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Regardless of your Democratic pick, there's no denying that Bernie Sanders was responsible for a movement of hope when we needed it most. His grace and support for Hillary Clinton after bowing out of the primary only solidified his commitment to the people.
Tila Tequila Twitter
There are the passive aggressive racist undertones that seem impossible to ignore in today's society, and then there's Tila Tequila. The once-reality-star's attempt to regain relevance has resulted in her shameless rebranding as a neo-Nazi.
NBC
The man who inherited Divine's wig to bring Hairspray's Edna Turnblad to life on the Broadway stage recently brought the timeless musical to NBC. Producing the live show for a new generation proved that the message is just as relevant as ever, if not more so.
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He served as head of Breitbart News where hateful rhetoric was the norm. Recently appointed as Trump's chief strategist, he's been referred to as a white supremacist.
Her latest album, A Seat At the Table served as a beautiful artistic expression of the black experience. Much like her sister, she's pushing people out of their comfort zones and starting conversations that need to be had.
State Of California
After his sexual assault trial, this Stanford student was let off with a slap on the wrist. His case drew attention to rape culture and white male privilege in our society.
Samantha Bee has claimed her spot as a late night talk show host in an industry of mostly men. Just because she's a woman doesn't mean she pulls her punches though. She was one of the most vocal television personalities during the election.
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It was recently revealed by this seminal filmmaker that he and Marlon Brando planned a rape scene during the production of Last Tango in Paris without the knowledge of Brando's costar, Maria Schneider. Bertolucci justified this decision as art, an attempt to solicit a real response from a woman who was being raped. Since this came to light, he's come under fire from various people in the industry.
Hachette Books
Working with Gus Van Sant and Dustin Lance Black, Cleve Jones' book When We Rise is coming to life as a miniseries. The docudrama tells the stories of Jones and his peers who fought for the rights we have today.
Wikipedia/U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Mississippi governor has continually tried to halt LGBT rights in his state. A federal judge recently prevented him from enforcing a "religious freedom" bill that he consistently advocates for.
Misty Snow Instagram
Misty Snow inspired a following with her historic run to be the first trans senator. Although her campaign was not a success, she continues to fight and inspire.
Azealia Banks Instagram
If there's one thing this artist is known for, it's her controversial Twitter rants. She became a vocal supporter for Donald Trump earlier this year, announcing it on Twitter. Although she withdrew her support, it was too little too late.
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The elusive queer artist kept us on the edge of our seats, waiting for his latest album Blond. It was his first album since 2012 and well worth the wait.
CNN
Nevermind that it's just a tacky fashion choice for someone in politics—or just a human being in general—but this Trump spokeswoman made a very offensive statement when she decided to wear bullets as an accessory on CNN.
Shailene Woodley Twitter
One of the most prominent stories this year was that of the North Dakota Access Pipeline which threatened the land of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Shailene Woodley was one of the first to draw major attention to the protest when she was arrested for engaging in a riot.
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The man behind the pipeline is Kelcy Warren, CEO of Energy Transfer Partners in Dallas. He's held his position in enforcing the pipeline since the beginning, regardless of the environmental consequences.
Photo by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
One of our favorite ladies on The View, Whoopi Goldberg has made her support for the LGBT community known yet again. This year, she produced the Oxygen reality series, Strut about trans models in the fashion industry. She also recently recieved the Elizabeth Taylor Legacy award for AIDS activism.
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This year has been detrimental to LGBT people in Tanzania. Justice Minister Harrison Mwakyembe announced a plan to end pro-LGBT charities, recently resulting in a ban on HIV/AIDS outreach programs that serve LGBT people.
Victor Dixon Instagram
This Hamilton star made headlines when he called out vice president-elect Mike Pence after a performance. His moving speech was a call to action, urging Pence to stick up for the people he will represent.
Nico Hines Twitter
This journalist from The Daily Beast came under fire after writing a homophobic article in which he outed athletes at the Olympics. Using Grindr to write his story, he risked the lives of some of his subjects who live in places where being LGBT is not accepted.
Van Jones Instagram
The night of the election was difficult for many people who had high hopes for the fate of our country. Van Jones represented the voice of many of us during his CNN commentary.
Flickr/Gage Skidmore
Do we really need to explain this one? His recent Time cover summed it up by dubbing him the "President of the Divided States of America."
Hillary Clinton Twitter
Hillary Clinton led a monumental race, inspiring hope across the nation. Although her run did not result in a win, hope remains.
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