Revealing the 2025 Curve Power List

Nik Harris

Nik Harris (she/they) is a queer, gender non-conforming attorney, activist, and speaker from Tallahassee, Florida. A graduate of Florida A&M and Florida State University College of Law, they are licensed to practice in Florida and Washington, D.C. Nik is VP of Strategic Initiatives at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization and was Florida’s first LGBTQ+ Cabinet appointee. They are a certified DEI trainer, co-founder of Thou Art Woman and BLINC, and serve on the board of TransInclusive Group. @Queer_Nik

Queen Hollins

Queen Hollins (she/her) is an elder queer Black Indigenous healer, Community Icon, Author (Earth Doula), and the Founder and Director of the Earthlodge Center for Transformation (the Earthlodge). Rooted in Mississippi tradition, Queen came to understand that the legacy of African American Indigenous healing practices that she inherited from her grandmother could be adapted to serve urban communities. www.earthlodgecenter.org

Kim L. Hunt

Kim L. Hunt (she/her) is a Black queer woman whose leadership spans over 25 years in Chicago and beyond. She is executive director of Pride Action Tank (PAT), a project of AIDS Foundation Chicago, a leader in improving the lives of LGBTQ+ communities. She has served on several boards and local and state commissions that address race and LGBTQ inequities. Kim has been a live commentator for the Pride Parade for ABC Chicago since 2022 and is a founding co-host of OUTSpoken: LGBTQ Storytelling! in Chicago. @khunt62

Mary Morten

Mary F. Morten (she/her) is an activist, consultant, and filmmaker. As President of Morten Group, a national, multiracial, cross-generational consulting group of professionals focused on helping to build anti-racist organizations in the nonprofit, foundation, and for-profit fields, Mary co-founded the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance (ISSA), a statewide advocacy organization for LGBTQ+ youth in 2007. Mary is the first Black woman and out lesbian to serve as board chair of the Chicago Foundation for Women. @marymorten

Sonya Passi

Sonya Passi (she/her) is the founder of FreeFrom, a grassroots nonprofit organization in the US dedicated to helping survivors of gender-based violence achieve economic justice and long-term financial stability. To date, FreeFrom has served over 30,000 survivors and successfully advocated for legislation and corporate policy that has created new financial protections for more than 12 million survivors in the US. She’s helped disburse over $2.2MM in emergency cash grants to survivors across the US and Puerto Rico, and supported nearly 2,000 survivors in saving nearly $1MM via FreeFrom’s Savings Match Program. @freefromdotorg

Favianna Rodriguez

Favianna Rodriguez (she/her) is an American visual artist and activist known for her work in political posters, graphic arts, and public art. Her artwork topics include global politics, economic injustice, interdependence, patriarchy, migration, and sexual liberation. She worked as a director of the National Arts Organization CultureStrike, in which writers, visual artists, and performers engage in migrant rights. @favianna1

Melanie Willingham-Jaggers

Melanie Willingham-Jaggers (they/she) is the first Black, non-binary Executive Director of GLSEN. Founded in 1990, GLSEN is a national network championing safe and inclusive school environments and curricula, with its headquarters located in New York. Willingham-Jaggers has an extensive background in social justice work and LGBTQ+ services. From 2016 to 2019 they worked for The Audre Lorde Project which is a “Community Organizing Center for LGBTSTGNC People of Color Communities. @glsen

Raquel Willis

Raquel Willis (she/her) is an award-winning author, activist, and media strategist dedicated to collective liberation, especially for Black trans folks. She is the co-founder of the Gender Liberation Movement and an executive producer with iHeartMedia’s first-ever LGBTQ+ podcast network, Outspoken. Raquel hosts two podcast series: AfterLives and Queer Chronicles. She is also the author of The Risk it Takes to Bloom: On Life and Liberation, which was published via St. Martin’s Press in November of 2023 to critical acclaim. Raquel served as the Grand Marshal for NYC Pride in 2024 and was named one of TIME’s Women of the Year in 2025. @raquel_willis

Len Barot/Radclyffe

Len Barot (she/her), the founder of Bold Strokes Books, has spent her publishing career championing queer voices and stories. Writing as Radclyffe, she’s the author of over 75 lesbian novels and a three-time Lambda Literary Award winner. Recognized as a trailblazer in romance and named an Advocate Woman of the Year in 2021, her mission has been to provide a platform where queer voices can thrive—enriching, validating, and preserving the stories of our struggles and triumphs in a world that still too often tries to erase them. @radclyffebsb

