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.

Andrea Wing
Vancouver-based webpreneur Andrea Wing is the founder of BuskFilms, a video-on-demand site featuring independent lesbian films from around the world. Applying a decade of experience as a film, television and online media producer/director, Wing harnessed the latest Web and Mobile 2.0 technologies to give lesbian filmmakers a much-needed platform for self-expression. Put simply, she sees the digital revolution picking up where the traditional distribution system falls short. “I see an opportunity to give a voice to filmmakers who have previously struggled to be heard,” Wing says. BuskFilms also provides economic empowerment to lesbian artists, since a large portion of every rental goes directly into the filmmakers’ pockets. “There are two very rewarding sides to this site,” Wing explains. “Firstly, to know that films are reaching people in places where content wasn’t previously available and where people potential feel unsafe renting queer films. Secondly, it feels good to know that filmmakers are reaching their intended audience and that they are making money while doing so.” She views BuskFilms as “a place where art, technology and filmmaker empowerment intersect.”