Voice for Equality: Bea Arthur

Bea Arthur, who died in April of 2009, was an American actress, comedian and singer whose career spanned seven decades. Arthur achieved fame as the character Maude Findlay on the 1970s sitcoms All in the Family and Maude, and as Dorothy Zbornak on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls, winning Emmy Awards for both roles. A stage actress both before and after her television success, she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Vera Charles in the original cast of Mame (1966). Arthur also sporadically appeared in films, reprising her stage role as Vera Charles in the 1974 film adaption of Mame, opposite Lucille Ball. Additionally, Arthur portrayed overbearing mother Bea Vecchio in Lovers and Other Strangers (1970), and had a cameo as a Roman unemployment clerk in Mel Brooks' History of the World, Part 1 (1981). She also appeared as Larry David's mother on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. A long time activist for the LGBT community, Arthur bequeathed $300,000 to The Ali Forney Center, a New York City organization that provides housing for homeless LGBT youths. Learn more here.

Bea Arthur was a proud signer of Freedom to Marry's Marriage Resolution which reads:

Because marriage is a basic human right and an individual choice, RESOLVED, the State should not interfere with same-gender couples who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities, and commitment of civil marriage.

Visit the Marriage Resolution page on our website and sign the Marriage Resolution today!

Freedom to Marry salutes Bea Arthur as a Voice for Equality! Learn about other Voices for Equality here.

If the memory of Ms. Arthur's support inspires you - get involved.

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!