If you’re familiar with what we do her at #YesSheCan, you know we focus primarily on supporting and empowering women in their careers. However, we also help businesses and organisations with diversity and inclusion consulting and coaching.
Therefore, we know how important it is to keep educating ourselves on topics we may or may not have first-hand experience on. We’ve been celebrating LGBT+ History Month this February and we have spoken to many amazing people such as Katie Neeves, cool2btrans ambassador.
So, as we celebrate and educate, we want to tell you about women in the LGBT+ community who have had inspiring and impactful careers. This is no way an extensive list and we know there’s many more amazing women out there.
Roberta Cowell
Her Career…
Successful competitive racing driver and business woman.
Inspirational because…
She is the first known British trans woman to undergo sex reassignment surgery. She was also a fighter pilot during WWII.
(1918-2011)
Sally Ride
Her Career…
Sally was an Astronaut, physicist and educator.
Her Achievements…
“Ride, Sally Ride” was in the first group of astronauts to include women. To top it off, she was the first American lesbian woman in space! She had spent more than 343 hours in space during her career.
Outside of her Astronaut career, she wrote science books for children as a way to encourage girls in particular to be engaged with science, technology and mathematics.
(1951 – 2012)
Lynn Conway
Her Career…
Lynn was a computer scientist, educator, engineer and transgender activist.
Inspirational because…
Lynn started her career in IBM and as a professor in STEM. Her legacy is that she was a key Computer Pioneer for tech.
She invented an automation system for computers which sparked the modern infrastructure of chip design and production and beginning of many high-tech start-ups.
Nadia Whittome
Her Career…
Nadia is a Labour Party MP for Nottingham East.
Her Achievements…
Nadia was elected in 2019 at the age of 23 as MP for Nottingham East and then became the youngest MP in the House of Commons.
Lisa Charlwood-Green
Her Career…
Lisa is the founder of The WOW Network, a network for LGBT+ community at work
Inspirational because…
She has been an active leader for LGBT+ community in the workplace for over 20 years.
She has used her platform to positively spread awareness on LGBT+ issues as well as parenting, surrogacy and diversity and inclusion.
Lisa Power
Her Career…
Lisa is a Sexual Health and LGBT+ Rights campaigner.
Her Achievements…
Lisa co-founded the Pink Paper, online publication, and Stonewall, a LGBT+ UK charity.
She was also the first openly LGBT+ person to speak at the United Nations.
These remarkable women are just some of the few who are in the LGBT+ community. We encourage you to research and learn either through watching documentaries, reading articles or listening to a podcast about more inspirational LGBT+ figureheads.
As an organisation, we want to continue sharing these stories and educating ourselves and our audience on these issues and topics.
It’s important to note that just because these stories belong to LGBT+ individuals and the community, it doesn’t mean that those who aren’t can’t find inspiration and motivation from them.
You can learn more about LGBT+ community on our blog – click here to read about Marsha P. Johnsons legacy or click here to learn how to be an ally to LGBT+ friends, family or co-workers.
