We Got Your Back: Stars Who Support Marriage Equality
Oprah, Ben Jealous and more notable stars.
1 / 15
Benjamin Todd Jealous - This week, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act, and decide whether same-sex couples should be afforded the same rights as heterosexual couples. While Americans are largely divided on the issue, a number of high-profile Black celebrities and advocates have spoken out in support of marriage equality. —Britt Middleton NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous has described the civil rights group’s support of marriage equality as an issue “deeply rooted in the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution and equal protection of all people." (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
2 / 15
Queen Latifah - Queen Latifah performed at the Long Beach Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Festival in California last June. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
3 / 15
Lil Kim - Last summer, Lil Kim headlined the 2012 L.A. Gay Pride Parade in California. (Photo: FayesVision/WENN.com)
4 / 15
Oprah Winfrey - Oprah Winfrey supported her friend Ellen DeGeneres by guest starring on a 1997 episode of DeGeneres' sitcom, Ellen, where DeGeneres' character reveals she is gay to Winfrey, who plays her therapist. That same year, DeGeneres came out publicly in an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. (Photos from left: Larry Busacca/Getty Images, Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
5 / 15
President Obama - "At a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,” President Obama told ABC news last May, to a chorus of support from gay marriage advocates. (Photo: ABC)
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 15
Janet Jackson - “He finally came around, didn’t he? He finally came around, good for him,” Jackson recently told EXTRA. Miss Jackson said she hasn’t had a chance to see how her fans reacted to President Obama’s endorsement, but added "I’m sure they’re very, very pleased.” (Photos: MAXA/Landov; Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images)
7 / 15
Kerry Washington - The actress and star of ABC’s Scandal tweeted her approval of same-sex unions on May 9. (Photo: Courtesy Twitter)
8 / 15
Floyd Mayweather - Undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather tweeted his support for the president on May 16. Conversely, his bitter rival Manny Pacquiao recently condemned same-sex marriage, citing that it violated God’s law. (Photo: Courtesy Twitter)
9 / 15
Wanda Sykes - The comedian extended a personalized thanks to the president on her Twitter account. She has long been an activist for same-sex marriage. In 2008, she came out publicly as a lesbian and has since rallied support for same-sex marriage in her home state of California. She and her partner, Alex, wed in October 2008 and welcomed twins, a son and a daughter, in May 2009. (Photo: Courtesy Twitter)
10 / 15
Alicia Keys - The award-winning songstress, wife and mother gave props to President Obama on Twitter on May 9. (Photo: Courtesy Twitter)
ADVERTISEMENT
11 / 15
Jay-Z - Jay-Z has penned many rhymes condemning racial discrimination, but he recently opened up in an interview with CNN about disparities in the gay and lesbian community. "What people do in their own homes is their business, and you can choose to love whoever you love. That's their business. It's no different than discriminating against Blacks. It's discrimination, plain and simple,” the rapper said. (Photo: Courtesy CNN)
12 / 15
Russell Simmons - The business mogul and human rights activist tweeted his support for marriage equality on May 6, just days before President Obama’s May 9 announcement. (Photo: Courtesy Twitter)
13 / 15
Will Smith - While at a press junket promoting Men in Black III in Berlin, the actor told reporters, "If anybody can find someone to love them and to help them through this difficult thing that we call life, I support that in any shape or form," The Washington Post reported recently.(Photo: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)
14 / 15
Rev. Jesse Jackson - "[Obama's same-sex marriage endorsement] is a bold step in the right direction for equal protection under the law for all citizens. ... If the states had to vote on slavery, we would have lost the vote. If we had to vote on the right [for Blacks] to vote, we would have lost that vote," Jackson told the Los Angeles Times the day following President Obama’s endorsement.(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)