Unveiling the 2026 Curve Power List

FRAN “HUTCH” HUTCHINS

Fran (Hutch) Hutchins (they/she) is the Executive Director at Equality Federation, the national strategic partner to state-based organizations working to win equality in our communities. They joined Equality Federation in 2012 and became the executive director in 2021. Under their leadership, Equality Federation has expanded its support to the state-based LGBTQ+ advocacy movement, moving over $4 million to states combating anti-LGBTQ+ legislation since 2021. They developed the Equal Treatment predictive voter model, radically changing how we organize for an expansive LGBTQ+ policy agenda. Hutch was among the architects behind the successful field programs that secured marriage equality in Maine in 2012 and preserved transgender protections in public accommodations in the 2018 “Yes on 3” campaign in Massachusetts. These campaigns led to Equality Federation’s multi-million-dollar narrative change effort to fundamentally rethink organizing that puts transgender people at the forefront of campaigns for transgender rights.

DR. CARLA SMITH

Dr. Carla Smith (she/her) is the CEO of The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering the LGBTQ+ community. With nearly 30 years in nonprofit leadership and advocacy, she oversees the organization’s financial, programmatic, and operational functions. Previously Deputy CEO at Urban Resource Institute, she helped grow its budget from $18 million to over $100 million in eight years. She holds a Doctorate of Education in Executive Leadership and is a recognized voice on issues affecting marginalized communities. She lives in New York with her wife; they have five children and one grandchild.

Instagram: @carla_lgbtcenterncy

AJ HIKES

AJ Hikes (they/them) is a social justice advocate, community organizer, TED Talk Speaker, and unapologetically queer and Black. As Deputy Executive Director for Strategy & Culture, AJ is chief counselor and principal partner to the Executive Director, overseeing the critical functions of organizational strategic planning and priority setting nationwide, while providing executive leadership across the ACLU. AJ is perhaps best known for adding black and brown stripes to the rainbow flag and launching a global conversation around anti-racism in the LGBTQ community. On the heels of this monumental work, AJ released a TED Talk on mentorship and collective liberation that has been viewed over two million times and has inspired a network of intersectional accomplices who are transforming equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace.

Instagram: @aj__hikes

BRIELLE WINSLOW-MAJETTE

Brielle Winslow-Majette (she/her) first captivated TikTok audiences by boldly challenging beauty norms, unapologetically rocking her facial hair to powerfully advocate for representation of women with PCOS. She is now the first Black Executive Director of Garden State Equality, New Jersey’s statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization. She teaches LGBTQIA+ Policy at Rutgers University and has spoken nationally and internationally on LGBTQ+ rights and racial justice. Brielle serves as the Racial Justice Committee Board Chair of Equality Federation and is a West Orange Human Relations Commissioner. She is the founder of Bespoken Woman and the Queer BIPOC Network, both of which center intersectionality in policy and practice. Photo credit: Tamara Fleming

Instagram: @winslow_majette
TikTok: @thats_y_yuh_wins_low

ALEX SHELDON

Alex Sheldon (they/them) is a nationally recognized LGBTQ+ health equity leader and the Executive Director of GLMA. With more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of policy, research, and advocacy, they were named to the TIME100 Next list in 2025 for their work to protect access to gender-affirming care nationwide. Before GLMA, Alex held roles at the Clinton Global Initiative, Everytown for Gun Safety, the Movement Advancement Project, and global non-profits. They serve on the boards of Equality Federation and PFLAG Charlotte, and at home, Alex lives with Oatmeal and Shelldon, a canine-reptile coalition widely regarded as their most honest advisors.

Instagram: @almx.sheldon

KIPP DAWSON

Kipp Dawson (she/her) was born in Los Angeles during World War II to a Rosie the Riveter mom. Kipp began an activist life accompanying her factory-working mother to union meetings and on picket lines, going on to help organize her high school’s Students for Equality in solidarity with the Southern student sit-ins, which led to the formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1960. Kipp was an active leader in San Francisco civil rights, free speech, and Vietnam antiwar movements, then in NYC, Vietnam, women’s, and Christopher Street lesbian/gay movements. Coal miner/women miner/UMWA activist 1979-92; public school teacher/activist 1994-2018. Still at it.

Web: @kippdawson

ROXANE GAY

Roxane Gay (she/her) is a widely renowned writer and cultural critic. She has written about feminism, racism, fatphobia, LGBTQ+ issues, and more. Her books include The New York Times best-selling essay collection Bad Feminist, as well as the memoir Hunger and the novel An Untamed State. Gay is also a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times. She is currently the Gloria Steinem endowed Chair in Media, Culture and Feminist Studies at Rutgers University.

