15 Actors Who Are Pro-LGBTQ+ Rights
Support from well known actors has helped push LGBTQ+ equality into everyday conversation. Many of these performers use their visibility to advocate for safer schools, fair workplaces, inclusive healthcare, and stronger legal protections. Their efforts include fundraising, public campaigning, and choosing roles that bring queer and trans stories to wider audiences.
This list highlights actors whose support shows up in concrete ways. You will see longtime activists who helped build organizations and newer voices who champion representation on sets and in writers rooms. Each entry notes specific projects, partnerships, and actions that have made a real difference.
Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen helped found the UK group Stonewall and has campaigned for equality in education, the workplace, and public life. He has visited schools to promote inclusive teaching and has backed programs that train teachers to address bullying and support LGBTQ+ students. His talks and campus visits have encouraged local leaders to adopt anti bullying policies that name sexual orientation and gender identity.
He has also used his stage and screen platform to raise funds for LGBTQ+ services. Benefit performances and charity appearances have supported helplines, youth housing, and community centers. His advocacy has consistently emphasized legal equality and everyday dignity while connecting fans to practical resources.
Elliot Page
Elliot Page has championed trans rights through storytelling and public education. He executive produced the docuseries ‘Gaycation’, which took viewers inside LGBTQ+ communities around the world and highlighted both progress and ongoing risks. The series featured conversations with activists and policymakers and directed audiences to organizations that provide legal and mental health support.
He has supported court challenges and legislative efforts that defend transgender youth. Public statements and interviews have focused on access to healthcare, safe school environments, and accurate identification documents. He has also amplified donation drives for groups that provide housing and crisis services for young people.
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox has combined on screen visibility with policy advocacy. Her work on ‘Orange Is the New Black’ opened more doors for trans performers, and she has pressed casting teams to consider trans talent for a wide range of roles. She regularly partners with legal and civil rights groups to explain how policy changes affect daily life for trans people.
Her speaking tours and media projects direct audiences to hotlines, legal toolkits, and job programs for transgender communities. She supports campaigns that reduce barriers to healthcare and employment and that improve protections against harassment. Her initiatives often include training sessions for employers and schools.
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe has been a consistent supporter of LGBTQ+ youth services. He has recorded public service messages that connect young people with confidential lifelines and trained volunteers. His support has helped expand outreach materials that teach warning signs for crisis situations and how to find help quickly.
He has also participated in fundraising events that sustain year round counseling and education programs. These programs build peer leadership in schools, offer inclusive curriculum guides, and provide educators with classroom resources. His outreach encourages families and teachers to create safe spaces for questioning and LGBTQ+ students.
Billy Porter
Billy Porter uses red carpet appearances, interviews, and performances to spotlight LGBTQ+ issues. His work on ‘Pose’ brought ballroom culture and trans history to mainstream television, and he often explains how accurate storytelling can reduce stigma. He has spoken about access to HIV prevention and treatment and has raised funds for clinics that serve queer and trans communities.
He collaborates with youth organizations on mentorship programs that prepare young artists for auditions and early careers. These programs include workshops on contracts, union rules, and safe workplace practices. He also supports campaigns that expand inclusive healthcare coverage and protect LGBTQ+ people in housing and public services.
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron has publicly supported transgender youth and their families. She backs efforts that help schools update policies so students can use accurate names and can access supportive counseling. She has raised awareness about the importance of affirming environments for mental health and school success.
Her philanthropy has included grants for community centers that offer tutoring, legal referral, and healthcare navigation. She has participated in events that train parents and educators to recognize discrimination and to respond with clear procedures. Her outreach often points families to local resources that can help with everyday needs.
Pedro Pascal
Pedro Pascal has used his platform to support trans rights and to promote safety for LGBTQ+ people. He has shared information about organizations that provide legal defense, housing support, and crisis counseling. His posts and interviews have encouraged audiences to donate and to contact local officials about inclusive policies.