Glennon Doyle

Glennon Doyle (she/her) is an author and queer activist known for her books “Untamed,” “Love Warrior,” (both #1 New York Times Bestsellers) and “Carry On, Warrior.” Doyle is also the creator of the online community Momastery, and is the founder and president of Together Rising, an all-women-led nonprofit organization that has revolutionized grassroots philanthropy raising $55 million supporting women, families, and children in crisis. She is also known as the host behind the podcast We Can Do Hard Things, which stars Doyle’s wife, Abby Wambach. @glennondoyle

Kimberly Drew

Kimberly Drew (she/her) is a writer, curator, and activist with a passion for innovation in art, fashion, and cultural studies. Kimberly started the Tumblr blog Black Contemporary Art, sparking her interest in social media. Kimberly is currently the Social Media Manager at The Met, was honored by AIR Gallery with their inaugural Feminist Curator Award, was selected as one of the YBCA100 by the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and was selected as one of Brooklyn Magazine’s Brooklyn 100. She is lawyer Chase Strangio’s partner. @museummammy

Julie Enszer

Julie R. Enszer, PhD (she/her), is the author of five poetry collections, including The Pinko Commie Dyke with illustrations by Isabel Paul (Indolent Books, 2024), and editor of OutWrite: The Speeches that Shaped LGBTQ Literary Culture, Fire-Rimmed Eden: Selected Poems by Lynn Lonidier, The Complete Works of Pat Parker, and Sister Love: The Letters of Audre Lorde and Pat Parker 1974-1989. Enszer publishes Sinister Wisdom, a multicultural lesbian literary and art journal. @JulieREnszer

Jordyn Jay

Jordyn Jay (she/her) is a community organizer, arts advocate and producer/director. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Black Trans Femmes in the Arts Collective (BTFA), a 501(c)3 organization. Prior to founding BTFA, Jordyn was a public health advocate for trans women of color and a criminal justice advocate for young women of color. Through BTFA, Jordyn brings her years of experience in community organizing to the arts to provide resources and opportunities to Black trans femmes in the arts. @itsjordynjayr

Lola Flash

Lola Flash (she/they) is an activist documenting themes around race, age, and gender. Flash was an active member of ACT UP during the time of the AIDS epidemic in New York City, and was notably featured in the 1989 “Kissing Doesn’t Kill” poster. Their art and activism are profoundly connected, fueling a life-long commitment to visibility and preserving the legacy of LGBTQIA+ and communities of color worldwide. Flash is a committed artist using photography to provide ‘new ways of seeing’. @flashnine9

Emily Wells

Composer, producer, and video artist Emily Wells (she/her) builds songs from deliberate strata of vocals, synths, drums, piano, string, and wind instruments. Her evocative music (described as “thrilling” by Pitchfork and “visionary” by NPR) and performances (called “quietly transfixing” by the New York Times ) impel listeners to be attuned. Wells’s ten-song album Regards to the End, explores the AIDS crisis, climate change, and her lived experience watching the world burn. @emilywellsmusic

Alice Wu

Alice Wu’s debut feature, Saving Face, made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released by Sony Pictures Classics in 2005. Her second film, The Half Of It, won the Founder’s Award at the Tribeca Film Festival before its release on Netflix in 2020. The script was a 2018 selection for the prestigious Black List and garnered a nomination for Best Screenplay at the Independent Spirit Awards. @subwayalice

Rev. Dr. Angela Yarber

Dr. Yarber (she/her) is a ten-time award-winning author, international best-selling artist, professor, retreat leader, and Founder of Tehom Center Publishing. A Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and an ordained queer clergywoman, she writes, paints, teaches, coaches, speaks, and leads retreats around the world. Dr. Yarber’s passion lies in teaching about revolutionary women. Whether coaching marginalized authors, painting forgotten women from history, speaking about queer spirituality, Dr. Yarber adores elevating feminist, queer, and BIPOC women and nonbinary kindred.

BE Alink

BE Alink (she/her) recently published her memoirs “Inventing BE” the journey of inventing herself as BE, a breastless woman who challenges assumptions that people have about gender. She is now Canadian, a designer, architect, humanitarian, and inventor of the Alinker. Working in fields generally dominated by men, she built a walking bike that changes lives, a community around the paradigm of health and developed a successful woman-owned and led business. @be_alink

Kelly Moffat

Kelly Moffat (she/her) is the Co-Founder and COO at Kirrin Finch, a Brooklyn-based company that makes menswear-inspired apparel for women, trans and nonbinary folks. In 2015, after working for many years in education, Kelly and her co-founder Laura decided to solve an issue they encountered every day: trying to get dressed! Today, Kirrin Finch makes everything from suits to shirts. When she isn’t involved with the daily workings of Kirrin Finch, Kelly is wrangling her seven-year-old twins and serving on the National Board of the Human Rights Campaign. @kirrinfinch

