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U.K. newspaper The Guardian recently released its World Pride Power List, an index of the 100 most powerful LGBT people in the world. A number of noteworthy ladies made this year’s list and landed several coveted spots in the top ten.
Taking the #1 spot on this year’s list is lesbian actress Jane Lynch, whose sassy, sardonic portrayal of high school cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester on the Fox series Glee has landed her international renown as television’s most-loved mean girl. Lynch has been writing and performing for TV, film, comedy and theatre for 25 years and has been a vocal gay rights advocate. She married her spouse, clinical psychologist Dr. Lara Embry, in Massachusetts in 2010.
U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin is ranked fifth on the list – just above Apple CEO Tim Cook – for her staunch support of causes including LGBT rights, clean energy and universal health care. She’s the first non-incumbent openly gay person to serve in Congress and co-established the Congressional LGBT Equality caucus with gay Rep. Barney Frank in June 2008.
Beloved comedienne, actor, writer and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres came in at #9 on the list. Eighth and tenth went to openly gay women in sports – respectively, former tennis player Martina Navratilova and BBC sports presenter Clare Balding.
Other ladies in the top 25 are British politician Angela Eagle, former U.S. tennis player Billie Jean King, BBC broadcast journalist Jane Hill, Iceland Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, and U.S. union activist Mary Kay Henry. Read the full list here.
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