Quotes
“ I'm definitely not all Asians, but the thing that I've always done is aggressively been myself. ”
— Awkwafina
Entertainment Women Asian She / Her · Pronounced: awk-wuh-FEE-nuh
She / Her · Pronounced: awk-wuh-FEE-nuh
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Awkwafina on refusing to carry the weight of representing an entire community alone.
Read More: Asian Voices
“ Depression is not as easy as saying, 'Just find your joy and you're going to become happy.' That was never my experience. ”
— Jonathan Van Ness
Entertainment LGBTQ+ They / Them · Pronounced: JON-uh-thun VAN NESS
They / Them · Pronounced: JON-uh-thun VAN NESS
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Van Ness pushing back on the idea that depression can be resolved by simply choosing happiness.
Read More: LGBTQ+ Voices
“ I remember when I decided to be open about my own personal mental health, it was scary to be that vulnerable and I didn't ever want anyone to think I am a victim. I thought by sharing my own story I could help others. ”
— Selena Gomez
Entertainment Women Latinx She / Her · Pronounced: suh-LEE-nuh GOH-mez
She / Her · Pronounced: suh-LEE-nuh GOH-mez
Source: Billboard interview · original link to be verified
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Gomez on why she chose to speak publicly about her own mental health struggles.
Read More: Latinx Voices
“ This is politics for me. This is my life. I had to fight my entire life to get to the place where I could wear a dress to the Oscars. ”
— Billy Porter
Entertainment Black LGBTQ+ He / Him · Pronounced: BIL-ee POR-ter
He / Him · Pronounced: BIL-ee POR-ter
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Porter on his red-carpet fashion as a political statement, not just style.
Read More: LGBTQ+ Voices
“ The handicap of deafness is not in the ear; it is in the mind. ”
— Marlee Matlin
Entertainment Women Disabled She / Her · Pronounced: MAR-lee MAT-lin
She / Her · Pronounced: MAR-lee MAT-lin
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Matlin was the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award.
Read More: Disability Rights
“ Let's let everybody know it's okay to have a mental illness, it's okay to have an addiction problem. ”
— Demi Lovato
Entertainment Women LGBTQ+ She / Her · Pronounced: DEM-ee luh-VAH-toh
She / Her · Pronounced: DEM-ee luh-VAH-toh
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Lovato addressing a sold-out crowd about mental illness and addiction.
Read More: LGBTQ+ Voices
“ Europeans didn't vibe with the way women held power in many Native societies. ”
— Lily Gladstone
Entertainment Women Indigenous She / Her · Pronounced: LIL-ee GLAD-stohn
She / Her · Pronounced: LIL-ee GLAD-stohn
Source: Vanity Fair interview · original link to be verified
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Gladstone on the erasure of matrilineal power structures in many Indigenous nations.
Read More: Indigenous Voices
“ I use my platform for more than just myself. To neglect the political is to neglect what essentially is your job of storytelling. ”
— Zendaya
Entertainment Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: zen-DAY-uh
She / Her · Pronounced: zen-DAY-uh
Source: Widely reported interview material · original link to be verified
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Zendaya on why she treats her public platform as more than promotion.
Their Story American actor who became the youngest woman ever, and the second Black woman, to win the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, for her role in 'Euphoria', a win she repeated in 2022.
Her Emmy acceptance speeches are direct primary sources. See Their Full Story
“ 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
Entertainment Women Trans LGBTQ+ She / Her · Pronounced: JAZ JEN-ingz
She / Her · Pronounced: JAZ JEN-ingz
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Jennings, one of the youngest publicly documented transgender people, on her earliest memories of her gender identity.
Read More: LGBTQ+ Voices
“ Why not me? ”
— Mindy Kaling
Entertainment Women Asian She / Her · Pronounced: MIN-dee KAY-ling
She / Her · Pronounced: MIN-dee KAY-ling
Context The title question of Kaling's memoir, on claiming opportunity.
