20 LGBTQ figures you should know

Frank OlitoJun 2, 2020, 04:25 IST

Harvey Milk and RuPaul.Bettmann & CBS Photo Archive/ Getty

Throughout history, there have been numerous notable and influential LGBTQ figures.
Activists like Marsha P. Johnson, Larry Kramer, and Billie Jean King helped fight for LGBTQ rights in the 1980s.
Today, Lena Waithe, RuPaul, Janet Mock, and Anderson Cooper are notable figures in the community.

The LGBTQ community is made up of a diverse group of people from all over the world, and some have left their mark in powerful ways.

Dating back to the early '80s, activists like Marsha P. Johnson, Larry Kramer, and Billie Jean King helped fight for LGBTQ rights. Today, icons like RuPaul, Lena Waithe, and Rachel Maddow are picking up where past influencers left off.

From the past to the present, here are some of the most influential LGBTQ figures.

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Alan Turing created modern computer science, but he was persecuted for being gay.

Alan Turing. Heritage Images/ Getty

James Baldwin is one of the most influential gay writers in history.

James Baldwin. Sophie Bassouls / Getty

Christine Jorgensen was one of the first people to come out publicly as transgender.

Christine Jorgensen. New York Daily News Archive / Getty

Bayard Rustin worked closely with Martin Luther King, Jr., before turning to LGBTQ activism.

Bayard Rustin. AP Photo/Eddie Adams

Barbara Gittings was a well-respected activist in the gay rights movement.

Barbara Gittings. QueeR Evolutionary/ YouTube

Marsha P. Johnson was on the frontlines of the Stonewall riots.

Marsha P. Johnson. Netflix

Sylvia Rivera was a gay and transgender activist, but she's mainly known for her role at the Stonewall riots.

Sylvia Rivera. Justin Sutcliffe/ AP

Billie Jean King, a professional tennis player, was outed as a lesbian in 1981 and became the first openly gay athlete.

Billie Jean King. Greg Allen/Invision/AP

Harvey Milk was a gay rights activist and politician in San Francisco.

Harvey Milk. James Palmer/AP

Gilbert Baker created the gay pride flag, which remains a prominent symbol today.

Gilbert Baker. Spencer Platt / Getty

Larry Kramer is known for his writings, but he also created two influential organizations during the AIDS crisis.

Larry Kramer. Catherine McGann / Getty

Freddie Mercury was known for his flamboyant performances as the frontman of Queen.

Freddie Mercury. Brian Rasic/Contributor/Getty Images

RuPaul is a drag queen who has brought the niche art of drag into the mainstream.

RuPaul Charles. Reuters/Andrew Kelly

Although she's known as a commentator, Rachel Maddow is also a longtime LGBTQ activist.

Rachel Maddow. Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images

Edith Windsor was the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that declared DOMA unconstitutional.

Edith Windsor. AP Photo/Richard Drew

Anderson Cooper is another news anchor who is open about his sexuality.

Anderson Cooper. ANGELA WEISS / Contributor / Getty Images

Laverne Cox became the first openly trans person to be nominated for an Emmy Award.

Laverne Cox. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Michael Sam was the first openly gay man to be drafted into the NFL.

Michael Sam. Reuters

In 2017, Lena Waithe became the first black woman to win an Emmy Award for comedy writing.

Lena Waithe. Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Viacom

Janet Mock is a transgender trailblazer who is changing the face of television.

Janet Mock. Taylor Hill / Contributor / Getty Images

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