100 WOMEN WE LOVE 2008
Lily Tomlin’s extraordinary career as a funny lady bloomed on the TV show Laugh-In in 1969, the year of the Stonewall rebellion. Fittingly, she has woven feminism and LGBT life into her characters—the not-so-hardworking phone operator Ernestine, Violet Newstead in 9 to 5 and the numerous personas populating The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, the one-woman play written by Tomlin’s partner Jane Wagner, for which Tomlin won a Tony Award. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for her turn as Linnea Reese in Robert Altman’s Nashville, played recurring roles on TV shows from Murphy Brown to The West Wing, and has won six Emmys, a Grammy, and a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award in 1977. Tomlin, who has called Wagner the most influential person in her life and career, narrated 1995’s landmark LGBT documentary The Celluloid Closet. –KL
In no particular order…
Hats off to the 100 Women We Love, class of 2008 (in no particular order, ’cause we love ’em all!).
Kathy Richter
Producer Kathy Richter began her career as a TV news reporter, anchor and producer in several major markets. In 1994 she switched gears and acted as Communications Director for Anchor Glass Container, a Fortune 500 company, and Marketing Director for Priority One Financial Services. In 2005, she combined her experience in newsrooms and boardrooms to produce Losing Lois, her first documentary film, which won the 2002 PlanetOut/ HBO Award for Best Short. Her second film, about Florida’s ban on gay adoption, will air as part of the ACLU’s series The Freedom Files. But perhaps her most rewarding effort on behalf of the LGBT community is serving on the Board of Regents of the Point Foundation, a scholarship fund for marginalized LGBT students. “Point scholars overcome the most difficult challenges and go on to achieve the highest levels of success—professionally and personally,” says Richter. “As a Point Regent, I feel honored to play a small role in the development of these future LGBT leaders.” –KL
In no particular order…
