Lady Phyll UK Black Pride
Phyll Opoku-Gyimah is the nucleus of the award-winning celebration and protest that is UK Black Pride.
Widely known as Lady Phyll – partly due to her decision to reject an MBE in the New Year’s Honours' list to protest Britain’s role in formulating anti-LGBTQI+ penal codes across its empire –she was also the executive director of Kaleidoscope Trust, an organisation working to uphold the human rights of LGBTQI+ people around the world; a community builder and organiser; an Albert Kennedy Trust patron, and a public speaker focusing on race, gender, sexuality and class.
With an honorary doctorate recognising her exceptional contributions, Lady Phyll's over two decades of dedication to human rights advocacy have left an indelible mark.
She's regularly called upon to advise nascent LGBTQI+ organisations around the world to help leaders create cogent organising strategies, establish robust partnership networks and work effectively in service of the LGBTQI+ community and inspire all who strive for equality and justice.
She is also the co-founder and CEO of UK Black Pride, Europe’s largest pride celebration for LGBT+ people of colour. Phyll is an experienced community builder and organiser; an Albert Kennedy Trust patron, and a writer and public speaker focusing on race, gender, sexuality and class. Lady Phyll is also the Secretary for TCEN - The Commonwealth Equality Network; a network of organisations challenging inequality based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics. The Network was set up to give a global voice to LGBTI+ communities across the Commonwealth and to support joint advocacy to provide an answer to the colonial legacy of homophobia – a Commonwealth solution to a Commonwealth problem.
● Phyll's surname is pronounced "Oh-poe-koo-JIM-ah"
● Phyll’s pronouns are she/her
● She should generally be referred to as Lady Phyll, or Phyll after the first introduction
● She should never be referred to as Phyllis
● Wikipedia page: Phyll Opoku-Gyimah
Awards and recognition
● Independent on Sunday Pink List, (2011 & 2012).
● Black LGBT Community Award.
● Big Society Award nomination (2012).
● World Pride Power List (2012).
● European Diversity Awards Campaigner of the Year in 2017.
● Pride Power List (2021, 2022, 2023).
● Honorary doctorate by London South Bank University (LSBU).
● British LGBT Awards.
● Lifetime Achievement Award.
● Radley handbags.
● Dr Martens boots
● 100 Great Black Britons
● Human Rights Advocate - worked with United Nations Independent Expert
● Lifetime Achievement Award - British LGBT+ Awards 2022
● Burberry Diversity Awards 2023 - Campaigner of the Year
● NYC Pride Grand Marshal
● Toronto Pride Grand Marshal
● Coordinator and director of Global Black Pride 2022
About UK Black Pride
Founded in 2005, UK Black Pride is Europe’s largest celebration for LGBTQ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Latin American descent, and is a safe space to celebrate diverse sexualities, gender identities, gender expressions and cultures. UK Black Pride organises an annual celebration during pride month, as well as a variety of activities throughout the year, which promote and advocate for the spiritual, emotional and intellectual health, and wellbeing of the communities we represent. ukblackpride.org.uk
Jacqui Rhule-Dagher is an associate in the complex commercial litigation group at Hogan Lovells International LLP. She assists clients with a range of legal issues including fraud, misrepresentation and contractual disputes.
Jacqui Rhule-Dagher Litigation Lawyer
Alongside her busy day job, Jacqui is also involved in a number of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Jacqui is part of the Hogan Lovells UK Pride Network Steering Committee. Notably, Jacqui is part of The Law Society’s LGBTQ+ Solicitors Network Steering Committee. Jacqui is one of just 16 lawyers from England and Wales to sit on the committee, which ensures that LGBTQIA lawyers can thrive within their organisations.
She is also the founder of Legally Lesbians. This initiative involves lesbians in the legal industry/in-house lawyers writing about their careers and reflecting on the importance of lesbian visibility. Legally Lesbians is published by DIVA Magazine. Impressively, 50 lesbians have taken part in Legally Lesbians.
Jacqui is very passionate about raising awareness around intersectionality. She has written for a number of publications about this topic including: City A.M., Thomson Reuters, The Lawyer, the Metro and Attitude Magazine.
Although Jacqui is a lawyer, her impact transcends the legal industry. She has spoken at Bloomberg, Burberry and ITN about the importance of increasing LGBTQIA representation in the City.
Awards and recognition
● Involve: Empower Future Leader Role Model List 2024 #2
● DIVA Awards 2024: Diversity Champion of the Year
● British LGBT+ Awards 2024: Top 12 Future Leader
● Attitude Magazine 2024: 101 Trailblazer
● Involve: Outstanding Future Leader List 2023
● Bank of London Rainbow Honours 2023
“Highly Commended” Financial Times Corporate Champion of the Year
Lawyer
● Jacqui’s surname is pronounced: Rule-Dag-ahh (rhymes with car)
● Jacqui’s pronouns are: she/her
● Social media: LinkedIn@Jacqui Rhule-Dagher
Social media > Jacqui Rhule-Dagher
