Thursday, Mar. 29, 2012
Portia Simpson-Miller
Age: 66
Occupation: Jamaican Prime Minister
Simpson-Miller just began her second stint in six years as Jamaica's PM, and she's kicking off the country's 50th anniversary of independence by calling for the island to sever ties with the British monarchy. More impressive, however, is that she did something few thought possible in one of the world's most homophobic nations: she called for full civil rights for gays and lesbians. One has to understand Jamaica's violently antihomosexual history to appreciate her courage, which could resonate throughout the region if she's successful.