Earlier this month The Guardian published it’s list of the 100 most influential LGBT people of the year.  Not an easy thing to rate in my opinion, how influential a person is is very subjective, especially when you are talking about a minority group.  You guessed it, this list is chock full of celebrity with a few politicians thrown in to take the harm out of it.  From 100 to 11 the list includes broadcasters, MPs, musicians and actors, but lets take a look at the coveted top 10.

Two American politicians, three TV personalities, two actors, a retired athlete, an entrepreneur and the ceo of an international corporation.

1: Jane Lynch – actor

2: Lord Alli – Labour peer and entrepreneur

3: Gok Wan – TV presenter

4: Barney Frank – US politician

5: Tammy Baldwin – US politician

6: Tim Cook – chief executive of Apple

7: Sir Ian McKellen – actor

8: Martina Navratilova – former tennis player

9: Ellen DeGeneres – actor

10: Clare Balding – sports presenter

I have said many times here on Gaelick that I admire and appreciate the visibility that out and proud celebrities bring to houses up and down the country.  The positivity from the courage a person shows in coming out can’t be underestimated but is Gok Wan really the third most influential LGBT person of 2012?  Surely Chaz Bono at no. 19 on the list should make the top five over a fashion TV personality, all be it one I admire for his work on promoting a healthy body image.  Look at the likes of Peter Tatchell at no 17 and Elio Di Rupo at no 20, is Lord Alli really our no 2 when you look at the influence of some others?

Some people didn’t make the list at all, where are Rachel Maddow, David Norris and Chely Wright?  Maddow reports on her own show on American TV every night, Norris ran for President of Ireland and Wright opened the Like Me Lighthouse, surely these people have had a wonderful influence on their societies more than some on the Guardian’s list?

I admire the Guardian for putting the list together and there is no doubt that the likes of Jane Lynch, Barney Frank and Ellen Degeneres are well worth their places, but I do question their definition of influential when I read through the names and dissect their order.

What do you think?  Who have they misplaced or left out altogether?