Jenny Nguyen

Jenny Nguyen (she/her) is the founder and CEO of The Sports Bra, which opened in April 2022 as the world’s first sports bar 100% dedicated to women’s sports. Jenny’s inspiration came from her own desire for a space where she and her friends could come together and cheer on their favorite women athletes, and it turns out she wasn’t alone: The Sports Bra was an instant hit, attracting fans and fanfare from around the world. The Sports Bra is far more than a sports bar; it’s a manifestation of Jenny’s unwavering commitment to championing women. @thesportsbrapdx

Bernadette Smith

Bernadette Smith (she/her), CEO of Equality Institute, is a keynote speaker and the award-winning author of four books, including her bestseller Inclusive 360. Her influence as a champion for inclusion has been spotlighted by the New York Times, National Public Radio, CNN, and the Today Show, and she’s been named one of Chicago’s Notable LGBTQ Executives by Crain’s Chicago Business. She hosts the weekly podcast 5 Things in 15 Minutes: Good Vibes in DEI. linkedin.com/in/14stories

Máire Walsh

Máire Walsh (she/her) is a venture partner at AiiM Partners, a women-led fund based in Silicon Valley and Europe. She also co-founded Belayer, helping companies scale through knowledge, networks, and capital. Recognized for her contributions to the startup ecosystem, Máire was named to the ITLG Silicon Valley 50 (2020, 2023). She is an advocate for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, as well as serving board positions championing the arts, women’s leadership, and economic development. Through her leadership, Máire continues to drive inclusion and economic empowerment.

Rosanna Durruthy

Head of Global Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at LinkedIn, Rosanna (she/her) is considered a thought leader, strategist and business influencer. Her orientation toward diversity and inclusion enables solutions that drive talent engagement, business growth, customer satisfaction, thriving partnerships and empowered communities. Prior to joining LinkedIn, Rosanna served as CEO of AEQUUS Group, and led an organizational consulting practice designed to empower adaptive emerging leaders. Through executive coaching and personal network analysis, she coached women and people of color to achieve new thresholds of leadership and successful career progression within “Fortune 150” companies.

Julie Eddleman

Julie Eddleman (she/her) is the Global Chief Commercial Officer at DoubleVerify. Prior to DV, Julie was at Google, where she led global partnership and growth strategy for the world’s largest global clients, including Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. Prior to Google, Julie was North America CMO at Procter & Gamble with a $4B budget and $35B Brand portfolio, including media planning and buying, sports marketing, branded entertainment and retailer marketing. Julie earned both her B.S. in Consumer Affairs and her M.S. in Consumer Behavior from Purdue University with the highest honors. @jaeddleman

Christy O’Gaughan

With 25+ years in healthcare, Christy (she/her) is Chief Data and Analytics Officer at GE HealthCare. She is passionate about maximizing human potential to leverage technology to improve health and well-being for all. She frequently speaks at LGBT conferences like ROMBA and Lesbians Who Tech. During her career, she led multiple digital transformational programs to increase value to customers and employees, improve patient outcomes, while realizing the full potential of technical experts to drive business results.

Ashley Siegel

Ashley Siegel (she/they) is an impact-driven HR executive and corporate advocate driven by their lived experience as the proud, queer, grandchild of Holocaust survivors. At Morgan Stanley, Ashley leads Talent Development and DEI across the Firm’s global technology businesses. Previously, Ashley spent 12 years at Disney, first in technology, then talent, spearheading employee engagement, workforce diversification, and inclusive talent strategies. A lifelong community organizer, Ashley serves on the Board of Lesbians Who Tech and has championed underrepresented communities, especially LGBTQIA+ inclusion, across industries.

China Widener

China (she/her) serves as Deloitte’s US Consulting Technology Sector leader. She is a long-time DEI champion. In prior roles, she advised technology and government clients on business and outcome-based program design. Additionally, she serves on Deloitte’s US Board of Directors as well as leading and advising on DEI, including Black Action Council, LGBTQIA+ and East Asian and South East Asian Communities.

Cindy Wong

Cindy Wong (she/her) is the Head of Transaction Management for the US Issuer Services business at HSBC. Cindy is an out pansexual, Chinese woman born and raised in Hong Kong. Prior to her relocation to the US, she led the HSBC Hong Kong Pride ERG for 2 years and expanded the network from 250 to 2,500 members. Cindy established the HSBC Global Transgender Benefits Working Group, which led to transgender healthcare policy changes across HSBC UK, Canada, the Philippines, India, and Singapore. Cindy currently chairs the HSBC US Pride ERG. Cindy is also the Global LGBTQ+ Benefits Lead and the People Committee Lead for the Issuer Services business in HSBC.

