Shonda Rhimes (born 1970)

There are few LGBTQIA+ allies as trailblazing and well-known as Shonda Rimes, award-winning television, screenwriter, producer and showrunner. Working first as a Hollywood screenwriter with an MFA from USC, she is now the CEO of Shondaland, the global media company that has produced such iconic TV series as Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy and Bridgertown. Rhimes’ work spotlights diverse characters and storylines, including many from the LGBTQIA+ rainbow. As she says, representation breaks stereotypes, gives voice to unique experiences, and provides a more authentic reflection of society.  A single mother with three teen-aged daughters, Rhimes has also penned The Year of Yes, a memoir of an empowering year during which she said “yes” to everything that scared her. She has formed The Rhimes Foundation to support arts, education, and activism.