Celebrities are fighting the LGBTQ stigma

Laquavia Smith/Staff Writer

With about a week until Miami throws one of the hottest and most important events of the year, there is no question as to why millions of people fly down from all across the world to witness the annual Miami Beach Pride Parade, including celebrities.

You can’t mention Miami without mentioning the rich and famous, but, when it comes to the lesbian, gay, bi and transgender community and allies, being rich is not as important as being supportive.

Celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Ellen Page and Kerry Washington are known across the board for their support and voice when it comes to the LGBT community. Celebrities publicly displaying their involvement or even their support within the LGBT community is crucial and can even help save, ease stress, concealment and depression within a life.

They are also aiding to decrease stigmas associated with the LGBT community.

Washington is a fine example of an ally who not only supports but also aims to decrease oppression within the LGBT community. Washington accepted the Vanguard Award at the 2015 GLAAD Media Awards in March for being a notable ally of the LGBT community.

“We need more LGBT characters and more LGBT storytelling. We need more diverse LGBT representation, and by that I mean lots of different kinds of LGBT people living all different kinds of lives,” Washington said during her acceptance speech. “We need more employment of LGBT people in front of and behind the camera … We have to continue to be bold and break new ground until that is just how it is, until we are no longer ‘first’ and ‘exceptions’ and ‘rare’ and ‘unique.’ “

But, the idea that those who identify as something other than heterosexual are odd or subordinate is still present even today, but one of the most influential LGBT individuals, Ellen Degeneres, is the epitome of an “argumentative” situation.

Not only is Degeneres one of the highest paid celebrities, ranking No. 13 on the Forbes Top 100 list and No. 50 on Forbes’ Power Women, but she lives her everyday life helping to strip society of the negative connotations that are sometimes associated with the LGBT community.

After making history as the first gay lead character on TV when she came out on national television in the sitcom, “Ellen,” DeGeneres helped bring a lesbian-themed comedy, “One Big Happy,” to NBC in 2015.

DeGeneres has also starred in commercials such as Neutrogena, providing a source of identity for the beautiful non-cisgendered individuals in the world, and launched a Gap Kids clothing line aimed at breaking down gender stereotypes.

Male celebrities such as Neil Patrick Harris have also helped pave the way for homosexual men. Harris is one of Time Magazine’s most influential people and the first openly gay man to host the Academy Awards.

It’s the breaking of these socialized norms that makes America great and that helps to move our culture of freedom and individuality forward.

Celebrities, no matter their gender identity or sexuality, do their part to speak-out on the discrimination and stigmas that come along with being anything other than heterosexual and provide support just by being a part of the community, and you should to.

But, the most important thing is that you remember to be yourself — whoever you are — no matter what others think.

Like Degeneres said, anything that makes you different right now is what will make you “stand out later in life. So you should be proud of being different. You should be proud of who you are.”

 

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of Panther Press Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

 

Image retrieved from Flickr.