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As president and CEO of GLAAD, Sarah Kate Ellis is one of the most important voices in modern politics, full stop. She has long fought to ensure that people have equal rights under the law. In a position like hers, it’s not enough to just be smart, well-meaning, or a hard worker. She has that star quality, that X factor that makes people listen when she speaks.

Amid the introduction of more than 450 anti-LGBTQ bills in 2023 alone, Sarah Kate has made clear how this type of legislation negatively impacts the LGBTQ community and causes violence. After the mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs last year, I saw her educate people through the press about how hateful rhetoric has led to a sharp increase in anti-LGBTQ crimes.

LGBTQ people have always been treated by some as different and fearsome—and Sarah Kate, through her work and her beautiful example, has long stood up for what’s right.

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