Over the years, LGBTQ people have struggled against dicrimination and hate crimes while at the same time contributing immensely to our society. Here are some Notable icons in the LGBTQ community excelling in their various fields.

1) Sylvester James Jr.

Sylvester James Jr. grew up singing gospel songs in church and knew from a young age that he wanted a career in performing and making music. As an adult, he lived in San Francisco, where he felt more acceptance from the gay and drag communities. His songs, “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real),” and “Dance (Disco Heat),” became hits in the U.S. in 1978. Aside from his music career, he campaigned against the spread of HIV and AIDS. Before Sylvester died of AIDS in 1988, he signed for all future royalties from his music to go to San Francisco-based HIV/AIDS charities.

2) Barbara Jordan

Barbara Jordan became the first African American elected to the Texas Senate in 1966. Jordan, a Texas native and civil rights leader, was also the first African American, LGBTQ woman elected to Congress in 1972. President Bill Clinton awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 for her history-making career and civil rights activism.

3) Sara Josephine Baker 

Sara Josephine Baker became interested in medicine after her father and brother died from typhoid during her teenage years. She received her education at the New York Infirmary Medical College. Later, she became the first openly gay woman appointed as the professional representative to the League of Nations in 1922. The majority of her contributions to the medical field were concentrated in public health in the immigrant communities of New York City. She advocated for all parts of the city to have access to affordable healthcare and helped instruct new healthcare professionals.

4) Angelica Ross

 Angelica Ross is known for her acting, business expertise and transgender rights activism. After dropping out of college after one semester and being discharged from the U.S Navy after six months under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, she eventually decided to teach herself computer programming while taking professional acting classes. Her broad set of work skills laid the foundation she needed to establish and become the CEO of TransTech Social Enterprises, a firm that helps employ transgender people in the tech industry.

5) Ryan Russell

Ryan Russell made history in 2019 when he openly came out as bisexual, making him the first football player in the NFL and any major professional league to do so. He played at Purdue University before being drafted to the Dallas Cowboys and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a defensive end. Later, in 2018, he signed with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent.