by Elizabeth Picard

Created on: May 08, 2008   Last Updated: January 19, 2012

Nothing has helped more to bring the issue of gay & lesbian rights forward than famous celebrities having come out of the dark.

Melissa Etheridge is an awesome performer and ingenious in her writing. To appeal to the masses, she makes a conscious effort to make sure her music is bi-gender. The words of her singing can be to a man or a woman. In her "Lucky" album, Melissa takes the gay/lesbian movement to the forefront with outstanding hard-hitting songs, such as her tribute to one of the victims/heroes of 9/11. One of the men who attacked and fought the terrorist on the flight in PA was gay and he died an American hero. Yet, because he's gay, he's not allowed to be married or teach in schools. And while many Americans would rather persecute gays or lesbians, they cannot and will never take away that a gay man fought as an American in one of the bravest acts anyone could ever commit.

In another song on the same album, "Giant" she speaks very poignantly on the gay/lesbian right movement. That we will not just go away, she will not stop speaking out. We're here to stay.

Of all her albums, this album is filled with awesome powerful songs, all bearing strong messages and heart-felt.

Whoopi Goldburg has also spoken out quite a bit about gay/rights, and continually is a strong force in the movement.

Celebrities help the cause because of their already high media coverage, and people do listen to them, regardless of if they like or don't like what they say. But since media coverage has really highlighted this issue, it has this country in an uproar.

But the one thing people seem to have forgotten is being gay/lesbian, is who a person is. It's not a choice. It's not a new fad. It's been around for centuries. If that weren't the case, then why is it even mentioned in the Bible.

Celebrities who come out and celebrities who are not gay but openly support gay rights are heroes. Because they're willing to put their popularity, their careers, their lives on the line in an effort to support everyone's God given right to live and be who they are.

They also show that their lifestyle makes them no less productive members of society than any heterosexual. They are examples for other's to look up to and emulate. They promote and support charities just like others. They are heroes in their own right, because the government would like to discount just one aspect of who they are when what should be important is who and how a person lives their life as a whole.

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