Independent on Sunday’s pink list ranks gay victors and villains

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The Independent on Sunday has published its annual list of the 101 most influential gay and lesbian people in Britain.

The list, which the newspaper said was designed to “entertain and celebrate, infuriate and amuse”, also features a rogues’ gallery of those who are “out but not in” – including Elton John.

This year, Gareth Thomas and Mary Portas shared the top spot in the ‘most influential’ list.

Welsh rugby star Thomas came out in December and has barely left the headlines since, while Portas, the presenter of Mary, Queen of Shops, recently got hitched to fashion writer Melanie Rickey in a civil partnership.

Stephen Fry was third, followed by presenter Evan Davies and poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy.

Peter Tatchell made a surprise leap from 34 last year to seven this year, for his campaigning on gay marriage, while a new entry at number eight was Michael Salter, David Cameron’s broadcast advisor.

Gay soldier James Wharton, who was the first out gay soldier to be featured on the cover of Soldier magazine, was at number 19, while politicians in the top 25 included Labour peer Lord Alli and Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes.

Peter Mandelson dropped from first place last year to 52 this year.

Judges included Clare Balding, the sports presenter, basketball star John Amaechi, Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill and shadow culture secretary Ben Bradshaw.

Elton John was booted into the rogues’ gallery for accepting $1 million to perform at the wedding of gay marriage opponent Rush Limbaugh, while “escort-assaulting chameleon” Boy George received the same treatment.

Ex-BP chief Lord Browne was named a rogue for urging others to come out, yet refusing to be included in 2006’s pink list.

Also in the list of gay rogues was Daily Mail consultant editor Andrew Pierce, who was slated for criticising Harriet Harman’s “mad” Equality Bill.

Read the full list here

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