100 Women We Love Class of 2010
A Houston, Texas native, Annise Parker has remained close to her roots. She was sworn in as the 61st mayor of Houston in January, becoming only the second woman and first openly gay person to hold that office. She graduated from Rice University and worked for two decades in the oil and gas industry, with 18 of those years spent at the Houston-based Mosbacher Energy Company. For ten years, she co-owned Inklings, a Houston-based independent gay bookstore. Parker was involved in Houston politics for several years prior to becoming mayor, serving six years as a member of the City Council and one six-year term as Houston City Controller. -CB
As the first decade of the new millennium comes to an end, we take a moment to celebrate 100 out lesbians who have made the past year one of inspiring change and amazing progress.
Amy Beckerman
A co-producer of the gay comedy series Dykes on Mics, Amy Beckerman has appeared on HERE TV’s Hot Gay Comics, MTV’s F’N MTV and The Sopranos. As a comic, Beckerman strives to be relatable. “When I talk about coming out to my family,” she says, “part of me hopes that there is someone in the audience who may think ‘wow, maybe coming out won’t be that hard. I think I’ll do it!’ If I’m performing to an audience who is primarily straight, I will still do my ‘lesbian material’. When I talk about my engagement to my partner and all her quirks, I am hoping that the heteros in the audience will see that same-sex relationships are very similar to their own.” Beckerman also produces GENEROSI-TITTIES, an annual charity evening of topless stand-up in New York City to raise money for breast cancer research. She recently appeared on The Howard Stern Show to promote the event and plans to bring the show to Los Angeles later this year. -CB
