A curated register of quotes from under-represented voices.

“ The only thing that separates women of colour from anyone else is opportunity. ”

— Viola Davis, 2015

“ I remember that love conquers fear, always, and that to be a man means accepting myself, weaknesses and all. That's my true superpower. ”

— Terry Crews, 2014

“ There's absolutely nothing wrong with you. ”

— Elliot Page, 2023

“ If I was being 'sold' as a commodity of equal value to my male counterpart and worked as hard as him, I couldn't reconcile why I wasn't being remunerated equally. ”

— Cate Blanchett

“ I'm not OK with someone writing the Asian experience for an Asian character. ”

— Awkwafina, 2019

“ It is a revolutionary act simply to be who you are. ”

— Laverne Cox

“ Europeans didn't vibe with the way women held power in many Native societies. ”

— Lily Gladstone, 2023

“ A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. ”

— Christopher Reeve, 1998

“ Ever since I could form coherent thoughts, I knew I was a girl trapped inside a boy's body. There was never any confusion in my mind. ”

— Jazz Jennings, 2016

“ Ladies, don't let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime. ”

— Michelle Yeoh, 2023

“ I encourage women to step up. Don't wait for somebody to ask you. ”

— Reese Witherspoon

“ Just me existing, as an openly black transgender woman from a working-class background, thriving, is a political act. ”

— Laverne Cox

“ It's our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America. ”

— Patricia Arquette, 2015

“ Turn your wounds into wisdom. ”

— Oprah Winfrey

“ It's hard as a young person of a different ethnicity or background to look at the TV and not see anyone who looks like you. ”

— Zendaya, 2016

“ I think having a baby sliced out of you is pretty hardcore. ”

— Ali Wong, 2015

“ There is hope in the young people out there. And I just want to say to all my peers out there doing the work in the streets: I see you, I admire you, I thank you. ”

— Zendaya, 2020

“ I know that the ones who love us will miss us. ”

— Keanu Reeves, 2019

“ Why not me? ”

— Mindy Kaling, 2015

“ I recognize how hard this is for people, and I recognize how hard it is for me. But I have a certain set of skills that allow me to deal with this stuff. And I realized, with gratitude, optimism is sustainable. ”

— Michael J. Fox, 2023

“ Be kind to one another. ”

— Ellen DeGeneres