The 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:
Meryl Streep
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Desert Boy
I love Meryl Streep.
Bryguyf69
While I’m not a fan of Taylor Swift, I’m glad that she’s an ally. Unlike most Country artists (yeah, I know, purists find the label laughable), her young fan base allows her to be pro-gay without repercussions. Contrast that with Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flats, all of whom were criticized for making gay-positive statements. Parton even received death threats after recording the Oscar-nominated, “Travelin’ Thru,” for TransAmerica. In fact, she can no longer performs it in concerts.
michael mellor
Taylor Swift is not particularly gay-friendly in my view. I’ve never seen her march in a gay rights parade.
Don’t get sucked in by the showbiz performers and their statements. Most of them simply want your cash.
Bryguyf69
“she made history in the decidedly pro-gay Dawson’s Creek by playing the love interest of primetime’s first gay character, Jack McPhee.”
===
Jack McPhee (1998-2003) was hardly “primetime’s first gay character.” There were gay guest characters in both sitcoms and dramas before Dawson, including a confused gay teen on Marcus Welby, MD (1969) and a gay ex-football player on All in the Family (1971). Even if you narrow it down to regular characters, there were Jodie Dallas (Billy Crystal) of the comedy, Soap (1977-1981), Steven Carrington (Al Corley, Jack Coleman) of the primetime soap, Dynasty (1981-1988), and Matt Fielding (Doug Savant) of the drama, Melrose Place (1992-1998). And unlike McPhee, those characters were gay from the start.
To make McPhee groundbreaking, you’d have to add the adjectives, “regular” and “teen,” as in, “…primetime’s first regular gay teen character.” And of course, Jack McOhee was groundbreaking in that his coming out, and its effects, took place over several heartwrenching episodes. I just got misty-eyed thinking about it.
skipvanpelt
@Bryguyf69: thank you Bry- i was going to post the same thing. it seems research is a lost art
Tackle
I like Meryl Streep. But I never knew she was a gay icon…
ppp111
@michael mellor:
Funny you bring that up because I remember one incident years ago at some award ceremony. She had dated Gyllenhaal and some of the hosts joked that it’s not surprising he broke up with her since he was in ‘Brokeback Mountain.’ Obviously said for some cheap laughs. Anyway, I never heard of her until the Kanye West incident in 2009. With all the sympathy she received she practically got a free pass. Unbelievable.
tdx3fan
@michael mellor: Oh, here we go again Mikey. She doesn’t have to march in a gay rights parade to lead her millions of straight and LGBT fans into action for gay rights. You see the think with her is she can basically say what she wants and get millions to respond to it. She has done much more for the cause than you ever have or ever will… yet you bash her. Let me guess, its cause shes a woman, right!?!
tdx3fan
@Bryguyf69: For me, what was so amazing about Dawson’s Creek was the way the rest of the characters responded and that that they went places never gone before… when he kisses Pacey’s brother in the last episode and the elderly couple just responds… “That’s nice dear!” I remember how careful Melrose Place was. I don’t think that Doug’s character even kissed a boy… they always just showed hugs (the type of hugs you would give your brother).
Arkansas Razorback
Taylor Swift seems like a really decent, sweet woman. Compare and contrast how she carries herself with the likes of Gaga and Cyrus. Give me more grace and decency and fewer subversive attention whores, please.
broadshoulder
I don’t like Taylor Swift. She embarassed Harry Styles in front of millions of people. Did not like her vindictiveness.
jjose712
Taylor Swift is a nice and talented girl, what i don’t understand is why she do the bearding thing. All her boyfriends are rumoured to be gay (she even was the first option to Aaron Rogers).
I know being on a couple rise your profile, but come on, she is a big big star, she doesn’t need that. And she works hard, i remember when she was critizied for her singing live, and she clearly worked to improve her live performances.
Being a beard is a work for D list actresses and unknown models, not for a big music star like her
jjose712
@broadshoulder: Well Harry Styles embarrass himself everytime he allows his PR to find him a new girlfriend
broadshoulder
It wasn’t harry styles making names for people
That was Taylor swift in all her glory
Milk
Katie Holmes was just a new actress playing her part in a tv series. Not like she championed the script insisting on adding that gay character into the show. Unless she is instrumental in holding Tom Cruise hands walking him out of the closet, No!
jjose712
@broadshoulder: Well, at least him could take the effort of fake he was interested in her during their relationship. Doing PR stunts is ridiculous is nobody with a brain can’t believe it
lykeitiz
In what world is Meryl Streep an “undisputed gay icon”? I’m a huge fan, and I believe she’s a friend to the community, but she isn’t even on the “gay icon” radar to be disputed.
And then to call her an early advocate for HIV/AIDS research because she joined AMFAR in 2001? Um…..AIDS (and Meryl Streep, for that matter) have both been around since the ’80’s.
Get a grip.
petensfo
I’m surprised no mention was made of Streep co-starring with Cher as her lover in “Silkwood” 1983. That was kind of a big deal at the time.
lykeitiz
@petensfo: Cher’s character was a lesbian in “Silkwood”, but Meryl Streep’s was not.
Streep’s boyfriend in the movie was Kurt Russell, and Cher was their lesbian roommate.
Desert Boy
If you want to hear a goof, check out Taylor Swift singing without Auto Tune. You will either fall on the floor laughing or fight the urge to drive ice picks into your ears.
broadshoulder
@jjose712: Harry stood and took it – Taylor got vindictive.
vive
No, “we” don’t love Taylor Swift.
robho3
I DON’T love Taylor Swift she’s a stuck up bitch who only sounds good singing in a sound studio.
ingyaom
Meryl players lez in Woody Allen’s Manhattan. She was his ex-wife or something who left him for another woman and then wrote a book about it exposing all the details of their personal lives.
Maude
@michael mellor:
So, if you don’t march in a Gay Pride parade, you’re anti Gay?!!
Maude
@jjose712</a
Are you drunk, or do you have ten fingers on each hand?!!
Maude
@jjose712:
Drunk again, or still?
Maude
@Bryguyf69:
There were also gay actors acting gay in the old b&w movies made before the censors got into power.
jjose712
@Maude: You seem more drunk than me.
jayj150
I love Meryl Streep because she is amazing, not because I’m gay or because she is a ‘gay icon'(which she isn’t, despite what Queerty or “Wikipedia” might tell you). Skaegrgard is very atttractive, but being attractive and being naked on TV does NOT make someone a gay icon. Nor does being a succesful country singer or playing the facade girlfriend of a closet-case 20 years ago. This list seems made by a West Hollywood, very white, very young gay man who wants all his list of likes on Facebook to be gay ‘icons’.