Instagram: @roxanegay74
TikTok: @rgay

MICKALENE THOMAS

Mickalene Thomas (she/her) is a multi-hyphenate artist most known for her complex mixed-media paintings. Her work often explores identity, Western culture, femininity, beauty, and sexuality, with special attention to the black and female identity within the Western canon. She has had many solo exhibitions, including at the Whitney in New York, the MoMA in New York, and the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris, among others. She is also the cofounder of Pratt>FORWARD “Artist in the Market” incubator for post-graduate students, helping young artists succeed in the industry. Photo credit: Instagram

Instagram: @mickalenethomas

ALLISON MICHAEL ORENSTEIN

Allison Michael Orenstein (aka A/O) (she/her) is a New York-based portrait and celebrity photographer, most known for The Queer Artists Series, documenting queer New York performers, and Women of The Grove: A Lesbian Portrait, capturing the lesbian community of Cherry Grove, Fire Island. She has photographed such notables as John Waters, Cole Escola, Bridget Everett, and Colman Domingo. An eight-time winner of AI-AP American Photography and Grand Prize Winner of PDN Faces, her work has appeared in Vanity Fair, Vogue, People and The New York Times, and been exhibited at The Brooklyn Museum. Photo credit: Supplied

Instagram: @allisonmichaelorenstein

JESSIE SIMA

Jessie Sima (they/them) is an author and illustrator of picture books, such as Not Quite Narwhal and Love, Z. Their books often explore themes of acceptance and identity, have been indie and NYT bestsellers, and have received many Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) and Junior Library Guild Selection awards. In fact, Not Quite Narwhal was adapted by DreamWorks into a TV show, released in 2023. Sima is currently based in New York, but grew up in New Jersey.

Instagram: @jessie_sima
TikTok: @jessiesima

LAURA PETRIE

Laura Petrie (she/her) grew up on a western Kentucky horse farm, where she cultivated a “can-do” spirit riding horses, driving tractors, and playing sports. A lifelong feminist who has always lived authentically outside conventional norms, she founded Cinema Systers Film Festival (the USA’s only all-lesbian film festival) in 2016 following the end of Michigan Women’s Music Festival. CSFF celebrates its 10th anniversary Memorial Day Weekend 2026 in Paducah, Kentucky. Petrie also established My Syster’s Art, Inc., a nonprofit empowering women through art, and transformed her 34-acre property into The Art Farm Women’s Retreat, hosting travelers, retreats, and community events while uplifting women’s voices and visions.

Facebook: Cinema Systers Film Festival

MORGAN GWENWALD

Morgan Gwenwald (she/they) is one of a small group of out Lesbian photographers who emerged during the early days of the women’s/gay rights movements. Her work has been featured in many publications and exhibitions, including Art After Stonewall, and Images On Which to Build. She’s served as a coordinator at the Lesbian Herstory Archives since 1979. Early on, they worked to portray the diversity of Lesbian sexuality with images published in the first and later issues of On Our Backs. They strive to capture the community in which they live in honest and loving detail.

CARMEN MARIA MACHADO

Carmen Maria Machado (she/her) is the author of the bestselling memoir In the Dream House and the award-winning short story collection Her Body and Other Parties. She has been a finalist for the National Book Award and the winner of the Bard Fiction Prize, the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction, and the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize, among others. Her essays, fiction, and criticism have appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, Granta, Vogue, This American Life, The Believer, Guernica, and elsewhere. She holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and has been awarded fellowships and residencies from the Guggenheim Foundation, Yaddo, Hedgebrook, and the Millay Colony for the Arts. Photo credit: Jesse Dittmar

Instagram: @carmenmmachado

ADRIENNE MAREE BROWN

Adrienne maree brown (she/they) is a New York Times-bestselling author/editor of influential books about practices for social transformation, including Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds, Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good, and We Will Not Cancel Us, and most recently, Loving Corrections. Her work is informed by movement facilitation, somatics, science fiction scholarship, and doula work. She is also co-creator/host of the How to Survive the End of the World podcast with Autumn Brown. She identifies as pansexual and writes openly about her lived experiences of queerness.

Instagram: @adriennemareebrown

ALYSSA NITCHUN

Alyssa Nitchun (she/her) is the first queer woman to serve as Executive Director of The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art. She is expanding the Museum’s purpose beyond its role as an art museum to become a hub for community and creative expression, shaping a better future for LGBTQIA+ people, with artists leading the way. Alyssa previously served as Acting Executive Director at Creative Time, oversaw Institutional Giving for StoryCorps, and was the Director of Development for the CUNY Graduate Center’s Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies. She holds an MA in Gender Politics with a focus on Queer theory from New York University.

SEKIYA DORSETT

Sekiya Dorsett (she/her) is a GLAAD Award-winning filmmaker and founder of Seabreeze Media Inc., making bold nonfiction and hybrid work that centers Black queer life and amplifies marginalized voices. Her projects include the documentaries The Revival: Women and the Word (Women Make Movies) and NBC News’ Stonewall Revolution (Peacock). Her most recent short film, Caribbean Queen, in association with the Caribbean Equality Project and addressing LGBTQ stigma in Caribbean communities, premiered at NewFest 2023, earning both the Audience Award and recognition for her directing. A Barnard College inaugural Artemis Rising Foundation Fellow, she received the Firelight Media and Jerome Foundation for her feature documentary 20 Years of Longing, which celebrates Black lesbian love.

Instagram: @sekiyadorsett

JACQUELINE BOYD

Jacqueline Boyd (she/they) is a nationally recognized advocate, entrepreneur, and expert in queer aging. As founder of The Care Plan — the country’s first LGBTQ+-centered care management company — she provides advocacy, care navigation, and advanced planning for older adults, while also helping organizations develop healthy workplaces. A passionate activist, she enjoys developing practical guides like Create Your Care Plan: An LGBT Person’s Guide To Preparing For Medical Procedures, serving on the boards of One Roof Chicago and Full Circle Communities. Every day, Jacqueline is boldly reimagining what care, healing, and liberation can look like for our community.

