25 Legendary LGBTQ+ Individuals Who Changed the World for the Better

The LGBTQ+ community has long struggled for recognition, acceptance, and equality. Despite facing discrimination and marginalization throughout history, many brave individuals have stepped forward to fight for their rights and make a lasting impact on the world. From artists and activists to politicians and pioneers, the LGBTQ+ community has produced countless heroes who have changed the course of history.

In this blog post, we will celebrate 25 LGBTQ+ individuals who have made significant contributions to society and paved the way for future generations. Through their courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to their cause, these trailblazers have made the world a more inclusive, diverse, and beautiful place. Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, their stories are sure to inspire and uplift you. So, join us as we celebrate these incredible individuals and their remarkable achievements.

Roberta “Robbie” Kaplan

Roberta “Robbie” Kaplan is an American attorney and LGBTQ+ rights activist who has significantly contributed to the fight for equality. She gained national recognition for her representation of Edith Windsor in the landmark Supreme Court case United States v. Windsor, which led to the striking down of the Defense of Marriage Act and paved the way for marriage equality in the United States.

Kaplan has also been involved in other high-profile cases related to LGBTQ+ rights, including representing transgender student Gavin Grimm in a lawsuit against his school district over bathroom access. She has been recognized for her legal work and advocacy, receiving numerous awards and honors, including the Visionary Award from the Point Foundation and the Legal Advocate Award from the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Kaplan continues to be a powerful advocate for justice and equality for all.

Jose Sarria

Jose Sarria, AKA The Grand Mere, Absolute Empress I de San Francisco, and the Widow Norton, was a LGBTQ+ activist and drag queen who became the first openly gay person to run for public office in the United States, running for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1961. He is also known for his role as the founder of the Imperial Court System, a network of drag queen performers that has raised millions of dollars for LGBTQ+ charities over the years.

Sarria was a vocal advocate for gay rights at a time when homosexuality was not widely accepted, and his work helped pave the way for greater visibility and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2021, recognizing his trailblazing activism and impact on American society.

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde was a 19th-century Irish writer and playwright known for his wit, humor, and flamboyant personality. He was a leading figure in the aesthetic movement, which emphasized beauty and art for art’s sake, and his works, including “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and plays such as “The Importance of Being Earnest,” are still widely read and performed today.

Wilde was also known for his homosexuality, which was illegal at the time, and his relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas ultimately resulted in his arrest and imprisonment for “gross indecency.” Despite the persecution he faced, Wilde remained true to himself and his beliefs, and his legacy as a writer and LGBTQ+ icon continues to inspire.

Wanda Sykes

Wanda Sykes is an American comedian, actress, and writer who has become a prominent voice for LGBTQ+ rights and equality over the course of her career. As an openly gay woman, Sykes has used her platform to raise awareness about issues facing the community, including marriage equality, discrimination, and hate crimes. She has been involved in various organizations and campaigns supporting LGBTQ+ rights, including the Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD, and has spoken out against anti-LGBTQ+ policies and politicians.

In 2017, she was honored with the Trailblazer Award from the Harlem-based Ali Forney Center for her work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. Sykes’ activism and advocacy have made her an important figure in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, and she continues to be a powerful voice for change in society.

Larry Kramer

Larry Kramer was a writer, playwright, and activist known for his fierce advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly during the early years of the AIDS epidemic. He was a co-founder of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, one of the first organizations dedicated to combating the spread of HIV/AIDS, and later founded ACT UP, a direct-action advocacy group that played a key role in pressuring the government and pharmaceutical companies to take action on the epidemic. Kramer’s writing, including his play “The Normal Heart,” brought attention to the devastating impact of the disease on the gay community and helped break down stigmas surrounding homosexuality and HIV/AIDS.

He was also a vocal advocate for greater political and social equality for LGBTQ+ people and challenged mainstream society to confront its prejudices and biases.

Christine Jorgensen

Christine Jorgensen was an American transgender woman who gained international fame in the 1950s for her gender reassignment surgery and subsequent media coverage. Jorgensen was born George William Jorgensen Jr. and served in the US Army during World War II before traveling to Denmark for gender affirmation surgery in 1952.

Her story captivated the public imagination and served as a catalyst for discussions about gender identity and expression. Jorgensen used her platform to advocate for greater understanding and acceptance of transgender people, and her courage in sharing her story helped pave the way for greater visibility and rights for the transgender community.

Janet Mock

Janet Mock is a writer, television host, and transgender rights activist who has been a prominent voice for marginalized communities throughout her career. She gained international recognition with the release of her memoir “Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More,” which chronicled her experiences growing up as a transgender woman.

Mock has since become a leading advocate for transgender rights and visibility, speaking out on issues such as discrimination, violence against trans people, and access to healthcare. As a television host and producer, she has worked on shows including “Pose” and “Transparent,” using her platform to elevate the voices and stories of LGBTQ+ people, particularly trans women of color. Mock has received numerous awards and honors for her advocacy and activism and continues to be a powerful voice for change in society.

