This year has earned a reputation for being a bit, well, shit.
But as life is about light and darkness, we wanted to shine a light on some individuals who have made 2016 a year to remember.
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From the late greats David Bowie and George Michael whose deaths prompted an outpouring of fond memories, to the likes of Nicola Adams and Justine Greening who are trailblazers in their fields, here are a selection of British LGBT+ people who shone brightly.
There are far too many individuals in the community to mention, both UK-based and beyond, but weโve selected 14 people from the LGBT+ community who have helped make the world more inclusive, fair and a whole lot more fun, too.
Olly Alexander

Ian Gavan via Getty Images
Years and Yearsโ Olly Alexander gave an impassioned speech to empower members of the LGBT+ during the bandโs 2016 Glastonbury set.
โAs queer people, we know what itโs like to be scared and we know what itโs like to live with fear as part of our every day,โ he said.
โBut tonight, Glastonbury, Iโd like you to join me and say โno thank you, fearโ. To say โfear, byeโ. To literally shove a rainbow in fearโs face.
โAnd all I have to say to finish, is Iโm here, Iโm queer, and yes, sometimes Iโm afraid, but I am never ashamed because I am proud of who I am.โ
โAs queer people, we know what itโs like to be scared and we know what itโs like to live with fear as part of our every day,โ he said.
โBut tonight, Glastonbury, Iโd like you to join me and say โno thank you, fearโ. To say โfear, byeโ. To literally shove a rainbow in fearโs face.
โAnd all I have to say to finish, is Iโm here, Iโm queer, and yes, sometimes Iโm afraid, but I am never ashamed because I am proud of who I am.โ
Nicola Adams

YURI CORTEZ via Getty Images
Olympic champion and bisexual boxer Nicola Adams had a fantastic year at Rio 2016, which was swiftly followed by her winning the โPaving The Wayโ award at the MOBOs.
She said she hopes to use her celebrity status to inspire others and โdo more for the LGBT communityโ.
Adams, who is bisexual, was named the most influential LGBT individual in Britain by The Independent in 2012.
She said that she never tried to hide her sexuality.
Speaking to Vogue about coming out, she said: โNo oneโs ever really cared about me being bisexual and I only came out because I had always been out, itโs just the general public didnโt know. Iโm quite fearless. Iโm like, โLetโs just go out there and do this and see what happens.โ"
She said she hopes to use her celebrity status to inspire others and โdo more for the LGBT communityโ.
Adams, who is bisexual, was named the most influential LGBT individual in Britain by The Independent in 2012.
She said that she never tried to hide her sexuality.
Speaking to Vogue about coming out, she said: โNo oneโs ever really cared about me being bisexual and I only came out because I had always been out, itโs just the general public didnโt know. Iโm quite fearless. Iโm like, โLetโs just go out there and do this and see what happens.โ"
David Bowie

Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
In January the world was left bereft by the death of music legend David Bowie.
Speculation around his sexuality continued throughout his career and after his death, but one thing is for sure: he was a fearless, pioneering, queer icon.
The starโs death prompted many from the LGBT+ community to pay respects.
The NY Times described BOWIE as a โlifelineโ to many, who learned to follow in his footsteps and be themselves.
Speculation around his sexuality continued throughout his career and after his death, but one thing is for sure: he was a fearless, pioneering, queer icon.
The starโs death prompted many from the LGBT+ community to pay respects.
The NY Times described BOWIE as a โlifelineโ to many, who learned to follow in his footsteps and be themselves.
Ben Smith

Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
Ben Smith received a special recognition at BBCโs Sports Personality Of the Year Awards running 401 marathons in as many days.
The 34-year-old took on the challenge to raise funds and awareness for LGBT youth, who are bullied and targeted for their identity.
The equality campaigner, who was raising money for Stonewall and Kidscape, was bullied growing up.
He said: โI knew I was gay but I wasnโt ready to accept it. After five more years of the bullying more directed towards the sexuality side of things, thatโs when it really took its toll on me.
โThatโs when I tried to take my own life. I slipped into a state of depression, I didnโt even know who I was, and thatโs what made me sit up and think โI canโt do this anymore and my life needs to changeโ.โ
The 34-year-old took on the challenge to raise funds and awareness for LGBT youth, who are bullied and targeted for their identity.
The equality campaigner, who was raising money for Stonewall and Kidscape, was bullied growing up.
He said: โI knew I was gay but I wasnโt ready to accept it. After five more years of the bullying more directed towards the sexuality side of things, thatโs when it really took its toll on me.
โThatโs when I tried to take my own life. I slipped into a state of depression, I didnโt even know who I was, and thatโs what made me sit up and think โI canโt do this anymore and my life needs to changeโ.โ
Jack Monroe

