The head of arts for London's 2012 Olympics, Sarah Weir,
features in the annual New Year's Honours list.
She has been appointed an OBE - Order of the British Empire - for
services to the Arts.
Weir, who was educated at Birckbeck College and was formerly a
Stonewall trustee, is openly-gay. She was formerly the Executive
Director at Arts Council England and
Executive Director at London's Almeida
Theatre.
"Now is an exciting time. The modern Olympics were based on the
three pillars of culture, education and sport," she said during an
alumni interview with Birckbeck College.
"My role is to ensure that the Arts, in the broadest sense, are
represented in the Olympic Park during and after
the 2012 Games. I want London's creativity to come alive involving
as many people as possible."
Jeff Dudgeon, whose 1982 legal challenge led to the
decriminalisation of homosexual acts between men in Northern
Ireland, will be honoured with an MBE for services to the Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.
Meanwhile, Jess Wood will also receive the MBE distinction for
starting Brighton's Allsorts youth project more than eleven years
ago.
Since then it has helped countless lesbian and gay youngsters from
across the country.
