AN ACTIVIST described as “one of this century’s most influential gay men” has urged teenagers to help push gay rights to the top of the political agenda.

Peter Tatchell wowed sixth formers at Forest School in Snaresbrook when he visited them last week (Thursday, October 13).

Often described as a “national hero”, Mr Tatchell has been a human rights campaigner and LGBT activist for 60 years.

He helped organise the UK’s first ever Gay Pride in 1972, was a key figure in the Gay Liberation Front, and now works with the Peter Tatchell Foundation to tackle inequality around the world.

As well as risking slamming Robert Mugabe’s violence against the LGBT community in Zimbabwe, he was also attacked after going to Moscow’s first ever Pride festival in 2006.

He reminded sixth formers at the school in College Place that around two thirds of Commonwealth countries still criminalise homosexuality and urged them to write to their MPs on the issue ahead of this year’s Commonwealth conference.

After answering questions on everything from Caitlyn Jenner to the age of consent, Year 13 student Maisie Folan thanked Mr Tatchell for “giving a voice to the voiceless” through his lifetime’s work fighting for social justice.