A Letchworth woman has been recognised by a national newspaper as one of the most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Britain.

Transgender journalist and campaigner Jane Fae – who narrowly missed out on being elected as a Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation governor in September – has been placed at 86 out of 101 on The Independent on Sunday’s Rainbow List.

It is the third year running that Jane has appeared on the list, which was topped by EastEnders actor Riley Carter Millington, and includes model Cara Delevingne, journalist Owen Jones, the UK’s youngest MP Mhairi Black, as well as British Olympic medallists Tom Daley and Nicola Adams.

In the last year Jane – whose writing can be found in the Daily Mail as well as The Independent and the Guardian – has helped to defeat government plans to force transgender people to reveal their gender identity, and has worked with the Catholic Church to raise the trans profile.

Jane believes that her place on the list – which received more than 7,000 nominations – can only add weight to her writing and campaigning.

She said: “The most important aspect of this award is that it helps open doors.

“I am yet to commit the ultimate in Michael Winner faux pas and ask anyone: ‘Do you know who I am?’, but I am aware that when dealing with large organisations and government departments that they will often Google me before talking to me.

“If they are aware that I am known and influential in the community, then I am sure that helps make a difference.

“I am especially pleased to still be on the list despite such strong competition from hundreds of people who are equally entitled to be included.”

As well as campaigning nationally on the subject, Jane is just as determined to bring discussion about transgender issues into greater focus in her home town.

Jane – who also writes film reviews for the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation – is looking to set up a Letchworth Arts and Leisure Group called Letchworth Queered and plans for the first topic of discussion to be ‘From Superman to Deadpool: The Queering of the Superhero’.

She is also looking to run an art and literary competition in the new year on the theme ‘What would Sappho say?’ which will invite people to put together short creative submissions on the progress of women in the 21st century.

She added: “I have no idea what the future will bring, but I suspect I will be out there fighting for a new Gender Recognition Act and continuing to work at what I love doing best – being a professional nuisance.”