NBC OUT #PRIDE30

Deer is one of the first openly transgender law enforcement officers in Washington state.

FUN FACT: "I was an extra twice on 'Grimm' — once as a 'perp' being escorted in handcuffs through the station, and once as a boxer."

Australian native Siri May is working diligently to help LGBTQ people around the globe live free of violence and discrimination.

TESTIMONIAL: Siri May was nominated for NBC Out's #Pride30 list by Tony Award-winning performer Alan Cumming, who said May "has dedicated her life to ensure the world is a better place for LGBT people and does so with such intelligence, grace, wit, and beauty that she is a treasure to behold and hero of mine."

As far as Dr. Leo Moore is concerned, awareness is the best prescription for reducing HIV in the black gay community.

PRIDE MEANS: "Owning and loving every facet of one's self. Pride is what drives me to use my seat at the table to advocate for others."

She's sassy, feisty, and committed to her district. Meet Alabama's only openly gay politician.

FUN FACT: Todd became an activist in her early 20's after her husband at the time bought her a copy of Ms., the feminist magazine founded by Gloria Steinem: "I read it cover to cover and was pissed off. I've been pissed off ever since!" she said.

Dancer and choreographer Kun-Yang Lin said dance is his language of choice and an art form he's loved for as long as he can remember.

PRIDE MEANS: “Pride is a sense of celebration and recognition of who we are — whether it is a difficult journey or just something you feel the need to share.”

Hart got her start making "My Drunk Kitchen" videos, but the content creator has since used TV, films and books to share her message.

TESTIMONIAL: Hannah Hart was nominated for NBC Out's #Pride30 list by GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis, who called Hart a “Jill-of-all-trades who is using her platform to promote LGBTQ acceptance and to support LGBTQ youth.”

American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Chase Strangio is building a case for trans liberation.

FUN FACT: "I know every word to every song in 'The Little Mermaid' and often sing it to my kid to annoy her."

The Atlanta firefighter is dedicated to saving lives and building community.

PRIDE MEANS: "Pride is a semblance of the courage that it took for people to stand up for themselves. All of it stems from the nightclub brawls that trans women were fighting in New York City on Christopher Street."

Dunaway's company makes body positive underwear for women regardless of where they fall on the gender spectrum.

FUN FACT: "Before I became an entrepreneur, I was an avid video game player and for years played World of Warcraft as a level 80 gnome rogue named Franzie."

Rev. Cazares-Thomas is helping members of his congregation come to terms with their identity and their faith.

PRIDE MEANS: "A sense of purpose, a sense of commitment, a sense of achievement and paying it forward. A sense of feeling secure enough about myself. That I have nothing to fear from someone else's judgment or success."

Indigenous queer photographer Jenny Miller is shining a spotlight on Alaska's LGBTQ and Two Spirit communities.

FUN FACT: "When I was eight years old, I learned how to ride my first dirt bike."

DeStefano is fighting for the rights of transgender students, like himself, to use facilities that correspond with their gender identities.

PRIDE MEANS: "Expressing yourself to the fullest and loving yourself no matter what people think."

Two-time San Diego teacher of the year Ebonee Weathers wants her students to have the support she lacked while a student.

PRIDE MEANS: "Pride means valuing who and what you are and not being afraid of it and sharing it with the world."

For the past five years, the Harvard University and Yale School of Medicine graduate has been focusing on the health of transgender children.

TESTIMONIAL: Jack Turban was nominated for NBC Out's #Pride30 list by Emmy Award-winning host, producer and author Andy Cohen, who praised Turban's efforts to "bring the stories of transgender youth to the general public" and "build empathy and support" for the trans community.

Corado has devoted the last two decades to advocating for the rights and inclusion of our most marginalized community members.

TESTIMONIAL: Ruby Corado was nominated for NBC Out's #Pride30 list by Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin, who called Corado a "tireless advocate and champion of equality in Washington, DC, inspiring LGBTQ people of all ages through her work and unyielding commitment to expanding opportunity for LGBTQ young people."

The Oscar-winning producer of "American Beauty" was most recently one of the executive producers behind ABC's LGBTQ miniseries, "When We Rise."

