Rachel Lavine

NYS Democratic Committeewoman, Downtown Manhattan

What's with all this talk of vaginas and Christine Quinn running for mayor anyway? What is it about the prospect of a vagina possibly sitting in the seat of power that has so many people -- even people with vaginas themselves -- all worked up?

Stuart Campbell

Executive Director, Equality NC

Many progressives outside the South appear to feel as though our region is a lost cause, too politically regressive for any real progress to be made on LGBT equality. Consequently, we are often passed over for movement building or sustaining funding.

Lawrence D. Mass, M.D.

Co-founder, GMHC; author, 'We Must Love One Another or Die: The Life and Legacies of Larry Kramer'

What Larry Kramer, inspired so profoundly by Hannah Arendt, demonstrated is that the importance of our voices -- of speaking our minds and our truths, of organizing, of acting up and out -- can mean the difference between life and death. Which brings us to the situation in Russia.

Danielle Kaufman, M.D.

Radiologist and Chief of Nuclear Medicine, Kaiser Permanente

California Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed legislation allowing transgender students in California to have access to the sports teams and facilities that correspond with their gender identity. This is a critically important move. Let me offer some insight from a trans woman's point of view.

Monica Trasandes

Director of Spanish-Language Media at GLAAD

The reality is that "maricón" and "puto" are used every day in the real world, and and in that world they do not mean "corrupt politician"; they mean "faggot." Regardless of intention, every time Molotov performs "Puto," LGBT fans are forced to hear a crowd chant "matarile al maricón."

Slava Mogutin

New York-based Russian artst and writer

Russia's recent anti-gay legislation contradicts the letter and spirit of the Olympic Charter, and the International Olympic Committee must acknowledge that and find a more tolerant and civilized host country. This is not just another political issue; this is an issue of basic human rights.

Steve Siebold

Author and expert in the field of critical thinking and mental toughness training

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has signed a bill barring licensed therapists from trying to make gay minors straight. In doing so, New Jersey becomes the second state to ban the "therapy," following in the footsteps of California.

David Duran

Freelance journalist

The moment I read about the San Antonio travel alert issued by Get EQUAL Texas, I was shocked and truly confused. Get EQUAL Texas might have taken this all a step too far.

Victoria A. Brownworth

Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist and the first out lesbian to have a column in a daily newspaper

The questions raised by Russell Simmons' "Harriet Tubman sex tape" and also by the "Slap Hillary" video game (which, unlike the sex tape, is still up) are simple and succinct: Why is violence against women a joke to men? Why is disrespecting female historical figures OK?

Erin Sharoni

Host and reporter in sports, news, and entertainment; contributor, 'Jim Rome on Showtime'

My suggestion to you, dear readers, is to become loud, outrageous superfans of equality. You'll abet the participating Olympic athletes in feeling more empowered and supported, and you'll have the chance to show an audience of over 200 million people the importance of tolerance.

Patrick Wang

Writer and director, 'In the Family'

The headlines cross: a royal baby, DOMA, exiles, violence, words from the Holy See, and suddenly I am thinking about Edward II. I directed the Marlowe play 13 years ago, and now, in the midst of a whirlwind of social and political shifts, I find footing by fixing my thoughts on this history play.

Sue Kerr

Founder and editor, Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents

Our young LGBTQA youth (gay and straight for short) don't have family support and often don't have a place to live, but they are trying to continue with their education. So, child-sized backpacks and boxes of crayons aren't enough to get them on their way.

Joe Putignano

Athlete and Cirque du Soleil performer; author, 'Acrobaddict: A Memoir'

Recently, laws in Russia have questioned the morals of a sector of humanity, and I wonder how it has impacted the passion of our young athletes. If I'd known I was gay as a child and these laws were standing then, would it have turned me off the sport of gymnastics?

Kenny Neal Shults

Stand-up comedian and principal, Connected Health Solutions

While others may not be so easily swayed, one thing is certain: The issue of circumcision will continue to be a cutting issue no matter how you slice it.

Martel Okonji

LGBT youth advocate; Youth Development Coordinator, Transitional Living Program, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center

Just in the last few weeks, Raven-Symoné, Darren Young and Troye Sivan each proclaimed his or her sexual identity to the world. It's great to hear positive celebrity coming-out stories, but I also know that many teenagers who come out of the closet may end up on the streets.

Charles Karel Bouley

On-air host, KGO Radio; TV personality, comic, author, actor, writer/producer/director and dog walker

There's a lot be be angry about across the world. But there's also a lot to be angry about right here. A lot. And we can't keep acting like sectarian violence isn't happening in the streets of America.

justin adkins

Transgender activist and educator

No one can declare a space "safe" for everyone, or anyone, except for themselves.