Jack Monroe
The food blogger and poverty campaigner came out as non-binary transgender in 2015.
Monroe is the first public figure to do so, according to The Guardian, and ever since has has been tirelessly educating people about what it means to be trans and identify outside the binary construct of gender.
Monroe, who prefers the gender-neutral pronoun โtheyโ and title โMxโ, told HuffPost UK earlier this year about life as a non-binary parent.
โMy son knows that mum is like a girl sometimes and like a boy sometimes,โ Monroe explains. โI mean, if kids can pretend to be unicorns and astronauts, itโs surely not beyond their remit that a girl can be a boy and a boy can be a girl.โ
Monroe is the first public figure to do so, according to The Guardian, and ever since has has been tirelessly educating people about what it means to be trans and identify outside the binary construct of gender.
Monroe, who prefers the gender-neutral pronoun โtheyโ and title โMxโ, told HuffPost UK earlier this year about life as a non-binary parent.
โMy son knows that mum is like a girl sometimes and like a boy sometimes,โ Monroe explains. โI mean, if kids can pretend to be unicorns and astronauts, itโs surely not beyond their remit that a girl can be a boy and a boy can be a girl.โ
Charlie Craggs

Joanna Kiely
The 24-year-old transgender nail artist fighting transphobia one manicure at at time. Craggs, the founder of Nail Transphobia, travels the country doing peopleโs nails for free and talking to them about her experience of being transgender.
โThis gives me the chance to sit down with someone who has usually never met a trans person before but probably has a lot of misconceptions about us. I get the chance to bond with them while I paint their nails - they can ask me questions and I can teach them how to be an ally,โ she wrote in a blog for HuffPost UK.
Craggs came out three years ago. She said: โI soon realised that just because I was ready to accept myself, that didnโt mean the rest of the world was, and as expected my life became a lot harder with verbal, sexual and physical assault becoming a normal part of my everyday life as a trans person.โ
โThis gives me the chance to sit down with someone who has usually never met a trans person before but probably has a lot of misconceptions about us. I get the chance to bond with them while I paint their nails - they can ask me questions and I can teach them how to be an ally,โ she wrote in a blog for HuffPost UK.
Craggs came out three years ago. She said: โI soon realised that just because I was ready to accept myself, that didnโt mean the rest of the world was, and as expected my life became a lot harder with verbal, sexual and physical assault becoming a normal part of my everyday life as a trans person.โ
Mhairi Black

Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
The youngest MP to be elected in 300 years, Mhairi Black provides a voice for many often left unheard.
In an interview with Owen Jones for Attitude Magazine, she spoke about how Westminster is a boysโ club and how she is committed to breaking down barriers.
โIโm young, female, gay, Iโm SNP. Weโre hardly the most popular down in Westminster. But even when Iโm there, Iโm taken aback by โ in the first instance, how patronising some folk were, and in the second instance how sexist people were.โ
Earlier this year, the SNP MP also boldly took on Twitter trolls by turning a homophobic insult into a call for better LGBT rights.
In an interview with Owen Jones for Attitude Magazine, she spoke about how Westminster is a boysโ club and how she is committed to breaking down barriers.
โIโm young, female, gay, Iโm SNP. Weโre hardly the most popular down in Westminster. But even when Iโm there, Iโm taken aback by โ in the first instance, how patronising some folk were, and in the second instance how sexist people were.โ
Earlier this year, the SNP MP also boldly took on Twitter trolls by turning a homophobic insult into a call for better LGBT rights.
George Michael

DAVE J HOGAN VIA GETTY IMAGES
The superstar tragically passed away on Christmas Day, aged 53, to the disbelief and dismay of his global fan base.
Since his death, many stories of his kindness and philanthropic nature have surfaced, as well as his fearlessness in being loud and proud about his sexuality.
In an interview with Oprah, when asked whether he was concerned about losing fans after coming out, he said: โI have to be honest here, Iโm not really interested in selling records to people who are homophobic."
He added: โI donโt need the approval of people who donโt approve of me.โ
Since his death, many have taken to social media to explain how Michael helped them come out and accept themselves for who they truly are.
Since his death, many stories of his kindness and philanthropic nature have surfaced, as well as his fearlessness in being loud and proud about his sexuality.
In an interview with Oprah, when asked whether he was concerned about losing fans after coming out, he said: โI have to be honest here, Iโm not really interested in selling records to people who are homophobic."
He added: โI donโt need the approval of people who donโt approve of me.โ
Since his death, many have taken to social media to explain how Michael helped them come out and accept themselves for who they truly are.
Justine Greening

Toby Melville / Reuters
Greening came out as being in a same-sex relationship, making her the first female cabinet minister to do so.
She tweeted her announcement to coincide with London Pride festival, a celebration of the LGBT+ community. She even managed to get a sneaky EU Referendum joke in there saying: โTodayโs a good day to say Iโm in a happy same sex relationship, I campaigned for Stronger In but sometimes youโre better off out! #Pride2016โ
In July, she became the UKโs first ever LGBT Minister for Equalities, taking over from Nicky Morgan. She also became Education Secretary.
She tweeted her announcement to coincide with London Pride festival, a celebration of the LGBT+ community. She even managed to get a sneaky EU Referendum joke in there saying: โTodayโs a good day to say Iโm in a happy same sex relationship, I campaigned for Stronger In but sometimes youโre better off out! #Pride2016โ
In July, she became the UKโs first ever LGBT Minister for Equalities, taking over from Nicky Morgan. She also became Education Secretary.
Saara Aalto