Richard Isay

Richard Isay was a psychiatrist and LGBTQ+ rights advocate who played an important role in promoting greater understanding and acceptance of homosexuality within the mental health community. He was a vocal critic of the American Psychiatric Association’s classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder and was instrumental in the organization’s decision to remove homosexuality from its list of diagnoses.

Isay also advocated for greater recognition of same-sex relationships and helped establish the field of gay and lesbian psychotherapy. He authored several influential books, including “Being Homosexual: Gay Men and Their Development” and “Becoming Gay: The Journey to Self-Acceptance.” Isay’s work challenged traditional notions of sexuality and helped pave the way for greater equality and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people in society.

Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox is a trailblazing actress, producer, and LGBTQ+ advocate known for her groundbreaking role as Sophia Burset on the Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black.” She was the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy Award in an acting category and has been a vocal advocate for transgender rights and visibility.

Cox has used her platform to bring attention to issues affecting transgender people, including violence against trans women of color and discrimination in healthcare and housing. She is also a prominent speaker and writer on issues related to gender and sexuality and has been recognized with numerous awards for her activism and advocacy. Cox’s work has helped raise awareness about the experiences of transgender people and has paved the way for greater acceptance and inclusion of transgender individuals in society.

James Baldwin

James Baldwin was a writer and activist whose work explored issues of race, sexuality, and identity in the United States. His novels, essays, and plays challenged societal norms and pushed for greater understanding and acceptance of marginalized communities. Baldwin’s writing often addressed the intersectionality of racism, homophobia, and classism, and his work remains relevant today in the ongoing struggle for social justice.

He was a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement, and his activism included participation in marches and speaking engagements across the country. Readers still turn to his seminal works that illuminate topics he so passionately argued.

Chavela Vargas

Chavela Vargas was a legendary Mexican singer (from Costa Rica) known for her unique voice, emotional performances, and contribution to the ranchera genre of music. Her music was characterized by its raw emotion and themes of love, loss, and heartbreak. Vargas was open about her sexuality and became an icon in the LGBTQ+ community for her defiance of traditional gender roles and her unique style.

She was also known for her close friendships with artists such as Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera and for her collaboration with Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar. Throughout her career, Vargas’s music and activism challenged societal norms and paved the way for greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ people in Mexico and beyond.

Cleve Jones

Cleve Jones is a prominent LGBTQ+ rights activist and advocate for social justice. He was a close friend of Harvey Milk and played an active role in the gay rights movement in San Francisco during the 1970s and 1980s. Jones co-founded the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and helped organize the AIDS Memorial Quilt, a powerful symbol of the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic. He has also been involved in numerous other social justice causes, including the fight for immigration reform and workers’ rights.

Alice B. Toklas

Alice B. Toklas was a writer and prominent member of the Parisian literary and artistic community in the early 20th century. She is best known for her relationship with writer Gertrude Stein, with whom she shared a creative and romantic partnership for over 40 years. Together, they hosted a salon that attracted many of the leading figures of the modernist movement, including Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

As a writer, Toklas authored several books, including the famous cookbook “The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook,” which included recipes and anecdotes from her life in Paris. Her life and work challenged traditional gender and sexual norms and paved the way for greater visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people in literature and the arts.

Harvey Milk

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay elected official in California and a prominent LGBTQ+ civil rights activist. He moved to San Francisco in the early 1970s and became an advocate for the city’s growing gay community, co-founding the Castro Village Association and helping to establish the city’s LGBTQ+ Democratic Club. Milk ran for public office three times before winning a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.

As a supervisor, he championed causes such as affordable housing and an end to police brutality against marginalized communities. Milk was tragically assassinated in 1978, but his activism and advocacy have left a lasting impact on LGBTQ+ rights. His life and legacy continue to inspire people around the world to fight for equality and justice for all.

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Del Martin

Del Martin was a pioneering lesbian feminist activist who fought tirelessly for gender and LGBTQ+ equality. She co-founded the Daughters of Bilitis, one of the first lesbian organizations in the United States, and helped establish the first lesbian rights organization in San Francisco.

Martin also played a key role in organizing the first LGBTQ+ protest at the White House in 1965 and later helped found the National Organization for Women (NOW), which advocated for women’s rights and equality. Throughout her life, Martin was a vocal critic of discrimination against marginalized communities and worked to promote greater understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people.

Phyllis Lyon

Phyllis Lyon was an LGBTQ+ activist and feminist who co-founded the Daughters of Bilitis, one of the first lesbian organizations in the United States. Together with her partner Del Martin (the pair were romantically together for over 50 years!), Lyon helped establish the first lesbian rights organization in San Francisco and played a key role in advocating for greater visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people. Lyon and Martin were also involved in numerous LGBTQ+ and feminist causes throughout their lives, including fighting for marriage equality and reproductive rights.