Instagram: @jacqueline.thecareplan
LinkedIn: @jacqueline-boyd

STACY MARIE LENTZ

Stacy Lentz (she/her) is an LGBTQ+ advocate, global speaker, and co-owner of The Stonewall Inn. As co-founder and CEO of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, she advances safe spaces and grassroots equality worldwide. A trusted national media voice, Stacy has mobilized brands, shaped global Pride platforms, and transformed cultural flashpoints into moments of collective action. She is known for protecting legacy while pushing institutions to evolve. Focused on institutional stewardship and sustainable impact, Stacy works to build a stronger future for LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Instagram: @stacylentz

EMMA MCILROY

Emma McIlroy (she/her) is a Northern Irish entrepreneur, activist, and the co-founder and CEO of Wildfang, the Portland-based fashion brand known for reimagining menswear-inspired fashion for women. Before founding Wildfang in 2013 with Taralyn Thuot and Julia Parsley, she spent more than a decade building global marketing expertise at Barclays and Nike. Under her leadership, Wildfang has grown into a multi-million-dollar fashion brand known for blending style with cultural commentary. The company has donated over $1 million to organizations supporting LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive justice, racial justice, and immigrant rights, and has collaborated with Nordstrom, TOMS, and Taco Bell. She has been recognized by Inc.’s Female Founders 100, Gaingels 100, the Portland Business Journal Executive of the Year, and the Aspen Institute, where she was a Henry Crown Fellow.

Instagram: @irishem333

FRAN DUNAWAY

Fran Dunaway (she/her) is President and co-founder of TomboyX, a gender- and body-inclusive underwear and apparel brand built to champion LGBTQ+ rights and help people feel at home in their bodies. She launched the company in 2013 with her wife and co-founder Naomi Gonzalez, shaping TomboyX into a benefit corporation where care for community and the planet is embedded in how the business operates. As a leader, Fran is known for pairing values-driven brand building with disciplined growth—proving that purpose and performance can scale together.

Instagram: @fnawesomeadventure

LAUREN CHAN

Lauren Chan (she/her) is a Canadian model, editor, entrepreneur, and TV personality advancing size diversity, 2SLGBTQ+ voices, and AAPI representation in fashion and media. A former fashion editor at Glamour, she helped push body diversity into the mainstream before founding Henning, an ethical luxury plus-size brand later acquired by Universal Standard in 2023. Chan made history as the first lesbian cover model for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and has since expanded into television and writing. She was named to OUT Magazine’s OUT100 list, served as a presenter at the 2026 GLAAD Media Awards, and is currently at work on her debut novel. Photo credit: Hayley Kosan

Instagram: @lcchan

KELLY BUSH NOVAK

Kelly Bush Novak (she/her) is the founder and CEO of ID, the premier independently owned strategic communications firm, launched in 1993. She leads a bicoastal team representing 1,500+ clients across entertainment, consumer, tech and philanthropy, and is respected for her trusted counsel and industry influence. Her clients include Lady Gaga, Sir Patrick Stewart, Alfonso Cuarón, Denis Villeneuve, Lena Dunham, Alejandro Iñárritu, Ben Stiller, Javier Bardem, Judd Apatow, Janelle Monáe, Seth Rogen, Serena Williams, and Pride Live. She founded VIE Entertainment, managing Elliot Page and Ben Stiller. A champion of LGBTQ+ equality, Kelly has built an inclusive culture at ID.

Instagram: @teamid

KELLI CARPENTER

Kelli Carpenter (she/her) is a trailblazer in LGBTQ travel, transforming the industry through inclusive experiences that celebrate community. After an early marketing career with major brands, she co-founded R Family Vacations in 2003, pioneering customized vacations for LGBTQ families and friends worldwide. Through innovative programming, media visibility, and partnerships, she has connected more than 20,000 travelers and expanded opportunities for LGBTQ-focused travel. Her work earned national recognition, including a GLAAD Award and an Emmy nomination for HBO’s All Aboard!. Today, through KelliGregg Travel, she continues to champion visibility, belonging, and joyful exploration for LGBTQ travelers everywhere.

Instagram Personal: @kcarpenter123
Instagram Business: @kelligreggtravel

SHAMINA SINGH

Shamina Singh (she/her) is the founder and president of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and executive vice president of sustainability at Mastercard, where she leads the company’s global social and environmental impact strategy. Shamina was the executive sponsor of Mastercard’s PRIDE business resource group and was recently honored by The LGBT Center in NYC for her efforts to create space for LGBTQ voices. She also organizes events like the “Love is Love” celebration, raising funds for Desi Rainbow, which supports South Asian LGBTQ+ individuals. Shamina fosters an inclusive workplace, welcoming people of all backgrounds, genders, and sexual orientations.

ERIN URITUS

Erin Uritus (she/her) is CEO of Out & Equal, the premier global organization advancing LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion and belonging. Since 2018, Erin has propelled the Business of Belonging — guiding organizations to translate inclusion into lasting cultural change and measurable impact for LGBTQ+ people and allies. Under her leadership, Out & Equal has grown its influence and revenue, convening the largest global network of LGBTQ+ professionals and partners and elevating authentic workplace equality as a strategic priority. As one of the few openly bisexual CEOs, Erin champions courageous leadership, resilience, and workplaces where every queer and/or trans person can thrive. Photo credit: Supplied

LinkedIn: @erin-uritus

CAROLINA SILVA

Carolina Silva (she/her) is a financial advisor with a decade of experience in financial services. She runs a wealth management practice for high-net-worth individuals. Over 75% of Carolina’s clients are diverse, as her practice focuses on communities like her own, serving Women, Latinos, and the LGBTQ+ community and allies. Carolina believes in financial empowerment through literacy and education. She hosts an Executive Breakfast Series and Wealth Wednesday Webinar Series, to spread education and awareness on how to help build wealth. Carolina lives in Brooklyn with her wife, Ashley, a professional basketball referee, and their two rescue dogs, Sofia and Tinto.

