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The twenty-first century is young, but so far cable star Rachel Maddow is one of the main contenders for most influential lesbian. Another popular choice might be the best selling rocker Melissa Etheridge, whose art has brought her an army of fans, whether gay or straight. In the political arena, Tammy Baldwin is the first woman ever to be elected to Congress while already out of the closet.

Rachel Maddow

Her Air America radio show was an instant hit, and her audience on MSNBC is huge and growing. She does have a great lead-in because popular Keith Olberman's show precedes her, but she definitely keeps that audience. She's smart and quick, but her success has probably come because she is consistently interesting.

Her academic credentials are spectacular. Her B.A. is from Stanford ('94), and she was a Rhodes Scholar. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy from Oxford. Yet on television she is simple, natural, and straightforward. She knows her subject inside and out, but she never takes an academic tone. In fact, she seems to be having fun.

She is earnest, but never strident, and she may chide but she is never personal or nasty. She's certainly a liberal, but she believes in a strong, well-defended America. This woman is going places.

Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge has gained her influence in an entirely different way. Born in Leavenworth Kansas, she wrote her first song at ten. After high school she was accepted to the influential Berklee School of Music, but she dropped out after one year. Then she honed her skills in various small venues on the east coast, before moving to Los Angeles in 1982.

She sang in many clubs there, and found work as a songwriter. Many of her songs were recorded by mainstream artists. In 1988, her album Melissa Etheridge went double platinum.

She has four children, two with her wife Tammy Lynn Michaels, and two from a previous relationship with Julie Cypher. In 2004 she was diagnosed with breast cancer, but is now believed to be cancer free. She is an inspiration.

Tammy Baldwin

The first woman to be elected to Congress from Wisconsin is Tammy Baldwin, who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1992. She is a lifelong Democrat who describes herself as someone interested in promoting universal health care and protecting Social Security from the threat posed by privatization.

Born and raised in Madison Wisconsin, she has a B.A. from Smith and a law degree from University of Wisconsin Law. She is a strong defender of civil rights and social freedoms.

Conclusion

Each of these women has enormous influence, and has used it well. Each has taken good advantage of America's free speech and relative tolerance to express herself as a woman and a lesbian. Each is an excellent role model for young women of the future.

Learn more about this author, Janet Grischy.
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