Fresh Ten Straight Male Allies

In previous Fresh Ten lists we have highlighted some of our favorite heterosexual females and some of the gay men that we truly adore – so now it’s time to bring attention to the straight guys out there who have demonstrated that they too care about the LGBT community. From generously donating money to fight against Proposition 8 to speaking out in support of equal rights and marriage equality, these men have all made it clear that they are willing to fight for what’s right. These are our Fresh Ten Straight Male Allies.

10. Tom Hanks. As one of the greatest actors of all time, with the Academy Awards to prove it, Tom Hanks is the kind of celebrity that everyone – inside and outside of Hollywood – looks up to and respects. So when he spoke out against the Mormon support of the passage of Prop. 8, a lot of people listened and – even if it did cause some controversy in the media – he stood up for what he believed was right and our community appreciated it.

9. Howard Stern. On April 29, 2009 “The King of All Media,” had the following to say about the gay and lesbian community: “My feeling about gay people is that we have a responsibility not only to make gay marriage acceptable and to make gays feel accepted as much as heterosexuals…Gay people are downtrodden. They are beaten. They are abused for their sexuality, and it goes across race. In the white community and the black community gay people are the bastards of the world. And in order for things to change, because any one of you could have gay children, or gay relatives, or gay friends…we have a responsibility to make this acceptable, to get all this bullshit so that some gay kid going to high school doesn’t get the shit beaten out of him just because he’s gay…I’m as heterosexual as they come. What is this hang-up about gay marriage? Who cares? Get on with your life!”

8. Jon Stewart. On a list of straight men that support our rights and our community one name that you won’t see (among many) is Mike Huckabee… except for in this note about Daily Show host Jon Stewart. Late last year the two men devoted an entire segment of a two-part interview to a debate over gay marriage and Stewart did an excellent job of pointing out the many flaws in Huckabee’s reasoning that gay marriage is wrong. “It’s a travesty that people have forced someone who is gay to have to make their case, that they deserve the same basic rights,” explained Stewart at one point in the conversation.

7. President Barack Obama. Okay, we know he hasn’t exactly been following through with all that he promised the gay and lesbian community during his campaigning – and it is entirely possible that he has no intentions of doing so anytime soon (he hasn’t repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” he still doesn’t seem to support federal same sex marriage) – but Obama does have a lot on his plate right now and it’s definitely too soon to assume he no longer cares about us. He has referred to equality for all – and specifically mentioned gays and lesbians – in major speeches that he has made since his election and has appointed openly gay and lesbian individuals to key positions within his administration. He is a president that speaks of hope and change – so let’s remain hopeful that things will soon change.

6. Steven Spielberg. The director and his wife Kate Capshaw donated $100,000 to help fight Proposition 8. A statement from the couple read: “By writing discrimination into our state constitution, Proposition 8 seeks to eliminate the right of each and every citizen in our state to marry regardless of sexual orientation. Such discrimination has NO place in California’s constitution, or any other.”

5. Russell Simmons. Business and media mogul, Russell Simmons, doesn’t just make this list because he appeared in an episode of the L Word where he insisted that Carmen show up to Shane’s opening party at Wax – he also posted a letter on The Huffington Post last month to Governor Paterson of New York where he stated his gratitude for what the Governor is doing in New York, specifically for his recent support of the legalization of gay marriage. Simmons praised Patterson for his bravery and “passion for doing what is right.”

4. Brad Pitt. Also donating $100,000 to fight Prop. 8 was A-list actor, and Angelina Jolie partner, Brad Pitt. In a statement following his donation the handsome star stated: “Because no one has the right to deny another their life, even though they disagree with it, because everyone has the right to live the life they so desire if it doesn’t harm another and because discrimination has no place in America, my vote will be for equality and against Proposition 8.”

3. Keith Olbermann. He’s incredibly well-spoken, intelligent, and passionate about what he believes in and we are certainly glad that the MSNBC star believes in equal rights and marriage equality. Several times on his show, Olbermann has spoken out against things like the passage of Prop. 8, Miss California, and his general frustration with anyone who does not view the gay and lesbian community as people deserving of the same rights as heterosexuals.

2. Sean Penn. He won the Academy Award for his portrayal of gay rights activist Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, and during his acceptance speech – with millions watching – Penn said the following: “I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way of support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone.’

1. Gavin Newsom. As the Mayor of San Francisco, Newsom gained national attention in 2004 when he directed the San Francisco city-county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. In August of the same year, the Supreme Court of California annulled the marriages that Newsom had authorized but his unexpected move brought national attention to the issues of gay marriage and gay rights.  Since then, Newsom has continued to support the gay community and spoke out against the passage of Prop. 8 in California. In his work as a defender of equal rights in an elected office, Newsom has motivated several other states to change their laws concerning marriage and gay rights.