Brenda M. Atencio

Brenda M. Atencio (she/her), also known as “G Precious,” is a multi-award-winning Hip-Hop, Pop, and R&B artist from Ohkay Owingeh. She began creative writing at the age of six as a means to deal with the dynamics seen throughout her life—alcoholism, drugs, depression, suicide, loss, and reservation life. Brenda received her Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Business Management from Northern New Mexico College and her Master’s Degree in Legal Studies – Indigenous Peoples Law from the University of Oklahoma. She has worked with Youth & Elder Programs, schools, organizations, and tribes throughout New Mexico. @brenatenciosjp

Bilal Baig

Bilal Baig is a queer, transfeminine, Muslim South Asian-Canadian playwright, actor, and workshop facilitator, most known for co-creating, executive producing, and starring in their HBO/CBC Peabody Award-winning series, Sort Of. They received the Canadian Screen Award for comedy writing and performance, and a Gotham Award nomination for performance in a new series. Bilal published their play, “Acha Bacha” and an anthology of monologues they co-edited for queer/trans artists titled “This Is Beyond.” They facilitate creative writing and playwriting programs for trans artists, BIPOC artists, and trans youth. @imbilalbaig

Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo is a Grammy®, Emmy®, and Tony® Award-winning actress, singer and producer, as well as an Academy Award®, Golden Globe®, and SAG nominee. She’s appeared on Broadway in TheColor Purple and starred as Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande’s Glinda in Wicked, earning Golden Globe, SAG, Critics’ Choice, NAACP, BAFTA, and Academy Award nominations. She received a nomination for Best Actress and Best Original Song as the leading role in the film Harriet, and was nominated for an Emmy® for her critically acclaimed portrayal of Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha. Cynthia is married to Lena Waithe. @cynthiaerivo

Fortune Feimster

Fortune Feimster is a standup comedian, writer and actor who uses her confessional comedy to bring people together. She is known for her roles on The Mindy Project, The L Word: Generation Q, and FUBAR. She has appeared in movies, does voiceover work and hosts the radio show What a Joke with Papa and Fortune. She’s released several critically acclaimed comedy specials on Netflix. Through laughter and storytelling, Fortune shows audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and sexual orientations that common ground is only a joke or two away. @fortunefeimster

Kehlani

Ever since bursting onto the scene in 2014, R&B superstar Kehlani has proudly worn her queerness on her sleeve. With two Grammy nominations and multiple appearances on the Billboard 200 album chart, Kehlani has released three commercial mixtapes and two full-length studio albums since 2014 (the most recent being 2020’s critically acclaimed “It Was Good Until It Wasn’t”). Kehlani opened up to MTV in 2017 about the importance of being authentic in both her music and in her day-to-day life. She identifies as a lesbian. @kehlani

Jenna Lyons

Jenna is an American fashion designer, businesswoman, and television personality on The Real Housewives of New York City and Stylish with Jenna Lyons. She is a partner at FundamentalCo, former President and Executive Creative Director of J.Crew Group, and Co-Founder and CEO of direct-to-consumer beauty brand LoveSeen. A style icon in her own right, Jenna is regularly featured in magazines such as Lucky, Glamour and InStyle and on street style blogs for her quirky androgynous aesthetic. @jennalyonsnyc

Kristen Lovell

Kristen Lovell (she/her) is an Emmy Nominee and Peabody awarded filmmaker, producer, and advocate dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices. She is best known for co-directing The Stroll (2023), a critically acclaimed documentary about trans sex workers in NYC’s Meatpacking District. As a trans woman and former sex worker, Kristen’s work challenges societal norms and fosters empathy. Beyond filmmaking, she is a passionate activist for LGBTQ+ rights, sex worker rights, and housing justice, using her platform to drive meaningful change. @Kplgrams

Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan won her first Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2025 thanks to the success of her debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. During her acceptance speech, Chappell took the opportunity to call for better pay and benefits for artists and for trans and LGBTQ+ rights. The 26-year-old received five other nominations, including Album of the Year, and Song and Record of the Year for her hit single “Good Luck, Babe!” “Pink Pony Club,” one of her most popular tracks, references her first experience in a gay club. It has become an anthem to the queer community. Her indie-pop songs often contain personal lyrics about relationships and lesbian identity. @chappellroan

Erica Rose & Elina Street

Elina Street and Erica Rose are the award-winning creators and directors of the documentary series The Lesbian Bar Project, which documents queer lesbian bars around the world. LBP was founded in 2020 to celebrate, support, and amplify the remaining Lesbian Bars that exist in the United States. LBP raised over $250K for the bars during the pandemic. In 2022, they released a three-part Roku Original Docuseries, which won an Emmy and GLAAD Media Award. In 2024, LBP released its first international episode, “FLINTA” highlighting the queer lesbian nightlife culture in Germany. LBP has amassed over 1 billion impressions worldwide. @lesbianbarproject

Sabrina Wu

Sabrina Wu is a nonbinary Asian-American comedian, writer, and actor known for their leading role in Adele Lim’s comedy film JOY RIDE (2023). Sabrina writes on Dying for Sex at FX and was previously a writer on Doogie Kamealoha M.D. while still a full-time student at Harvard University. Sabrina performed stand-up on The Tonight Show and Netflix’s Verified Stand-Up. They were selected as a JFL New Face at the 2022 festival in Montreal, and their stand-up has been selected for the New York Comedy Festival, Women in Comedy Festival, and Laughing Skull Comedy Festival.

