Marguerite Duras (1914-1996) was a pioneer of autofiction and one of the most widely-read French writers in the postwar era. She specialized in blurring the lines between autobiography and imagination, mining her myriad of hardships for narrative gold. Her novel “The Lover” reflected her experiences growing up in French Indochina and became an international bestseller.

Suniti Namjoshi (1941-present) is a poet, fabulist and mythologist born in India. Her short, playful fables and myths challenge sexism, racism and homophobia. She’s written over thirty books, including ten novels, ten books of poetry, and fourteen children’s books.

Paula Gunn Allen (1939-2008) was an American poet, literary critic, activist, professor, and novelist. With works that often explored Indigeneity and feminism, she helped establish a Native American literary presence in the United States.

Mae V. Cowdery (1909 - 1953) was a poet in the Harlem Renaissance literary movement. Her brief, but successful career as a writer started when she was just a teenager. She was mentored by some of the brightest stars of the Harlem Renaissance but has been largely overlooked.

Wu Zao (1799-c.1862) was a poet who wrote homoerotic poems and plays. Despite being married to a wealthy man, she longed for romantic relationships with women and turned those feelings into poetry. During her lifetime, her lyrics were sung throughout China.

Laudomia (1515-unknown) is thought to be Italy's earliest lesbian writer and may have been one of the first women who had their poetry discussed in an open setting at a lecture. She wrote sonnets dedicated to other high society women. She also helped in the construction of fortifications during the Siege of Siena.

Sophia Parnok (1885-1933) was one of Russia's first openly lesbian poets. While she's not as known outside of Russia, she's an important figure in the queer community, and is often called “Russia's Sappho.”

Evelyn Irons (1900-2000) was a Scottish lesbian journalist. Known for her reporting on the frontlines throughout World War II, she became the first female war correspondent to be decorated with the French Croix de Guerre.

Tove Jansson (1914-2001) was a Swedish-speaking Finnish author who wrote novels, children’s books, comics, magazine covers, political cartoons, and even greeting cards. She is most known for creating The Moomins universe.

Qiu Miaojin (1969-1995) made waves in Taiwan when she published her groundbreaking novel “Notes of a Crocodile” — becoming the first ever “out” lesbian author in the country’s history. Though her career was cut short, her stories exploring queer identity and relationships have made a long-lasting impact around the world.

Silvina Ocampo (1903-1993) was an Argentinian short story writer, poet, and artist. She has published poetry books, novels, and short story collections. Never having found a wide readership, she is considered “the best-kept secret of Argentine letters.”

Anita Cornwell (1923-2023) made history as the first Black woman writer to openly identify as a lesbian in her published essays. From the 1950s to the 1980s, she wrote passionately about Black power and Black lesbian identity in magazines like Negro Digest, The Ladder, and Feminist Review.

Barbara May Cameron (1954-2002) was an indigenous Two-Spirit activist who spent her life organizing and advocating for LGBTQIA+ Native Americans, both locally and internationally. She was the co-founder of Gay American Indians, and she wrote a number of searing essays, critiquing the racism and homophobia she saw and experienced.

Rachel Pollack (1945-2023) was a transgender activist and writer who pioneered a modern, feminist understanding of tarot cards and created the first transgender superhero for DC comics.

Mary Renault (1905-1983) was a British writer best known for her historical novels set in Ancient Greece. She wrote both contemporary and historical fiction, which often featured either explicitly or implicitly queer characters.

Addie L. Wyatt (1924-2012) was a civil rights activist, women’s rights activist, and one of the country’s foremost labor union leaders. As vice president of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters Union — the first Black woman to be elected to the position — she pushed for intersectionality in the labor movement.

Laudelina de Campos Melo (1904-1991) was a labor organizer in Brazil. She fought for the dignity of Black domestic workers during a time when they were seen as second-class citizens and afforded little to no rights. She created the first domestic workers organization in Brazil, which is still active today.

Lusia Capetillo (1879-1922) was a Puerto Rican union organizer, reporter, and author who saw feminism and workers' rights as inseparable from one another. She fought for the intellectual and financial independence of women and encouraged education for the working class. She helped unionize workers in Puerto Rico, New York, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic and wrote three books on anarchism, feminism, and human rights.

Františka Plamínková (1875-1942) was a Czech teacher, organizer, and politician who dedicated her life to advancing women’s rights. She played a key role in winning women’s suffrage and served as a senator. She then opposed the Nazis, and ultimately was executed for her role in the underground resistance.

Hiratsuka Raichō (1886-1971) was a Japanese feminist and social reformer, who founded a literary magazine by and for women. After becoming a mother, she became an advocate for working women in Japan, fighting for suffrage and better working conditions.

Rebecca Lukens (1794-1854) is known as the first female CEO in the United States. She ran Brandywine Iron Works and Nail Factory, successfully guiding it through a difficult economic recession and a rapidly industrializing workplace.

Lucy Parsons (c.1851-1942) was an anti-capitalist labor organizer.. She founded the Wobblies (Industrial Workers of the World) and The International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU), and advocated for the 8-hour workday.

Clara Zetkin (1857-1933) was a prominent German Marxist theorist, activist, and advocate for women's rights. She played a pivotal role in the early socialist and communist movements, particularly in championing women's suffrage and equality. Zetkin also initiated International Women's Day, which is still celebrated globally today as a day of advocacy and solidarity for women's rights.

Florence Knoll Bassett (1917-2019) ushered in a new modern and sleek aesthetic for the American office during the postwar era. The pioneering architect and interior designer believed the design process should incorporate every element — from furniture textiles to artwork to doorknobs. Her work at Knoll Furniture brought us some of the most recognizable  furniture silhouettes from the modernist era — including the iconic “womb chair.”