Anne Lister, who became notorious for her lesbian love affairs in Yorkshire during the 1800s

A civic trust who put up a plaque to remember Britain's first 'modern lesbian' are under pressure to take it down because it describes her as 'gender-nonconforming'.

York Civic Trust teamed up with York LGBT Forum and The Churches Conservation Trust to erect the £1,000 Anne Lister tribute on July 24.

It was hung at the entrance to Holy Trinity Church, where Lister and her partner Ann Walker stood side-by-side in a symbolic communion in 1834.

Lister, a wealthy Yorkshire landowner, kept secret diaries stretching 27 volumes which chronicled her life and same-sex relationships in intimate detail - and were so explicit they remained hidden for years after her death.

The BBC is planning a series about Lister, played by Suranne Jones, called Gentleman Jack.

Lister was given the nickname because of her love of what were considered male pursuits at the time, such as shooting and riding.

But the trust who tried to honour her memory with the plaque have come under fire for referring to her as gender-nonconforming instead of lesbian.

The BBC is planning a series about Lister, played by Suranne Jones, called Gentleman Jack

Adorned with a rainbow border in a nod to the LGBT rainbow flag, it acknowledges Lister's celebration of 'marital commitment' at Holy Trinity Church.

It has provoked outrage, with more than 2,000 people signing a petition calling for the tribute to be taken down.

Petition organiser Julie Furlong said: 'Anne is an iconic figure to lesbians throughout West Yorkshire particularly.

'This has quite rightly has offended and angered many people in York and West Yorkshire.

'A gender nonconforming woman can be many things because it only means that you do not conform to societal expectations. It has nothing to do with sexuality.

'Anne Lister was, most definitely, gender non-conforming all her life. She was also however, a lesbian.

'That is why she took vows with her girlfriend in that church, because they were in love with each other and wanted to express that same sex love - the very definition of lesbianism.'

Controversial: A petition has been signed calling for the plaque to be taken down because it describes Lister as 'gender-nonconforming' rather than 'lesbian'

Calling for more signatures, she added: 'Don't let them erase this iconic woman from our history. Anne Lister was a lesbian.'

York Civic Trust said in a statement: 'The intention of the plaque is to recognise the impact Anne Lister has had on so many people and to celebrate an important figure and moment in LGBT history.

'While we've received many positive responses to the plaque, we are really sorry that there are also many people who feel let down by the plaque's wording.

The ceremony to mark the unveiling of the plaque on July 24 outside Holy Trinity Church in York, where Lister and her partner Ann Walker cemented their union in 1834

'The wording was shaped by several open consultations held with York's LGBT community.

'It was intended to highlight Anne Lister and Ann Walker's deep commitment to each other, to reflect Anne's gender-nonconforming presentation, to raise the profile of queer history and to celebrate an LBGT icon.

'The phrase 'gender-nonconforming' was not intended to be read as a replacement for the word 'lesbian'.

'However, we understand and accept that it has been read in this way. We recognise that this has hurt people, and we apologise.

'We've heard the criticism and we're open to the idea of updating the plaque in the near future.'