Jackie Crozier, who has led Manchester Pride for four years and been a part for the organisation for six, featured as a ‘new entry’ at #87 on this year’s Pink List in The Independent newspaper.

The nominations, made up of who readers would describe as “unsung heroes and heroines who make life as a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person better” was looked over by a panel of expert judges and who then produced the one hundred strong list from over 1,500 nominations.

In response to making this year’s list, Jackie said: “I feel extremely proud to have been chosen as a part of this list, alongside entertainers, campaigners and artists who each contribute so much to the LGBT community in their own way, and continue to help us pursue equality. Congratulations to all those who made the list – it is a very deserving group of one hundred, and I hope we can all continue on to do our bit for our community.”

Also featuring in this year’s list are Manchester Pride patrons and friends, actress and singer Heather Peace and actor Antony Cotton, at numbers seven and ten respectively. Hollyoaks actor Kieron Richardson, Manchester Pride’s newest patron has also been named by the list as a ‘national treasure’.

Heather Peace said: “I’m thrilled to be a part of this year’s Pink List. I think it is important for LGBT people who are often in the media to be out and proud, and to encourage others to feel comfortable with who they are and strive to reach their full potential. It is a responsibility and I think this list is a great way of acknowledging the many men and women who do this!”

At the top of this year’s Pink List is Elly Barnes, a music teacher, trainer and diversity manager who has been praised for “eradicating homophobia in her school, and is now helping others do the same”. Others on the list include musicians Jessie J (#3) and Will Young (#16), stage and screen writer Jonathan Harvey (#48) and journalist Patrick Strudwick (#70).