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Mary J. Blige is an American recording artist, record producer, and actress. A recipient of nine Grammy Awards and many other honors, Blige has recorded eight multi-platinum albums and is known as "the queen of hip-hop soul" for blending elements of soul, funk, R&B and rap in her music. She has also made numerous television acting appearances including: The Jamie Foxx Show, Strong Medicine, Ghost Whisperer and 30 Rock. Charities she actively supports include: MAC AIDS Fund, American Association for Cancer Research and Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now, Inc. Learn more here.
On October 21, 2008, supermarket mogul, Ron Burkle, held a star-studded, no-press-allowed fund raiser in Beverly Hills to raise money to combat Prop 8 in California and secure marriage equality for gay couples. Mary J. Blige performed U2's One and two others songs at the sold-out event which had a minimum $1,000 donation requirement to attend. Blige—an outspoken gay rights supporter—was actually at the end of her tour and made a special effort to attend the fundraiser. In the end, the evening raised over $4 million for the cause. [Link] Karen Ocamb described the scene for The Bilerico Project: The audience erupted as she [Blige] came to the stage, telling everyone she was pleased to be there - "This is what tonight is about - love." With heads bobbing, and couples clutching each other's hands...the scene looked and felt more like a secular revival than a political concert. Blige opened up about how she had survived being her own worst enemy, when no one would accept her - and "you say, 'No more...no more pain, no more tears..." as tears started welling up in the eyes of those listening, identifying. "I chose to win!" she said, raising her fist in the air - to screams of glee and thunderous applause. "I am so sick and tired of people judging me..." This song, she said, was for all the people who felt the same. "Keep doing what you're doing," Blige said, and feel "how close we are in the universe." [Link]Freedom to Marry salutes Mary J. Blige as a Voice for Equality! Learn about other Voices for Equality here.
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Pink, is an American singer, songwriter and occasional actress who rose to fame in early 2000 as an R&B singer, but then switched to a more rock and pop rock sound after her sophomore record. She has sold more than 10 million albums in the US and over 30 million records worldwide, and scored eight Top 10 US hits, won two Grammy Awards and became one of the best known female pop rock acts of the decade. On September 13, 2009, Pink performed "Sober" while doing a trapeze act at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, and on January 31, 2010, Pink did another trapeze act in the form of aerial silks at the 2010 Grammy Awards, this time performing the song "Glitter in the Air". Her Grammy performance was a sensation, receiving a standing ovation at the award show and tremendous interest online. Learn more here.
In April of 2004, Pink, a longtime LGBT advocate and Human Rights Campaign member, was asked by The Advocate for her thoughts on the freedom to marry and she sent the following response in less than 30 minutes: If you wanna marry 'Joe millionaire,' go ahead. If you're a celebrity and you wanna marry your high school sweetheart for 55 hours, go right ahead. If you're J.Lo, and you wanna marry 18 people, for 6 days each, hey! Go right on ahead! But if you happen to be reasonably minded and have fallen in love and wanna marry your soul mate and make a life of it, and you just so happen to be the same sex, then NO! How dare you! You demon creatures! We'd rather you just buy gasoline and support our war and continue to consume and fear in our country so we can make money off you. But do us a favor — don't hold hands in public. Love, Pink. [Link]Freedom to Marry salutes Pink as a Voice for Equality! Learn about other Voices for Equality here.
The Advocate I thought what Brendan wrote was incredibly insightful, thought-provoking, and completely on point. And many people would call it courageous. But if Brendan's like me, I don't know if he'd consider what we've done all that courageous. We have strong feelings about equal rights, and to me, expressing those feelings isn't courageous, it's the right thing to do. I think there will be a third player who expresses support for gay marriage ... and a fourth player, and a fifth, and so on. [Link]
Patrik-Ian Polk is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, singer, and actor. Polk, who is gay, is noted for his films that explore the LGBT experience and relationships. He made his feature film directorial debut with Punks, an independent feature that he also wrote and produced. Often described as a male Waiting to Exhale, Punks had its world premiere in January 2000 at the Sundance Film Festival, as part of its American Spectrum series. The film won several awards at festivals around the world and was released theatrically in November 2001. Mr. Polk is also the creator of the TV series Noah's Arc, which made its debut on the Logo television network in October 2005. He directed a feature film version of Noah's Arc, titled Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom, which had a limited release in October 2008. Mr. Polk was honored by the LOGO network as part of its Legacy Campaign for his ground-breaking work on Noah's Arc, and as Michael Jensen wrote on AfterElton.com, "When it comes to thinking of gay men who have had a genuine impact on gay visibility, especially for gay men of color, it's pretty hard to think of someone who's had a bigger impact than Noah's Arc creator Patrik-Ian Polk." Learn more here.See video of Mr. Polk discussing making Noah's Arc and making LGBT people of color more visible below:
Mr. Polk posed for the NoH8 (No Hate) campaign to demonstrate his support for the freedom to marry. NoH8’s Adam Bouska has photographed thousands of subjects since California passed Proposition 8 in 2008. Subjects are photographed with duct tape over their mouths to symbolize their voices not being heard on the subject of the freedom to marry. [Link] 
Freedom to Marry salutes Patrik-Ian Polk as a Voice for Equality! Learn about other Voices for Equality here.
