Selection Process

Equality Forum outreached to approximately eighty diverse national and international organizations and leaders requesting nominations of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons and corporations, living or dead, who over the past 40 years made a defining difference in GLBT civil rights.

All nominations were provided to the Co-Chairs of the 40 Heroes Selection Committee: Bruce Steele (The Advocate) and Heather Finlay (Girlfriends Magazine).

The narrowed-down field was then passed on to Sally Sussan and Jonathan Capehart, National Co-Chairs for the 40th Anniversary Celebration.

Final nominations were approved by Equality Forum's Board of Directors.