Women at GLAAD speak: Being women in the LGBT movement

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"Women's voices have long led the LGBT movement. On the ground and in the public eye, behind the scenes and at the forefront – women have been shaping the narrative, shining a light on the multiplicity of experiences and driving success. Women bring a distinct set of leadership skills to the movement that encourage collaboration and empower the movement to reach new heights." - Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO

"For me, being a transgender woman was a little bit like being an immigrant. Early in transition I "spoke with an accent," and bore with me the customs of the land of my birth, even if it was a land I was bent on fleeing. In time, as I have become a naturalized citizen of this gender, I think I have found an immigrant's sense of pride--call it patriotism--for womanhood. As the Irish song goes, 'When we cross o'er, we shall surely discover, that place is the land of sweet liberty.'

There are tens of thousands of women--and men--trying to find the courage to set out upon similar journeys. It is GLAAD's mission to help all of us find safe passage, from a world of hurt to lives of meaning, and truth, and solace." - Jennifer Finney Boylan, author of STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU, and GLAAD national co-chair.

"Women's History Month is as important to LGBT women as it is for all women, not simply because our experiences contribute to the understanding of all women's lives, but also because so many admirable LGBT women have empowered and improved the lives of all women. The example of a social reformer like Jane Addams certainly inspires me to this day at the same time that, as a sportswriter, I remain so very grateful to Billy Jean King, Martina Navratilova, and Fallon Fox for their willingness to blaze trails in sports." - Christina Kahrl, ESPN.com sportswriter and editor, GLAAD board member

More: http://www.glaad.org/blog/women-glaad-speak-being-women-lgbt-movement