Celebrity voices champion LGBTQ rights, reject bigotry

As the battle for equal marriage rights for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people in New York state and elsewhere heats up, many famous people from entertainment, sports and other cultural fields are making their support public for LGBTQ rights.

Actors like George Takei, Joan Rivers, Uma Thurman, Fran Drescher, Vanessa Williams, Daphne-Rubin Vega, Lucy Liu and Whoopi Goldberg have loudly joined the call for LGBTQ rights. Comedian and actor Tracy Morgan recently apologized for anti-LGBTQ remarks he has made during past comedy routines and asserted that he supports the right of LGBTQ people to marry.

Michael Strahan, former defensive end for the New York Giants and Super Bowl champion, has announced his support for marriage equality. In doing so he joined other famous figures from the athletic world, such as Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns and Sean Avery of the New York Rangers, who recently declared their support for LGBTQ rights.

The forces of bigotry and reaction in New York have responded bitterly to the number of prominent individuals who defend LGBTQ rights. For example, right-wing State Assembly Member Dov Hikind made a point of insulting Lady Gaga for supporting LGBTQ rights.

Hikind, a supporter of racial profiling and former member of the Jewish Defense League, a right-wing terrorist group, waved around a large photograph of Lady Gaga during an anti-LGBTQ tirade on the statehouse floor. However, Lady Gaga is not alone among musicians. Cyndi Lauper, another famous singer, recently announced her support for the cause.

Polls show that among New York state residents there is a strong base of support for the cause of total equality for the LGBTQ community.

As in every progressive movement the supporting voices of celebrities are always important and helpful to those in the streets who are demanding justice from the halls of prominence and power.