As we mark the end of 2013, it is important to reflect back on some of the most prominent contributions by members of the queer community this year that have helped galvanize the massive social and political victories of the past twelve months.
From visibility to institutional reform, queer people are involved in a mainstream shift that is gradually changing the way the public understands and relates to our community. In celebration of all of these moments over the past year and the victories we hope will happen throughout the course of 2014, join us in recognizing 20 of the most compelling members of the queer community and their contributions over the past year.
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Chelsea Manning
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Following her trial for leaking classified government documents, Chelsea Manning sent shockwaves through the nation when she announced her transgender identity and asked for the public's support. One of the first high-profile public figures to come out as transgender, Manning became heavily influential in moving the conversation about transgender identity into the mainstream.
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Jinkx Monsoon
Slaven Vlasic via Getty Images
When Jinkx Monsoon became the winner of the fifth season of "RuPaul's Drag Race," he beat out season four winner Sharon Needles' boyfriend Alaska Thunderfuck (though the pair recently split).Following his win, Jinkx broke down the barriers of the drag world by pursuing his dreams of working in Broadway and theater as a drag queen. He truly evidenced that the "Drag Race" crown can change your life -- if you let it -- by catering to your own specific interests and career path and, inspiringly, by being no one else but exactly yourself.
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Coy Mathis
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Six-year-old Coy Mathis sparked a national conversation about the rights of transgender minors within the public school system when educators barred her from using the girl's bathroom. The legal actions brought by her parents against Coy's school district generated both disgusting comments from members of the Colorado community and national attention from media outlets that don't historically deal with issues affecting the LGBT community. For both her bravery and her initiation of a much-needed dialogue about transgender minors, Mathis earned a spot on our list of most compelling people.
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Sasha Fleischman
Courtesy of Karl Fleischman
A horrifying story caught national attention in early November when Sasha Fleischman, a teen that identifies as agender, fell asleep on a bus and had their skirt set on fire by a fellow passenger. The incident left them with severe injuries, resulting in the teen's friends and family members launching a fundraising page to help alleviate medical bills. Fleischman's father also wrote a blog for HuffPost Gay Voices. Perhaps the most inspiring part of this story comes from the reaction of some of Fleischman's peers, who committed to wearing skirts to school in a statement of solidarity for the burned teen.
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Laverne Cox
Larry Busacca via Getty Images
Not only was "Orange Is The New Black" a groundbreaking show in and of itself, but it launched transgender actress and activist Laverne Cox into superstardom -- and gave her a platform to bring visibility to issues affecting transgender women of color. Cox become a voice for the voiceless within mainstream representation. Among a landslide of other honors throughout the course of the year, the transgender pioneer received the "Reader's Choice Award" at this year's OUT 100.
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Tom Daley
Clive Rose via Getty Images
In early December British Olympic diving champion Tom Daley told the world that he was in a relationship with a man, possibly Oscar-winning screenwriter and activist Dustin Lance Black. Two aspects of this coming out earn Daley the label of compelling: the fact that he didn't place an identifier of "gay" or "bisexual" on himself in the process, and the fact that he revealed his relationship to the world through a YouTube video, opening up the doors of a discussion as to how technology intersects with the coming out process in the digital age.
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Ian McKellan
Jonathan Short/Invision/AP
It's hard not to love Ian McKellan and the star made us appreciate him even more as an LGBT individual in Hollywood repeatedly throughout the course of 2013. From sharing his personal struggle surrounding his decision to come out to publicly chastising Russia for it's anti-gay "propaganda" legislation, McKellan is one outspoken community member who has continued to warm our hearts with his character while still remaining vocal about the political and social struggles faced by LGBT individuals.
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Britney Griner
Christian Petersen via Getty Images
In the midst of a historic year for LGBT athletes, WNBA draft pick Britney Griner openly discussed her lesbian identity with Maggie Gray of Sports Illustrated. She became the third openly LGBT WNBA draft pick alongside Skylar Diggins and Elena Delle Donne, providing essential visibility for lesbian identity within the sports world. "It wasn't too difficult," Griner told the magazine. "I wouldn't say I was hiding or anything like that. I've always been open about who I am and my sexuality."
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Robbie Rogers
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Professional U.S. soccer player Robbie Rogers contributed to this historic year for LGBT athletes when he came out as gay on his personal website in February of this year. "Secrets can cause so much internal damage," the soccer star wrote. "People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay. Try convincing yourself that your creator has the most wonderful purpose for you even though you were taught differently." Rogers went on to be named one of Out magazine's OUT 100 honorees.
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Alysia Yeoh
DC Comics
DC Comic fans were introduced to Alysia in "Batgirl" #19 in early April when the character revealed that she is transgender during a conversation with Barbara Gordon (Batgirl). The move made Alysia not only the first DC Comics transgender character but the first transgender character in mainstream comics.
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Harvey Fierstein
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Not only did playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein publicly take a stand against Russia's anti-gay crackdown this year, but his hit broadway musical “Kinky Boots” broke new ground for the types of experiences and stories that get told through mainstream musical theater and won Fierstein a Tony nomination for Best Book.
"Kinky Boots," a show whose main character line-up includes a drag queen, went on to ruffle quite a few conservative feathers at this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, inspiring performers and Fiersetin to respond to the controversy in an amazing way. “You have to start a dialogue,” Fierstein told Page Six. “And you can’t have a dialogue unless someone says something first. It takes actual work to open up [people’s] minds.”
"Kinky Boots," a show whose main character line-up includes a drag queen, went on to ruffle quite a few conservative feathers at this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, inspiring performers and Fiersetin to respond to the controversy in an amazing way. “You have to start a dialogue,” Fierstein told Page Six. “And you can’t have a dialogue unless someone says something first. It takes actual work to open up [people’s] minds.”
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Masha Best
Masha Best
In wake of the pervasive climate of fear and violence plaguing LGBT Russians, top Russian lawyer Masha Best bravely came out as both transgender and bisexual in protest of the country's institutionalized homophobia and transphobia. Best later went on to announce her campaign for the Russian presidency in 2018. Here, Best poses nude in honor of the 2013 Transgender Day of Remembrance.
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CORRECTION; The original version of this article incorrectly identified Carmen Carrera as having been a contestant on the fourth season of "RuPaul's Drag Race." She was actually featured on the third season. In addition, Coy Mathis' name was incorrectly listed as "Cory."