WINNERS 2025
Rainbow Honours announce 2025 winners
On, Friday 27th June, the Rainbow Honours, headline sponsored by Paramount, took place at the beautiful London Hilton on Park Lane. A night that shines a light on the unsung heroes in the LGBTQIA community who dedicate themselves year long round to driving change, and championing equality.
Sinitta, Mark Foster and Dame Arlene Phillips were amongst just some of the star-studded names who came out to support the event. The evening was hosted by Comedian Stephen Bailey, with music from Kathy Sledge (Sister Sledge), and brought together extraordinary people and groups whose efforts significantly advance inclusion and equality for the LGBTQIA community, spearheaded by trailblazing icon and founder of Rainbow Honours Linda Riley.
In the public facing categories, Actor, best known for her stand out role in Heartstopper, Yasmin Finney, won Celebrity LGBTQIA Champion of the Year, for navigating sex and relationships as a trans woman through her character Elle. Award-winning trans advocate Ella Morgan won the prestigious Influencer of the Year award, praised for her fierce advocacy for the trans community, and Sally Lindsay won the coveted Celebrity Ally of the Year award.
The historic Eastenders wedding between Suki and Eve, making the first lesbian wedding in the show’s history, picked up Media Moment of the Year award, received by Balvinder Sopal who plays the role of Suki. Actress and singer-
songwriter Anthony Lexa won Musician of the Year. Best known for her role as Abbi Montgomery in British comedy-drama Sex Education, she is also an up and coming indie pop artist, releasing her first single in September 2023. British Lawyer and former Judge Victoria McCloud won distinguished Outstanding Commitment to the LGBTQIA Community, who made history as the UK’s first openly transgender judge.
Founder of the Rainbow Honours Linda Riley, says “Tonight has been a particularly special evening to highlight those in our LGBTQIA community, and our allies, who consistently advocate and champion the diversity of our rainbow community. When stories of homophobia are rife across media, it’s so important for us to take a stand and shine a light on the positivity in the community, and filling rooms like these with stories of hope and celebration.”
Whilst progress has been made, LGBTQIA individuals still face discrimination in the workplace, in education and across social media, with Rainbow Honours recognising and rewarding inspiring heroes with stand out awards. UK Black Pride won Charity of the Year, Virgin Media O2 won Outstanding LGBTQIA Network of the Year, and Haleon won the highly esteemed Organisation of the Year award.
Not only do the awards celebrate individual celebrities, but also recognises, celebrates and honours individuals through the Corporate Ally of the Year, won by Priyanka Patel (Colgate-Palmolive) Inspirational Role Model of the Year won by Adelle Barker (Sky UK Ltd), LGBTQIA Network Lead of the Year, won by Jon Hilton (Virgin Atlantic) and Head of Diversity of the Year won by Ian Tomney-Bell (giffgaff); with each person setting standards for others to follow to promote their values, and continuously take a stand for fairness and equality.
RAINBOW HONOURS 2025 – WINNERS AND HIGHLY COMMENDED
ICON AWARD
WINNER
Kathy Sledge
INSPIRATIONAL ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Adelle Barker – Sky UK Ltd
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Greg Turner-Smart – Rolls-Royce SMR
ALLIANZ COMMERCIAL – CAMPAIGNER OR INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Ella Morgan
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Lady Phyll
MYGWORK – OUTSTANDING LGBTQIA NETWORK OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Pride – Amey
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Plus – Sopra Steria
OUTSTANDING LGBTQIA NETWORK OF THE YEAR (UTILITIES)
WINNER
Proudly – Virgin Media O2
HIGHLY COMMENDED
+ – Centrica
OUTSTANDING LGBTQIA NETWORK OF THE YEAR (FINANCE, LEGAL AND BANKING)
WINNER
equaliTW – Taylor Wessing
HIGHLY COMMENDED
OpenAG – Addleshaw Goddard
CORECRUITMENT – CORPORATE LGBTQIA CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Marie-Helene Tyack – Allianz Commercial
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Motie Bring – PPRO
CENTRICA – COMMUNITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
WINNER
UK Black Pride
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Trans+ History Week
HEAD OF DIVERSITY OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Ian Tomney-Bell – giffgaff
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Vijay Chohan – British Airways
DEUTSCHE BANK – CORPORATE ALLY OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Priyanka Patel – Colgate-Palmolive
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Rachael Somerset – Level
CBRE – OUTSTANDING NETWORK LEAD OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Jon Hilton – Virgin Atlantic
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Bryn Jones – viiv Healthcare & James Wood – GSK
GSK – GLOBAL LGBTQIA INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
WINNER – Workpride Global Conference 2024
myGwork
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Paris 2024 Summer Olympics – Pride House
LARGE BRAND OR ORGANISATION OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Haleon
HIGHLY COMMENDED
DHL Group
DENOVO LEGAL SERVICES – MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Anthony Lexa
HIGHLY COMMENDED
NOAHFINNCE
CHARITY OF THE YEAR
WINNER
LGBT Foundation
PARAMOUNT – CELEBRITY ALLY OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Sally Lindsay
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Dame Arlene Phillips DBE
HSBC INNOVATION BANKING – MEDIA MOMENT OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Eastenders – Suki And Eve Wedding
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Hunted – Jaxon Feeley winning
SEDULO – CELEBRITY LGBTQIA CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
WINNER
Yasmin Finney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Cynthia Erivo
OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY
WINNER
Victoria McCloud
