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.
Leslie Van Stelten
Photographer Leslie Van Stelten’s vivid, captivating work has been shown at New York City galleries, featured as CD artwork and included in publications like the Village Voice and GO. Originally from Denver, Van Stelten now finds her inspiration and some of the subjects of her portraits and photo illustrations on the streets of New York City. “Most of the subjects I use are diverse and I often choose to photograph people in the gay community that I’ve met in social settings, mostly in Williamsburg, Brooklyn,” Van Stelten says. “I always want to challenge stereotypes of what it means to be LGBT, regarding such ideals as beauty, age and gender. I think I’ve been influential in creating a nurturing gay artistic community and exposing this amazing community to the world through various publications, blogs and exhibitions.” -CB
