Top 10 Who’s Who In Gay America
Gay culture has been having it’s time under the klieg lights in Washington, and all around the country, with plenty of accomplishments to be proud of. From homosexuals being allowed to serve openly in the military, to the advancement of marriage rights in some states (losses in others), to President Obama sharing his new and improved, we mean evolved, view on the matter. But all this couldn’t be without people in the community actively living their lives in a way that advocates and fights for equality, and a broader definition of what humans can and should identify as. Check out a list of the top ten Queer activists that are pushing the envelope in this country and making change a reality.
10. Kate Bornstein
Where to begin with this Jewish-American author, playwright, performance artist and--to quote her wiki page--gender theorist? Kate takes to writing and performing, using her body as a subject to address the inadequate gender binary system that activists have been hacking away at. Never one to be boxed in a category, after having gender reassignment surgery, Kate is still attracted to women. If you're looking for a good read to show how complicated Human identity is, pick up Nearly Roadkill: An Infobahn Erotic Adventure.
Happy Gay Pride month! Tune into FILMS TO GO GAY FOR Friday Nights in June at 8p.9. Christine Quinn
New York City's own city council speaker has been a game player and vocal advocate for LGBT rights, especially marriage rights for over a decade. Christine famously vowing not to border hop to neighboring state Connecticut and tie the knot with her long-time partner until it was legal to do so in New York. That fated day came along with the highest profile marriage in the short history of same sex marriages. The guest list included Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Wonder if they played limbo at the reception.
Happy Gay Pride month! Tune into FILMS TO GO GAY FOR Friday Nights in June at 8p.
Author: Paul Ohan8. Larry Kramer
After making waves again with the revival of his 1980's smash success play, The Normal Heart, Larry took the opportunity to pass out a personal letter to audience members exiting the theater, reminding them that the battle against AIDS and HIV is nowhere near over. He founded GMHC and later ACT UP, which is really the gay political army. It also happens to be twenty-five years old this year. Never satisfied with the state of homosexuals in the world, you can be sure to read, hear, or witness one of Larry's very ticked off rants somewhere like Huff Po, and be inspired. Thanks gurl.
Happy Gay Pride month! Tune into FILMS TO GO GAY FOR Friday Nights in June at 8p.
Author: Paul Ohan7. Fred Karger
Fred has long been a gay rights activist and a political consultant for numerous campaigns in California. And he is the first openly gay republican candidate running for president. He started this campaign over two years ago and everyone thought he would have stopped by now, but he has pressed on. There were only two republican candidates on the California primary ballot, and Karger was one of them. Guess he's like a bunch of other republicans in that he really just doesn't want to vote for Mitt. Props.
Happy Gay Pride month! Tune into FILMS TO GO GAY FOR Friday Nights in June at 8p.
Author: Paul Ohan6. Tom Duane
Tommy was New York's first openly gay senator. When he first started out, people said an HIV positive man would never win a seat. Luckily his detractors were myopic in their vision and totally wrong. Tom was heavily responsible for the Marriage Equality Act, the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA), the Dignity for All Students Act, comprehensive hate crime legislation and the Family Health Care Decisions Act in New York State. Boo-Ya!
Happy Gay Pride month! Tune into FILMS TO GO GAY FOR Friday Nights in June at 8p.
Author: Paul Ohan5. Joe Solmonese
In case you missed it seven years ago, Joe Solmonese entered the general political landscape like a reality star as the new face for HRC, complete with a downloadable poster of him standing in the middle of a street, arms akimbo, smiling. We know cause we still have one. During his tenure Joe saw DADT repealed, and gay marriage make headway in some states. Now, our Joey is the national co-chair for President Obama's reelection campaign. Why? Because he's cute, and one out of every fifteen deep-pocket donor is gay. Ask any gay man; a pretty face goes a long way with us.
Happy Gay Pride month! Tune into FILMS TO GO GAY FOR Friday Nights in June at 8p.
Author: Paul Ohan4. Dean Spade
New nerd crush alert! Dean Spade is an under the radar, bookish law professor who is going to be a household name if we have anything to do with it. When not teaching classes related to sexual orientation and gender identity law, and law and social movements, Dean co-edits the online journal Enough. Oh, and also started the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, a non-profit law collective that provides free legal services to transgender, intersex and gender non-conforming people who are low-income and/or people of color. Totally hot.
Happy Gay Pride month! Tune into FILMS TO GO GAY FOR Friday Nights in June at 8p.
Author: Paul Ohan3. Janet Mock
This bombshell is everything you want in an independent woman. She's smart, beautiful, has amazing hair and eyes, and was born a man. A staff editor at People.com, Janet recently started a campaign #GirlsLikeUs that focuses on the issues and difficulties for transwomen of color. That, and she has a killer fashion sense. Any man would be lucky to have her on their arm.
Happy Gay Pride month! Tune into FILMS TO GO GAY FOR Friday Nights in June at 8p.
Author: Paul Ohan2. Chad Griffin
The new president of our beloved Human Rights Campaign is poised to bring a fresh approach to LGBTQ rights in Washington, making the agenda more diverse incorporating the voices of all Queer people. Chad is a spry young man who made waves as board chair of the American Foundation for Equal Rights and its federal lawsuit challenging California's Proposition 8. That's like, worth a million proposals alone.
Happy Gay Pride month! Tune into FILMS TO GO GAY FOR Friday Nights in June at 8p.
Author: Paul Ohan1. Barney Frank
What hasn't Barney Frank done in his career? Being one of the first openly gay politicians, serving his home state of Massachusetts since 1981, the doyen of gay politics in America has fought against conservative bigots, and helped bring reform to the gonzo practices of Wall Street. Daddy Frank is retiring at the end of this term. Equality bonus: he's getting hitched to long-time partner Jim Ready. After-party at chez Frank in Provincetown during Bear Week? Totally!
Happy Gay Pride month! Tune into FILMS TO GO GAY FOR Friday Nights in June at 8p.
Author: Paul Ohan