Instagram: @__carosilva__

ARLAN HAMILTON

Arlan Hamilton (she/her) is the founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital, a venture capital firm that has invested in over 200 startups led by “underestimated founders”, including women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ founders. Arlan is recognized as one of the most influential disruptors in the startup world, as a proudly out queer, Black woman who built a VC firm while homeless and invests in marginalized entrepreneurs who are typically overlooked. Arlan’s nontraditional backstory, which she shares in her 2020 best-selling memoir, “It’s About Damn Time,” has inspired many. She gives educational financial advice through her 2024 book, “Your First Million podcast, and YouTube Channel. She has been recognized on Fast Company’s Queer 50 list and Forbes’ 40 Under 40 list.

Instagram: @arlanwashere, Twitter/X: @arlanwashere
YouTube: @ArlansYourFirstMillion

CANDACE HAUCK

Candace Hauck (she/her) is a dedicated Product Development & Governance Manager at HSBC, where she leads with integrity, strategic insight, and a passion for innovation. With a strong focus on risk management and operational excellence, she helps deliver responsible, customer-centered solutions that drive business growth. Proudly married and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Candace also serves as US Pride ERG Co-Chair, championing inclusion, visibility, and equity across the organization. She is committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to thrive, combining professional expertise with authentic leadership and advocacy both inside and outside the workplace.

LinkedIn: @candace-hauck

MEAGAN GREIGER

Meagan Grieger (she/her) is the Director of Early Talent at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), leading global early-career strategy across Capital Markets, Wealth Management, and Insurance. As a Pride ERG leader and inclusion advocate, Meagan has been deeply engaged in advancing workplace equity for LGBTQ+ professionals and other underrepresented talent, ensuring early-career pathways are not only accessible but also affirming. Her leadership has helped foster environments where LGBTQ+ employees can build sustainable careers while showing up authentically, particularly at the entry and junior levels where exclusion often takes root. Prior to RBC, Meagan served as U.S. Head of Emerging Talent at HSBC, advancing inclusive hiring and development practices at scale.

ADRIANA MANTILLA

Adriana Mantilla (she/her) is a Senior Manager, Commercial Performance at Booking.com for the Americas. Formerly Regional Manager for Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada, and Central America, she has led cross‑market teams to deliver sustainable growth while keeping customer centricity and inclusion at the heart of commercial decisions. A proud lesbian, Latin woman and mother of two, Adriana brings her lived experience into her advocacy, using her voice to make leadership spaces more representative and to normalise conversations about identity, sponsorship and inclusion in the workplace.

DONNA DEITCH

Donna Deitch (she/her) is an American film and television director, producer, and writer best known for her groundbreaking film Desert Hearts, the hit of the 1986 Sundance, Berlin, Telluride, and Toronto Film Festivals. She is considered a pioneer in LGBTQ+ cinema for depicting one of the first mainstream, positive, and realistic lesbian romance stories. The landmark lesbian love story came to the attention of Oprah Winfrey, who hired Deitch to direct critically-acclaimed miniseries The Women of Brewster Place, initiating 35 years directing in television including HBO’s Prison Stories, Women on the Inside, ABC’s sexual harassment themed Sexual Advances, Showtime’s queer themed Common Ground and Holocaust themed Devil’s Arithmetic, for which she won an Emmy for Directing. She’s currently working on: Desert Hearts: An Unconventional Sequel. Photo credit: Supplied

Instagram: @donna_deitch

KATY O’BRIAN

Katy O’Brian (she/her) is an American actor, martial artist, and LGBTQ+ figure best known for her breakout role as Jackie in Love Lies Bleeding. She had a standout 2025, appearing in several film releases, including The Running Man, Christy, and Queens of the Dead. As an openly queer performer, O’Brian has become a notable presence in Hollywood, known for portraying strong, physically commanding characters while bringing authentic LGBTQ+ representation to genre films. Her work continues to expand visibility for queer women in action roles and mainstream entertainment. Photo credit: Supplied

Instagram: @thekatyo
TikTok: @thekatyo

VICO ORTIZ

Vico Ortiz (they/them/elle/le) is a proud Puerto Rican Latine/x non-binary and gender-fluid actor and activist. They gained widespread recognition for their standout performance as Jim in the critically acclaimed Our Flag Means Death. Vico first broke out on Transparent, leading to appearances in American Horror Story: 1984, Starz’s award-winning VIDA, and Freeform’s GLAAD-nominated Everything’s Gonna Be Okay. They also recurred on The Sex Lives of College Girls and starred in S.O.Z. Soldados o Zombies. As a voice actor, Vico has appeared in Harley Quinn and Fionna and Cake.

