It’s that time of year when The Advocate rolls out its annual “40 Under 40” list of up and coming, moving and shaking figures – all under 40 – in the LGBT community.
This year Advocate has featured women who’ve made a mark at a young age in arenas from politics to art to acting and sports.
Advocate.com has posted its first half of the “40 Under 40,” and among those featured are Maryland state legislator Heather R. Mizeur, artist Daphne Arthur, student activist Nikki Peet, actress Amber Heard, former White House staffer Karine Jean-Pierre, activist Kayla Kearney, trans basketball player Kye Allums, softball player Vicky Galindo and actress Janora McDuffie.
Here’s The Advocate’s profile on the impressive Jean-Pierre:
Karine Jean-Pierre
33, Washington, D.C., Former White House staffer
In her wallet, Karine Jean-Pierre keeps a yellowed snapshot of her as a child, posing with her family in front of the White House’s north fence. It’s one of those quintessentially idyllic images, and Jean-Pierre — both as the girl in the photo and the Obama administration staffer holding it during a recent interview nearly more than 25 years later — is positively beaming. Though she left her post as regional director in the White House Office of Political Affairs in March (a next move is yet to be announced), Jean-Pierre’s imprint as a Haitian-American and openly gay woman is a sign of broad diversity in the West Wing. “What’s been wonderful is that I was not the only; I was one of many. President Obama didn’t hire LGBT staffers, he hired experienced individuals who happen to be LGBT,” she says. “Serving and working for President Obama where you can be openly gay has been an amazing honor. It felt incredible to be a part of an administration that prioritizes LGBT issues.”
Go to Advocate.com for more profiles on amazing people in the LGBT community.
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