Read More: Asian Voices
“ Blood, sweat and respect. First two you give, the last one you earn. ”
— Dwayne Johnson
Entertainment Male Role Models He / Him · Pronounced: DWAYN JON-sun
He / Him · Pronounced: DWAYN JON-sun
Context Johnson, in his own words, on why respect can't be demanded, only earned.
“ Ladies, don't let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime. ”
— Michelle Yeoh
Entertainment Women Asian She / Her · Pronounced: mih-SHEL YOH
She / Her · Pronounced: mih-SHEL YOH
Context Yeoh, the first Asian woman to win the Best Actress Oscar, in her acceptance speech.
Read More: Asian Voices
“ It is a revolutionary act simply to be who you are. ”
— Laverne Cox
Entertainment Black LGBTQ+ Trans She / Her · Pronounced: luh-VERN KOKS
She / Her · Pronounced: luh-VERN KOKS
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Cox on visibility as an act of courage, from a pioneering trans actor.
Read More: LGBTQ+ Voices
“ Just me existing, as an openly black transgender woman from a working-class background, thriving, is a political act. ”
— Laverne Cox
Entertainment Women Black Trans LGBTQ+ She / Her · Pronounced: luh-VERN KOKS
She / Her · Pronounced: luh-VERN KOKS
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Cox on visibility itself as resistance.
Read More: LGBTQ+ Voices
“ There is not an industry I can think of where there is equal pay for equal work, or abuse of power doesn't exist, for men and for women. And so equality is not a political issue, it's a humanitarian issue. ”
— Cate Blanchett
Entertainment Women She / Her · Pronounced: KAYT blan-CHET
She / Her · Pronounced: KAYT blan-CHET
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Blanchett on reframing gender equality as a basic human issue, not a partisan one.
Their Story Australian actor and two-time Academy Award winner who has been outspoken about pay equity in the film industry. She has served as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador since 2016, advocating for refugees.
Her UNHCR field reports and interviews are the fullest primary sources for that side of her work. See Their Full Story
“ Turn your wounds into wisdom. ”
— Oprah Winfrey
Entertainment Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: OH-prah WIN-free
She / Her · Pronounced: OH-prah WIN-free
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Winfrey on turning hardship into insight, a thread running through her own story.
“ If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else? ”
— RuPaul
Entertainment LGBTQ+ Black He / Him · Pronounced: ROO-pawl
He / Him · Pronounced: ROO-pawl
Context RuPaul's closing line on every episode of Drag Race, which grew into a wider mantra on self-worth.
Read More: LGBTQ+ Voices
“ 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
Entertainment Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: zen-DAY-uh
She / Her · Pronounced: zen-DAY-uh
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Zendaya on why on-screen representation matters to young viewers.
Their Story American actor who became the youngest woman ever, and the second Black woman, to win the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, for her role in 'Euphoria', a win she repeated in 2022.
Her Emmy acceptance speeches are direct primary sources. See Their Full Story
“ 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
Entertainment Male Role Models Disabled He / Him · Pronounced: MY-kul jay FOKS
He / Him · Pronounced: MY-kul jay FOKS
Context Fox, who has lived with Parkinson's disease since 1991, on how he sustains optimism through a degenerative illness.
Read More: Disability Rights
“ I think having a baby sliced out of you is pretty hardcore. ”
— Ali Wong
Entertainment Women Asian She / Her · Pronounced: AH-lee WONG
She / Her · Pronounced: AH-lee WONG
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Wong, known for candid stand-up about pregnancy and motherhood.
Read More: Asian Voices
“ If your dream only includes you, it's too small. ”
— Ava DuVernay
Entertainment Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: AY-vuh doo-vur-NAY
She / Her · Pronounced: AY-vuh doo-vur-NAY
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context DuVernay, a leading film-maker, on ambition that makes room for others.