Tammy Baldwin

Senator Tammy Baldwin (she/her) has dedicated her life to public service and fighting for Wisconsin working families. Baldwin is the first woman elected to Congress from Wisconsin. She is also the first openly gay non-incumbent elected to the House of Representatives, and the first open lesbian elected to Congress. She and Representative Barney Frank co-founded the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus in 2008.

Dr. Atiera Coleman

Dr. Atiera Coleman (she/her) serves as the Illinois Chief Equity Officer, appointed by Governor JB Pritzker in 2023. She integrates equity across state agencies, advocating for fair access and protections, particularly for diverse sexual orientations and genders. A transformative leader, she brings expertise in equity, assessment, and research. Recognized as a 2025 ONCON ICON Award recipient for the Top 100 DEI Professionals, she has provided training on gender diversity across the nation. Committed to justice and accessibility, Dr. Coleman drives systemic change, ensuring all individuals have the resources and opportunities needed to thrive.

Maura Healy

Maura Healey is the 73rd Governor of Massachusetts. In 2022, she became the state’s first woman and first openly LGBTQ person elected to the position. Healey previously served as Massachusetts Attorney General, where she took on the opioid epidemic, the climate crisis, escalating health care costs, and student loan debt. Earlier in her career, Healey was a litigation partner at an international law firm. For much of her career, she’s been the only woman in the room and has taken every opportunity to elevate other women. She is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ rights, women’s health, and women’s equality in general, especially in sports.

Christy Mallory

Christy Mallory, J.D., is the Roberta A. Conroy Interim Executive Director and Legal Director at the Williams Institute. Her work focuses on state and local laws and policies that impact LGBT people, including sexual orientation and gender identity non-discrimination protections, laws barring the use of the gay and trans panic defenses, conversion therapy bans, anti-bullying policies, and others. Christy’s work has been published in several media outlets, journals, and books. She also serves as the director of the Williams Institute’s annual moot court competition, the only national competition exclusively focused on LGBT law.

Chantale Wong

Ambassador Chantale Wong (she/her) is the first out lesbian and first out person of color to serve as a U.S. Ambassador in US history. As the US Executive Director for the Asian Development Bank (ADB), she helped increase ADB’s lending capacity by $100 billion while advancing LGBTQI+ rights across the Asia-Pacific. Previously, as CFO and VP at MCC, she managed a $1 billion budget. Chantale has also held key roles at the White House Office of Management and Budget, NASA, the Treasury Department, USEPA and Department of Interior. A skilled photographer, her portrait of Congressman John Lewis was displayed at the Smithsonian. @chantale1

Lauren Zimmerman

Lauren Zimmerman (she/her) is an experienced trial lawyer who has represented clients in federal and state courts and arbitral panels across the country. Lauren was recognized as one of the best and brightest litigators in the country by Benchmark Litigation and the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association named her as one of the 40 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40 for her fight against book censorship in Florida. She serves on the board of Access Justice Brooklyn and is a member of the Human Rights Campaign Federal Club Council.

Anna DeShawn

Anna DeShawn (she/they) is your favorite queer radio personality. She is a social entrepreneur, storyteller and community organizer known for her signature greeting of “Family” while hosting her award-winning podcast Queer News. Media has always been her passion and in 2009 she turned that passion into a reality when she founded E3 Radio. In 2021, she founded her podcast company, The Qube. In 2023, Anna was inducted into the Chicago LGBTQ Hall of Fame. @annadeshawn

Sue Kerr

Founder of the Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents blog, Sue Kerr (she/her), has spent 20 years documenting LGBTQ experiences in Pittsburgh and beyond. She has been nationally recognized for her work memorializing victims of anti-trans violence across the US. As chair of Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities, Kerr led the distribution of 2000 Protect Trans Kids yard signs. In 2025, Kerr updated the logo of her blog, emphasizing that trans and queer content is welcome in her lesbian space, a response to the federal government’s erasure of history at the Stonewall Memorial. Kerr is now battling in court to protect domestic partnerships in Pennsylvania. @Pghlesbian