If Mr. Polk's support inspires you, get involved!
**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!
Victor Garber is a Canadian film, stage and television actor and singer. Garber is perhaps best known for playing Jesus in the film version of Godspell, Jack Bristow in the television series Alias and Thomas Andrews in James Cameron's Titanic. Other well-known appearances include Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Legally Blonde (2001), Annie (1999), and Tuck Everlasting (2002). In the late 1980s, he received an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Liberace in the made-for-TV movie, Liberace: Behind the Music. He appeared on Broadway in the original productions of Deathtrap, Sweeney Todd, and Noises Off and in the original off-Broadway cast of Assassins, as well as in the 1990s revival of Damn Yankees. Learn more here.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!
Peter Paige is an American actor, director and screenwriter. His debut as director and writer was on the film Say Uncle. Best known for his role as Emmett Honeycutt on Showtime's hit series Queer as Folk, Paige's other television credits include Will & Grace, Time of Your Life, Girlfriends, Caroline in the City, American Dad, Related, Grey's Anatomy and Without a Trace. His very first audition in Los Angeles earned him a guest-starring role on Suddenly Susan. Paige spent summer 2004 starring in his feature directorial debut, Say Uncle, alongside Kathy Najimy, Anthony Clark, Melanie Lynskey, Lisa Edelstein and Gabrielle Union. Other film credits include Don McKellar's Childstar with Jennifer Jason Leigh and Dave Foley, Showtime's Our America (which debuted at Sundance in 2002), indie Pop and the award-winning shorts The Four of Us and The Shooting. Learn more here.
Jensen Atwood is an American actor who was raised and currently resides in South Central, Los Angeles. He is best known for his role in Noah's Arc as Wade Robinson. In interviews, Atwood says that playing Wade has been his most challenging role. Prior to joining the cast of Noah's Arc, Atwood played Johnny Taylor, opposite Halle Berry, in Oprah Winfrey Presents Their Eyes Were Watching God. Atwood appeared in many music videos for Destiny's Child, Toni Braxton, Ashanti, Lil Mo, Heather Headley and Chanté Moore-Kenny Lattimore and sang backup for Tyrese. He was on the cover of Krave Magazine as well. Mr. Atwood has spoken out against homophobia within the African-American community and is a supporter of GLBT rights and causes. Learn more here.
Freedom to Marry salutes Jensen Atwood as a Voice for Equality! Learn about other Voices for Equality here.
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Leslie Jordan is an American Emmy Award-winning actor and playwright. Hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee and at a height of just 4 ft 11 in (1.50 m), Jordan has become an instantly recognizable face in film and television. He is most well known for his television work - including guest appearances on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Star Trek: Voyager, Reba, Boston Public, Boston Legal, Nash Bridges and his secondary role on Hearts Afire. He has recently guest-starred on the popular comedy-drama Ugly Betty as celebrity-trasher Quincy Combs. In 2007, Jordan starred as Jesse Joe in the short-lived CW television program, Hidden Palms. He also portrayed the ski patrol director in Ski Patrol. Jordan is best known for his role of Karen's pretentious rival Beverley Leslie on the hit series Will & Grace. For that role he received an Emmy Award for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series at the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2006. Jordan is an accomplished stage actor and playwright. In one of his best-known performances onstage, he played "Brother Boy" in Sordid Lives, a role he took to the big screen in the popular cult film of the same name. Jordan reprised the role in the Sordid Lives: The Series, a televised spin-off of the movie airing on Logo. He wrote and starred in the autobiographical play Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel, which was also made into a motion picture. He recently toured the country performing his one-man stage comedy, Like a Dog on Linoleum, to rave reviews. Jordan, who is openly gay, has recently starred in the pilot episode of Laugh Out, the world's first interactive, gay-themed comedy show. Learn more here.
Freedom to Marry salutes Leslie Jordan as a Voice for Equality! Learn about other Voices for Equality here.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an Austrian American bodybuilder, actor, model, businessman and politician, currently serving as the 38th Governor of the state of California. Schwarzenegger began weight-training at fifteen. He was awarded the title of Mr. Universe at age 22 and went on to win the Mr. Olympia contest a total of seven times. Schwarzenegger gained worldwide fame as a Hollywood action film icon, noted for his lead role in such films as Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator. As a Republican, he was first elected on October 7, 2003, in a special recall election to replace then-California Governor, Gray Davis. Schwarzenegger was sworn in on November 17, 2003, to serve the remainder of Davis's term. Schwarzenegger was then re-elected on November 7, 2006, in California's 2006 gubernatorial election, to serve a full term as governor, defeating Democrat Phil Angelides, who was California State Treasurer at the time. Schwarzenegger was sworn in for a second term on January 5, 2007. Learn more here.When the people vote, people are not legal experts, constitutional experts or any of that. I think that's why we have the courts. People may vote with good intentions, but then the court says, 'This is not constitutional.' It's not that the court interferes with the will of the people. But the court says, 'You voted for something, but it's not constitutionally right.' [Link]
Kristin Cavallari is an American reality television personality and actress best known for her appearances in the MTV series Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and its spin-off, The Hills. She has made numerous television appearances including: CSI: NY, Cane, Veronica Mars and Adventures in Hollyhood. Her film appearances include: Fingerprints, Spring Breakdown alongside Amy Poehler, Green Flash, Wild Cherry, and National Lampoon's Van Wilder: Freshman Year. Learn more here.
