On Wednesday, May 9, President Obama publicly endorsed gay
marriage in an interview with Good
Morning America host Robin Roberts. His announcement, which government
officials and media outlets alike recognize as a politically risky move,
confirmed his 2008 campaign’s pledge to fight for civil rights – a promise many
feared had been buried under the rug. In light of the president’s historic
pronouncement, APB would like to recognize some of our remarkably progressive
speakers who inspire us to remain true to ourselves, as they endeavor to do.
A trailblazing female in the world of comedy, Carol Leifer
is an award-winning writer whose work has been featured on such critically
acclaimed shows as The Larry Sanders Show,
Seinfeld, and Modern Family. Well into her career, Leifer boldly came out as a lesbian. In a recent interview with Time magazine, she explained that she
and her partner of 12 years are holding out on marriage until
"there’s one across the board." A speaker sure to captivate any audience, Leifer
shares her philosophy and outlook on life, encouraging us all to strive to be
our authentic selves. Learn more about speaker Carol Leifer.
Acclaimed CNN anchor Don Lemon publicly disclosed that he
was gay in his recently authored memoir, Transparent,
in which he discusses homosexuality in the black community, among other topics.
He explained that the impetus for such a decision came when Tyler Clementi, a student at Rutgers
University, committed suicide after being cruelly bullied for being gay. Says
Lemon, "I was born gay, just as I was born black." Named one of the most influential blacks in America by Ebony, Lemon anchors CNN Newsroom during
weekend primetime and serves as a correspondent across CNN/US programming. Learn more about speaker
Don Lemon.
Known for her role as "Miranda Hobbes" in the celebrated HBO
series Sex and the City, Cynthia
Nixon gracefully merges sex appeal and female empowerment. Facing attacks from
both the gay and conservative communities for stating that her sexuality was a choice rather than a state she was born into, she has
confidently maintained her stance knowing who she, personally, is as an
individual. Having appeared in dozens of plays, television shows, and movies,
Nixon is recognized within the acting industry as a woman who has the courage
and ability to conquer any role. Learn more about speaker Cynthia Nixon.
Cleve Jones’ career as an activist began in San Francisco
during the turbulent 1970s, when he befriended pioneer gay rights leader Harvey
Milk. Following Milk's election, Jones worked as an intern in Milk's office
while studying political science at San Francisco State University. He is the
founder of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and is a sought-after speaker and
activist for AIDS awareness, treatment, and education. Most recently, Jones
served as the historical consultant on Gus Van Sant’s award-winning movie Milk.
Learn more about speaker Cleve Jones.
Jennifer Finney Boylan is the author of ten books, including
the memoir She’s Not There, the first best-selling book by a transgender
American. A professor of literature and creative writing at Colby College in
Maine, Boylan is known for her sense of humor, which defuses and illuminates
the highly charged issues of gender, culture, and love. A three time guest of
the Oprah Winfrey Show, Boylan has also appeared on the Larry King
Show and The Today Show, and has been the subject of a documentary on CBS News’ 48
Hours. In the spring of 2007, she played herself on several episodes of ABC’s All
My Children. Learn more
about speaker Jennifer Finney Boylan.
A beloved television icon and entertainment pioneer, Ellen
DeGeneres' distinctive comic voice has resonated with audiences from her first
stand-up comedy appearances through her work today on television, in film, and
in the literary world. Married to actress Portia de Rossi since 2008, DeGeneres
gave President Obama a standing ovation on her syndicated show for his
endorsement of gay marriage. "It takes a
brave man to take a stand like this, especially in an election year," she said as she thanked him.
Learn more about speaker Ellen DeGeneres.
No comments:
Post a Comment