This week's hearings regarding the Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8 resuscitate two cases that have long been the source of much contention, both in Washington, D.C., and in Hollywood. While it's decidedly less of a risk for today's celebrities to proclaim their support for gay marriage, it still is not lost on us when stars make known their thoughts on marriage equality.
As the Supreme Court proceeds to hear these potentially game-changing measures, here are 20 notable celebrities who've made passionate statements about their stances on pro-gay rights.
Pro-Gay Quotes From Celebrities
Brad Pitt(01 of20)
"It is each American's constitutional right to marry the person they love, no matter what state they inhabit. No state should decide who can marry and who cannot. Thanks to the tireless work of so many, someday soon this discrimination will end and every American will be able to enjoy their equal right to marriage."[People] (credit:jpistudios.com)
Lena Dunham(02 of20)
"I don't want to get married until all gay people can get married."[The Huffington Post] (credit:Getty Images)
Madonna(03 of20)
"I don’t know about you, but I can’t take this shit any more. And that is why I want to start a revolution. Are you with me? It’s 2013, people. We live in America — land of the free and home of the brave? That’s a question, not a statement."[2013 GLAAD Media Awards] (credit:AP)
Kanye West(04 of20)
"Everybody in hip-hop discriminates against gay people. Matter of fact, the exact opposite word of ‘hip-hop,’ I think, is ‘gay.’ Like yo, you play a record and if it's wack, ‘That's gay, dog!’ And I wanna just come on TV and just tell my rappers, just tell my friends, ‘Yo, stop it, fam.’"[MTV] (credit:Getty Images)
Clint Eastwood(05 of20)
"These people who are making a big deal out of gay marriage? I don't give a fuck about who wants to get married to anybody else! Why not?! We're making a big deal out of things we shouldn't be making a deal out of. ... They go on and on with all this bullshit about "sanctity" -- don't give me that sanctity crap! Just give everybody the chance to have the life they want."[GQ] (credit:jpistudios.com)
Drew Barrymore(06 of20)
"I am who I am because of the people who influenced me growing up, and many of them were gay. No one has any right to tell anyone what makes a family."[Just Jared] (credit:jpistudios.com)
Julianne Moore(07 of20)
“I think it’s a very basic human-rights issue. Everybody has the right to marry the person they love and be represented as a couple and family. ... It’s something that people will look back on in years to come and say, ‘I can’t believe it took so long for us to recognize this.’ It’ll be like segregation and giving women the right to vote.”[Women's Wear Daily] (credit:jpistudios.com)
Jay-Z(08 of20)
"What people do in their own homes is their business, and you can choose to love whoever you love. That's their business."[CNN] (credit:PA)
Sean Penn(09 of20)
"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."[2009 Oscar speech] (credit:Getty Images)
Josh Hutcherson(10 of20)
"My mom has always been a big advocate, especially in the gay, lesbian, transsexual and bisexual community, so for me it's always been a part of my soul."[E! News] (credit:Getty Images)
Lady Gaga(11 of20)
“I just want to be clear before we decide to do this together: I’m gay. My music is gay. My show is gay. And I love that it’s gay. And I love my gay fans, and they’re all going to be coming to our show. And it’s going to remain gay.” [Out] (credit:jpistudios.com)
Fat Joe(12 of20)
“In 2011 you gotta hide that you gay? Be real! ‘Yo, I’m gay. What the fuck!’ If you gay, you gay. That’s your preference. Fuck it if the people don’t like it.”[Vlad TV] (credit:Getty Images)
Debra Messing(13 of20)
"I'd be devastated if my son grows up to be a hetero. I mean, I'd still love him ... but as a parent you just envision a certain life for your child. I mean, if he's straight, think of all the fabulous things he's going to miss out on. When I think my son might never know the joys of having a quarter share on Fire Island and walking through Judy Garland Memorial Park on the way to the Meat Rack."[At a Trevor Project event] (credit:Getty Images)
Howard Stern(14 of20)
"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!"["The Howard Stern Show"] (credit:Getty Images)
Kristin Chenoweth(15 of20)
"Make no mistake -- I am a Christian and I believe in God and I don’t believe he makes mistakes, so I believe that being gay is not a sin and in fact it’s how you’re made."["The Joy Behar Show"] (credit:Getty Images)
Justin Timberlake(16 of20)
Discussing New York legalizing gay marriage: "I was stoked that that happened. ... We're people and we're different, all of us. And we should be using our differences to bring ourselves closer together. You know? Not be afraid of something that we don't know. ... It's unfortunate that things take a while to progress like this, but it was a great, great victory for equality. I'm proud New York has the balls to stand up for what's right."[The Advocate] (credit:jpistudios.com)
Sophia Bush(17 of20)
"My God loves everybody, and if yours doesn't, that's your prerogative, but don't tell me how to live my life and don't tell my best friends that you're going to take away their rights. Because I will march you into the ground. I will argue you into the ground. I will petition you into the ground. I will not sleep, I will not stop, and neither will so many people in this country and in this world. It's not right."[E! News] (credit:jpistudios.com)
Betty White(18 of20)
"I didn't know I was a gay icon. I get a lot of mail -- but I don't get many bad letters -- but I got a woman the other day that was so upset with me because they said, 'How do you feel about the gay marriage thing?' and my answer to that is, 'I really don't care with whom you sleep, I just care what kind of a decent human being you are.' I figure all the rest of it is your business and not mine. And not hers, incidentally."[The Huffington Post] (credit:jpistudios.com)
Zach Braff(19 of20)
"Once both gay marriage and marijuana are finally legal, those of you against them are not invited to the really fun parties I'm gonna throw."[Twitter] (credit:Getty Images)
Octavia Spencer(20 of20)
"I’m pro-marriage. If it’s gay, it’s gay. That’s what they have to start saying. It’s not about gay marriage. Just be pro-marriage. And people will say, ‘Well, I’m pro-marriage.’ Just take the gay out of it -- that’s what freaks people out. Just be pro-marriage for all."[San Diego Gay & Lesbian News] (credit:jpistudios.com)
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.