud resigned from the role in April in order to apply to intervene in a Supreme Court appeal brought by For Women Scotland, which she couldn’t do while still a judge.
If the appeal is successful, it would affect the whole of the UK, not just Scotland, and it would mean women like her, who have their transgender identity on their birth certificate (known as a gender recognition certificate) would no longer be recognised as that gender. This would affect an estimated 9,000 people who would have to be recognised only as having the gender they were assigned at birth. McCloud has also said that when she transitioned in the Nineties, it was a more liberal and accepting time compared to now.
4. Andrew Scott
