There are many prominent celebrities who identify within the LGBT community. As someone who identifies with said community, it is comforting to be able to look to the mainstream media for support.
From my standpoint, the queer lifestyle is something quite normal.
On occasion, I find myself debating this topic, even with people who are encompassed by the LGBT umbrella. More often than not, I will end with a retort somewhere along the lines of "I feel that homosexuality and the queer lifestyle are normal because this is a lifestyle I choose to live and have identified with for close to a decade. What is not normal to me is seeing people so overly concerned with my choices." I live my life everyday as the best person I can be, and my sexuality is an entirely separate entity.
The number of celebrities who identify as L-G-B or T has steadily risen over the past decade, and even more so over the past 4 or 5 years. A good amount of those celebrities are also working to raise awareness and create a positive image for the community.
One of the most prominent LGBT community members for the cause, and a personal favorite of mine is Ellen DeGeneres.
Ellen was born January 26th, 1958 in Louisiana. She has been in the public eye via television and movie appearances since the early 1990's, and in 1997 Ellen came out as a lesbian publicly on the Oprah Winfrey Show. In 2008 she married her wife, the beautiful Portia de Rossi and since, they have become one of my favorite lesbian "power couples". Ellen has won numerous awards for her charitable work supporting organizations in and out of the LGBT community, along with thirteen Emmy awards for her tv/acting career. Some of the organizations Ellen has supported are: theChildren's Health Fund, Feeding America, the It Gets Better Project, Project Cuddle, the Red Cross, theSave The Music Foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and The Trevor Project. Ellen also recently teamed up with JC Penny as their official spokes person, which initially created some controversy with some of America's more closed minded individuals. She handled the issue with class, dignity, and her iconic humor, which to me is even more of a "fuck you" to the people who stood against her (GO TEAM ELLEN!). (JC Penney response video)
Some other prominent, openly gay celebrities are also worth noting for their public LGBT support.
The music industry has become a safe place for LGBT people to express themselves. Artists such as Queen Latifa, Melissa Etheridge, George Michaels, Tracy Chapman, and Ricky Martin have publicly come out as gay to the world. These artists risked their long-standing public reputations because they are proud of who they are and want everyone to know it. Other notable LGBT celebrities include Anderson Cooper, Lindsay Lohan, Rosie O'Donnell, and Cynthia Nixon.
Chaz Bono has become a household favorite of many after bravely showcasing his transition for the world to see.
Chaz (born Chastity Sun Bono on March 4th 1969) is the son of Sonny and Cher Bono. Chaz had formerly identified as a lesbian, and between 2008 and 2010, he began his female to male gender transition. He has since made a two part documentary on his transition process titled "Becoming Chaz" and "Being Chaz". The first part, Becoming Chaz, documents and addresses his first struggles of the transition process, such as hormone injections and breast removal surgery, where as Being Chaz takes a look at Chaz's life post surgery and how things are going for Chaz as far as being the "new" him. In becoming Chaz we see how difficult is has been for him and his former girlfriend/fiancee Jennifer Elia adjusting to the gender change in their relationship. The two were once in a lesbian relationship and have since gone their separate ways.
Another trans community celebrity who I have had the pleasure of being in contact with first hand is Janet Mock.
Janet is a male to female transgender speaker and activist. She is a native of Hawaii and graduated from the University of Hawaii and New York University's Master's program in journalism. She earns a living as an editor at People Magazine and is also a writer for the Huffington Post's Gay Voices column. Janet runs her own blog with articles and podcasts at JanetMock.com. and has also launched a Twitter hash tag campaign to empower trans women of color, #GirlsLikeUs.
"The turning point for me was the gay community. I've got so many gay fans and they're so loyal to me and they really lifted me up. They'll always stand by me and I'll always stand by them. It's not an easy thing to create a fanbase." - Lady Gaga
One of my favorite musicians has also taken a very public stance on LGBT rights and equality. Lady Gaga (born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on March 28th, 1986) is an openly bisexual, multi-platinum selling recording artist who has supported the LGBT community very publicly from the beginning of her career. She attributes much of her early success to the support she received from the LGBT community. She worked closely with FlyLife, an LGBT marketing company associated with Interscope records. They were the first to believe in her, and in turn, have helped her skyrocket to success! Lady Gaga thanked FlyLife in the notes of her album "The Fame" saying, "I love you so much. You were the first heartbeat in this project, and your support and brilliance means the world to me. I will always fight for the gay community hand in hand with this incredible team."
"[It] is no different than discriminating against blacks. It's discrimination plain and simple." -Jay-Z
She actively fought to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the former official policy on homosexuals serving in the United States Military, and helped us succeed in its demise.
Gaga has received a Trevor Hero award for her LGBT work. She attended and spoke at the 2011 National Equality March, attended the Human Rights Campaign Dinner, and attended the 2010 MTV VMA's accompanied by four U.S. Military service members prohibited from serving because of their sexual orientation. She took a political stance urging her fans to contact their Senators to repeal DADT after speaking in Maine at the Service members Legal Defense Network's "4the14K" Rally, and even held a meeting with Unites States President Barack Obama in October of 2011 to put a stop to bullying. On February 29th, 2012, Lady Gaga launched her very own non-profit organization, the Born This Way Foundation, which sets out to "Empower Youth and Inspire Bravery".
"The turning point for me was the gay community. I've got so many gay fans and they're so loyal to me and they really lifted me up. They'll always stand by me and I'll always stand by them. It's not an easy thing to create a fanbase." - Lady Gaga
Even after the horrifying reality of Amendment One being passed into North Carolina legislature, we have gained the public support of of many people who do not identify with the LGBT community.
The biggest victory for us as of lately has been the public announcement by President Barack Obamastating that he believes homosexuals should be allowed to marry. Since President Obama's announcement, many other straight celebrities have vocalized their support for LGBT equality. When asked his feelings on the situation, actor and rapper Will Smith said, "if anybody can find someone to love them and to help them through this difficult thing that we call life, I support that in any shape or form."He also said that this was a "brave move for the president to make in an election year."
Brooklyn rapper Jay-Z took a stance backing Obama's decision saying, "I've always thought it as something that was still, um, holding the country back...What people do in their own homes is their business and you can choose to love whoever you love. That's their business. [It] is no different than discriminating against blacks. It's discrimination plain and simple."
It doesn't stop there. Jamaicain reggae star Beanie Man openly apologized to the LGBT community via a YouTube video stating, "I love each and every one and am just begging each and everyone to do the same...do not fight against me for a song that I sang 20 years ago...I was a kid. Now I know that people live in the world that live their life differently than the way I live my life. Just love the music and respect the music."
Through all types of media we are rapidly increasing people's knowledge and awareness about just how real LGBT discrimination is, and how easily it can be fixed. With the right amount of public knowledge, people who might have have little to no thoughts on LGBT rights can now begin to understand the struggles we as citizens sometimes face. I was thrilled to see last week's cover of The Boston Phoenix with the title "The Queer Issue" and an image of two of Boston's queer DJ's. The four LGBT articles featured in the Phoenix covered a diverse selection of queer issues ranging from trans success stories, to trans safety in America, to queer night life in Boston.
All of these things combined are a great start to changing our country's views on homosexuality and creating a safer world.
I mean, after all... aren't people trying to live their lives the best way possible? Together we can help make a difference in the lives of a community of people who deserve equal rights.
-Jackie Soriano
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