Phyllis Opoku-Gyimah, widely known as Lady Phyll, is a prominent equality campaigner and the founder and CEO of UK Black Pride, the world’s largest celebration for LGBTQ+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Latin American heritage. Through her leadership the organisation has grown from a small grassroots gathering in 2005 into a major cultural and political movement advocating for inclusion, visibility and justice.

Born in London to Ghanaian parents, Lady Phyll has long championed an intersectional approach to activism, recognising that people can experience multiple forms of discrimination at once. She founded UK Black Pride to create a space where Black and racially minoritised LGBTQ+ communities could feel seen, supported and celebrated, particularly at a time when many felt overlooked within both mainstream Pride events and wider society.

Today UK Black Pride attracts tens of thousands of people each year and provides a platform for celebration, advocacy and community connection. Alongside the annual event, the organisation runs programmes, partnerships and campaigns that amplify Black LGBTQ+ voices and influence wider conversations about equality and representation.

Beyond UK Black Pride, Lady Phyll has played an important role in the international equality movement. She currently serves as Executive Director of the DIVA Charitable Trust and previously served as Executive Director of the Kaleidoscope Trust, supporting LGBTQ+ rights globally, and has advised and worked with numerous organisations across the equality sector.

Lady Phyll’s work has helped reshape how Pride is understood in the UK, placing intersectionality and community leadership at its centre. Through her activism she has created space for communities that have often been marginalised, ensuring their voices, experiences and leadership are recognised and celebrated.