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.
Shannon Blowtorch
DJ, promoter and sound engineer Shannon Blowtorch is a fixture on the Minneapolis music scene and produces many of the largest Twin Cities dance parties. She’s toured with the band MEN as a sound engineer, and for the group All The Pretty Horses, she occupied the dual roles of manager and tribal dancer. When asked what it’s like to be an out lesbian on the Minneapolis scene, Blowtorch says, “I find it to be a pretty open-minded city, and have gotten no grief for being out from the music industry here. I cross over and partake in queer events alongside a ton of straight events. If anything, I help educate the boys in the music biz on the LGBT world. I don’t like to be pigeonholed, so I cross over to all genres.” -CB
