9 Women Who Forever Changed Gay Culture and the Entire LGBT Movement

These women transformed the LGBTQ+ world with their talents, courage, and uncompromising fight for rights. They didn’t just inspire their contemporaries—they laid the foundation for what the LGBTQ+ movement is today. It’s impossible to cover all the great queer women in a single article, so we’ve chosen Nine Things That Changed Gay Culture Forever.

Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha P. Johnson was a Stonewall legend and a symbol of the gay rights movement. She was an activist and drag artist credited with throwing the first brick during the 1969 police raid on the Stonewall Inn—an event that served as the catalyst for the gay rights movement. Johnson continued to actively fight for LGBT rights and helped homeless and transgender people, remaining an icon of courage and resistance.

Sylvia Rivera

Sylvia Rivera, a transgender activist, was at the forefront of the Stonewall riots. She was one of the founders of the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance. Rivera was a vocal advocate for trans rights and fought for marginalized groups within the LGBTQ+ community. Her words, “There is no rage like the rage of a scorned drag queen,” are still quoted today as a motto for the fight for equality.

bell hooks

Bell Hooks (born Gloria Jean Watkins) is one of the key figures in feminist thought. Her books, such as Feminism Is for Everyone and Ain’t I a Woman?, explore the intersection of race, class, and gender. Hooks has made an enormous contribution to expanding the ideas of intersectionality and queer activism by explaining how the struggles for women’s rights and those of the LGBT community are interconnected.

Stormé DeLarverie

Stormé DeLarverie is a biracial lesbian and drag king—a true New York legend. She became a key figure in the 1969 Stonewall Riots: it was her arrest and beating by the police that provoked the crowd to resist. But Delarveri was more than just a symbol: she remained active throughout her life, helping women and children, working as a bouncer at the city’s gay clubs, and supporting the queer community. Even in the 1980s, she did not lose her strength or influence, remaining a voice in the fight for equality and respect.

Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox is one of the most famous transgender actresses of our time, having gained popularity thanks to her role in Orange — the hit of the season. She uses her platform to advocate for the rights of the transgender community, actively participates in awareness campaigns, and fights against stereotypes, proving that transgender people deserve recognition and equal rights.

Edie Windsor

Edie Windsor became a symbol of the fight for the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States. After her wife’s death, she sued the federal government over a $360,000 estate tax bill. The lawsuit, known as Windsor v. United States, led to the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and marked a historic step toward the recognition of equal marriage rights at the federal level.

Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo was a Mexican artist and a feminist icon. Her self-portraits explore the female form, Mexican culture, and her personal suffering following a serious accident. Frida was bisexual and made no secret of her relationships with either men or women. She took a radical approach to art and life, speaking openly about pain, identity, and gender.

Eve Sedgwick

Iv Sedgwick is one of the founders of queer theory. Her book The Epistemology of the Storage Room She explores heterosexuality and homosexuality and argues that queerness exists as a distinct identity—one that is freer and not constrained by social norms. She laid the groundwork for academic and cultural discussions of LGBT identity.

Ani DiFranco

Ani DiFranco is a feminist music legend with more than 20 albums to her credit. She founded her own record label at age 18 and has used music as a tool to fight social injustice, homophobia, racism, and the violation of women’s rights. Her activism and art inspire a new generation of female musicians and queer activists.