Irish LGBT equality campaigners Dr Lydia Foy, Sen David Norris, Sen Katherine Zappone,  Ann Louise Gilligan, Panti Bliss (Rory O’Neill), Ursula Halligan and Una Mullally have been included in The Independent on Sunday’s Rainbow List 2015.

The annual Rainbow List 2015, compiled and published by The Independent, included influential Irish equality campaigners among those who “made waves” across the globe for LGBT equality.

Joining international honourees like Ellen Page and Laverne Cox, the Irish campaigners were named as being instrumental in Ireland’s successful referendum for equal marriage and their work in securing gender recognition for trans citizens.

Dr Lydia Foy, who became the first trans person to receive the European Parliament’s Citizen’s Prize, was named as a key player in the Irish trans rights movement. Drag queen and “accidental activist” Panti Bliss (Rory O’Neill) and Irish Times columnist Una Mullally were also mentioned for their tireless campaigning. TV3 political editor, Ursula Halligan was included for her emotional declaration of her sexuality in light of the same-sex marriage referendum.

Senator David Norris, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office, was named for his part in the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland in 1993, as well as Senator Katherine Zappone and her wife Ann Louise Gilligan being among the first campaigners to push for marriage equality in Ireland.

It took nine judges more than seven hours to decide who would appear on the Rainbow List 2015, after receiving thousands of public nominations.