Show your support this June and every day. You are not alone. We celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community and people of all orientations, gender identities and allies. You are beautiful and worthy of celebration, be proud every day!
Megan Rapinoe
(1985 - Present)
Olympian, Soccer Player
Megan Rapinoe was born and raised in Redding, CA. While she attended high school in her hometown, she traveled weekly to Elk Grove and played club soccer for the Elk Grove Pride team. Megan, a former captain of the United States National team, won gold in 2015 and 2019 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, as well as gold and bronze at the 2012 and 2020 Olympics. In 2019, she was named FIFA’s Women’s Player of the Year and won the Ballon d’Or as the best female player in the world.
When not on the soccer field, Rapinoe uses her popularity to support various social causes. She is a major supporter of the advancement of LGBTQIA+ rights, racial justice, and for equal pay between genders in professional sports.
Photo source: biography.com
George Takei
(1937 - Present)
Actor, author, and activist
An American actor, author, and activist, best known for his role as helmsman Lieutenant Sulu on Star Trek, Takei is an outspoken figure for gay rights. He has been a staunch and vocal advocate for equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community and the rights of immigrants.
Takei was born in 1937 in Los Angeles, his mother was a Sacramento Native and his father emigrated from Japan as a child. During World War II, Takei was interned with his family from ages four to eight. He also was a member of the board responsible for Los Angeles’ subway system and a founder of the Japanese American National Museum. Takei has been with his husband, Brad Altman, for nearly 40 years. They were one of the first same-sex couples to apply for a marriage license in West Hollywood and finally married in 2008.
Photo source: Creative Commons
Alex Lee
(1995 - Present)
First generation-Z legislator
Assemblymember Alex Lee represents California’s 24th Assembly District. He was first elected in 2020, and at 25 became the youngest Asian American legislator ever. He makes history as the first generation-Z legislator as well as being the first openly bisexual legislator in California history.
In his first year in office, he was named “Legislator of the Year” by two organizations and an ACLU’s Civil Liberties Champion. He continues to work to create more affordable housing, combating climate change and increasing transparency within the government for the digital arena.
Photo source: Creative Commons
Ron Oden
(1995 - Present)
Elected American’s first all-LGBTQIA+ City Council
Ron Oden, elected in 2003, was the first openly gay, black Mayor in Palms Springs. Oden is also known as the first openly gay African American elected to lead a California City. Oden earlier served on the Palms Springs City Council. During his time as mayor, he focused on expanding the city’s diversity and made history in December 2017 when Palms Springs elected American’s first all-LGBTQIA+ City Council. Under his leadership, Palm Springs became a top tourist destination and continues to experience unprecedented growth.
Photo source: Creative Commons
Major Griffin-Gracy
(1940 - Present)
Executive Directors of the Transgender Gender Variant Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP)
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy is a black transgender woman, social activist, and community leader. She is an advocate for transgender people in prison as well as those who have faced brutality. Miss Major played a role during the AIDS crisis as part of several HIV/AIDS organizations including as the first Executive Directors of the Transgender Gender Variant Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP).
Photo source: imdb.com
Lt. Dan Choi
(February 22, 1981 - Present)
Iraq War Veteran, activist
In 2009, Lt. Dan Choi publicly challenged Don't Ask, Don't Tell, a policy created in 1993 which prevented service members from being openly queer. In 2010, Don't Ask, Don't Tell was repealed by President Obama, officially ending in September 2011. More than 12,000 officers were discharged for refusing to hide their sexual orientation.
Photo source: Creative Commons
Dr. Rachel Levine
(October 28, 1957 - Present)
1st Openly trans federal official confirmed by the Senate
In early 2021, Dr. Levine made history being appointed as the 17th Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services-the highest-ranking transgender official in the U.S. government.
Photo source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Audre Lorde
(February 18, 1934 - November 17, 1992)
"Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet"
A courageous writer and poet, Lorde's legacy of addressing injustices of race, sexism, gender, class, and homophobia have made her works essential feminist reading. Lorde's work garnered numerous accolades, including an American Book Award in 1989 for her essay collection A Burst of Light, and was appointed poet laureate of New York State in 1991.
Photo source: Creative Commons
Janelle Monae
(December 1, 1985 - Present)
Actor, Singer, Producer, Model and Activist
As a Grammy-nominated musician, actor (Oscar-winning Moonlight, Oscar-nominated Hidden Figures), producer, and CEO of her multimedia production company, Monae elevates pansexual visibility, recognition, and social acceptance. Coming out as pansexual in 2018, Monae continues to reshape the entertainment industry's gender stereotypes through her fashion and aesthetics, song lyrics, and creative projects.
Photo source: Creative Commons CC0 License
Hafsa Qureshi
(1994 - Present)
Bisexual, Muslim, LGBTQ activist
Hafsa Qureshi brings visibility to the intersection of LGBTQ individuals and, the Muslim community. Her activism focuses on raising awareness for queer people of faith. Her representation is inspirational in showing others it's possible to be true to yourself and your religion without having to choose a side.
Photo source: metro.co.uk / SnapperSK
Michael Sam
(January 7, 1990 - Present)
1st openly gay player to be drafted by the NFL
Michael Sam came out after completing his college football career and was drafted by the St. Louis Rams making him the first openly gay player to be drafted by the NFL. Sam has said he came out not for anyone but himself-an inspiring reminder of the importance of being true to yourself.
Photo source: Marcus Qwertyus, CC BY-SA 3.0
Edith Windsor
(June 20, 1929 - September 12, 2017)
Gay-rights activist
When Edith Windsor's wife died, Windsor was denied a spousal exemption from federal estate taxes, an exemption available to married heterosexuals. Windsor subsequently became the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court of the United States case United States v. Windsor, citing "differential treatment", claiming the law was unconstitutional by not providing the same rights to those in same-sex marriages. The Supreme Court overturned the Defense of Marriage Act, and two years later, the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal nationwide.
Photo source: James Estrin/The New York Times