Top Ten Lesbian Newsmakers of 2012

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Katy Butler, Student, Activist

In less than a month, 17-year-old Katy Butler went from being an antibullying activist in her home state of Michigan to becoming a prominent figure in the national conversation about bullying, complete with celebrity backing and recognition from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). An out lesbian who endured antigay bullying in middle school, Butler launched a Change.org petition late in February, calling for a rating change from R to PG-13 for the Weinstein Company’s documentary Bully, so that the film’s target audience of middle- and high school-aged students would be able to see the film and so that it could eventually be shown in schools. The push for a rating change came when the Motion Picture Association of America slapped an R rating on the film for its six swear words, whereas, if the film had only four swears, it would have qualified for a PG-13 rating. Ultimately, Butler's campaign was successful — just like the film — and she was honored with a special recognition award at the 23rd Annual GLAAD Awards in New York City. 

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