Quotes
“ 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
“ 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.
“ There's absolutely nothing wrong with you. ”
— Elliot Page
Entertainment Trans LGBTQ+ He / Him · Pronounced: EL-ee-ut PAYJ
He / Him · Pronounced: EL-ee-ut PAYJ
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Page's message to trans youth while promoting his memoir.
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
“ 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
“ 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
“ Be kind to one another. ”
— Ellen DeGeneres
Entertainment Women LGBTQ+ She / Her · Pronounced: EL-en duh-JEN-er-iss
She / Her · Pronounced: EL-en duh-JEN-er-iss
Context DeGeneres's daily sign-off, which grew into a signature message.
Read More: LGBTQ+ 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.
“ I'm a proud person who happens to be deaf. ”
— 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 on being defined by more than her deafness.
Read More: Disability Rights
“ 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
“ I must find positive outlets for anger or it will destroy me... the highest positive is forgiveness. ”
— Sidney Poitier
Entertainment Male Role Models Black He / Him · Pronounced: SID-nee pwah-tee-AY
He / Him · Pronounced: SID-nee pwah-tee-AY
Context Poitier, the first Black man to win the Best Actor Oscar, on channelling anger rather than being consumed by it.
“ 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 was everywhere with everybody, and at the same time I was all by myself. ”
— Trevor Noah
Entertainment Black Global South He / Him · Pronounced: TREV-er NOH-uh
He / Him · Pronounced: TREV-er NOH-uh
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Noah on the isolation of not fully belonging to any one group growing up.
“ 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
“ I encourage women to step up. Don't wait for somebody to ask you. ”
— Reese Witherspoon
Entertainment Women She / Her · Pronounced: REESE WITH-er-spoon
She / Her · Pronounced: REESE WITH-er-spoon
Source: Widely reported interview material · original link to be verified
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Witherspoon on taking initiative rather than waiting to be invited.
“ Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success. ”
— Denzel Washington
Entertainment Male Role Models Black He / Him · Pronounced: den-ZEL WOSH-ing-tun
He / Him · Pronounced: den-ZEL WOSH-ing-tun
Source: Commencement address, Dillard University · original link to be verified
Context Washington on treating setbacks as part of moving forward rather than reasons to stop.
“ I became an artist, and thank god I did, because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life. ”
— Viola Davis
Entertainment Women Black She / Her · Pronounced: vy-OH-luh DAY-viss
She / Her · Pronounced: vy-OH-luh DAY-viss
Context Davis's Oscars speech for Fences, on the purpose of her profession.
“ 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 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
“ 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
Entertainment Women She / Her · Pronounced: mih-SHEL WIL-yumz
She / Her · Pronounced: mih-SHEL WIL-yumz
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Context Williams after her co-star donated his reshoot fee to close the pay gap between them.
“ 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
