by Karman Kregloe

British gay women make The Pink List

British newspaper The Independent has published their 10th Annual Pink List of the 101 most influential lesbian and gay people in Britain.

In a thoughtful introduction to the list, the writer questioned if the list was even necessary anymore now that LGBT people have made such great personal, professional and social strides.

The Independent wrote:

...is the list anachronistic? Is it patronizing to gay people? We feared it might be — and went in search of a leading gay or lesbian figure to say so. None of those we contacted wanted to. Their verdict? The Pink List remains indispensable, a celebration of a community that is integral to the British way of life.

Topping the list this year is Peter Mandelson (First Secretary of State; Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills; Lord President of the Council), and we don't see the first woman on the list until number 5, U.S. singer Beth Ditto.

Two couples made the list, writer Jeanette Winterson (number 73) and director Deborah Warner (number 66), and BBC sports announcer Alice Arnold(number 99) and presenter Claire Balding (number 22).

As is often the case in U.S. lists of the same type (e.g. OUT Magazine's Power 50), lesbian and bisexual women make up a much smaller portion of the list. Of the 101 people mentioned, only 22 are women. In an another unfortunate similarity to many other lists of this sort, there are only a handful of LGBT people of color included in it.

Below are the 22 women who made the Pink List this year:

5. Beth Ditto (lead singer, The Gossip)

7. Phyllida Lloyd (director of film Mama Mia!, Tony-nominated theatre director)

9. Carol Ann Duffy (Britain's poet laureate)

15. Dawn Airey (TV executive)

18. Sandi Toksvig (comedian, columnist)

22. Clare Balding (presenter, former jockey)

23. Sarah Waters (writer)

46. Margot James (Conservative Party Vice-Chair)

47. Angela Eagle (Treasury minister)

55. Fiona Shaw (actress)

56. Tamsin Omond (eco activist)

58. Sue Perkins (TV personality)

62. Ashley Steele (businesswoman)

63. Eileen Gallagher (TV executive)

66. Deborah Warner (director)

71. Lt. Cmdr. Mandy McBain (Royal Navy officer)

73. Jeanette Winterson (writer)

80. Janet Paraskeva (civil servant)

81. Zoe Lyons (comedian)

91. Ali Smith (writer)

94. Val McDermid (writer)

99. Alice Arnold (BBC sports announcer)

It's interesting to see that so many of the women in the list are in business and politics, and that writers are well-represented in the small group of women. The same list in a U.S. publication would likely have far fewer of women from those professions and far more from the world of entertainment, which says a lot about who "influences" U.S. culture.

What do you think of the 2009 Pink List?

Karman Kregloe's blog

Submitted by

Karman Kregloe

on June 30, 2009 - 3:00pm.

TAGS ::

seems strange to me

Submitted by

Kymberlie. (25 posts)

on June 30, 2009 - 3:11pm.

that with changing attitudes in the world with the younger generations tending to be more liberal there isn't a progression of influential younger LGBT in these lists but nevertheless i'm glad they decided to go ahead with it!

There's not many young

Submitted by

BritishLily (307 posts)

on June 30, 2009 - 3:22pm.

There's not many young people on the list but cool list anyway.

I love Beth Ditto! And why isn't Sue Perkins higher on list? I think she's so funny and awesome!!

Yay! Claire Balding!

Submitted by

Suzzie (159 posts)

on June 30, 2009 - 3:28pm.

I've had a soft spot for her ever since I met her, (my dad worked with her for a little bit) then I met her again about a month later and she REMEBERED WHO I WAS! Lovely lovely lady! Really friendly and smart and professional....my dad agrees too! Plus she is always a good guest on Apprentise: Your Fired! lol

Also, to Kymberlie, just my thoughts on what you said, maybe they arn't very many younger LGBTQ people on the list becuase of how The Indepentant was measuring influence? Espeically in things like business, writting and politics, to have major influence I think you need to be in your field a long time....plus I think its a nice change to have some older LGBTQ instead of the constant barrage of the 'right' way to look (Beth Ditto being a good exception) to what people in the public eye should look like; ie thin, conventionally pretty and sterotypically feminine....this comes across a bit antaginisticly! Promise its not meant to lol

Go Balding!

