Paul Martin in list

Paul Martin OBE, CEO of Leading Charity, Features on The Independent's Pink List 2013

Paul Martin OBEPaul Martin OBE, Chief Executive of The Lesbian & Gay Foundation, has been included in The Independent on Sunday's Pink List for 2013, alongside Paris Lees, Claire Balding and Peter Tatchell.

13 October 2013 – The annual Independent on Sunday Pink List, published today, Sunday 13th October 2013, features Britain’s most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The Independent states; 'Every year we ask ourselves if the Pink List has become pointless or irrelevant. Is there any need to highlight the contribution of gay people to British life when discrimination is illegal and equal marriage is soon to become a fact? But every year we are convinced it still has a place. Since its inception in 2000, the list has grown from 50 people who seemed quite rare and brave, to 101 people...We think that is cause for celebration'

This year saw over 1,300 nominations run past a panel of judges to create a final list of 101 people. 2013 features people from Paris Lees who tops the list as an award winning journalist, broadcaster and transgender rights activist all the way through to Iain Dale, the popular and hard hitting blogger who's listed at 101.

Paul Martin OBE, is Chief Executive of charity The Lesbian & Gay Foundation, and has been a leading figure in the LGB&T community for over 20 years.
 
Driven by his own experiences of discrimination, Paul co-founded Healthy Gay Manchester (HGM) in 1994. In 2000, HGM merged with Manchester Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, one of the UK's longest serving telephone helplines supporting lesbian, gay and bisexual people, to form The Lesbian & Gay Foundation, where Paul took on the role of Chief Executive.
 
The Lesbian & Gay Foundation is based in the heart of Manchester's LGB&T village and is a leading charity fighting for and supporting lesbian, gay and bisexual people. It provides a range of services including counselling, HIV testing, events for women, support groups, a sexual health programme, anti-homophobia projects in schools, a regional magazine and a long-established helpline. The charity supports hundreds of thousands of people each year, and continues to see a rise in demand for its wide range of services.
 
Paul comments; "To be featured on the list is a real privilege. I am always inspired to achieve greater things for the LGB&T community"

Of the list, and his place on it, Paul said, "This is as much for all of the fantastic staff and volunteers at The Lesbian & Gay Foundation who work tirelessly every day to make such a fantastic difference in people's lives - thank you for everything.  It's also a great way of honouring all of the fantastic LGB&T work that happens.  A massive congratulations to all of the other very worthy nominees from the LGB&T sector - I feel very privileged to be in such amazing company."

Paul has been instrumental in developing services for LBG&T people and comments; "In the early days, I was the only Chief Officer of a gay and bisexual men's charity who was contemplating broadening our remit to work with lesbian and bisexual women"

Paul credits his drive to what made him become involved to begin with, though he admits he has changed as a person in the time between; "I've never forgotten people I love dying from HIV; that was a massive motivator for me in the early days of my career and that's never left me"

In June 2011 Paul was awarded an Order of the British Empire, Officer Class for services to the community. He has been highlighted by Attitude magazine in their role models issue, is a non-executive director of NHS Manchester, sits on the board of Gaydio and is also Chair of The National LGB&T Partnership which is a strategic partner of The Department of Health.

Paul is a member of the Steering Group for the development of ACEVO North, The Equality & Human Rights Commission Stakeholder Group and is also on the Points 4 Life board.

visit - For the full list Independent on Sunday's Pink List

For more information The Lesbian & Gay Foundation visit – www.lgf.org.uk

Published: 17-Oct-2013: (2103)