17 truly inspirational LGBT women and allies

PinkNews takes a look at some the most inspirational LGBT women and allies to mark International Women’s Day.

1 Ellen Page

Page revealed that she was gay, 2014 in an emotional speech to The Human Rights Campaign. The actress has since become an international advocate for LGBT rights – she even attended a Pride event in Jamaica, despite homosexuality being illegal there.

2 Janet Mock

Janet Mock has worked tirelessly to achieve trans equality and shine a light on the issues many trans women face. Last year, during a powerful interview with Oprah Winfrey, the write said she will always “proudly and unapologetically” stand up for her identity as a trans woman.

3 Penny Wong

Penny Wong was the first member of the Australian Labor Party to come out while still sitting in parliament. She continues to be a leading voice in the ongoing fight for marriage equality in Australia.

4 Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ultra-liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has long supported equality, attracting fury from conservatives for performing same-sex weddings herself ahead of last year’s court ruling which saw marriage equality legalised across the US.

5 Vicky Beeching

Christian rock star Vicky Beeching came out as gay in 2014. She continues to discuss the struggles she experienced with her sexuality, as well as the challenges faced by religious members of the LGBT community.

6 Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus confirmed she identifies as “pansexual” – and not bisexual as widely reported in the media – last August. The pop star revealed she had dated men and women earlier this year, when she said: “There are times in my life where I’ve had boyfriends or girlfriends. I’m not hiding my sexuality.”

7 Amber Heard

The actress, who stars in the Danish Girl, came out in 2010 as she dated photographer Tasya van Ree. She later married Johnny Depp, and adopted his two children, but says marrying a man does not define her sexual orientation.

8 Cara Delevingne

World famous supermodel Cara Delevingne chose a suitably fashionable way to come out – in Vogue magazine. “It took me a long time to accept the idea, until I first fell in love with a girl at 20 and recognised that I had to accept it.”

9 Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie refused to marry husband Brad Pitt until same-sex marriage was legalised in the US. In 2014, the A-Lister also announced her support for their eight-year-old to self-identify.

10 Ellen DeGeneres

The popular TV host and LGBT advocate recently opened up about the fear she felt before coming out. “I didn’t think I was going to come out, period… I didn’t think I’d be coming out on a show, ever.”

11 Ruby Rose

Australian born Rose was one of the very first celebrities to come out as genderfluid. The model-turned-actress-turned role model broke through into the mainstream last year, after her appearance as Stella on Orange Is The New Black.

12 Hillary Clinton

The Democratic presidential frontrunner openly admits that she has “evolved” on the issue of same-sex marriage – leading The Human Rights Campaign to vote unanimously in favour of the former First Lady for President – noting her raft of LGBT policy pledges.

13 Eleanor Roosevelt

Another First Lady of the United States – the longest serving in history – was plagued by rumours of her bisexuality due to her passionate friendship with the young reporter Lorena Hickok, which she refused to end despite external pressures.

14 Kate Winslet

A staunch LGBT rights supporter, back in 2011 the actress shared an amazing exchange with her son – when he asked what would happen if he were gay, aged just seven.

15 Angela Eagle

Labour’s Angela Eagle UK made history last year – when she became the first openly gay woman to go head-to-head at the dispatch box during Prime Minister’s Questions.

16 Laverne Cox

Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox has continued to shed light the issues facing the trans community, from transphobia to what makes a beautiful trans women.

17 The Golden Girls

Because… they are THE. GOLDEN. GIRLS!!!