This is perhaps a different list from the one you have in mind but these people deserve to be on a top something list for advocating for gay rights in their respective areas. Significant and notable gay rights activists have been there since quite a while back even though the coming out of the closet practice has only gained much popularity recently. Here are a few top gay rights activists.
Barack Obama
Yes, him. The president of the USA has constantly made statements in open support of the gay people in America. One notable incidence is his inauguration speech where he stated that ” Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law—for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.” His administration has also upheld marriage equality in states like California thus promoting gay rights.
Audre Lorde
Born in February 1934, Audre Lorde was a Caribbean-American civil rights activist and also a radical feminist. She is famously known for saying ‘The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house’…. The poet was also known for speaking out against classism, ageism, sexism and homophobia and urged gay people not to be silent and speak out against these injustices.
Peter Tatchell
Born in the year 1952, Peter Tatchell is an active human rights campaigner from Britain. Tatchell came out about being gay in the year 1969 and became a member of the GLF (Gay Liberation Front). He was in a leading role in Britain’s first ever gay pride march in the year 1972.
George Takei
Born in 1937, most people probably know him as Hikaru Sulu from the popular television series, Star Trek. Takei is an active gay rights activist and constantly uses his Twitter and Facebook handles to distribute gay right friendly posts and once famously stated that ‘being gay is a natural part of who I am’.
Sylvia Rivera
Born in the year 1951, Rivera was an American drag queen and transgender activist. Rivera was a key member in the founding of the gay liberation front. She is also well known for founding the STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries). The STAR group helps transgender women in the country.
Laverne Cox
Popularly known as Sophia Burset in the hit show Orange is the new black, Laverne Cox is a famous LGBT activist. She was the first openly transgender person in history to be nominated for an Emmy award since 1990. Just to mention, she also has her own wax figure at Madame Tussauds.
Harvey Milk
He is perhaps better known as the first American person, openly gay, to be elected to public office in the state of California. Later in his career, gay rights activism became some of his main interests.
Dan Savage
Born in the year 1964, Savage is an American journalist and LGBT activist. He is perhaps better known for his column, Savage Love that offers relationship and love tips and advice. The media pundit also founded the It Gets Better Project to reduce the suicide rates among gay youth.