A curated register of quotes from under-represented voices.

“ 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

“ I can't overstate the biggest joy, which is really seeing yourself. I know I look different to others, but to me I'm just starting to look like myself. ”

— Elliot Page, 2021

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

— Laverne Cox

“ If your dream only includes you, it's too small. ”

— Ava DuVernay

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

— Lily Gladstone, 2023

“ 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

“ There's absolutely nothing wrong with you. ”

— Elliot Page, 2023

“ Turn your wounds into wisdom. ”

— Oprah Winfrey

“ The stories we tell about communities affect the laws that get passed, the people that get attacked, the countries that get invaded. ”

— Riz Ahmed

“ I'm trying to take the stigma off the word ambitious, so we encourage more little girls to be ambitious, because I do think that's how society will change. ”

— Reese Witherspoon

“ 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

“ Why not me? ”

— Mindy Kaling, 2015

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

— Reese Witherspoon

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

— Awkwafina, 2019

“ 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

“ If we truly envision an equal world, it takes equal effort and sacrifice. Today is one of the most indelible days of my life because of Mark Wahlberg, WME and a community of women and men who share in this accomplishment. ”

— Michelle Williams, 2018

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

— Laverne Cox

“ Being kind is a choice that you can make absolutely every single day. ”

— Tom Hanks, 2019

“ I was everywhere with everybody, and at the same time I was all by myself. ”

— Trevor Noah, 2016

“ If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else? ”

— RuPaul, 2009

“ 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, 2019