Tag Archives: advocates

Back2Stonewall Presents Advocates We Love: Colin Farrell

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It’s always nice to take a moment and recognize those that advocate for equal rights (it’s even better when we can do this while looking at pretty pictures of them) The point is that we should celebrate these fantastic specimens of the human condition each and everyday.

Case in point, Colin Farrell. This beautiful Irishman is an accomplished actor and even though he has what is perceived by some as a sketchy “bad boy” past, Farrell does show off his golden heart more than what most give him credit for. In 2009, Farrell showed up for his brother, who is gay, to support him and marriage equality. Colin even served as best man for the wedding held in Vancouver Canada, as at the time same sex marriage wasn’t legal.

See this is the great thing about Colin, is that rather than give formal statements of support (which statements of any kind are greatly needed and deeply appreciated), it’s by actions that he shows support for equality. This is the kind of support that needs to be shown. When someone of influence and stature just doesn’t care what others may think and supports their family no matter what, with love. To me that’s what makes him an advocate.

 

And he’s so hot it’s maddening.

(guys, if he ever dyes his hair read, I will LOSE it OMG)

Rev. Jesse Jackson Endorses Marriage Equality

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Recently Rev. Jesse Jackson, a pioneer in the civil rights movements for decades, gave his support for marriage equality. In a recent radio interview with SiriusXM OutQ, Rev. Jackson spoke of the evolution of what freedom meant for the past, present, and future:

“The culture has had to expand. For so long we thought it was a sin for blacks to have freedom. We thought it was a sin for black and white men and women to interrelate. We’ve grown in our appreciation of the fact that we live in our faith, and our faith may live under the law. All citizens deserve constitutional protections. You know, you have a right not to agree with interracial marriage but no one should be denied rights under the law.”

Rev. Jackson further elaborates high stance implying that marriage equality is a fundamental civil rights and relays his past experience in fighting for equal rights for African Americans in the 60s:

“They should not vote [against people’s civil rights. I remember in 1964, the dealbreaker then was, ‘Should we have the right of public accommodation [for blacks]?’ They tried to make blacks having public accommodations a single issue. At that time, race was the dealbreaker. But we’ve overcome that. I would hope that people would respect people’s basic fundamental rights. If you don’t believe in it, don’t engage in it. But don’t deny other people their basic civil rights.”

I love the fact the he discussed marriage equality as a civil right, not just a right being fought for by LGBT. I hope that more leaders, not only in the African American community but in general, adapt this mode of thought when expressing equality.

Tattooed Rocker Adam Levine Voices Continued Support For Gay Rights

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Hot and tattooed Maroon 5 frontman and The Voice judge Adam Levine goes into detail as to why he supports equal rights for the LGBTQ. Adam discussed why he recently made a statement in an MTV video blog supporting marriage equality explaining It’s just so silly and it doesn’t make any sense to me that you wouldn’t be able to marry whomever you want to marry. It’s not our business –It seems we’re a little behind on that, and we just need to make it legal and stop caring so much. It doesn’t matter. And it shouldn’t matter.

Adam relays a message to others that don’t support equal rights and believes “anyone who doesn’t agree with it is essentially putting themselves above other people. That’s what they’re doing. And that’s not OK with me.”

Adam elaborates his stance on his live and let live philosophy stating “people have their personal preferences as to what they want to do with their own lives, and they have every right to do that – just like a gay couple has every right to do that. It’s just not anyone’s business except the people involved. That’s all I would say: “What makes you better than these people?”

Levine discussed that his brother who is gay is not the only reason why he supports equal rights and says “I don’t think that having a gay brother has affected the way I feel about it, because I would feel the same way regardless. I happen to have a gay brother, but that doesn’t mean I’m more of an advocate for equal human rights. That shouldn’t change anything about the way that I feel.” (PERFECT ANSWER)

When questioned further on his brother being gay affecting his support for gay rights, Adam feels “that contributes on some level to the way that I feel. But I don’t know – I don’t think I would feel any differently if he happened to be straight. The relationships that I have with people – whether it’s my brother or a friend, gay or straight – that shouldn’t really ever come into play. Someone’s sexual preference is their sexual preference.”

Of course this isn’t the first time Levine has voiced a supportive, strong stance in equal rights. Earlier this year Adam along with his band members of Maroon 5 participated in a boycott of a restaurant El Coyote in Los Angeles for supporting Proposition 8. Adam has also has long supported with the It Gets Better Project.

You can catch this beautifully tattooed swoon-worthy Adam this Fall along with another LGBTQ activist Zachary Quinto in FX’s American Horror Story.