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.
Kelli Carpenter
A former marketing executive at Nickelodeon, Kelli Carpenter (right, pictured with her sister, Heidi Lane) is the co-founder of R Family Vacations. Offering safe and entertaining travel packages for LGBT families, R Family Vacations has hosted thousands of guests since their 2003 launch and will sail on their ninth cruise this summer. The mother of four wants to impart the importance of an expanded definition of “family” to young people. She says, “I would like to continue to utilize the public voice that I have to further educate the upcoming generation. Our children will have an enormous impact on the future of how gays and lesbians can legally bind their relationships and their families. By living our lives openly and honestly, the next generation will not be ignorant but informed on what makes a family.” -CB