TESTIMONIAL: Bruce Cohen was nominated for NBC Out's #Pride30 list by singer Melissa Etheridge, who said Cohen is an "amazing person" and credited him with inspiring her to come out publicly. "He has taken his fire inside about his desire for equality, and he's created art with it, which is one of the greatest ways to change our society," Etheridge added.

When it comes to the world of Tae Kwon Do, Sloane Cameron is a game changer.

FUN FACT: "I sing to my cat more than most people. He has a lot of songs that are specific to him."

Among Luis Mancheno’s many identities, the gay immigration attorney and refugee is most proud to call himself a U.S. citizen.

PRIDE MEANS: "It’s the celebration of being different. Celebration of [being] alive while being different, and I think that at the same time an occasion for our community to come together and say, 'We’re here, we’re not going anywhere, we’re happy, we’re fabulous, and we will put a fight for our rights."

The biology professor and ordained minister is one of only a few openly gay religious leaders in Mississippi, and that's something she's working to change.

PRIDE MEANS: "Self-esteem, knowing deep in my soul that I have worth. And I would love for all people to feel that. I think if we could start with more people having basic acceptance of themselves, the world would probably be a friendlier place."

Sawyer's organization, Building Allies Together, offers training to schools, businesses and municipalities on how to be more transgender-inclusive.

TESTIMONIAL: Kyle Sawyer was nominated for NBC Out's #Pride30 list by actor Ian Harvie, who praised Sawyer's organization and described him as a "smart, passionate person who deserves recognition for his hard work in the community."

He's gay, he's a South American immigrant and he's the youngest mayor of a major U.S. city.

FUN FACT: Garcia loves Snoop Dogg and has attended Comic-Con for 19 straight years.

Writer Gabby Rivera is providing inspirational characters for future generations of the LGBTQ community.

PRIDE MEANS: "Revolution and joy."

Brown is the first openly bisexual governor in U.S. history.

PRIDE MEANS: “An opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments and rolling up our sleeves to figure out what we need to do next.”

Transgender high school teacher Dustin Rader wants to be the role model he never had.

PRIDE MEANS: "Loving yourself and extending that love to others. If you love yourself — and I don't mean just being selfish, I mean really loving and caring for yourself — you become happier, and (this is going to be cliche) happiness is contagious. That's why Pride parades are so exuberant. It's people loving themselves and sharing that love with others."

Dr. Kaila Story, an associate professor of women's and gender studies at the University of Louisville, has been voted faculty favorite every year since 2007.

PRIDE MEANS: "Being proud of oneself means not letting society define you, but for you to feel emboldened enough to define who you are on your own."

Rachel Levine, the physician general for Pennsylvania, is the state's highest ranking transgender official and its only trans cabinet member.

As a professor and researcher, Dr. Mustanski aims to improve LGBTQ health and train future health professionals.

FUN FACT: Mustanski married his husband four times. The first was a commitment ceremony in Mexico in 2006, and the last was a legal marriage in Illinois in 2016 — 10 years after their first ceremony.

A former teacher and military veteran, Fowler is now focused on bringing LGBTQ history to K-12 classrooms.

TESTIMONIAL: Debra Fowler was nominated for NBC Out's #Pride30 list by trans advocate and model Carmen Carrera, who praised Fowler and her organization for educating teachers and students about LGBTQ history.

The high schooler is "upcycling" used clothing items, turning them into fashionable pieces and donating them to underprivileged youth in Los Angeles.

PRIDE MEANS: "Being comfortable in your own skin and not being afraid of being who you are, because every single person is different and everyone should feel accepted and feel confident with who they are, and not be afraid to express themselves."

After being honorably discharged from the military, Fulton dedicated her life to advocating for marginalized people.

TESTIMONIAL: Sue Fulton was nominated for NBC Out's #Pride30 list by U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who said "Sue is a great American and has been a trailblazer in so many ways. Sue was one of the first women to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point ... and she was instrumental in the fight to end the discriminatory policy of 'don't ask, don't tell.'"

The majority of NBC Out's #Pride30 innovators, change makers and rising stars were nominated by the public. We received more than 1,600 nominations in April, and a committee of NBC journalists and executives narrowed down the list. A smaller number of our honorees, as noted in each of their profiles, were nominated directly by LGBTQ community leaders and celebrities.