Lesbian activist
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When police arrested her repeatedly for wearing men's clothing, Nancy taught herself the law and challenged the system.
Her bravery helped change the law and protect queer people in Los Angeles — and her story reminds us that standing up for yourself can create real change.
Notable Achievement: Fighting and overturning discriminatory laws against gender nonconformity.
Learn More: The Chicana butch lesbian who defied the LAPD – and won: ‘I couldn’t be someone else’
Margaret Cho (1968 - Present)
Field: Comedy, Acting, Activism
Margaret Cho is a Korean-American comedian, actress, and LGBTQIA+ activist known for her fearless and hilarious stand-up comedy.
In a country where police officer entrap members of the LGBTQ community through text messages and beat those they perceive to be gay, Nkom bravely fights for rights on behalf of the LGBTQ community.
Though Nkom identifies as heterosexual, she has dedicated her work to fighting for Cameroon’s LGBTQ community and founded the Association for the Defence of Homosexuality in 2003.
She has used her position to advocate for the successful passage of the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022, mobilize LGBTQ voters in the 2024 presidential election, and push back against discriminatory legislation in states across the United States.
From: Biography
Catherine Caruso joined the Biography.com staff in August 2024, having previously worked as a freelance journalist for several years.
The 88-year-old has received numerous accolades for his activism, including the Human Rights Campaign’s Upstander Award in 2015 and the Legal Defense Fund’s National Equal Justice Award in 2025.
Read His Biography
Laverne Cox
1972–present
Actor and filmmaker Laverne Cox made history as the first openly trans person to be appear on the cover of Time magazine in 2014 and subsequently became the first trans woman to win an Emmy Award the following year.
These characters deal with fear, harassment, isolation, and the pressures from friends and family that so often prevent youth from willingly revealing their sexual desires or identities.
In 1987, he helped organize the radical AIDS activist group ACT UP, which successfully pushed the FDA to speed up its drug approval process for faster access to life-saving treatments for the disease.
14 LGBTQ Rights Activists Who Have Shaped History and Inspired Generations
Barbara Gittings
1932–2007
Considered the “Mother of the Gay Rights Movement,” Barbara Gittings founded the country’s first lesbian rights organization, the Daughters of Bilitis, in 1958 and was an editor at The Ladder, the first nationally distributed lesbian magazine.
The Gay Newspaper
Issue 1 (July 29, 1977)
Published by Out!
This issue of Out! She often talks about race, sexuality, and social justice in her work, proving that humor can be a powerful tool for change.
Margaret's visibility and voice have paved the way for queer Asian representation in entertainment.
Editor Joseph Beam explains that the purpose of this particular movement was to bring to the forefront the "lives, visions, and contributions" of black lesbians and gays who were ignored or "blacked out" by the gay rights movement. I'm still here, and I’m still fighting."
Learn More: Life Story: Miss Major Griffin-Gracy
Sally Ride (1951 - 2012)
Field: Science, Space Exploration
Sally Ride was the first American woman—and the first known LGBTQIA+ person—to travel to space.
Windsor, which overturned Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 2013. 26, 2015 in New York City.
Image: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Global Citizen
Laverne Cox, best known for playing Sophia Burset on Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black, is a black, trans woman, the first trans person to be nominated for an Emmy, and a proud advocate for LGBTQ rights.
When she’s not working on a new story, you can find her reading, hitting the gym, or watching too much TV.
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Lesbian Activism
from 1970s to the Present
Scroll down for information about each item in the exhibit. | Exhibit curated by Chanel Ward '08 and Anna Steffens '10 In the early 1970s, lesbian activism became a powerful social force as women drew strength from both the gay rights and feminist movements. He regularly gives speeches about LGBTQ rights at events and colleges and is a board member of the nonprofit Family Equality. About a year after he was first drafted, Sam retired from the NFL citing mental health reasons. His struggle highlighted the discrimination and homophobia still rampant in the sports world, but Sam has gone on to share his story and continues to champion change. 11-15.She later joined ACT UP during the HIV/AIDS crisis and continued her activism until her death in 2002 at the age of 50. Read Her Biography Harvey Milk1930–1978 Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in U.S. history. ‘Queer Eye’s’ Fab Five Jonathan Van Ness, Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Bobby Berk, and Karamo Brown from Queer Eye. The all-star cast of Netflix’s new Queer Eye series — a reboot of Bravo’s early 2000s series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy — may be all fun when it comes to makeovers, but they’re serious about making a difference in the world. The “Fab Five” — Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, and Antoni Porowski — speak openly on Queer Eye about their personal struggles and experiences with homophobia and discrimination. Harvey Milk Harvey Milk poses in front of his camera shop in San Francisco on Nov. 9, 1977. Harvey Milk, the subject of the Oscar-winning film Milk, was the first openly gay politician to be elected in California. |