Submitted by

The Sci-Fi Bard (60 posts)

on June 30, 2009 - 4:03pm.

Claire Balding kicks ass! (Well, Willie Carson's anyhoo...)

Sue Perkins also kicks ass, but in a much more humorous way! Gotta love her on Supersizers.

And Sandi Toksvig has been a firm favourite of mine since kids tv show No.73 way back in the day! I went up on stage with her when she last toured - something I'll never forget! She always brings the funny to whatever she does. LOVE her.

Beth Ditto also rocks, but that's a given.

That is all.

Some extra info.

Submitted by

Tiikeli (10 posts)

on June 30, 2009 - 3:36pm.

I thought I'd save the rest of you the trouble of googling the Lt Commander's name..

I'm thinking she's on the list because she's the Chair of The Naval Service LGBT Forum.

http://content.yudu.com/A11vkl/NavyNewsFeb09/resources/30.htm

According to the article, ban on homosexuality in UK Armed Forces was lifted ten years ago, and now they have an LGBT Forum chaired by a gay female Lt Crd.

US has some catching up to do..

Gladd they keep the Pink List coming out!

Submitted by

7Up (639 posts)

on June 30, 2009 - 3:38pm.

Go Brits!!!!!!

Disappointed

Submitted by

x.Lorna.x (92 posts)

on June 30, 2009 - 3:56pm.

The list didn't exactly thrill me and I think there are less people from the entertainment industry in the list is more to do with The Independent's audience... I don't know. Carol Ann Duffy should have topped it :D

I think I've been living

Submitted by

dark_n_twisty (179 posts)

on June 30, 2009 - 4:08pm.

I think I've been living under a rock - I had no idea Clare Balding and Fiona Shaw were gay.

Side note: how gorgeous is Fiona's supposed missus Saffron Burrows??

http://content.mydamnchannel.com/datastore/UserFiles/wd%20saffron-burrows-picture-1.jpg

I'm worried

Submitted by

ToonCat (14 posts)

on June 30, 2009 - 4:29pm.

I appear to find Margot James rather attractive.

I wil not fancy a Tory. I will not fancy a Tory. I wll not fancy a Tory.

;-)

I was worried about being

Submitted by

Christina (80 posts)

on June 30, 2009 - 6:14pm.

I was worried about being slightly attracted to Margot James too! Her being a Tory just makes it so wrong... which I admit I quite enjoy. Bad times.

On a less disturbing note, I agree that Carol Ann Duffy should have topped the poll. Poet Laureate is a huge thing and just making the top 10 doesn't do it or her justice at all.

Hurrah

Submitted by

Little Ms. Tees (7 posts)

on June 30, 2009 - 5:55pm.

for Zoe Lyons...it's so nice to see new comedy blood. Maybe next year Rosie Lyons will be in there too :-)

Is it just me or would anyone else like to see Claire Balding and the scottish singer/songwriter 'Horse' on stage together?

"It's better to have loved, lost and been hit with a restraining order, than never to have loved at all."

- Ye Olde Lesbian Proverb

I majorly <3 Sue Perkins

Submitted by

Clara (878 posts)

on June 30, 2009 - 6:14pm.

I majorly <3 Sue Perkins and that is an awesome photo of her, I've not seen it before. Is it odd that I know that? Gonna watch her in Supersizers later. Anyone see her on Jonathan Ross? Is it odd that I love that her and Giles are totally the couple who would never be? He said she was "so sexy" when conducting and she's said she likes him a lot considering she's gay. They're always cuddling and holding hands, its so adorable somehow! I swear they almost flirt and yet not, ahh.

Sorry that was a little fangirl and not very constructive!

also, did not know about Fiona Shaw (recognise from Harry Potter etc), and Clare Balding seems to be in spotlight a lot more recently, or perhaps didn't notice her before a month or so ago

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Submitted by

lizbuf (19 posts)

on July 1, 2009 - 11:21am.

Sue was on Jonathon Ross? *runs to youtube* (iplayer failed me)

Thanks!

I love Claire Balding!

Submitted by

_witc_ (3 posts)

on June 30, 2009 - 6:13pm.

I *love* Claire Balding!

Where is Mary Portas

Submitted by

londonchick (67 posts)

on June 30, 2009 - 6:13pm.

