22 LGBTQ+ Daring Divas Who Changed The Course Of Herstory For Women's History Month
March is Women's History Month, and we would be amiss if we didn't get a chance to speak about our LGBTQ sisters who changed the course of herstory with their words and prominent activism. Women are often erased from the history books or have their roles diminished, but here at Cheezcake we're women first, especially during Women's History Month. That means that women should feel loud and proud in the bedroom, on the streets, and anywhere else you want to make your mark.
From trans activists like Marsha P. Johnson, who played a pivotal role in the Stonewall riots which sparked the modern LGTBQ rights movement to Mary Bonauto, a lesbian lawyer who won the first case that allowed Massachusetts to approve gay marriage, starting the precedent for all 50 states to approve it. Women have had major roles to play in history, and it's time we learned their names! So scroll down for a little herstory lesson, and remember, soft-spoken women rarely make history.
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1
Christine Jorgensen
Born in 1926, Christine Jorgensen was an American transwoman who made history as one of the first people to undergo gender-affirming surgery.
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2
Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson was a Black transwoman and a prominent figure in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. She played a pivotal role in the Stonewall Riots of 1969, which sparked the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
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4
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox is a trailblazing actress, producer, and LGBTQ+ advocate.
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5
Janet Mock is a writer, director, producer, and transgender rights activist. Her memoir, "Redefining Realness" documents her journey as a transwoman and has become a vital resource for understanding the transgender experience.
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6
Caitlyn Jenner
Jenner's very public transition brought transgender issues to the forefront of mainstream conversation, sparking discussions about gender identity and the transgender experience.
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Renee Richards
Renee Richards is a former professional tennis player. As a trailblazer, Renée Richards opened doors for transgender athletes and raised awareness about transgender rights.
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8
Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon
They co-founded the Daughters of Bilitis in 1955, one of the first lesbian rights organizations in the United States. Through their work with the Daughters of Bilitis and their publication "The Ladder," Martin and Lyon provided crucial support and visibility for lesbian women at a time when their voices were largely marginalized.
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9
Barbara Gittings
Gittings was instrumental in pushing for greater visibility of LGBTQ people in mainstream media and literature. She spearheaded efforts to challenge censorship laws that suppressed LGBTQ-themed materials, advocating for their inclusion in libraries and bookstores. Her activism paved the way for greater representation and understanding of LGBTQ issues in literature and media.
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10
Sylvia Rivera
One of Rivera's most notable contributions was her activism during the Stonewall uprising in 1969, a pivotal moment in LGBTQ history that sparked the modern gay rights movement. As a transgender woman of color, Rivera played a significant role in the protests at the Stonewall Inn, often cited as one of the key figures in the resistance against police harassment and violence.
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11
Jean O'Leary
O'Leary was instrumental in organizing the first White House meeting between LGBTQ activists and a sitting U.S. president, Jimmy Carter, in 1977. This meeting marked a significant milestone in the recognition of LGBTQ rights as a legitimate political issue.
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12
Virginia Apuzzo
One of Apuzzo's notable achievements was her involvement in the 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation, where she served as co-chair. The march brought together hundreds of thousands of LGBTQ individuals and allies to demand equal rights and an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
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13
Miriam Ben Shalom
One of Ben Shalom's most notable accomplishments was her successful legal battle against the U.S. Army's policy banning homosexuals from military service. In 1980, she was honorably discharged from the Army because of her sexual orientation. She challenged her dismissal in court and became the first openly gay service member to be reinstated into the military after winning her case in 1987.
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14
Urvashi Vaid
One of Vaid's notable accomplishments was her advocacy for same-sex marriage rights. She was among the early voices within the LGBTQ movement to call for marriage equality, recognizing marriage as a fundamental human right that should be extended to all individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
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15
Kate Kendell
Under her leadership, the NCLR became one of the nation's leading legal advocacy organizations dedicated to advancing LGBTQ rights through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. Kendell's strategic vision and tireless advocacy helped secure numerous legal victories for LGBTQ individuals, including landmark cases on marriage equality, parental rights, employment discrimination, and transgender rights.
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16
Margarethe Cammermeyer
Cammermeyer's story gained national attention when she challenged the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy, which prohibited openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals from serving in the military. Despite serving with distinction in the U.S. Army for over 25 years, rising to the rank of colonel and working as a nurse in the Army Nurse Corps, Cammermeyer's career was jeopardized when she acknowledged her sexual orientation during a routine security clearance interview in 1989.
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17
Roberta Kaplan
Roberta Kaplan is a prominent LGBTQ rights advocate and attorney known for her instrumental role in legal battles that have significantly advanced LGBTQ equality in the United States.
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18
Mary Bonauto
Bonauto gained national recognition for her pivotal role in the landmark case Goodridge v. Department of Public Health (2003), in which she successfully argued before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that the state's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. This historic decision made Massachusetts the first state in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriage, setting a precedent for marriage equality nationwide.
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19
Sarah Kate Ellis
Sarah Kate Ellis is a prominent LGBTQ rights advocate and leader known for her influential work as the President and CEO of GLAAD (formerly known as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), a leading LGBTQ media advocacy organization.
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20
Kierra Johnson
As the Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force, Johnson has been a driving force behind the organization's efforts to promote LGBTQ rights, racial justice, and intersectional activism. Under her leadership, the Task Force has focused on addressing issues such as police violence, economic inequality, and healthcare disparities affecting LGBTQ people, with a particular emphasis on the experiences of LGBTQ people of color and transgender individuals.
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21
Imani Rupert-Gordon
As the Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Rupert-Gordon has been instrumental in leading the organization's efforts to secure legal protections and advance the rights of LGBTQ individuals and families. Under her leadership, the NCLR has continued to be a leading force in advocating for LGBTQ rights through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and public education.
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22
Kelley Robinson
Kelley Robinson is a highly respected LGBTQ rights advocate and leader known for her impactful work in advancing social justice, reproductive rights, and healthcare equity for marginalized communities.
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