Academy Award-winning actor Marcia Gay Harden has taken a bold stand in support of the LGBTQ+ community and her queer children, amid waves of discriminatory legislation sweeping the nation.
Speaking at the Drag Isn't Dangerous telethon on Sunday, the actress spoke out against the fear-based rhetoric driving the current anti-LGBTQ+ panic.
Harden—who shares three children with her ex-husband—revealed all of her kids identify as queer, with her eldest identifying as nonbinary, her son as gay and her youngest as fluid. The actor stated her children have taught her "a lot," and it is her conviction that what is happening to the LGBTQ+ community in America right now is simply "wrong."
You can hear what she said in the video below.
\u201cMarcia Gay Harden supporting and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights since the 90s , I really don't know a better person \ud83d\udc96\u201d— olive \ud83d\udc1d (@olive \ud83d\udc1d) 1683567623
Harden said:
“What drives me is because it’s right and what’s happening right now is wrong."
"What drives me is — my children are all queer. My eldest child is nonbinary. My son is gay. My youngest is fluid."
"And you know, they are my kids and they teach me every day.”
She added:
“This is so fear-based and it’s spreading that kind of fear and hatred among other people. I believe this country will fight that.”
Many praised the actor for speaking out.
\u201cNow this is what you call a MOTHER \ud83c\udf08\n\nhttps://t.co/cbZ8fv0o91\u201d— GAY TIMES (@GAY TIMES) 1683651640
\u201c@PinkNews It's a testament to how good she was in the mist that I find it hard not to think of her as a religious zealot. But this is heartwarming to hear of her support for her children.\u201d— PinkNews (@PinkNews) 1683654900
\u201c\ud83c\udf08 beautiful \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83d\udc4f \ud83d\udc4f \n\nhttps://t.co/q2UXRSV4Bv\u201d— L.L.TAYLOR (@L.L.TAYLOR) 1683604274
\u201cWe are all Marcia Gay Harden\u2019s children.\u201d— Travis Thomas (@Travis Thomas) 1683640686
\u201cmarcia gay harden's fandom doesn't need to pick a name because we are already called "lgbtq+ community"\u201d— h ` (@h `) 1683569235
\u201c\ud83d\udc9c\n\nMarcia Gay Harden reveals all her children are queer: 'They teach me every day' https://t.co/25xtbatkGT\u201d— Shaun Proulx (@Shaun Proulx) 1683631072
\u201cif there\u2019s one thing gays and lesbians can agree on it\u2019s marcia gay harden\u201d— ronnie (@ronnie) 1683544347
\u201c'Child of Marcia Gay Harden' is the new 'Friend of Dorothy'\u201d— douglas greenwood (@douglas greenwood) 1683637394
\u201c@HuffPost Love her and always will!! She chooses roles that allow a woman\u2019s voice to be heard!\u201d— HuffPost (@HuffPost) 1683589522
The Drag Isn't Dangerous telethon raised funds for GLAAD, GLSEN, Headcount, Black Queer Town Hall, The ACLU Drag Defense Fund, Trans Justice Funding Project and Victory Fund.
The event raised over $540,000 in donations with Charlize Theron—a fellow actor and parent of a transgender daughter—making a pre-taped appearance to offer her support.
Theron affirmed her love and support for the LGBTQ+ community, saying a real threat to children is gun violence "because if you’ve ever seen a drag queen lip sync for her life, it only makes you happier, it only makes you love more, it makes you a better person.”
According to the ACLU, this year alone 474 pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation have been introduced in the United States.
Harden's powerful message of support and defiance against this discrimination is an important reminder of the need to stand up for LGBTQ+ rights and fight against hate and bigotry in all its forms.
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