David M. Benett via Getty Images
The X Factor finalist was the most successful LGBT female finalist on the show.
The show was widely criticised by fans who claim producers were โhidingโ Aaltoโs engagement to Meri Sopanen and Aaltoโs attraction to women.
Aalto, who left her long-term boyfriend for her fiancee, told Diva Magazine: "I've always known gender doesn't matter for me. But now, being with a woman, it's hard to imagine going back to men.โ
The show was widely criticised by fans who claim producers were โhidingโ Aaltoโs engagement to Meri Sopanen and Aaltoโs attraction to women.
Aalto, who left her long-term boyfriend for her fiancee, told Diva Magazine: "I've always known gender doesn't matter for me. But now, being with a woman, it's hard to imagine going back to men.โ
Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah

Southbank Centre
Earlier this year Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah turned down an MBE from the 2016 New Yearโs Honours List in protest of the persecution of LGBTQI people in the Commonwealth.
Lady Phyll, who is the founder of UK Black Pride, is one of the foremost queer, black activists in the UK.
She told DIVA magazine: โAs a trade unionist, a working class girl, and an out black African lesbian, I want to stand by my principles and values.
โIf youโre a member of a minority - or multiple minorities - itโs important to be visible as a role model for others [and] for your successes to be seen.โ
Lady Phyll, who is the founder of UK Black Pride, is one of the foremost queer, black activists in the UK.
She told DIVA magazine: โAs a trade unionist, a working class girl, and an out black African lesbian, I want to stand by my principles and values.
โIf youโre a member of a minority - or multiple minorities - itโs important to be visible as a role model for others [and] for your successes to be seen.โ
Alan Turing

HERITAGE IMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGES
Another posthumous entry is for Alan Turing, the Second World War computer scientist who cracked the Enigma Code. He was convicted for homosexuality in 1952 and died two years later in an apparent suicide. Turing received a pardon in 2013.
In October 2016, it was announced that tens of thousands of men will also be pardoned after being convicted of offences before homosexual acts were decriminalised in 1967.
The move has been dubbed the โAlan Turing Lawโ. Although many convicted are refusing to accept the controversial pardoning.
In October 2016, it was announced that tens of thousands of men will also be pardoned after being convicted of offences before homosexual acts were decriminalised in 1967.
The move has been dubbed the โAlan Turing Lawโ. Although many convicted are refusing to accept the controversial pardoning.
Amy Lamรฉ (pictured with Sadiq Khan)

Victoria Jones/PA Wire
In November, Lamรฉ became Londonโs first Night Tzar, with the task of transforming the city's nightlife.
Appointed by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, the DJ and entertainer will help London become a bustling 24-hour city following the opening of the night tube service on weekends.
She said: "For too long, the capital's night-time industry has been under pressure - music venues and nightclubs in particular are closing at an alarming rate."
Lamรฉ is best known as a comedian, with one-woman shows such as Gay Man Trapped in a Lesbianโs Body. She co-founded the Duckie arts collective which performs at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, south London, and claims to have written the first gay history book for children.
Appointed by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, the DJ and entertainer will help London become a bustling 24-hour city following the opening of the night tube service on weekends.
She said: "For too long, the capital's night-time industry has been under pressure - music venues and nightclubs in particular are closing at an alarming rate."
Lamรฉ is best known as a comedian, with one-woman shows such as Gay Man Trapped in a Lesbianโs Body. She co-founded the Duckie arts collective which performs at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, south London, and claims to have written the first gay history book for children.
David Mundell

Roberto Ricciuti via Getty Images
Scottish secretary David Mundell came out in January 2016, making him the first openly gay Conservative cabinet minister.
In a very personal announcement made on his website, Mundell wrote about the difficulties he faced coming out in public.
โOver time, I came to understand that, for me, the only way to be truly happy on a personal level is to acknowledge in public as well as in private, who I am,โ he wrote.
โOther than the intensely personal and positive difference it makes to me, and the way I can live my life, my hope is that my coming out doesnโt change anything else about how I go about my work or how people treat me. Gender and sexuality should make no difference whether you are a Cabinet Minister or in any other walk of life and I hope that I can, in my own way, reinforce that message.โ
In a very personal announcement made on his website, Mundell wrote about the difficulties he faced coming out in public.
โOver time, I came to understand that, for me, the only way to be truly happy on a personal level is to acknowledge in public as well as in private, who I am,โ he wrote.
โOther than the intensely personal and positive difference it makes to me, and the way I can live my life, my hope is that my coming out doesnโt change anything else about how I go about my work or how people treat me. Gender and sexuality should make no difference whether you are a Cabinet Minister or in any other walk of life and I hope that I can, in my own way, reinforce that message.โ