bump up

Too many to name!  Here is a smidgen

My uncle

Svend Robinson

Aleister Crowley

Genesis P-Orridge

Annie Sprinkle

SG

Dan Savage (of the column Strange Love)

Sir Francis Bacon

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Alan Turing

Plato

Judith Butler

Crazyheart, are you asking about people with accomplishments who happen to be GLBTQ or anyone people within the community look up to regardless of their gender/sexual orientation?

If it's the former, I'm sure there are tons I know of but forget their orientation.  If it's the latter, I'm not in that community to know.

Chemgal, I didn't make myself too clear. Anyone in your community but GLBTQ seem to drop through the cracks.

As I think about what I have posted, I have made a mess of it. I do not want to name people because of their orientation ( gay or straight). It doesn't matter and I apologize. Maybe this thread will disappear into the mists.

Crazyheart, I disagree, you haven’t made a mess and to me, it does matter. It’s important to highlight people who identify as glbtq as heroes, role models. It is those out and outstanding people who provide many of us (who identify as queer) with role models, people who inspire courage in others. When people who identify as glbtq are acknowledged and not silenced, both straight and queer people benefit. For far too long our identity and stories have been kept quiet, not made known. I agree that sexual identity shouldn’t matter, a person should be valued for their worth/accomplishment regardless. However living in a heterocentric society where straight identity is open, celebrated, seen over and over in books, movies, news, tv, history books and so on, it’s important to also have queer people’s identity made known. Typically marginalized groups, those who have experienced discrimination, prejudice, hatred and silence, hold up high those whose courage, openness, and strength have made a difference.

Thank you myst. You said what I tried to say.

There are too many. I will start with three people I know personally,

Rabbi Steven Greenberg
Beverly Glenn-Copeland/B. Glenn Copeland
Annise Parker

Then just a few names that came to mind.

Audre Lorde
Kay Lahusen
Barbara Gittings
Harvey Milk
Barney Frank
Dr Frank Kameny
Martin Duberman
Mara Keisling

Less poitical - Sharon Farmer, E. Lynn Harris, Matthew Mitcham, Maurice Sendack...
 

Dr. Harry Benjamin .......  He took time to find a practical way of helping transgender persons.

and if I may ...perhaps a few local people that have made important contributions to my life....

Rev. Erin Todd        St. Luke's ...... Sudbury

Jan Carrie Steven      All Peoples ..... Sudbury

Both of these wonderful people took the time to love me when I was really hurting...

When a person reaches out to befriend another ..... even when they don't understand and cannot relate ..... there are the heros and heroines that make such an important difference...

Hugs

Rita

I would like to name the gay couple I've come to know through my church - but I can't name names without their permission.  

I would add the lesbian couples (also from my church) who I've come to know.  Intelligent, caring, entertaining, creative people who have a great deal to offer the congregation and the community.

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Harvey Milk.

Inna, I would tell you to remove me from your list, because I do not feel heroic, but being under Annie Sprinkle,,, I think I will stay.

This is Penny Wong - Australia's Finance Minister.

She is a lesbian and Asian, both of which are not common in Australian political life.

She is well-respected throughout the community for her openness and honesty. She has announced that she and her partner are soon to become parents.

Here is a link - (which I hope works!)

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/lesbian-ministers-pregnancy-fails-to-sway-australia-pm-on-gay-marriage-2335023.html

All the sisters and brothers who died of AIDS, waiting for the rest of the world to take this plague seriously. And the people who loved them and stayed with them and nursed them.

(And Sean Penn as Harvey Milk in Milk? Wonderful.)

Crazyheart, I didn't mean to be critical when I asked the question, I was just a bit confused.  There are people like Tori Spelling and Kathy Griffin who seem to take a bit of a hero role within the community even though they are straight.  I wasn't sure if you meant people like them or not.

Wasn't the Canadian writer TImothy Findley gay?

I would like to add Rev Tim Stevenson and Rev Gary Patterson to the list - as well as members of my own circles of friends whom I will not name here without their permission.

chemgal, yes, Timothy Findley was gay. And another notable Canadian author who 'paved the way' was Jane Rule. So many wonderful (and queer) Canadian writers and I am fortunate to have a few as close friends.