Instagram: @puertoricaninja, TikTok: @vico_ortiz
Facebook: @vico.ortiz.official

NIECY NASH-BETTS

Niecy Nash-Betts (she/her) is an actress known for her television work in All’s Fair, Reno 911!, Claws, and Scream Queens, as well as collaborations with director Ava DuVernay on Selma, Origin, and the miniseries When They See Us. In 2024, she won an Emmy for her portrayal of Glenda Cleveland in Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Nash-Betts has spoken openly about her marriage to Jessica Betts and her journey living authentically as a queer woman. In 2025, she was named Out100’s Icon of the Year for her impact on visibility and representation.

Instagram: @niecynash1, TikTok: @niecynash
Twitter/X: @NiecyNash

MELISSA KING

Chef Melissa King (she/they) is an award-winning chef, author, and TV personality, best known as the Winner and Fan Favorite of Top Chef All-Stars: Los Angeles, where she set the record for most challenge wins. A California native, she redefines modern Asian cuisine through her Shanghainese-Cantonese heritage and West Coast influences. Her cookbook, Cook Like a King, celebrates seasonal California Chinese cooking, and her memoir will be released in Fall 2026. A Culinary Institute of America graduate and former Michelin-starred chef, she curated the 2022 Met Gala. A proud queer Chinese American, she champions inclusion and leads King Sauce, a creative culinary company and condiment line. Photo: Supplied

Instagram: @chefmelissaking, Twitter/X: @ChefMelissaKing
Facebook: @chefmelissaking

SHAWNEE KISH

Hearing acclaimed singer-songwriter and Mohawk artist Shawnee Kish’s (she/her) music is a one-of-a-kind experience; a journey of strength, survival, and inspiration. A multiple-JUNO Award nominee – including a 2026 nod for Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year – Kish creates music marked by emotional depth and unapologetic vulnerability. From the raw intimacy and cultural reclamation of her EP Pray For Me to her debut album Chapter 1, Kish blends genres and lived experience into songs that explore identity, faith, and belonging. A proud Two-Spirit voice, mother, and advocate, Kish champions Indigenous and LGBTQ2IA+ communities, offering space for reflection, resistance, and hope.

Instagram: @shawneekish, Youtube: @Officialshawneekish
Facebook: @shawneekish, TikTok: @shawneekish

HANNAH EINBINDER

Hannah Einbinder is (she/her) a bisexual American actor and stand-up comedian best known for playing Ava Daniels on the HBO series Hacks. Her breakout performance has earned widespread acclaim, including a Critics’ Choice Television Award and the 2025 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, as well as multiple Golden Globe nominations. In 2024, she released her debut stand-up special, Everything Must Go, on HBO. Einbinder has also used her platform to advocate for social justice issues, including LGBTQ+ inclusion, immigrant rights, and humanitarian support for Palestinian communities. Photo credit: IMDB

IG: @hannaheinbinder

RENEÉ RAPP

Reneé Rapp (she/her) is an actor and pop artist known for her breakout as Regina George in the Broadway musical Mean Girls (2019–2020), a role she reprised in the 2024 film adaptation. She also starred in the HBO Max series The Sex Lives of College Girls, playing iconic lesbian character Leighton Murray. Alongside her acting career, Rapp has emerged as a major pop voice, releasing her debut album Snow Angel (2023) and sophomore album Bite Me (2025). Openly lesbian, she has become a prominent young voice for queer visibility and is in a relationship with musician Towa Bird. Photo credit: Instagram

Instagram: @reneerapp, TikTok: @reneerapp
Facebook: @reneemjrapp

JENNY HAGEL

Jenny Hagel (she/her) is an Emmy-nominated TV writer and comedy performer in New York. She is a writer/performer on Late Night with Seth Meyers, where she created the recurring segment Jokes Seth Can’t Tell – which New York Magazine called “the best segment in late night.” Jenny also served as Head Writer/Executive Producer of The Amber Ruffin Show. Other writing credits include the Golden Globe Awards, Impractical Jokers, and Big Gay Sketch Show. Jenny has been nominated for two GLAAD Awards for her work addressing LGBTQ issues on TV. Her debut essay collection, “Advice No One Asked For,” is available for presale now. Photo credit: Lloyd Bishop

Instagram: @jennyhagel, TikTok: @jenny.hagel

RIA TABACCO MAR

Ria Tabacco Mar (she/her) is a civil rights lawyer working at the intersection of gender, race, and LGBTQ status. Currently the director of the ACLU Women’s Rights Project, she is an alum of the ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Project and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Ria also serves on the Board of Directors of Pregnancy Justice, an organization that advances and defends the rights of pregnant people, no matter if they give birth, experience a pregnancy loss, or have an abortion. When not litigating, Ria enjoys crossword puzzles, hot yoga, and parenting her 9-year-old twins.

CAROLYN WYSINGER

Carolyn Wysinger (she/her) is a Bay Area Councilmember/Former Mayor, educator and public servant who made history as the first Black lesbian mayor in California. During her tenure as Mayor, she presided over the first LGBTQ Council super-majority in Northern California. She serves as 2nd Vice President of the National League of Cities LGBTQ+ Local Elected Officials Caucus and Northern California Vice Chair of the Women’s Caucus of the California Democratic Party. A three-term President of the San Francisco Pride Board, Carolyn created Govern Like a Black Feminist, centering care, historical truth, and visibility in leadership and believing democracy works best when it reflects the people it serves.

