Category talk:Pink List 2008 Unsung heroes

Antony Grey, former secretary of the Homosexual Law Reform Society, which won a change in the law in 1967. He argued, unsuccessfully, for equalising the age of consent for gay people to 16, in line with heterosexuals, when the law was changed in 1994. The age of consent for gay men was eventually lowered to 16 in 2001. Now in his 80s, Mr Grey has never received an honour.

Lindsay River is a veteran member of Polari since 1993, an organisation for older gay people. Now 61, she has been an activist on lesbian and gay rights since 1972. She has also worked extensively with the charity Age Concern and she is researching the experience of lesbian, gay and bisexual groups in the health service.

James Rowlands set up the Dyn Project in Cardiff in 2005. The project was one of Britain's first gay men's domestic violence refuges and has since set up a national helpline in Wales. Rowlands is now a domestic abuse co-ordinator in the London borough of Richmond, and co-chair of the national Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Abuse forum.

Finn Mackay, 30, is a member of the Feminist Coalition Against Prostitution, who works on combating homophobic bullying in London schools. She is a women's rights activist.

Rikki Beadle-Blair is a gay black television, radio and theatre actor who was brought up by his mother and her lesbian partner. He co-wrote, directed and starred in the TV series 'Metrosexuality', an account of growing up as a child with gay parents. He also travelled to Jamaica to challenge attitudes to homosexuality among reggae musicians. Now works on combating homophobia in schools.

Rob Berkeley is director of the Runnymede Trust, which builds trust between minority ethnic communities and policymakers. He is also chairman of the Black Gay Men's Advisory Group.

Lisa Power has been a lesbian activist since 1970, she is a one-time secretary-general of the International Lesbian and Gay Association and a former member of the gay-rights pressure group Stonewall. Now head of policy at the Terrence Higgins Trust.

Shirley Pierce was bullied as a teacher and brought a pioneering case against her school, which led to new employment laws being passed. The barrister who argued the case against her in court was Cherie Booth.

Jo Chastney, 23, is the UK's top snowboarder. She became the British Quicksilver Snowboard Big Air and Snowboardcross champion in 2007. Last year, she was also nominated for Stonewall's sportsperson of the year award.

Cindy Gilmour runs the pioneering Orange Clinic in west London for lesbians. The specialist clinic provides sexual health advice and screening by appointment for London's lesbian community.