"With my husband Glenn Miya and our sons, we live everyday honestly and openly. Hopefully, we show society that our family is more like theirs than they thought, and that they're more like us than they imagined."

Steven Llanusa has charged himself with the task of integrating awareness about gay families in schools and communities.

This mission combines two of his greatest passions - education, where he has served as a teacher for more than 20 years and is currently a board member of Claremont Unified School District - and gay parenting rights, where he is a father of three adopted sons with his husband Glenn Miya. His interest in gay parenting rights set the foundation for his success as a community activist.

"My life is an ongoing adventure. While studying art at Pratt Institution, I learned to get out of my own way; those words shaped my life. For 50 years, my passion has been equal rights for women, lesbians and gay men, and it continues."

For more than 50 years, Ivy Bottini has worked tirelessly for the rights of women and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. She is a true trailblazer who has paved the way for generations to come.

Currently, Ms. Bottini is spearheading the creation of an AIDS Memorial in West Hollywood and the Southland's first LGBT Museum. She is also writing an auto-biography about her life as a successful artist, mother of two daughters and activist.