Magnus Hirschfeld

Magnus Hirschfeld was a German physician and sexologist who is known for his pioneering research on human sexuality and gender. He co-founded the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee, one of the first LGBTQ+ rights organizations in history, which fought to repeal laws criminalizing homosexuality in Germany.

Hirschfeld also founded the Institute for Sexual Science, which provided education and resources for people seeking information about sexual health and identity. His work challenged traditional ideas about gender and sexuality, paving the way for greater understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people. Despite facing persecution from the Nazi regime, Hirschfeld’s legacy has endured.

Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha P. Johnson was a Black transgender activist and drag queen who is widely recognized as a key figure in the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, which sparked the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. She co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), an organization that provided housing and support for homeless LGBTQ+ youth in New York City.

Johnson was also a vocal advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and helped found the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP). Despite facing discrimination and violence throughout her life, Johnson’s activism paved the way for greater visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people, particularly those who are transgender and/or gender-nonconforming.

Barbara Gittings

Barbara Gittings was a pioneering lesbian activist who fought for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. She is best known for her work with the American Library Association, where she advocated for the inclusion of LGBTQ+ literature in public libraries. Gittings was a founding member of the Daughters of Bilitis, one of the first lesbian organizations in the United States, and played a key role in organizing the first LGBTQ+ protests at the White House, the Pentagon, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Her activism helped shift public opinion towards greater acceptance and understanding of LGBTQ+ people, paving the way for legal and social progress in the decades that followed. Gittings’ contributions to the fight for equality have left an indelible mark on the LGBTQ+ community.

Pauli Murray

Pauli Murray was a Black queer civil rights activist and lawyer who fought for gender and racial equality. They were one of the first women to attend Yale Law School, where they co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) and helped draft the organization’s Statement of Purpose.

Murray also played a key role in crafting legal arguments used in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, which desegregated public schools in the United States. As an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, Murray co-founded the National Black Gay and Lesbian Conference and authored an influential essay on the intersectionality of race and sexuality.

In recent years, it’s been suggested that Murray identified as a man. The term transgender did not exist during their lifetime.

Stormé DeLarverie

Stormé DeLarverie was a Black lesbian drag king performer and activist who played a significant role in the Stonewall Uprising, often referred to as “the Rosa Parks of the gay community.” She was known for her bravery and quick-thinking during the police raid on the Stonewall Inn in 1969, which sparked the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. DeLarverie was also a founding member of the Stonewall Veterans’ Association and spent much of her life advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and performing as a drag king.

Her contributions to the fight for equality have paved the way for generations of LGBTQ+ activists and performers, making her a true icon of the movement. DeLarverie passed away in 2014 at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy of courage and resilience.

Keith Haring

Keith Haring was a gay artist and activist whose bold and brightly colored artwork raised awareness about the AIDS epidemic and advocated for safe sex. His iconic images, such as the “Radiant Baby” and “Ignorance=Fear” have become symbols of the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and HIV/AIDS activism. Haring also used his art to address issues like racism, war, and capitalism, making him a voice for social justice and change. Despite his untimely death due to AIDS-related complications in 1990, Haring’s art and activism live on today.

Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde was a Black lesbian poet and activist who fought for social justice and equality for marginalized communities. Her work focused on the intersectionality of oppression, highlighting the ways in which race, gender, and sexuality intersect to create unique forms of discrimination.

Lorde was a vocal advocate for the empowerment of Black women and LGBTQ+ people and encouraged others to embrace their identities and speak their truth. Through her writing, speeches, and activism, she inspired countless individuals to fight for a more just and equitable world. Lorde’s influence can still be felt today, as her legacy continues to inspire new generations of activists and advocates.

Bayard Rustin

Bayard Rustin was an openly gay African American civil rights activist and strategist who played a key role in the fight for racial equality. He is best known for being the primary organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Rustin was also a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and served as a mentor to many young activists. Despite facing discrimination and harassment throughout his life, he remained committed to nonviolent resistance and social change. Rustin’s legacy continues to inspire activists today and his contributions to the fight for equality are immeasurable.

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Sylvia Rivera

Sylvia Rivera was a transgender activist and veteran of the Stonewall Uprising who dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of marginalized communities. As a founding member of STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries), she provided shelter, food, and healthcare for homeless LGBTQ+ youth and fought for the inclusion of transgender people in the gay rights movement. Rivera continued advocating for LGBTQ+ rights until her death in 2002, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, courage, and compassion.

The legacy of these LGBTQ+ individuals is a testament to the power of perseverance, courage, and compassion. By standing up for their rights and demanding equality, they have broken down barriers, challenged social norms, and inspired millions around the world. As we celebrate Pride Month and honor the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community, let us remember the sacrifices and triumphs of these trailblazers who have changed the world for the better.