He has also highlighted the importance of respectful representation in film and television. He speaks about creating sets where queer and trans artists can work without fear of harassment. He supports projects that hire LGBTQ+ creators in writing rooms and behind the camera.
Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart has advocated for more queer led projects and inclusive crews. She starred in ‘Happiest Season’, which put a lesbian love story at the center of a holiday release and reached wide audiences. She has pushed for trust based hiring that brings queer directors, editors, and writers into major productions.
She has also produced and developed nonfiction projects that profile LGBTQ+ communities. These projects connect viewers with mental health resources and local support groups. She often uses press tours to highlight independent films and festivals that elevate queer voices.
Jonathan Bailey
Jonathan Bailey has spoken openly about working as a gay actor and about the pressure many performers face. He supports industry changes that protect artists from discrimination in casting and marketing. He encourages studios to judge talent by the work and to stop policing personal lives.
He also backs organizations that teach young actors how to handle contracts and publicity while staying safe. His outreach promotes mentorship and networking for LGBTQ+ performers who are new to the business. He participates in charity readings and stage events that fund community programs.
Andrew Scott
Andrew Scott supported marriage equality in Ireland and helped campaigns that focused on family rights and fair recognition. He recorded messages that explained how civil law changes would affect everyday life for couples and children. His advocacy helped point voters to official information about registration and polling.
He continues to support projects that expand LGBTQ+ representation on stage and on screen. He works with theaters that commission new plays by queer writers and that tour productions to schools. He also joins fundraising events for mental health services that serve young LGBTQ+ people.
Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe has supported queer and nonbinary youth through both music and film work. As an actor in ‘Moonlight’ and other projects, she has used premieres and press events to draw attention to LGBTQ+ housing and education programs. She amplifies groups that provide safe drop in spaces and health services.
She partners with organizations that run artist residencies and scholarship funds for LGBTQ+ creators. These programs provide equipment, studio time, and mentorship so young people can build portfolios and professional contacts. She also backs voter education efforts that explain how local elections shape civil rights protections.
Tessa Thompson
Tessa Thompson has advocated for bi and queer visibility across blockbuster and independent projects. She has supported canon representation for Valkyrie in ‘Thor Ragnarok’ and in later entries and has encouraged studios to retain that representation in marketing and international releases. She promotes inclusive set policies that protect actors during intimacy scenes.
She collaborates with groups that offer legal help to people facing discrimination in housing and employment. Public conversations and panel appearances often direct fans to donate to crisis hotlines and community health centers. She also supports fellowships that place LGBTQ+ young people in film and television internships.
Neil Patrick Harris
Neil Patrick Harris has raised funds for youth suicide prevention and has hosted benefit events that support counseling and training. He has used award show stages and talk shows to introduce resources that families and teachers can use right away. These efforts help expand volunteer training and hotline capacity.
He also speaks about workplace inclusion in entertainment and live theater. Productions he leads have partnered with community groups for ticket drives that bring LGBTQ+ youth to performances and backstage tours. He supports programs that teach technical theater skills and open pathways to union jobs.
Mark Ruffalo
Mark Ruffalo produced ‘The Normal Heart’, which brought an urgent story about the early AIDS crisis to a large television audience. He worked with public health groups to share accurate information about testing, treatment, and prevention. The project raised funds for clinics and archives that preserve LGBTQ+ history.
He continues to support legal efforts that protect trans and queer people from discrimination. He amplifies petitions and legislative updates and directs followers to contact elected officials. He also partners with organizations that train volunteers for voter registration and rights education.
Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett has supported marriage equality campaigns and public petitions that promote equal treatment under the law. Her work in ‘Carol’ brought a nuanced lesbian romance to mainstream film audiences and has been used by educators and festival panels to discuss representation. She has encouraged studios to fund more stories by queer creators.
She participates in charity auctions and benefit screenings that fund scholarships and community grants. These events support film labs, mentorship programs, and emergency funds for LGBTQ+ artists. She often highlights international festivals that provide safe platforms for queer cinema.
Share the actors you would add to this list in the comments so everyone can discover more examples of real support.