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.
SUSIE BRIGHT
Author, editor and activist for sexual expression Susie Bright is the voice behind the national bestsellers Full Exposure and The Sexual State of the Union, as well as The Best American Erotica and Herotica series. In the ‘90s, she co-founded the trailblazing sex magazine On Our Backs, the first lesbian publication to ride the wave of sex-positivity and queer power that Bright herself helped initiate. “It was created by a handful of working class dykes, and we revolutionized what everyone thought they knew about women’s sexuality. That puts an infinite smile on my face,” she says. Bright’s resume lists other pioneering accomplishments: She was the first journalist to cover erotic cinema and the porn business in the mainstream press and taught the first university course on pornography. Bright also hosts Audible’s In Bed With Susie Bright, the longest-running sex-ed show in the history of broadcasting, and this year she published her uncompromising memoir Big Sex Little Death. –CM
