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

100 Women We Love 2012

June 15, 2012
“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.

Lauren Russell
Driven by the philosophy that “jewelry has the power to transform a moment, a mood, a life,” Los Angeles-based designer Lauren Russell is the president of Lyon Fine Jewelry. The artist finds inspiration for her avant-garde designs in familiar things–from a vintage leather jacket to a memory from her world travels–and translates the vision with conflict-free black diamonds, black jade and black rhodium-plated silver and gold. Though celebs and socialites habitually rock her signature pieces, Russell supports charity causes like Adaptive Action Sports, Rock the Vote and Friendfactor through the sale of her line of specially designed leather and silver bracelets. “Designing jewelry is my way of realizing my talent and purpose, but designing these bracelets has really completed my mission. I feel very blessed to be able to combine these two passions into one,” Russell says. She plans to expand the line to support anti-bullying campaigns and animal rights activism as well, but for now, Russell has another project on her plate: starring in the new season of The Real L Word on Showtime, where the cameras will be trained on her relationship with her bestie Amanda. Stay tuned.

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