Instagram: @CarolynWysingerForElCerrito LinkedIn: @carolyn-wysinger
Facebook: @carolynrwysinger

SABRINA CERVANTES

Sabrina Cervantes (she/her) is a proud lesbian Latina leader representing California’s 31st Senate District. First elected to the State Assembly in 2016 as the first out LGBTQ+ person in that chamber, she later became the first openly LGBTQ+ Latina to represent Western Riverside County in the Legislature. Elected to the State Senate in 2024, Cervantes previously served as Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, where she led a record 35 members—including a historic 21 Latinas—the only Inland Empire representative to hold the role. She also serves as Vice Chair of the California LGBTQ+ Caucus, advocating for equity and opportunity for her community.

Instagram: @senatorcervantes
Facebook: @senatorcervantesca

OLIVIA HILL

Olivia Hill (she/her) made history in 2023 as Tennessee’s first openly transgender elected official, serving on the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County. A visible trans lesbian leader, Hill has become a powerful advocate for authentic living and LGBTQ+ representation in the Deep South’s challenging political climate. In 2024, she was named to Out Magazine’s Out100, earning national recognition for her groundbreaking leadership, courage, and commitment to equality. Through her public service and visibility, Hill continues to inspire a new generation of changemakers, showing queer and trans youth across Tennessee that they belong, they are valid, and they can lead.

Instagram: @oliviahill247

CATHERINE E. LHAMON

Catherine E. Lhamon (she/her) is an American attorney, queer civil-rights leader, and longtime advocate for equity in education and federal civil-rights enforcement. In June 2025, she became executive director of the Edley Center for Law and Democracy at the University of California, Berkeley. Until January 20, 2025, she served as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education, where she played a key role in defending transgender students’ protections against discrimination and issuing federal guidance on their equal treatment alongside the U.S. Department of Justice.

ROBERTA A. KAPLAN

Roberta A. (“Robbie”) Kaplan (she/her) is a renowned trial lawyer who has consistently been ranked as one of the top litigators in the country. On behalf of her client, the writer E. Jean Carroll, Robbie is the only lawyer to have beaten Donald Trump twice, obtaining two separate unanimous jury verdicts of $5 and $83.3 million for defamation and sexual assault, with both juries reaching a verdict in less than three hours. Robbie also represented Edie Windsor in the landmark case United States v. Windsor, which she successfully argued before the United States Supreme Court in 2013, leading to nationwide marriage equality two years later.

HONEY MAHOGANY

Honey Mahogany (she/they) is a performer, small business owner, and activist who grew up in San Francisco and received her MSW from Berkeley. Her work has earned her recognition from the City of San Francisco, the State of California; Sainthood from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and awards from the Human Rights Campaign, the GLIDE Center for Social Justice, and the Women’s Foundation of California. She is a co-founder of the Transgender District, a co-owner of the Stud Bar, and Chair-Emerita of the San Francisco Democratic Party. Honey currently works as the Director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives in San Francisco.

Instagram: @honeymahogany, Twitter/X: @honeymahogany
YouTube: @honeymahogany

FRAN TIRADO

Fran Tirado (she/her) is a creative director and editor with more than 15 years of experience in LGBTQ+ media and marketing. She has led editorial teams at Gay Times, Netflix, Out, and Hello Mr., and has collaborated with brands including Nike, HBO, Google, Apple, Meta, iHeart, and ViiV Healthcare. Tirado is the founder of Doll Invasion, an annual Fire Island fundraiser supporting trans creatives and initiatives. Her leadership has earned the Stonewall Vision Award and MTV’s inaugural Logo Legends honor, while her editorial work and tribute to Cecilia Gentili received a GLAAD nomination for Outstanding Online Journalism.

Instagram: @fransexuality

PAOLA RAMOS

Paola Ramos (she/her) is an openly Cuban-Mexican American queer journalist, author, and Emmy Award–winning media contributor known for her reporting on Latine identity, immigration, and U.S. politics. She has contributed to major news platforms, including MSNOW and Telemundo, and previously worked as a correspondent for Vice News, reporting from the U.S.–Mexico border to the Darién Jungle. Her journalism amplifies intersectional and underrepresented LGBTQ+ and Latine voices while examining political and cultural shifts within the communities.

Instagram: @paoramos, TikTok: @pa0ram0s
Twitter/X: @paoramos

SONDRA MORRIS

Sondra Rose Marie Morris (she/her) is a writer and editor dedicated to amplifying queer BIPOC voices. In 2024, she became the Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Tagg Magazine, a digital publication for lesbians, queer women, and sapphic folks. Tagg provides readers with breaking news, cultural commentary, and erotic fiction through a sapphic lens. Prior to purchasing Tagg, Sondra wrote for a number of publications, becoming well known for her vulnerable personal essays and relatable celebrity interviews. Through the written word, Sondra has found a way to tell her own story while helping others tell theirs.

Instagram: @sondrawritesstuff

ROBIN ROBERTS

Robin Roberts (she/her) is the longtime co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America and a celebrated journalist with more than 30 years in broadcasting. Under her leadership, the program has earned four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Morning Program and the 2017 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Daytime TV Hosting Team. Roberts has received the 2024 Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism, the Walter Cronkite Award, a George Foster Peabody Award, a Gracie Award, and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Since coming out in 2013, she has been widely recognized as a role model whose presence in mainstream media has contributed to greater acceptance and inclusion for LGBTQ people. Photo credit: File

Instagram: @robinrobertsgma, TikTok: @robinrobertsgma
Facebook: @robinroberts

LYNNE BROWN

Lynne Brown (she/her) is founder and co-owner of Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia, which publishes the Washington Blade in Washington, D.C. The Washington Blade is the nation’s oldest and most acclaimed LGBTQ news publication. Founded in 1969. In 2017, the DC Blade launched the Los Angeles Blade. Brown is a million-dollar sales executive with a long history in niche market publications. Community service: Board/Treasurer of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. DC Rape Crisis Center, Executive Committee of the Capitol Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. She is a Lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of America, a singer in The LGBTQ Chorus of Washington. Brown is a grad of Syracuse University and a lifelong Washingtonian.

