The Rainbow List 2014: We need your help to identify gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who make a difference

Who do you think has made a difference to British life in the past year?

Clockwise from left: Ruth Davidson, Clare Balding, Charlie Condou, Tom Daley

Welcome to The Rainbow List 2014 - the new name for the well-loved Independent on Sunday Pink List, now in its 15th year.

Much has changed since the list was launched in 2000, but there is still progress to be made.

Same-sex marriages have been taking place since this March – and yet many couples with civil partnerships continue to be frustrated in their attempts to be given something as simple as a marriage certificate.

Make your nominations here

Sportsmen such as Tom Daley and Ian Thorpe have shown this year that they don’t have to hide their sexuality – but we’re still not going to be able to celebrate on this year’s List a single male British footballer who hasn’t retired from the professional game.

The group of 50 people who took the then-slightly bold step of being named on the 2000 Pink List may have seen as well as led and inspired a great deal of progress, but it’s not over yet.

“2014 has been an incredible year for Gay rights, not least with marriage for gay men and women finally being made legal,” says the actor, writer, campaigner and 2012 Attitude Man of the Year Charlie Condou, who will join our expert judging panel this year. “But we still have a long way to go before prejudice is stamped out and we have true equality. I’m proud to be a judge for The Independent on Sunday’s Rainbow List because I think it’s really important to recognise and honour members of the LGBT community who continue to strive for equality; not just celebrities, but those who really work hard to make a difference every single day.”

The final list will be published on Sunday 9 November, but before our judges get to work on debating what influence entails and how to compare politicians against campaigners, activists against actors, we need your help. Who do you think has made a difference to British life in the past year? Would you vote Yes for the Scottish Conservatives’ leader Ruth Davidson? Does Clare Balding’s latest best-selling book make her your number one? Or is there an unsung hero or heroine we should know about?

* You can nominate as many times as you like at www.independent.co.uk/rainbowlist, by emailing rainbowlist@independent.co.uk, or by post at Pink List, The Independent on Sunday, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF

Let us know what you think on Twitter using the hashtag #RainbowList2014, or write to sundayletters@independent.co.uk.

The Independent on Sunday Rainbow List is proudly supported by Grange Hotels