Carrie Brownstein

Carrie Brownstein is an American musician, writer, actress, and director who rose to prominence as guitarist and co-vocalist of the influential feminist punk band Sleater-Kinney and co-created, co-wrote, and co-starred in Portlandia (2011), the sketch comedy series about Portland's progressive culture whose recurring characters include several queer figures. Outed as bisexual by Spin magazine at 21, she has said she identifies as bisexual or queer while preferring not to be defined by any single label. Her memoir Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl (2015) chronicles the riot grrrl movement and feminist punk underground, her struggles with identity and belonging, and a family story that includes her father coming out as gay at 65. She also co-wrote and co-starred in The Nowhere Inn (2021), a surreal mockumentary made with the queer musician St. Vincent. Across music, television, and film, Brownstein's work has been deeply embedded in queer feminist culture, and she remains a touchstone for queer audiences.