How do you measure power in the 21st century? Each year we rank the most influential LGBT people in American culture. It's not an easy task, and we take into account a variety of criteria: everything from someone's political clout or visibility in the media to how they impact our economy and our view of the world. It's an impressive group of movers and shakers—and the changing look of the list indicates an expanding and inspiring sense of what it means to have power in 2016.
Illustrated: Tim Cook by Thomas Allen
CEO, Apple, 55
Read more here.
Photo: Courtesy of Apple
Talk Show Host/Producer/Spokesperson, 58
Read more here.
Photo: Chris Pizello/Invision/AP
News Anchor/Political Commentator, 43
Read more here.
Photo: Chuck Burton/AP
News Anchor, 48
Read more here.
Photo: Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Writer/Director/Producer, 50
Read more here.
Photo: Omar Vega/Invision/AP
International President, SEIU, 58
Read more here.
Photo: Courtesy of SEIU
TV Producer/Talk Show Host, 47
Read more here.
Photo: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Illustrated: Andy Cohen (L) and Anderson Cooper (R) by Thomas Allen
TV Personality/Olympian, 66
Read more here.
Photo: Courtesy of E Online!
Illustrated: Caitlyn Jenner by Thomas Allen
Singer/Songwriter/Producer, 40
Read more here.
Photo: Kirk Stauffer/Wikipedia
Entrepreneur/Investor, 48
Read more here.
Courtesy Photo
U.S. Senator, 54
Read more here.
Courtesy Photo
Chairman and Senior Executive, IAC, 74
Read more here.
Photo: Courtesy of IAC
News Anchor, 50
Read more here.
Photo: Andy Kropa/Invision/AP
Actor/Producer, 38
Read more here.
Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Fashion Mogul, 56
Read more here.
Photo: Courtesy of Michael Kors/Norman Wong
Executive Director, ACLU, 50
Read more here.
Photo: ACLU
Actor/TV Personality, 42
Read more here.
Photo: JUCO
Actor/Producer, 29
Read more here.
Photo: Riccardo Deluca/AP
Media Mogul/Philanthropist, 73
Read more here.
Photo: Christopher Lane/Invision/AP
Writer/Director/Producer, 43
Read more here.
Photo: Smallz Raskind/Warner Bros.
President, Human Rights Campaign, 42
Read more here.
Photo: Courtesy of HRC
Filmmakers, 50 and 48
Read more here.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen/Invision/AP
Social Justice Activist, 30
Read more here.
Photo: Ryan Pfluger
Illustrated: DeRay Mckesson by Thomas Allen
News Anchor, 52
Read more here.
Photo: Screenshot
Writer/Director/Producer, 50
Read more here.
Photo: Wikipedia
Illustrated: Jill Soloway by Thomas Allen
Producer, 57
Read more here.
Photo: Matt Sayles/AP Photo
U.S. Representative, Rhode Island, 54
Read more here.
Courtesy Photo
Actor/Singer, 32
Read more here.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/BMA 2015
TV Host, 55
Read more here.
Photo: Wikipedia
Actress/Transgender Advocate, 31
Read more here.
Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Comedian, 32
Read more here.
Photo: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Illustrated: Kate McKinnon by Thomas Allen
President, Ford Foundation, 56
Read more here.
Photo: Twitter
U.S. Representative, Colorado, 40
Read more here.
Courtesy Photo
Actress, Funnywoman, and PETA spokesperson Jane Lynch
Photo by M. Sharkey
Filmmaker/Producer, 56
Read more here.
Photo: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
CTO of the United States, 51
Read more here.
Photo: Wikipedia
Journalist/Lawyer, 49
Read more here.
Photo: Robert O' Neill
Statistician/Writer, 38
Read more here.
Photo: Danielle Levit
Drag Queen/Actor/Recording Artist, 55
Read more here.
Photo: LOGO
Founder and Managing Editor, TMZ, 65
Read more here.
Photo: Courtesy of TMZ
Author/Journalist/Activist, 51
Read more here.
Photo: LaRae Lobdell
Founder, Gill Foundation, 62
Read more here.
Photo: Scott Roth/Invision/AP
U.S. Representative, California, 55
Read more here.
Courtesy Photo
Film Producer, 30
Read more here.
Photo: Todd Williamson/Invision/AP Images
Editorial Director, People and Entertainment Weekly, 50
Read more here.
Photo: Courtesy of Time Inc.
Actor, 38
Read more here.
Photo: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Chief Curator, the Whitney Museum of American Art, 39
Read more here.
Photo: Courtesy of Whitney Museum
Internet Celebrity, 27
Read more here.
Photo: Ryan Pfluger
TV Executive, 55
Read more here.
Photo: Courtesy of NBC
CEO, Gawker Media, 49
Read more here.
Photo: Courtesy of Gawker Media
Governor of Oregon, 55
Photo: AP Images
Entrepreneur and Futurist, 61
Photo: Andre Chung Courtesy of Martine Rothblatt
Investor and Philanthropist, 66
Photo: Courtesy of EqualityIllinois.us
Fashion Designer and Filmmaker, 54
Photo: JoelRyan/Invision/AP Images
Fashion Designer, 33
Photo: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Screenwriter, 42
Photo: Harry Borden
Basketball Player, 25
Courtesy Photo
Activist and Writer, 35
Photo: Ryan Pfluger
Author and Health Advocate, 83
Photo: David Shankbone/Wikipedia
Columnist and Commentator, 53
Courtesy Photo
READER COMMENTS ( )