Instagram: @washblade, Twitter/X: @WashBlade
Facebook: @washingtonblade

VITUS “V” SPEHAR

V Spehar (they/them) is an award-winning digital journalist, podcaster, and creator making news more human and accessible. As the creator of Under the Desk News, V has built a community of over 4.7 million by breaking down current events with clarity, empathy, and wit. Their reporting spans Gen Z voter engagement, gender-affirming care, and major political moments, with interviews including Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Kamala Harris. V has contributed to The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and NBC News, covered the Paris Olympics for TikTok, and is currently working on their debut book with Zando Publishing, slated for early 2027.

TikTok: @underthedesknews
Instagram: @underthedesknews

COACH JACKIE

Coach Jackie J (she/her) is an openly lesbian women’s sports storyteller and digital creator who uses her platforms to spotlight athletes, elevate underrepresented stories, and advocate for equity in sports. She is committed to building a more inclusive landscape where all women athletes are seen, supported, and celebrated. Her popular series “Is She Gay or Does She Just Coach Women’s Basketball?” blends sports commentary with playful cultural insight, drawing millions of views from engaged sports fans and queer audiences. Through her content, Coach Jackie also challenges anti-trans rhetoric and champions the right of queer and transgender athletes to compete.

TikTok: @jcubedhax
Instagram: @jcubedhax

AMANDA W. TIMPSON

Amanda W. Timpson (she/her) is a public historian, a former television executive, and a Carrie Fisher-inspired sass factory who is passionate about celebrating the broad expanse of queer history. She left television in 2022 and founded Yesterqueers, a public history project that uplifts queer stories and actively works to rectify historical erasure. As the descendant of a long line of writers and raconteurs, storytelling is part of Amanda’s DNA. She believes that restorative storytelling is our most powerful tool for connection, understanding, and change.

Tiktok: @yesterqueers
Instagram: @yesterqueers

JARI JONES

Jari Jones (she/her) is a celebrated plus-size trans model, actress, producer, and outspoken advocate centering Black and brown trans empowerment, body positivity, and activism. She made history as the first plus-size trans woman to front Calvin Klein, leading to partnerships with Coca-Cola, UGG, Victoria’s Secret PINK, Hinge, Adidas, and Maybelline as its first trans model. She’s appeared in award-winning films and TV ( POSE, Mutt, Ponyboi) and produced “Port Authority” alongside Martin Scorsese. Today, she voices Marshmallow on the acclaimed animated series Bob’s Burgers while also continuing to redefine beauty and culture worldwide.

TikTok: @iamjarijones
Instagram: @iamjarijones

ALEXIS NIKOLE

Alexis Nikole Nelson (she/her) is a Black, queer forager, educator, and environmental advocate who uses social media to teach people how to identify, harvest, and cook wild edible plants. Through her approachable, joyful videos, she connects food justice, environmental stewardship, and ancestral knowledge, emphasizing access to nature for marginalized communities. She is the author of “Black Forager: Field Notes on Rooting, Resistance, and Joy” and has become a leading voice in making foraging and sustainability more inclusive and culturally grounded.

Instagram: @blackforager, Tiktok: @alexisnikole
YouTube: @BlackForager

HEATHER SHAW

Stand-up comedian and popular TikToker Heather Shaw (she/her) (2.8m followers, 94m likes & often known as lesbian Jim Carrey) has been performing stand-up for 10+ years and has been touring the US regularly since 2023. Heather first gained her large social media following (96 million likes and 5 million followers across all platforms) for her distinct humor and uncanny resemblance to Jim Carrey. Heather hosts her weekly entertainment and pop culture podcast, Heather Shaw is Kidding. Heather premieres her first stand-up comedy special this mid-May on YouTube and kicks off her new tour this summer. Photo credit: Timothy Hiatt

Tiktok: @heathershawwww, Instagram: @heathershawiskidding
Facebook: @heathershawiskidding, Youtube: @HeatherShawComedy

NIKKI HILTZ

Nikki Hiltz (they/them) is a trans and nonbinary middle-distance runner. They hold the American record in the mile and won seventh in the 1500m at the 2024 Paris Olympics. They have spoken openly about their experiences as a trans and nonbinary athlete, and been outspoken against World Athletics’ anti-transgender guidelines, which limited their access to gender-affirming health care. Hiltz also founded the Pride 5k in 2020, which raises money for LGBTQ+ nonprofits.

Instagram: @nikkihiltz, Twitter/X: @Nikki_Hiltz
Facebook: @nikki.hiltz

NATASHA CLOUD

Natasha Cloud (she/her) is a WNBA star, activist, and community leader known for using her platform to advocate for racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and underserved communities. She sat out the 2020 WNBA season to focus on pursuing social reform in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, has helped with voter registration, and has been outspoken about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, among other things. Her outspokenness has cost her brand deals, but she has remained an active advocate for causes she is passionate about. She was the 2019 recipient of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award and the WNBA Peak Performer in Assists in 2022.

