Unsurprisingly, musicians Tegan and Sara were at the top of The Advocate’s 40 Under 40 list.
Every year, The Advocate compiles a list of the 40 most notable members of the LGBT community that are under the age of 40. The 40 Under 40 list “names the few who you should listen to among our modern-day cacophony of voices,” explains The Advocate. According to the prominent LGBT-focused publication, “These LGBT notables have messages we think you should hear,” of the powerful perspectives and activism the 40 Under 40 have demonstrated in the public sphere.
And while “Musicians Tegan and Sara led the pack of accomplished leaders in politics, sports, science, religion, and the arts,” there are dozens of other inspiring individuals who made the annual list. Here are a few of this year’s 40 Under 40:
Liz Carmouche. Mixed martial arts (MMA) competitor Liz Carmouche made history when she came out as the first openly gay MMA fighter, lending more LGBT visibility to athletics. “MMA has been very accepting,” she has said of her positive experience as an MMA fighter. Carmouche’s openness about her sexuality in a sport that hasn’t always been welcoming of women in general is inspiring. She is a formidable fighter, as well as an advocate for equal rights.
Jordan Bach. 26-year-old Jordan Bach is a writer and public speaker, who has been tackling religion through an LGBT lens since he was in grade school. “When you bring forward who you really are, you begin to heal your life,” explains Bach, who now teaches thousands through radio, social media, and his viral video, “God Loves Gays.” A positive advocate for living healthy, meaningful lives, Bach is both openly gay and religious, proving that the two don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Danielle Moodie-Mills. “If you think you’re busy, you haven’t met Danielle Moodie-Mills,” explains The Advocate. The 33-year-old is certainly keeping her hands full as the Director of Education Advocacy at the National Wildlife Federation, a board member for the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League, and an advisor for LGBT policy and racial justice with Fighting Injustice to Reach Equality, an initiative of the Center for American Progress. Moodie-Mills is definitely one of the most inspiring LGBT leaders working hard to make the world better today.
Be sure to read about the rest of The Advocate’s 40 Under 40 LGBT leaders.