Freedom to Marry salutes Kristin Cavallari as a Voice for Equality! Learn about other Voices for Equality here.
Idina Menzel is an American actress, singer and songwriter. She is widely known for originating the Broadway roles of Maureen in Rent and Elphaba in Wicked. Menzel played the role of Florence in the 21st Anniversary concert of Chess at the Royal Albert Hall, London from May 12–13, 2008 alongside Kerry Ellis, Adam Pascal and Josh Groban. Menzel's film roles include appearances in Just a Kiss, Kissing Jessica Stein, Tollbooth, Water, Ask the Dust, Enchanted, and Rent, in which she and five other original cast members reprised their stage roles. Television appearances have included Rescue Me, Kevin Hill and Private Practice. It was announced in December 2009 that Ms. Menzel would be joining the cast of the television show, Glee (including VFE Lea Michele), for the second half of its first season, playing the director of the rival glee club, Vocal Adrenaline. Learn more here.
A longtime gay rights advocate, Menzel was an Honorary Chair of the Imperial Court of New York's Annual Charity Coronation Ball, Night of A Thousand Gowns on March 21, 2009. The International Imperial Court System (IICS) is one of the oldest and largest predominantly gay organizations in the world. The court raises money for charity through large annual fancy-dress costume balls in cities throughout North America and numerous smaller fundraisers each year. [Link]
Mike Farrell is an American actor, best known for his role as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the popular television series M*A*S*H (1975–83). More recently, Farrell was a producer of Patch Adams (1998) starring Robin Williams, and has starred on the television series Providence (1999–2002) and appeared as Milton Lang, the father of Victor Lang (John Slattery), husband of Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria Parker) on Desperate Housewives (2007–2008). He is also a prominent activist for politically progressive causes. He was seen in the tenth season episode "Persona" of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Learn more here.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!
Michael Emerson is an American actor best known for his role as Benjamin Linus on Lost. Emerson got his big break in 1997 when he starred as Oscar Wilde in Moises Kaufman's critically-acclaimed off-Broadway play, Gross Indecency: The Trials of Oscar Wilde, and then followed up with several other notable stage performances. In film and television, Emerson made a name for himself by playing dangerous and damaged characters. In 2001, he won an Emmy Award as "Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series", for playing the (fictional) confessed serial killer William Hinks in several episodes of The Practice. One of Emerson's most well-known works was in 2004 as the character Zep Hindle in the horror movie Saw. In that year he also played the loyal somewhat Alfred Pennyworth-like butler to a Rock Hudson-like heartthrob, Guy Stone, in the comedy film Straight-Jacket. Learn more here.
Phil Donahue is an Emmy Award-winning American media personality, writer, and film producer, best known as the creator and star of The Phil Donahue Show, also known as Donahue, the first tabloid talk show. The show had a 26-year run on U.S. national TV, preceded by three years of local broadcast in Dayton, Ohio, before ending in 1996. His shows have generally focused on issues that often divide liberals and conservatives in the United States, such as abortion, consumer protection, civil rights and war protests. His most frequent guest was Ralph Nader and Donahue campaigned for Nader in 2000. Donahue also hosted a talk show on MSNBC from 2002 – 2003. Learn more here.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!
Alec Mapa is an American actor, comedian and writer. Born in San Francisco, Mapa is openly gay and lends his support to various projects supporting the gay, lesbian, and Asian American communities. On television, he has made guest appearances on a wide variety of programs, including Jamie Foxx Show, Roseanne, Seinfeld, NYPD Blue, Friends, Murder One and Dharma & Greg. He co-starred with Jason Bateman in the short-lived 2001 comedy Some of My Best Friends. He played Adam Benet in the UPN comedy Half & Half. He recently appeared as Vern, Gabrielle's gay best friend, on the hit ABC series Desperate Housewives. He currently plays recurring roles in Ugly Betty, as Suzuki St. Pierre, the gay on-screen host (and the alias of straight—and married—journalist Byron Wu) of the fashion-oriented television channel that covers the inside gossip from Mode and other fashion magazines, and the animated series Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World, as Rick's flamboyantly gay uncle Bakla. Learn more here.
Kyle MacLachlan is an American actor, best known for his roles in cult films Blue Velvet as Jeffrey Beaumont, in Showgirls as Zack Carey, and as Paul Atreides in Dune, as well as his television series roles as Orson Hodge in Desperate Housewives, Trey MacDougal in Sex and the City and Special Agent Dale Cooper in Twin Peaks. Learn more here.For comments about the site or to report problems: editor1[AT]freedomtomarry.org
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