Instagram: @t__cloud9, Twitter/X: @T_Cloud4

MARTA VIEIRA DA SILVA

Marta Vieira da Silva (“Marta”) (she/her) is widely considered the greatest female footballer of all time, and holds the record for the most goals scored at a World Cup. She plays for the Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League in the US and for the Brazil women’s national team. Marta has been named Women’s World Player of the Year six times. She is also a UN Global Goodwill Ambassador, advocating for women and girls to break barriers in sports.

Instagram: @martavsilva10

C.C. TÉLLEZ

C.C. Tellez (she/her) is an openly lesbian distance runner from La Paz, Bolivia, and the founder of Lez Run Running Club (est. 2013). A fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in running, she helped drive the adoption of nonbinary race registrations with equal prize money, beginning with the Philadelphia Distance Run and influencing major events, including the World Marathon Majors. In 2023, she made history at the Guadalajara Gay Games as the first openly lesbian athlete to represent Bolivia—and win gold in the marathon—marking a milestone for Bolivia’s LGBTQ+ community. An award-winning leader, C.C. was named one of the 48 Most Influential LGBTQ+ Leaders of 2024 by the Philadelphia Gay News.

Instagram: @chaski15

ERIN AMBROSE

Erin Ambrose (she/her) is a professional ice hockey player for Montreal Victoire in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and a longtime member of Canada’s National Women’s Team, helping the team win Olympic Gold at the 2022 Beijing Games. She has been outspoken about LGBTQ+ issues, her own identity as a gay woman, and her struggles with mental health. She has collaborated with CCM Hockey to release two Pride clothing lines, which she uses to celebrate her own identity and spotlight the LGBTQ+ community. Photo credit: Professional Women’s Hockey League

Instagram: @ambrose_13, Twitter/X: @ambrose_13

LAURA MOORE

Thirty-five years ago, Laura Moore (she/her) left her husband, came out, and bought a pair of skates. She lobbied to get figure skating added to the Gay Games, and the sport was added beginning with the 1994 Gay Games in New York. There, she competed as one half of the first lesbian pair figure skating team. Once forbidden in elite competitions, same-sex ice dancing events were recently included at national skating competitions in Canada, Finland, and the UK. She is now 69 and still skates. Her story will be featured in the short New Yorker documentary film Icebreakers. Photo credit: Instagram

DEWANNA BONNER

DeWanna Bonner (she/her) is a professional WNBA player for the Phoenix Mercury. She is openly gay, and has been engaged to her teammate Alyssa Thomas since 2023. She was the fifth overall draft pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft, and currently ranks third in the WNBA for career scoring. She is also one of the league’s highest-paid players and one of the most decorated, with three Sixth Woman of the Year awards and two WNBA championships.

Instagram: @dewannabonner

JEN KISH

Jen Kish (she/her) is an Olympic medalist, Hall of Famer, and former captain of Canada’s national rugby sevens team. Over a 15-year international career, she became one of the most recognized leaders in Canadian sport, known for her grit, composure, and relentless work ethic. Since retiring, Jen has remained a visible and outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ representation, mental health awareness, and women in leadership. Whether on the podium or off the field, she continues to use her platform to create space, visibility, and opportunity for the next generation.

Instagram: @jen_kish

JESS CARTER

Originally from Warwick, UK, Jess Carter (she/her) is a star defender for Gotham FC who now resides in New Jersey. A cornerstone for club and country, she is a two-time UEFA Women’s Euros champion with England and enjoyed a historic 2025, capturing three titles in just 181 days: the 2024-25 Concacaf W Champions Cup, the 2025 Women’s Euros, and the 2025 NWSL Championship. Known for her composure, strength, and leadership on the back line, Carter is equally impactful off the pitch. In summer 2025, she bravely took a public stand against racist abuse, further cementing her role model status worldwide.

Instagram: @_jesslcarter, Tiktok: @_jesslcarter
Twitter/X: @_JessCarter

STUDBUDZ

StudBudz is the name for Minnesota Lynx teammates Courtney Williams (she/her) and Natisha Hiedman (she/her), who went viral on Twitch for streaming their off-court moments. Their charm and chemistry catapulted them into internet fame: they now boast an iconic online following, with 136,000 Instagram followers and 83,600 Twitch followers. They are Black, gay, masculine, and best friends. Their unapologetically authentic online presence has fueled their fame and made them icons, leading fans to wear pink wigs to games in honor of the pair’s matching pink hair and a lineup of brand deals that demonstrate the power of this new kind of sport celebrity.

Instagram: @stud.budz, Twitter/X: @studbudz

HILARY KNIGHT

Hilary Knight (she/her) is an ice hockey player widely considered the face of women’s ice hockey in America. She is the captain of the Seattle Torrent in the Professional Women’s Hockey League and of the United States’ national women’s ice hockey team. Knight has won Olympic gold in 2018 and 2026 and holds the record for the most gold medals at the IIHF World Women’s Championship, with 10 tournament wins. She is a vocal advocate for women’s professional ice hockey and is openly gay, engaged to Olympic speed skater Brittany Bowe.

Tiktok: @hilaryknight, Instagram: @hilaryknight
Twitter/X: @HilaryKnight, YouTube: @HilaryKnight21