Chani Nicholas

Chani Nicholas (she/her) is a Los Angeles-based NY Times bestselling author and astrologer with a community of over one million monthly readers. She has been a counseling astrologer for more than twenty years, guiding people to discover and live out their life’s purpose through understanding their birth chart. Her app, CHANI, offers users a personalized, daily understanding of their birth chart. It has nearly a million downloads and counting since its launch in December 2020. She has been featured in the NY Times, LA Times, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and Netflix. @chani.app

Brooke Sopelsa

Brooke Sopelsa (she/her) is currently the editorial director of NBC Out, the LGBTQ digital destination she helped launch at NBC News in 2016. Under Brooke’s leadership, NBC Out publishes enterprise reporting, original videos and other unique content centered on the queer community. Brooke is an alumna of HuffPost, CNBC and MSNBC, and she’s the co-producer of three documentaries: the 2007 independent film “Queer Streets,” the 2019 NBC News docu-series “Stonewall 50: The Revolution” and the 2024 NBC News feature documentary “The Stonewall Revolution.” Brooke holds a B.A. in Economics from Bucknell University, an M.A. in Journalism from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from NYU’s Stern School of Business. @yesitsmebrooke

Kara Swisher

Kara Swisher is the co-founder and editor-at-large of Recode, producer and host of the Recode Decode and Pivot podcasts, and co-executive producer of the Code Conference series. She has a series on MSNBC called Revolution on the impact of technology on work, and society, and is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. She has written for the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, and has authored several books. Kara is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, particularly within the tech industry, and has spoken about her experiences as a lesbian in tech. @karaswisher

Dr. Judith Butler

Judith Butler is one of the most influential gender studies scholars and feminist philosophers of all time. Butler is best known for their books Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity and Bodies That Matter: On the Discursive Limits of Sex, in which they challenge heteronormative notions of gender and develop their theory of gender performativity. This theory had a major influence on feminist and queer scholarship.

Dr. Myra Laramee

Dr. Myra Laramee, a distinguished educator and member of the Fisher River Cree Nation, has significantly enhanced queer visibility through her contributions. In 1990, she introduced the term “Two-Spirit” at the Third Annual Inter-Tribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference in Winnipeg, now widely embraced to honor Indigenous LGBTQ+ identities. With over 35 years in education as a teacher, counselor, and administrator, Dr. Laramee has been instrumental in integrating Indigenous knowledge into teacher education, fostering inclusivity and understanding in academic and community spaces.

Dr. Nergis Mavalvala

Dr. Nergis Mavalvala is an award-winning physicist and a pioneer in gravitational wave detection and quantum measurement science. A longtime member of the LIGO team, she helped develop key technologies that enabled the 2016 discovery of gravitational waves, a breakthrough that reshaped astrophysics. Dr. Mavalvala has received numerous accolades, including a MacArthur Fellowship and the LGBTQ Scientist of the Year award. As an openly queer scientist, she has broken barriers in a field where LGBTQ+ representation remains limited, championing education access and mentorship for underrepresented communities.

Dr. Elizabethe Payne

Elizabethe Payne founded the Queering Education Research Institute (QuERI) in 2006 and remains the institute’s director. She is currently completing a 10-year research project exploring the implementation of LGBTQ-inclusive state anti-bullying law. Dr. Payne was the recipient of the 2022-2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Educational Research Association Congressional Fellowship. She also serves on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Committee for Bullying and Cyberbullying. Her publications include the co-edited volume Queer Kids and Social Violence: The Limits of Bullying.

Dr. Maigen Sullivan

Maigen Sullivan, PhD (she/her), is the co-founder and co-executive Director for Invisible Histories. Invisible Histories is a community-based archive preserving, researching, and creating educational content around Southern LGBTQ history. Maigen earned her BA in History and her MA in Women’s Studies from The University of Alabama. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Studies of Diverse Populations from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Maigen is a fierce defender of the South and has spent over a decade working in DEIA research and education, memory keeping, and historical preservation. @invisiblehistoriesproject

Kimm Topping

Kimm Topping, Ed.M., (they/them) is an award-winning educator, writer, historian, and community organizer dedicated to preserving LGBTQIA+ history. As founder of Lavender Education, a national program promoting LGBTQIA+ history and youth leadership, Kimm leads impactful workshops, professional development, and historic walking tours. Kimm lectures at Harvard Graduate School of Education, specializing in gender, sexuality, and equity. Their debut book, Generation Queer, highlights the stories of 30 LGBTQIA+ youth activists. In 2023, Kimm received the Inaugural In-Service Award from the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. @kimmwrites

