LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Sunithai Menon’s life’s work has been driven by a desire to bring opportunity and change to marginalized communities.

“For me, visibility is everything,” Menon said.

As Executive Director for LA County’s first LGBTQ+ commissionthat goal is also personal.

“It’s been really important to me to support and uplift the community I’m in,” Menon continued, “and for people to see someone who’s brown, queer, and female-identified, happily married, and pure and simple. able to live by strength and power. That comes from other people helping me up.”

Menon is honored to be ABC7’s local honoree for Out100the oldest large-scale list recognizing LGBTQ+ people for their accomplishments, achievements and impact on culture and society.

“It’s very humbling to be selected for this. I’m very excited about the work I’ve done in the community and excited to continue doing that work.”

Her previous roles with nonprofits such as Head Start, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the National Sexual Assault Hotline, and most recently, Equality California, all focused on bringing about systemic change and providing support to communities in need of them.

“That was really the guiding principle by which I lived my life,” Menon added.

Now, as executive director, Menon works alongside 15 commissioners to help advise LA County supervisors on policies affecting the LGBTQ+ community, how to address these issues and how to best provide support.

“Across the country, we have seen an increase in hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people. We have seen an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. I think there are now 520 pieces of legislation that are anti-LGBTQ+.

Menon continued: “Whether it’s building families or accessing healthcare, for me it’s really about working with commissioners. How will we create this change in the county?”

Menon acknowledges that creating change will take time.

“The county is huge. The work is huge. The expectations are very high, and what I’m hoping to do with the other commissioners is come up with what are the short-term, smaller and smaller goals that we can create to drive that long-term change.”

But she is determined to make an impact on the available resources and quality of life for all LGBTQ+ people in Los Angeles.

“We all want to live in a society where we can grow and thrive and not worry about discrimination, or hate, or violence, or unequal access to services. We are just at the beginning”.

Menon says he will not stop fighting until meaningful change is made.

Check out all the 2024 Out100 on newsstands now and at out.com.