2007's Most Powerful Lesbians in Entertainment

A new trend has been established within the lesbian community. There are now women known as power lesbians. What are power lesbians? Power lesbians are women who have created a name and wealth for themselves in business, government, media, and entertainment. Some of these power lesbians are well known and are out and proud.

For many years, in the entertainment business and politics, it would cause a controversy for any woman, who was a lesbian, to come out. Today there are many women who have led the way for others to be able to come out today. Not only have they achieved this, they have achieved a name for themselves. In doing so they have created hope for other lesbians who want to follow in those very same foot steps.

Recently LOGO named thirteen women as power lesbians. Some of these lesbians we all know, while some may not be as well known. These are power lesbians who represent the entertainment business. On the list is Amy Ray. Every lesbian in the world knows her as half of the singing group, The Indigo Girls. She is also president of Daemon Records, a record label she founded in 1992. Amy Ray released a solo album, Stag, in 2001. She followed up that album with Prom in 2005.

Another power lesbian is Stacy Codikow. She is founder and executive of POWER UP, which stands for the Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching Up. The goal of this organization was to meet other gay women in the entertainment business. Years later this organization has grown into much more. It has grown into a mini studio that produces short films. Some of the short films that were produces by POWER UP are Stuck, D.E.B.S., and Little Black Foot.

Another lesbian, who has made a name for herself, is Lisa Sherman. She is Senior Vice President and General Manager of the cable show, LOGO. LOGO is a cable channel that is fully devoted to LGBT programming. She was brought to the show to oversea the daily operations. Lisa Sherman has expanded the networks shows with Noah's Arc; two reality shows called First Comes Love and Curl Girls. Because of her determination, the show has grown from having three advertisers to now more than sixty.

Another powerful woman is Nancylee Myatt. She is Co-Executive Producer of South of Nowhere. Before South of Nowhere she wrote a number of shows for Night Court and Living Single.

The next entertainer is very well known in the music industry and that is Melissa Etheridge. This rocker came out in 1993 and paved the way for many lesbians to follow after her. Coming out at President Clinton's inaugural ball was taking a risk against her career. In the end the risk paid off. Months later she won a Grammy for her song Ain't It Heaven, from her album Never Enough. Her next album, Yes I Am, went on to sell over 25 million copies. Melissa Etheridge has been a constant supporter of gay rights. Especially when it comes too gay parenting. Melissa Etheridge has faced many obstacles in her life, from coming out to breast cancer, yet she still continues to make a difference in the gay and lesbian community.

Rosie O'Donnel is on this list of 2007 most powerful lesbians in the entertainment business. Rosie is known for her comedian ways and her controversy way of telling it like it is. In the years following her talk show, Rosie's career seemed to be dying. Her magazine ended and her Broadway play Taboo was also a failure. In 2006 Rosie made a come back on the Barbara Walter's show, The View. She has also made special guest appearances on Nip Tuck. Rosie is an advocate for gay rights and gay parenting. Her and her lifetime partner, Kelli O'Donnell, launched R. Family Cruises. This cruise allows gay parents to be able to take heir family on a vacation, be around other parent's like them, and just have a great time with family. Rosie has proven that you can make a comeback and come out successful.

Ilene Chaiken, creator of The L Word, comes in at number four on LOGO's list of powerful lesbians. In 1999 Chaiken wrote an article on the subject of same-sex couples that have children. This finally led to the hit cable series The L Word. Before her hit series on Showtime, she began her television start by working as an executive for Aaron Spelling Productions and Quincy Jones Entertainment. She worked on shows such as The Fresh Prince of Bell-Air and Beverly Hills 90210.

The number one most powerful lesbian in show time today is no other than Ellen DeGeneres. She got her start as a stand up comedian. Ten years ago after coming out, Ellen's career seemed to take a bit of a dive. Unlike some that had come out before her, many viewed her negatively. In September 2003, Ellen's career began making a major comeback with her daytime talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In 2007 she hosted the Academy Awards, which was proven very successful. She is also in a serious relationship with her girlfriend, model/actress, Portia de Rossi.

Many of these women have had to climb mountains and work through struggles to achieve the fame that they now receive. Many have opened the doors for other lesbians as well as shown that you can be a lesbian and have a happy and successful life.