12 celebrities you didn’t know were patrons of LGBT charities
Many charities feature celebrity patrons who support and promote their aims – it’s one way of getting some attention to a cause.
Some of these celebrity supporters are obvious but some are more surprising, perhaps.
Check out the list below of the stars who are doing their bit to help promote LGBT causes and help LGBT people.
1. Sting – Elton John AIDS Foundation
Sting performs onstage in New York City (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Cherry Tree)
Former lead singer of The Police, Sting is a noted patron of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Sting and his wife Trudie Styler have been supporters since the beginning of the foundation and are prominent at many of its events.
2. Jennifer Lopez – Human Rights Campaign
Jennifer Lopez attends NBC Universal 2017 Upfront (Photo: ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images)
Jennifer Lopez is well known for her humanitarian work with the Lopez Family Foundation, but Lopez is also a documented patron of the Human Rights Campaign.
For her work with the campaign, she was given the Ally for Equality award in 2013.
3. Donatella Versace – Elton John AIDS Foundation
Donatella Versace attends the 19th annual amfAR New York Gala (Photo: ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images)
Italian fashion designer and business woman Donatella Versace is a well-established patron of the foundation, collaborating on projects with Sir Elton throughout their twenty-year friendship.
in 2016, Donatella worked on a special project to raise funds for the charity’s work.
4. Tom Daley – Switchboard
Tom Daley poses after winning gold for the Men’s 10M Platform in 2017 (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Recently married diving star Tom Daley has lent his support to London based charity Switchboard, who provide advice and support for LGBT+ people in times of need.
Switchboard is the oldest LGBT+ telephone helpline in the United Kingdom, being founded way back in 1974.
5. Titus Burgess – Human Rights Campaign
Tituss Burgess speaks onstage at the Logo’s 2017 Trailblazer Honours. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Star of Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Titus Burgess is a longstanding patron of the Human Rights Campaign. Honoured with the HRC’s Visibility Award in 2015, the singer and actor has been a long standing advocate for LGBT rights.
Back in 2016, Burgess fronted a public service announcement with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS foundation.
6. Jimmy Carr – Elton John Aids Foundation
Jimmy Carr speaks at the Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Comedian and 8 out of 10 Cats presenter Jimmy Carr is a frequent supporter of the Elton John AIDS foundation, often spotted at fundraisers for the charity.
Carr openly supported the campaign for marriage equality back in 2012.
7. Sir Richard Branson – Terrence Higgins Trust
Richard Branson speaks at the ‘We Are The Future’ gala, 2016 (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AltaMed)
Entrepreneur Richard Branson has been a long-time supporter of the Terrence Higgins trust. Sir Richard Branson has supported LGBT+ rights individually and with his businesses.
The Virgin group openly support LGBT+ employees and have boycotted countries with anti-LGBT laws.
8. Bruce Springsteen – Human Rights Campaign
Bruce Springsteen performs in Sydney, 2017 (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Bruce Springsteen is a patron of the Human Rights Campaign and has been notable in his support for the LGBT community.
Springsteen was praised for cancelling shows in North Carolina last April in protest of the anti-trans bathroom bill. When asked to comment, Springsteen said that “some things are more important than a rock show”.
9. Martin Clunes – Terrence Higgins Trust
Martin Clunes poses with his OBE, 2015 (Photo: JOHN STILLWELL/AFP/Getty Images)
Actor Martin Clunes, best known for portraying the miserly Doc Martin, has supported the Terrence Higgins Trust for many years.
He has spoken publically about his support, assisting in video campaigns for the trust.
10. Julie Hesmondhalgh – Albert Kennedy Trust
Julie Hasmondhalgh attends the opening of ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ in 2015 (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
Joining with other patrons such as Sir Ian McKellen, Julie Hesomdhalgh is a well-established patron of the Albert Kennedy Trust.
Best known for her character Haley in Coronation Street, Hesmondhalgh also played a recurring character in the Russell T Davies series Cucumber.
11. Gary Barlow – Elton John Aids Foundation
Gary Barlow performs at the One Love Manchester benefit concert (Photo by Getty Images/Dave Hogan for One Love Manchester)
One-third of the current form of Take That has been a patron of the Elton John AIDS Foundation since 2014.
The same year, Barlow played at the Woodside End of Summer Party which raised funds to support 50,000 pregnant women to help prevent them passing HIV to their babies.
12. Sally Field – Human Rights Campaign
Sally Field attends the 2017 Tony Awards (Photo by Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
Sally Field has been very outspoken about her support of her gay son. She’s also been a loud supporter on the wider topic of LGBT+ rights, so it was not surprising when Field was given the Ally for Equality Award in 2012.
She backs up this support with her patronage of the Human Rights Campaign.
