Mark Palmer Edgcumbe

A global search for the top 100 most influential lesbian, gay, bi sexual and transgender people of 2014 is underway.

The World Pride Power List will be published in The Guardian on 27 June and the British public are being asked to put forward the names of the people who they think deserve to be included on the high profile lineup.

Last year, business leaders including Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google’s Head of Diversity, Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe, BP CEO Paul Reed and RBS MD, Andi Keeling were all ranked highly.

Organisers say this years World Pride Power List is more important than ever given the recent anti-gay legislation passed by the Russian Parliament aimed at limiting the rights of the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and are calling on businesses to put forward to the names of high achieving and inspirational gay employees.

World Pride Power List’s Sarah Garett said: “Homosexuality remans illegal in 70 countries with penalties ranging from imprisonment to death. That is why it is so important to build a platform and celebrate role models who are out, proud and successful.

“This year, we’re asking members of the public to nominate inspirational people from all industries and we’re especially keen to hear about gay people from the business community who are achieving great things and becoming great gay role models in the workplace.”

The public can vote for their LGBT role models now by visiting www.worldpridepowerlist.com