100 Women We Love: Class of 2009

Once again, we celebrate our favorite out and proud women. As difficult as it is to narrow it down to just 100, this year’s eclectic list includes artists, athletes, club promoters, community organizers, entertainers, entrepreneurs, filmmakers, politicians and plaintiffs, who are making a difference in our world and the world at large.

Mildred Dred
Gerestant

Mildred Dred Gerestant, also known as DRED, performs a particularly mystical form of drag. Her act is less a typical impersonation and more a challenge to societal ideas of what it means to be male or female, reminding the audience that there is some of each in everyone. It’s no surprise that DRED’s motto is “Love all of who you are…” Appearing around New York City and abroad, the actor and “gender illusionist” is the creator of The Dred Love Experience, a performance/workshop which combines a series of art forms such as poetry, music and monologue to help participants question gender stereotypes and ruminate on their own identities. She describes the show as “a progressive, funky, fly, supernatural-high, poetic, thought-provoking, Haitian-American, and musical, performance on gender-fluidity and freedom.” Turning her inimitable art into action, Dred has also developed a genders sensitivity/equality workshop that she hopes to share with everyone from police departments to schools to survivors of domestic abuse. -CB

Remember, these are in no particular order because we love them all!


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