Some of the country’s best-loved LGBTQs are featured on the 2025 Independent Pride List but you have probably never heard of the person at number one.
Among the top honourees are acclaimed actress Cynthia Erivo and the late drag performer The Vivienne. Erivo, known for her powerful role as Elphaba in the 2024 film adaptation of Wicked, is ranked fourth on the list. The Vivienne, a trailblazer in the UK drag scene and winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, holds the seventh position, an honour bestowed posthumously following her untimely death in January at the age of 32.
But topping the list is Victoria McCloud, a transgender lawyer and former judge, who is making waves by challenging the UK Government’s stance on gender definitions at the European Court of Human Rights. McCloud received the recognition with gratitude, saying, ‘I’m delighted and honoured… In 2025, more than ever before, amidst increasing oppression and segregation at home, with court and state against us, people from the trans community yearn to be bathed in rainbow light.’ Her comments are particularly powerful in the context of the UK Supreme Court’s recent ruling that the terms ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act refer only to biological definitions.
Cynthia Erivo’s inclusion in the list comes on the heels of her receiving the Stephen F. Kolzak Award during the 36th GLAAD Media Awards, where she spoke about the importance of embracing one’s true self. Erivo, who has a Tony Award for her role in The Color Purple, took the opportunity to discuss the complexities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly around the use of pronouns and the need for compassion and patience in understanding varied identities. In her speech, she highlighted the resilience of the community: ‘These are uniquely dark times but we will challenge those who wish to marginalise us… We have been here for centuries; we will be here for centuries to come.’
Chloe Hubbard, UK editor of The Independent, emphasised the importance of visibility and pride within the queer community, stating, ‘We are proud to champion our most influential LGBT+ changemakers once again on our annual Pride List, in a year where the community has been further marginalised on both sides of the Atlantic.’ This year’s list also includes notable figures such as actor Bella Ramsey, positioned third, and Juno Dawson, the acclaimed author placed second. Health Minister, Wes Streeting [pictured] was at five, artist David Hockney at six, comedian Joe Lycett at eight and Olympic diving champion Tom Daley at nine.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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