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25 October 2011: Professor honoured in Pink List 2011

Appearing alongside Sir Elton John, Beverley Knight and Sir Ian McKellen, Professor Ken Plummer has received a lifetime achievement award from the Independent on Sunday's Pink List 2011.

The Pink List celebrates unsung heroes and heroines who 'make life as a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person better'. Professor Plummer has dedicated many years of research to lesbian and gay studies and pioneered the sociological study of gay life in the 1960s.

Nigel South, a colleague and former student of Professor Plummer, said: "Ken was a gay activist at the height of CHE (the Campaign for Homosexual Equality), has been a visionary teacher who has taught generations of students about the sociology of ‘deviance’ – including me - and changed views, ideas and prejudices. He remains an immensely productive and internationally recognised writer, researcher and intellectual commentator on gay issues."

Despite retiring in 2006 Professor Plummer still plays an active role in the department, is Editor of the Journal of Sexualities and continues to write books on the topic. He was also recently honoured by the British Sociological Association who held a day conference devoted to his work on 17 October 2011 at the British Library. Professor Rob Stones, Dean of Social Sciences at Essex, was a key commentator at this very successful event.