How can Alice Arnold (an announcer on radio 4) be on this list and not Mary Portas!!! Very strange list. Mary Portas is huge at the moment. She just got great viewing figures for her show, Mary: Queen of Shops. (She dates Melanie Rickey, the fashion editor of Grazia magazine)

I really like Mary Portas

Submitted by

bloomsberry (7 posts)

on July 1, 2009 - 10:24am.

I really like Mary Portas and wondered about this too.The intro mentions that some people asked not to be included on the list, so maybe she's one of them? I've read interviews in which she's talked about her ex-husband being an important part of her life, which might have something to do with it.

Fiona...

Submitted by

Knightwolf (76 posts)

on July 1, 2009 - 1:00am.

Wow, just didn't put two and two together until I saw her picture, then the mention of Saffron... I think my brain just melted! I just re-watched Troy last night and found myself thinking that Andromache was actually much more attractive than Helen!

Fanning self!

Beth Ditto and Fiona Shaw

Submitted by

Strawbs (48 posts)

on July 1, 2009 - 5:39am.

I only know those two from the list, which im thinking is quite bad seeing as im british.

Did not know Fiona Shaw was gay, she played aunt petunia in harry potter right? I'm so liking her much more now.

yeah Fiona is Aunt Petunia!

Submitted by

riotgrrrljaz (96 posts)

on July 2, 2009 - 11:15am.

i was just gonna comment the same thing and that i keep forgetting Fiona Shaw is gay! haha....she's awesome! =]

______________________________________________

We Want Revolution Grrrl Style Now! -BIKINI KILL

Incorrect photograph

Submitted by

helenm (22 posts)

on July 1, 2009 - 8:13am.

Hi there

You have put an incorrect photo of Lt. Cmdr. Mandy McBain (Royal Navy officer). I have no idea who it is you have put up, but the real Mandy has dark brown hair and looks like this:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/the-iiosi-pink-list-2009-1...

May be worth just using the photo from the original article.

There's no photograph of her.

Submitted by

Tiikeli (10 posts)

on July 1, 2009 - 1:29pm.

So you probably looked somehow wrong. Name first, photo then, so the picture above the Lt Cmdr's name belongs to the name above the picture..

I had no idea who tasmin

Submitted by

Lauz (824 posts)

on July 1, 2009 - 1:22pm.

I had no idea who tasmin osmond is, so i googled her and come up with this http://current.com/items/89877328_is-it-ok-to-break-the-law.htm

Thought it was pretty interesting stuff. Good to see activism isnt dead.

Mwahxxx

ah yes, you are right. my

Submitted by

helenm (22 posts)

on July 2, 2009 - 2:13pm.

ah yes, you are right. my error, sorry.

Fíona Shaw is IRISH not British

Submitted by

Gracious (6 posts)

on July 3, 2009 - 6:53am.

Hate to Break it to you, but Fíona Shaw is Irish, not British.There's a Big Difference, like calling Canadians American and vice versa. She was Born and Raised in Co.Cork (South West Ireland ). Very Irish. Alot of Gaeltachts round there (Irish or Gael speaking only.Yes that also includes road signs)

I love the Pink List.

Submitted by

KayJ (162 posts)

on July 6, 2009 - 8:34am.

I love the Pink List. It's great to see prominent gay men and lesbians rightly recognised for their contributions to our society. That gives me a warm, fuzzy glow - thank goodness that it is not only being published, but becoming an integral part of mainstream culture.

I do, though, take issue with it being described as a list of influential LGBT people. It's basically gay men and lesbians, with barely a mention of bisexuality or transgender people in any given year. This year, I could find no mention of trans people, and the only mention of bisexuality was in Ben Summerskill of Stonewall's vow to ensure equality for "every gay, lesbian, and bisexual" (which is a big leap forward, as he has an historic allergy to the B-Word, and for which I am pathetically grateful). Even when bi peopl are included, the B-Word is barely ever mentioned. It's just plain weird. And trans people are almost as invisible as us.

It may be that bi and trans people just don't contribute anything to our society. I have a sneaking suspicion, though, that it goes deeper than that.

Welcome to AfterEllen.com!

by Karman Kregloe

British gay women make The Pink List