GIVERS

Why We Love Meryl Streep, Taylor Swift & Alexander Skarsgard

10455051_287469591424231_3178148343348066171_nThe Giver is a film about a boy with a special gift — the power to influence those around him to ultimately inspire a new way of thinking.

Fortunately, the actors who star in the film also use their gift to inspire big changes in real life.

Ahead of The Giver‘s release Friday, August 15, let’s take a look at some of the film’s biggest stars and their greatest gifts to the LGBT community:

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Meryl Streep

This woman is an undisputed gay icon. Though Wikipedia identifies her status in the LGBT community as stemming from her role in 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada, she cemented her role long before that.

She locked lips with Emma Thompson in Angels in America and received gay sex advice in 2012’s Hope Springs. She was also an early advocate for HIV/AIDS research, having joined the American Foundation for AIDS Research as a spokesperson in 2001.

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Taylor Swift

We love Taylor because she’s dated Taylor Lautner and Jake Gyllenhaal among other men we wish we could date.

At a live concert event in 2008, Swift made a bold statement against the bullying of LGBT teens by dedicating a song to and raising awareness for Lawrence King, the 15-year-old boy who was murdered by a classmate for being gay that same year. “My parents taught me never to judge others based on whom they love, what color their skin is, or their religion,” she said. “Why make life miserable for someone when you could be using your energy for good?

Shortly after, Swift joined Janet Jackson, T.R. Knight and Portia de Rossi in Logo’s “Be A Voice Against Violence” campaign.

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Alexander Skarsgard

The amount of skin Skarsgard bares on True Blood is gift enough to the gay community, but thankfully, he’s done much more for LGBTs than shed a few layers of clothing and perform in a convincing gay sex scene.

In 2011, Skarsgard lent his voice to Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” campaign, urging parents to inspire tolerance in their children.

“We have to teach our children that, not only through our words but also through our actions, that every single human being has equal value,” he said.

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Katie Holmes

It’s hard to remember Katie Holmes before her bout with Scientology and epic role as the wife of Tom Cruise, but once upon a time, she made history in the decidedly pro-gay Dawson’s Creek by playing the love interest of primetime’s first gay character, Jack McPhee.

Holmes’ character was instrumental in guiding a young audience to not just tolerate but accept McPhee’s sexuality. As her first major role in Hollywood, Holmes credits her Dawson’s Creek character with shaping many of the views she holds strongly today.

The Giver will hit theaters Friday, August 15. Find more details online and visit The Giver on Facebook for details and showtimes.

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