420OldFatLesbians

Sue and Lee (she/her), known as 420OldFatLesbians, are a couple of 18 years who enjoy smoking weed, promoting cannabis normalization, and sharing hilarious videos. They started their social media to combat hate toward gays, fat people, and older folks. Lee is a self-employed accountant for Maine cannabis companies, while Sue is a retired end-of-life caregiver. Their message: life is short—be true to yourself and don’t worry about others’ opinions. They inspire audiences to try new things and embrace their authentic selves. @420oldfatlesbians

Ebony and Denise

Denise and Ebony are a diverse, two-mom family with three children who create engaging content for people across the globe. The positive responses to their videos have amassed a global audience of over 10M across social media, maintaining their mission of “normalizing” LGBTQIA+ parenting, all while spreading love and positivity. With their three children, 13-year-old Olivia and 7-year-old twins Jayden and Lucas, the family share everything in their lives in hopes of inspiring everyone to be their authentic selves. @team2moms

Blair Imani

Blair Imani is the creator of the viral web series Smarter In Seconds and LA Times bestselling author of Read This to Get Smarter. Her scholarship spans intersectionality, gender studies, race and racism, sociology, and United States history. She is also a historian with books Making Our Way Home and Modern HERstory. She has presented at Oxford, Harvard, Yale, Meta, Sephora, Adobe, and Gates Ventures. Blair Imani serves on the Board of Directors of the Tegan and Sara Foundation. She has collaborated with and interviewed Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, and Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw. @blairimani.

Kristin Key

Kristin Key (she/her) is an internationally headlining, queer, musical comedian. Her hilarious viral videos — including the iconic LESBIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM — have earned her over 92.2 million views and 725,000+ followers across social media. A popular podcast host, she’s got 6 full-length comedy albums and 1 DryBar comedy special, and has appeared on NBC’S Bring the Funny and Last Comic Standing, VH-1, SiriusXM, and more. Using comedy as a way to uplift her community, give back, and create safe spaces for comedy fans from all walks of life, Kristin’s fanbase (lovingly referred to as The Lesbian Army) has become a movement! @kristinkeycomedy @thekristinkey

RaeShanda Lias

RaeShanda Lias (she/her) is a Kentucky-based business owner, content creator, and author, known for her “Cat Ladies for Kamala” group and her advocacy work, including a recent HRC Influence Award for her LGBTQ+ activism. She has authored multiple books and has spoken out against discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals. @shop_aif

Megan Married Meagan

Megan and Meagan (she/her) are social media influencers from Denver, Colorado. They have racked up over 800,000 followers in just two years with their hilarious snippets of life as a masc for masc lesbian couple. They have captured the hearts of their followers by poking fun at gender norms, breaking stereotypes, and fearlessly tackling what it means to be a part of the LGBTQIA+ community in today’s world. @Megan_married_meagan

TheQweerAgenda aka Chrys

Chrys is a Black, pro-choice, lesbian digital creator with a huge social media following. She uses her “comedy, chaos & social justice” approach on her platforms to examine and shishkabob racism, homophobia, and transphobia. @theqweeragenda

Franchesca Ramsey

Franchesca Ramsey (she/her) is an LA-based actor, writer, producer and the creator/star of the award-winning web series MTV Decoded. A former writer/correspondent for Comedy Central’s The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, her first book, Well That Escalated Quickly was nominated for an NAACP award and named one of Amazon’s best books of 2018. In 2021 she served as writer/co-producer on the iCarly reboot for Paramount+ and guest starred on NBC’s Superstore. She hosts Wondery’s Black History for Real podcast and serves as a co-producer and host of Acast’s Lemme Fix it! and Audible’s We Were All Rooting For You. Franchesca has amassed over a million followers across multiple platforms with her comedic social commentary. @chescaleigh

Jennifer Rowray aka Cowboy Jen

Jen “CowboyJen” Rowray is a 56-year-old butch lesbian from rural Iowa who uses social media to show the world a positive and realistic view of a butch lesbian. CowboyJen’s goal is to share her experiences with young women trying to imagine their future as a happy and healthy lesbian. Jen is a natural storyteller and mixes in tales of caring for her horses, working at her three jobs and fun with her extended lesbian community, along with “butch aunt” style talks and advice. @cowboyjen @cowboyjippy

Aria Velz

Aria Velz, known as “The Critical Lesbian” on TikTok and Instagram, highlights and analyzes film, TV, theatre, and other forms of media about queer women with hopes they can find the right audience. From recommending the best lesbian movies to watch for beginners to making critical reviews, she opens a platform for discussing and celebrating queer women’s media. @ariavelz

Che Flores

Che Flores (they/them) is the NBA’s first out nonbinary trans referee, and has officiated 68 regular-season games in two seasons as an NBA staff official. Flores refereed 12 regular-season games as a non-staff official in the 2021-22 NBA season. Flores officiated 10 seasons in the WNBA and nine seasons in the NBA G League. They worked the Finals in both leagues in 2022. The California native has 13 years of officiating experience in college basketball, with stints in the Pac-12, Big 12, Mountain West, West Coast, Big Sky, Western Athletic and Big West conferences. As an official in women’s college basketball, Flores worked the national championship game in 2021 and the Final Four in 2019.

