Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign, Named on the TIME List of the 100 Most Influential People in the World

As president of Planned Parenthood, there was nothing better than spending time with the young organizers whose energy and purpose drove so much of our work - and nobody embodied that spirit more fiercely than Kelley Robinson.

From the first time I met her - likely with a megaphone in hand and a grin on her face - I saw the spark of something special in this young woman from Chicago. Joyful, determined, and magnetic, she was the kind of leader who made you want to follow her anywhere.

Today, that spark has turned into a fire fueling a movement. Now as Human Rights Campaign President, Kelley is at the helm of the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the country, bringing people together across communities and identities to build power. At this pivotal moment in history, there is no I'd rather be cheering on as she stands up to the forces trying to erode our rights and connects us in the shared struggle for LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive freedom, and racial justice.

All these years later, I love seeing a rising generation of organizers drawing inspiration from Kelley, their own megaphones in hand, learning from the best.