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.
LESLI KLAINBERG
An award-winning producer and director of documentaries, Lesli Klainberg is the Executive Director of NewFest, the NYC LGBT Film Festival. For more than a decade, the documentaries made by her production company, Orchard Films, have been featured at the Sundance, Berlin, Frameline and Provincetown film festivals, as well as on PBS, A&E, AMC and the Independent Film Channel. Among Klainberg’s current projects is the historical documentary, Lesbians in America, a look at the last hundred years of lesbian life in America told through oral histories and home movies, and an untitled documentary about the New York theater company Naked Angels. She is also producing and directing a documentary about the infamous 1973 Billie Jean King/Bobby Riggs “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match. Klainberg is a founding national board member of GLAAD and has been involved in social action all of her life, having grown up in a political family. “I’ve long understood that we all have the capacity to make a huge impact,” she says, “and for me, I feel it’s an obligation we have as citizens of the world.” Klainberg lives in Brooklyn with her partner of almost 19 years and their two sons. –SLO
