President of the Jewish Gay and Lesbian Group awarded in Queen’s Birthday Honours
An LGBT Jewish activist has been celebrated in the Queen’s Birthday Honours’ list.
Peggy Sherwood, who is president of the Jewish Gay and Lesbian Group (JGLG), was awarded an MBE for services to the Jewish LGBT+ community.
Ms Sherwood has served as the group’s president for 15 years, which this year celebrates its 45th anniversary.
She told PinkNews: “It was a truly memorable day and a huge honour for not only myself but the Jewish LGBT+ community as a whole.
“The work of JGLG over the last 45 years has been massively important for so many people who may have struggled with their sexuality but have finally found their home as LGBT+ Jews.”
The honour, given on behalf of the Queen, was awarded by her daughter, Princess Anne.
The biannual awards recognise exceptional work by British and Commonwealth citizens, most of whom are not known to the wider public.
In recent years the awards have been extended to people who have dedicated their lives to the LGBT community.
A total of 1,109 people have been recognised for their achievements in the 2017 Birthday Honours list.
Also honoured was Gary Hardman, who has helped thousands of gay and bisexual men in Manchester with a self-help group, Icebreakers, receives an OBE for services to the LGBT community.
Former director of Manchester’s LGBT Foundation, Gwynn Starkey, also received an OBE.
Nigel Patrick Harris, director of the Camden LGBT Forum and Babak Erfani, Chair of Archway LGBT Network, in north London, are also awarded OBEs.
One of the world’s most powerful LGBT business leaders, the boss of Australian airline Qantas Alan Joyce was named in the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
