100 Women We Love, Queer Women We Love, Wonder Women

100 Women We Love 2012

June 15, 2012 Destiny Dejesus

“Knowing that my election showed Charlotteans and the world that we are not bound by discrimination wakes me every morning with pride,” proclaims LaWana Mayfield, the City Council representative for District 3 in Charlotte, NC, and the city’s first openly gay elected official. Last November, she trounced her Republican opponent in the council election with 78 percent of the vote, replacing an eight-year incumbent. Now, continuously building on her 15 years of activism, her other leadership posts include the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee, Mecklenburg County Development Corp. Board, Smart Start Board and the Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund Board of Advisors. Prior to the election, Mayfield took an active role in LGBT activism as the Human Rights Campaign’s Diversity Co-Chair. “I believe that my role, along with growing the City of Charlotte, is to open the door for LGBTQ dialogue and to create pathways to service. I have this amazing opportunity to help direct the growth of the City of Charlotte through my vote,” Mayfield says. “I am right where I am supposed to be, and I love my job!”

Drum roll, please! We’re excited to present this year’s 100 Women We Love—our most diverse group of out entertainers, artists, athletes, activists, business principals and elected officials yet. Each of these women is a superstar in her own right. Their achievements and contributions shape our lives —and elevate us in the eyes of the world . They’re working to raise LGBT awareness, increase our visibility and quicken our progress toward a just society.

We are extremely proud to present the class of 2012. There are no rankings or numbers. They are all leaders.

Kate Clinton
Seriously, what’s not to love about Kate Clinton, who is not only a celebrated “political humorist and family entertainer” but also a writer, teacher and activist? Making people think while convulsing with laughter—that‘s what she does. And she does it so well. “For 32 years I’ve been able to make a living as an out lesbian comic. I’ve even been able to buy things. Did I just gloat again?” she quips. She certainly deserves to gloat a little in 2012: after appearing in the pilot episode of the NBC hit series Smash earlier this year, Clinton is now kicking off her ALL FRACKED UP tour with several East Coast dates, including a slew of performances in Provincetown throughout the summer. Her upcoming show on July 19 is part of Girl Splash, while her August 16 show is a Girl Power event for Carnival Week. Since this is an election year, expect a blitzkrieg of Clinton’s trademark political critique, along with a gazillion laughs. “There’s still plenty of work to be done—violence, teen homelessness, HIV/AIDS, bullying,“ she admits, “but sometimes I have to spike the ball in the end zone.”