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.
JASIKA NICOLE
Actress Jasika Nicole stars as Junior FBI Agent Astrid Farnsworth on Fox’s innovative sci-fi series Fringe, where her fictional areas of expertise include computer hacking, Latin and code-breaking. In real life, the Birmingham, AL native is just as multitalented: After studying theater, voice and dance in college, she used her skills in her debut feature film, the ballroom-dancing flick Take the Lead with Antonio Banderas; Law and Order: Criminal Intent; and other projects for TV, film and musical theater. A freelance illustrator as well as a performer, Nicole writes and draws an autobiographical comic entitled High Yella Magic, which she’s developing into a graphic novel. She contributed work to The Letter Q, a forthcoming book of prose, poems and artwork to reach out to LGBT teens. “By being visible and vocal, I hope to have as substantial an impact on the straight community as the queer one,” Nicole says. “As a queer woman of color, it would also be a considerable success to raise awareness in the black community, which has historically [had] negative views about queer folk…Celebrating our diversity can only strengthen our community.” –KL
