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.

Theresa Pascoe
Theresa Pascoe’s way with numbers comes in handy for her day job overseeing tax compliance for Columbia University and its affiliates. And since 2009, her managerial skills have also been put to use for The Stonewall Chorale, the nation’s first gay and lesbian choir celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. She joined as a member of the soprano section, and her dedication to the group was palpable; one year later her peers elected Pascoe to its Board of Directors as Fundraising Chair. In June 2011, she became the first woman in more than a decade to serve as President/Board Chair. This season, under her leadership, the Chorale increased its contribution revenue and received numerous invitations to perform at special events outside of the group’s regular concert schedule. Managing the administration and operations of the all-volunteer group is not easy, Pascoe says, “but each time we perform, I witness the profound effects of the music on both our audiences and our members. Couple that with the opportunity to advance LGBTQ issues through the creation of beautiful music, and I can’t think of any better outlet for my time and energy.”