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.
Kate Moira Ryan
Playwright Kate Moira Ryan’s recent off-Broadway production, Bass For Picasso, resulted in some interesting fan mail. Centered around a hilarious, super gay and ultimately revelatory dinner party, the play caused “one theatergoer to [want to] have my character over for dinner. Another said he wanted to carry her in his pocket. They’re my little Barbie doll actor people. Leave them in the town house.” Ryan won a 2007 GLAAD Media Award for 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother, written with and performed by comedian Judy Gold. This summer, the Williamstown Theater Festival will produce their latest collaboration, It’s Jewdy’s Show. The Beebo Brinker Chronicles, Ryan’s adaptation of Ann Bannon’s classic lesbian pulp novels. Written with Linda S. Chapman, it was recently published by the Dramatists Play Service and was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award this year. Ryan says she is comfortable being called a “lesbian playwright,” but , “the tag I really hate is ‘lesbian woman playwright.’ That’s like saying ‘fictional novel.’” -CB
