The Most Powerful Lesbian Moms in America 2012

How time flies! Out magazine just published its sixth annual “Power List” of the most powerful LGBT people in America, which means it’s time for my (unrelated) sixth annual list of The Most Powerful Lesbian Moms in America.

The definition of “power” is subjective, of course. For the purposes of this list, I considered it to mean someone who is known by a large cross-section of the population, within or outside the lesbian community, is at or near the top of her chosen profession, or who is in some other way a well-known personality and long-time influencer. I aimed for inclusion rather than exclusion, but tried to pick those whose impact in their fields or in the world at large is widespread and lasting. I intend this to be a fun list, not to be taken too seriously, so let me know if I’ve missed anyone you deem worthy.

I’m including the names of partners, even if one person is not as well known, in order to acknowledge the contributions of both people to their families and to each others’ achievements. I may have missed a few partners, however, if their names are not public, and blurred matters if one partner came along when the children were older. I was not able to find last names and professions for a few others. Someday, I’ll be able to hire that research staff.

Anyone I missed? Can you help fill in gaps in the information (partners’ names and/or professions, if public; breakups or new partners; job changes)? Leave a comment (with a link to your source, if possible).

I’ll also add that we must each define success for ourselves. It may mean choosing to stay home with one’s children, or to forgo career advancement for the sake of one’s family. I’ve done that myself. I think there’s no harm, though—and quite a bit of inspiration—in recognizing those who have achieved in both career and family.

Of course, the thing about motherhood is that your kids always think you’re the most powerful mom(s) in the world, and it’s their opinions that really matter.

In alphabetic, not rank, order by last name of the generally more well known partner:

Roberta Achtenberg, Commissioner, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and the first openly lesbian or gay public official appointed to a Senate-confirmed position (as as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)
Alison Adler, TV producer
Diane Anderson-Minshall, author; editor in chief of Curve magazine
Susan Arnold, former vice chair and president of global business units at Proctor & Gamble, and Diana Salter
Meredith Baxter, actor, and Nancy Locke, general contractor
Amanda Bearse, actor and director
Elizabeth Birch, LGBT-rights advocate and former head of HRC
Mary Bonauto, GLAD Civil Rights Project Director, and Jennifer Wriggens, law professor, University of Maine
Lisa Brummel, senior vice president for human resources, Microsoft
Eliza Byard, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), and Eva Kolodner, film producer (Boys Don’t Cry), Independent Spirit Producer’s Award nominee, and one of Crain’s New York Business’ “40 Under 40” (2002)
Beth Callaghan, co-founder of Our Chart; director of Web operations, for technology site All Things D, and former editor-in-chief of PlanetOut
Greta Cammermeyer, Colonel, Washington National Guard (ret.) and LGBT-rights activist, and Diane Divelbess, artist
Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and Margaret Conway
Jane Castor, Police Chief of Tampa, Florida
Ilene Chaiken, creator and executive producer of The L Word
Debra Chasnoff, Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker
Mary Cheney, public relations executive, political campaigner, and vice-presidential daughter, and Heather Poe, former U.S. Park Ranger
Lisa Cholodenko, film director, and Wendy Melvoin, musician
Cathy Connolly, Wyoming state representative
Cat Cora, “Iron Chef,” and Jennifer Cora
Judy Dlugacz, founder and president of Olivia travel company
Karla Drenner, Georgia state representative
Amy Errett, partner, Maveron (a venture capital firm), former CEO of Olivia, former chief asset gathering officer, E*Trade, and Clare
Melissa Etheridge, musician
Jodie Foster, actor (I’m adding her name with the caveat that it is debatable whether Foster’s thanking of “my beautiful Cydney” during a speech in 2008 was meant as a coming out. Their children bear the names of both Foster and Cydney Bernard, however, which to me is indicative enough to warrant her inclusion here. The couple is no longer together.)
Jenny Fulle, founder, The Creative-Cartel, former executive vice president of production and executive producer of Sony Pictures Imageworks, and pioneer in opening up Little League to girls
Sara Gilbert, actor
Judy Gold, stand-up comedian and two-time Emmy Award-winning writer and producer of The Rosie O’Donnell Show
Lisa Henderson, general manager, Olivia, and partner
Sue Hyde, director of Creating Change at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Delores A. Jacobs, chief executive officer of The San Diego LGBT Community Center, and Heather Berberet
Nina Jacobson, film producer, currently at DreamWorks SKG, and formerly president of Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group
Cheryl Jacques, administrative judge for the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents, former head of HRC, and former Massachusetts State Senator, and Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the Family Equality Council
Lorri Jean, CEO of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center
Jolie Justus, Missouri state senator, and Shonda Garrison
Ellen Kahn, Family Project director for the Human Rights Campaign, and partner
Elaine Kaplan, general counsel, U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Sandy Holmes
Honey Labrador, designer, television personality, and former model, and Nikki Flux, actor
Annie Leibowitz, photographer
Barbara Lenk, nominee to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and Debra Krupp, attorney
Jennifer Levi, director of GLAD’s Transgender Rights Project and professor at Western New England College School of Law
Dr. Susan Love, president and medical director of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, and leader of the breast cancer advocacy movement, and Dr. Helen Cooksey, surgeon
Jane Lynch, actor, and Lara Embry, psychologist
Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin (d. August 2008), activists
Jenna Lyons, president and executive creative director, J. Crew
Mary Beth Maxwell, senior advisor, U.S. Department of Labor and founding Executive Director of American Rights at Work
Robin McGehee, professor and LGBT activist, and Kathy Adams, professor
Kelly McGillis, actor
Tammy Lynn Michaels, actor
Susan Miller, executive producer/writer of Anyone But Me, Guggenheim Fellow and two-time Obie award-winning playwright
Mary Carolyn Morgan, judge of the San Francisco County Superior Court
Sherri Murrell, head coach of Portland State University, and the only out coach in NCAA Division I women’s basketball
Alison Nathan, Judge, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, and Meg Satterthwaite, law professor
Cynthia Nixon, actor, and Christine Marinoni, education activist
Rosie O’Donnell, actor and television personality
Kelli Carpenter, founder of R Family Vacations and former Nickelodeon marketing executive
Annise Parker, mayor of Houston, Texas, and Kathy Hubbard
Nancy Polikoff, professor of law at American University
Jen Rainin, founding partner of lesbian travel company Sweet and president of the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, and Frances Stevens, editor in chief of Curve magazine
Cathy Renna and Leah McElrath Renna, managing partners, Renna Communications
Hilary Rosen, political commentator and former head of the Recording Industry of America (RIAA)
E. Denise Simmons, city councilor and former mayor, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Mattie Hayes
Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, and Andrea Smith, executive director of Green Florida
Kara Swisher, Wall Street Journal columnist, co-executive editor of technology site All Things D, and Megan Smith, vice president of new business development at Google
Sheryl Swoopes, professional basketball player and three-time Olympic gold medalist, and Alisa Scott, former basketball player and coach
Wanda Sykes, comedian, and Alex
Christine Vachon, film producer, and Marlene McCarty, graphic designer
Linda Villarosa, author, journalist, public speaker, former editor of the New York Times and former executive editor of Essence magazine, and Jana Welch, marketing executive
Karen Williams, comic
Marie Wilson, founder and president of The White House Project, co-creator of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, and former president of the Ms. Foundation for Women, and Nancy Lee