**Pinc List 2025: Honouring Wales’ Most Influential LGBTQ+ Figures**
This week marks a significant moment for Wales’ LGBTQ+ community as the annual Pinc List, curated with support from Pride Cymru, recognises the country’s most pioneering and impactful LGBTQ+ individuals. Entering its tenth year, the Pinc List has become a powerful testament to the remarkable progress and ongoing activism within Wales, highlighting those striving for equality, representation, and inclusivity at every level of society.
Over the past twelve months, Wales has seen a groundswell of activity in support of the LGBTQ+ cause, from grassroots community organisation to national advocacy. There’s been an increase in inclusive groups across even the most rural parts of the nation, and vibrant Pride celebrations now grace towns once considered far removed from queer visibility. This year’s Pride Cymru carries particular significance as it coincides with the 40th anniversary of the first ever Pride march in Wales—an event that fundamentally changed the nation’s LGBTQ+ landscape.
The current edition of the Pinc List features both established ‘national treasures’—those who have shaped public life and policy for years—and rising ‘ones to watch’ making fresh impacts in every region of the country. Among the “ones to watch,” figures like Lewis O’Donnell stand out for spearheading Pembrokeshire Pride’s evolution into a county-wide hub for LGBTQ+ support spanning health, emergency services, victim support, mental health, and more. Others, such as Hannah Gathercole, have made invaluable contributions to disability inclusion, forging accessible, creative spaces for neurodivergent adults and children, and ensuring marginalised voices have a home in public discourse.
The arts and sporting worlds are also well represented. Cerian Hedd and Cassidy Smith are commended for their creativity within Queertawe, an intergenerational project offering safe, sober community spaces in Swansea. Meanwhile, Will Shepherd’s Queer Voices Sport Podcast has become a platform for sportspeople and teams across Wales and the UK to share their experiences—counteracting historic underrepresentation. Community-driven organisers like Scott Davies (SWAGS – South Wales Gay Socials) and Julie Clayden (MyRounders) are actively combating isolation with regular events and inclusive sporting opportunities.
At the national level, well-established campaigners remain vital. Laura McAllister, a former Welsh international footballer and UEFA vice president, continues to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights on the world stage, while Norena Shopland’s tireless documentation of Welsh queer history ensures stories are preserved for future generations. Berwyn Rowlands, founder of the Iris Prize—the world’s largest short film award—has made Wales an international centre for LGBTQ+ media and storytelling.
The list is a celebration but not a declaration of mission accomplished. Despite the many triumphs—including robust representation within politics, health services, and creative industries—barriers persist. Lisa Power, among several ‘national treasures’ noted, combines a Lifetime Achievement Award from Gaydio with unwavering activism, reminding the public that whilst institutions increasingly recognise the LGBTQ+ community, discrimination and misinformation—especially around the rights of trans people—continue to be pressing challenges.
The Pinc List also highlights the achievements of individuals like Russell T Davies, whose influence reaches into households across the globe through his inclusive television works, and Jenny Anne Bishop CBE, who has transformed support for the trans community through volunteerism and education. Recognising the need for ongoing vigilance, each individual on the list speaks to the unfinished work of achieving genuine equality.
This weekend’s Pride Cymru parade, led by activists who marched in the first Welsh Pride four decades ago, is set to underline both victories won and the work yet to be done. The celebrations will continue in Bute Park, Cardiff, as thousands gather to reflect on the power of community and the importance of solidarity.
Congratulations go out to each person named in the Pinc List 2025—not just for their inclusion on the list, but for challenging stigma, uplifting Welsh queer life, and driving lasting change. Their stories offer inspiration for future generations and reinforce that Wales remains a nation determined to stand proud against adversity, wherever it may arise.
As we commemorate those on the Pinc List, it becomes increasingly clear that visibility, representation, and lived experience are essential tools in the fight for equality—and Wales’ LGBTQ+ community continues to exemplify courage in the pursuit of a fairer society for all.