Archive for the 'Bill Clinton' Category

We were THRILLED when Jason Collins became the first openly gay and active athlete on a major American sports team — it was such a powerful moment for both Jason and the LGBT community, and the outpouring of support has been astounding!

For instance, BILL CLINTON took the time to say something about Jason:

“I have known Jason Collins since he was Chelsea’s classmate and friend at Stanford. Jason’s announcement today is an important moment for professional sports and in the history of the LGBT community. It is also the straightforward statement of a good man who wants no more than what so many of us seek: to be able to be who we are; to do our work; to build families and to contribute to our communities. For so many members of the LGBT community, these simple goals remain elusive. I hope that everyone, particularly Jason’s colleagues in the NBA, the media and his many fans extend to him their support and the respect he has earned.”

Uh, that's right — a former President is giving you props for being yourself! Amazeballz!

Here are some other people giving Jason verbal high-fives for being a brave pioneer for himself and the LGBT community in professional sports:

What an INCREDIBLE night!

The 2013 GLAAD Media Awards were held last night at the JW Marriott in El Lay, where the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron, Betty White, Darren Criss, and host Drew Barrymore honored films like Perks of Being A Wallflower, shows like The New Normal, and the former leader of the free world himself, Bill Clinton, for the advancements they've made toward promoting equality and progress for for the LGBT community!

And who better to introduce the ex-President with the Advocate for Change Award than the always HIGHlarious and charming J-Law?!

The Academy Award-winning starlet, who hit the stage Harvey Weinstein and First Daughter alum Chelsea Clinton, apparently flubbed Bill's name during her speech, but the Commander-in-Chief took it in stride, and while accepting his honor, even joked:

"I don't know why Harvey made Jennifer do that. She really was like 2-years-old when I became president. I met her backstage and she looked like she was touring the Museum of Natural History."

"It's sort of humbling when you get to be my age when your child knows more than you do about everything. Chelsea and her gay friends have modeled to me how we should all treat each other regardless of our sexual orientation or any other artificial difference that divides us. Many of them come and join us every Thanksgiving for a meal. I have grown very attached to them. And over the years, I was forced to confront the fact that people who oppose equal rights for gays in the marriage sphere are basically acting out of concern for their own identity, not out of respect for anyone else. You are the agents of change. I got this award tonight, because I was the object of your affection - or not, as the case may be. My daughter led me to support the marriage equality law in New York when we were debating it, and to oppose North Carolina's denial of marriage equality, and to do all these other things. So I want to thank her too. Thank you, GLAAD. Thank you, Chelsea."

AH-MAY-ZING!

We hope that the rest of the evening was filled with just as many laughs, good times, and a shared passion for progress!

Congratulations to all the winners, which are listed for your viewing pleasure, along with both Jennifer and President Clinton's speeches…AFTER THE JUMP!!!

[Image via Getty Images.]

This just keeps getting better and better!

We were thrilled to learn Bill Clinton would receive a special honor at next week's GLAAD Awards in El Lay, but this news is even more exciting!!

Drew Barrymore is hosting the show!!

It's true! The darling little girl from E.T. is 38-years-old now and helping to bring awareness to critically important issues!!

Other celebrity presenters at the April 20 event include

Stephen Colbert has a serious knack for getting silly with politicians on his HIGHlarious show, The Colbert Report, and Bill Clinton was no exception!

The former president appeared on the show to talk about the Clinton Global Initiative (above), but the comedian had a little something up his sleeve!

When the subject of social media came up, Stephen asked Bill why he isn't more active with websites such as Twitter. Well, it turns out he's just as insecure as the rest of us, saying:

Is Bill Clinton an angel in disguise??!

Probably not, but he is our hero!!!

The former president will be honored with GLAAD's first ever Advocate for Change Award.

Good ole' Bill was chosen for the prestigious award because of his past and present advocacy for equal rights.

Let's just say he has gone above and BEYOND the call of duty for the LGBT community.

Not only was he the FIRST U.S. president to appoint ANY openly gay and lesbian people to government positions, but he appointed more than 150 of us!!!

Not to mention how he lobbied for marriage equality in New York and North Carolina, and that time he publicly call out the head honchos in the Supreme Court to abandon the Defense of Marriage Act.

GLAAD's Wilson Cruz explained:

Stephen Colbert has gotten some amazing guests on The Colbert Report.

But there's one white whale big fish very slim former president that he's never been able to wrangle- until now!

Bill Clinton is going to testify in front of the joint chiefs of the Colbert Nation in just two weeks! Stephen says:

"I am thrilled and honored to be interviewing President Clinton, and I assume he is aware this is happening."

Stephen is known for his journalistic integrity, asking the tough questions in order to find the truthiness!

We can't wait to see what he'll grill the ex-president about!

Impeachment, sex scandals, fracking- or are those all the same thing? LOLz!

[Image via HRC/Manuil Yamalyan/WENN.]

This is just AH-MAYZING!

Richard Branson and Bill Clinton have joined forces to help launch the social initiative called Haiti Forest, and we're loving that these two men are out doing good!!

The initiative is geared toward helping solve social and environmental problems in Haiti by bringing productive, sustainable and socially responsible forests to the country.

On top of the support from the founder of Yunus Social Business and the founder of the Clinton Foundation, Haiti Forest also has support from the Government of Haiti.

Excited about helping the cause, Bill said: