100 Women We Love 2011
It’s been a whirlwind year for Chely Wright. The award-winning country artist and songwriter stunned the conservative country music world by coming out in 2010, a difficult and life-changing decision she detailed in her 2011 autobiography, Like Me. She also released her critically-acclaimed seventh album, Lifted Off the Ground, a tour-de-force more than five emotionally-grueling years in the making. The documentary film, Wish Me Away, chronicles her journey from preparation to aftermath of her decision to come out to Nashville, her hometown, and within the LGBT community, will make its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival this summer. Her soul-searching, however, has been worth it: The newly-minted LGBT role model serves as the national spokesperson for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and speaks out against school bullying. Wright believes “that to whom much is given, much is required. I have lived a very blessed life and I know what it feels like to achieve goals. I want to do my part in helping others have as many opportunities to have milestones in their lives too.” –KL
The 100 Women We Love – out artists, elected officials, business leaders, athletes, community activists – are role models for us all. Many are up-and-coming movers and shakers; some are at the zenith of their careers. Some of their achievements change our world and, just as importantly, others improve the world’s perception of out women. They all strive tirelessly to increase our visibility and continue our incredible progress toward equality and justice.
We proudly present the class of 2011, in random order, so each gets her well-deserved turn in the spotlight.
SINI ANDERSON
Sini Anderson is a director, producer, storyteller and co-founder of the groundbreaking spoken-word/performance art collective Sister Spit. Recently, Anderson developed, directed and shot a book trailer for Melissa Febos’s memoir Whip Smart, for which she won the Best Short Documentary Award at the 2010 Fetish Film Festival; the book is currently being developed for TV. Her passion for documentary film-making, Anderson says, is inspired by “seeing the relief, inspiration and laughter that honesty can create. Honesty kicks carefulness in the ass, but it comes with a lot of risks…when it works it can create of lot of energy to move forward. When it doesn’t, I just try again.” Anderson is currently focusing on The Punk Singer, a feature documentary about musician and feminist activist Kathleen Hanna, which she hopes to finish by the end of 2011. –CM
