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.

Tammy Baldwin
All eyes will be on Wisconsin this fall, a battleground state that could swing red in November—and where voters could elect Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) as the first openly gay U.S. Senator in history. Since her election to the House of Representatives in 1999, the Madison native has been one of the staunchest progressive lawmakers in Congress, supporting legislation for women’s equality, affordable healthcare, Social Security and Medicare, and clean energy technology. She is now running for the seat vacated by retiring Sen. Herb Kohl (D), who won election in 1988. Baldwin’s likely Republican opponent is Tommy Thompson, the former Wisconsin governor and Health and Human Services Secretary under George W. Bush. Not surprisingly, there is a glaring contrast between the two candidates’ records on political issues, such as healthcare and reproductive rights: Thompson agreed that it would be “a good day for America” if Roe v. Wade were repealed, while Baldwin scores 100% by NARAL on her pro-choice voting record. Although this race will be an uphill battle for Baldwin, a broad-minded grassroots campaign and key endorsements could put her over the top.