Odessa “OJ” Jenkins

OJ is an influential leader for both women and LGBTQ+ athletes. As Founder and Chairwoman of the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC), and one of the first women to coach in the NFL, OJ has charted a path for future generations of women in professional sports. OJ has led her teams to seven national championships. She is a two-time USA Football Team captain and a three-time Team USA gold medalist. As a Black, queer woman leader, OJ is a rare and essential voice in sports, championing diversity and paving the way for queer athletes and women of color. @Othejuice03

Marie-Philip Poulin

As the captain of hockey’s Team Canada for a decade and now leading PWHL Montreal Victoire, Marie-Philip has dominated the sport, earning the nickname “Captain Clutch” for her gold-medal-winning performances. Her leadership and skill on the ice have made her one of the most celebrated athletes in women’s hockey history. In 2024, Marie-Philip made headlines when she married her longtime partner and linemate, Laura Stacey, marking a significant moment for LGBTQ+ visibility in professional sports. Poulin’s openness about her sexuality and her advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion in hockey have inspired countless young athletes. @pou29

Cheryl Reeve

Cheryl Reeve is a trailblazing lesbian leader in women’s basketball, serving as head coach of the Minnesota Lynx and USA Basketball Women’s National Team, where she most recently led the team to a gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics. With four WNBA championships with the Lynx and six total, Reeve has cemented her legacy as one of the sport’s top coaches. A passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, Cheryl and her wife, Carley Knox, have been vocal leaders in the fight for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Cheryl’s leadership extends beyond the court, including her pivotal 2021 Sports Illustrated open letter advocating for the inclusion of trans women in women’s sports.

Sha’Carri Richardson

Sha’Carri Richardson is a distinguished American sprinter specializing in the 100-meter and 200-meter events. Her personal best of 10.65 seconds in the 100 meters, achieved at the 2023 World Championships, ranks among the fastest times in history. Richardson is openly bisexual and has been candid about her experiences, contributing to increased visibility and representation within the sports community. Her journey continues to inspire many, exemplifying excellence in athletics and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. @itsshacarri

Jaleen Roberts

Jaleen Roberts (she/her) is an elite athlete, advocate, and changemaker whose impact extends beyond the track. At the 2024 Paralympic Games, she became a 4x Paralympic Track & Field Medalist, earning silver in long jump and bronze in the 100m. She’s now training for the 2025 World Para Athletic Championships in India. A proud LGBTQ+ advocate and mental health champion, Roberts uses her platform to promote inclusivity in sports. Her courage in sharing her journey with bipolar type II disorder and her dedication to uplifting queer voices inspire countless young athletes to thrive as their authentic selves. @jaleenroberts

Lauren Scruggs

As the first out Black lesbian to compete in fencing at the Olympic level, Lauren has shattered barriers. Her openness about her sexuality has made her a role model for countless athletes, especially within the LGBTQ+ community, demonstrating that authenticity and excellence can coexist on the world stage. As an Olympic gold medalist, Lauren has used her platform to amplify visibility for queer athletes, particularly queer women of color, in a sport traditionally lacking in diverse representation. @saucyscruggs

Alyssa Thomas

Alyssa Thomas is a forward star for the Phoenix Mercury. She is a five-time WNBA All-Star player, and has been named to the All-WNBA First and Second teams six times. She was a runner-up for the Most Valuable Player award in 2023. She received a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and 2022 FIBA World Cup. She’s spoken out about racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia in sports. She is one half of an adored basketball power couple, engaged to former teammate and basketball star DeWanna Bonner. @athomas_25

Abby Wambach

Abby Wambach (she/her) is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, FIFA World Cup champion, six-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award and one of Time’s Most Influential People. She is a founder of Treat Media, an award-winning media company. Abby is the author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller Wolfpack and the New York Times bestseller Forward. She is co-host of the chart-topping podcast We Can Do Hard Things, which has received over a half billion plays. Abby is an executive producer of the Sundance award-winning film Come See Me in the Good Light, part owner of the NWSL’s Angel City Football Club, and sits on multiple boards. Her most recent book, We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life’s 20 Questions, created with Glennon Doyle, Amanda Doyle and Treat Media, is being hailed as “the guidebook for being alive.” @abbywambach

Disclaimer: This list was compiled through public nominations. If your name has been included in error, please contact us to have it removed.