These days, celebrities are pretty much expected to get political and voice their opinions.
Many actors and musicians even act as both celebrities and activists, participating in rallies and protests and encouraging their followers to do the same.
In light of the recently leaked draft majority opinion in which the Supreme Court intends to overturn Roe V. Wade, many celebrities have spoken out. Only a handful of them are cisgender men.
The select few so far are Bill Gates, George Takei, Mark Ruffalo, Josh Gad, Pedro Pascal, and Seth MacFarlane.
Six cis men. Six cis male celebrities have spoken out in support of abortion rights. Six cis male celebrities have expressed outrage and horror at the prospect of SCOTUS overturning Roe. Six.
You’ll notice that typically outspoken cis male celebrities like John Legend, Chris Evans, and LeBron James are suspiciously absent.
But the cis men who have spoken out? They’ve come out swinging. George Takei tweeted,
“Those motherf*****s really did it. First, they came for Black voters, then they targeted LGBTQ+ families. Now, women of America, they’re overruling Roe v. Wade. We have to unite and strike back. Take to the streets. Overwhelm them at the ballot box. They have gone too damn far.”
Those motherf*****s really did it. First they came for Black voters, then they targeted LGBTQ+ families. Now, women of America, they’re overruling Roe v. Wade.
We have to unite and strike back. Take to the streets. Overwhelm them at the ballot box. They have gone too damn far.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 3, 2022
Meanwhile, Josh Gad wrote,
“Make no mistake. A majority in this country are angry tonight. Not a small majority. A giant majority. I am seeing that rage. I am hearing that rage. I am feeling that rage. And to all scared women tonight, I will fight for you & with you. I will fight like hell. We all must.”
Make no mistake. A majority in this country are angry tonight. Not a small majority. A giant majority. I am seeing that rage. I am hearing that rage. I am feeling that rage. And to all scared women tonight, I will fight for you & with you. I will fight like hell. We all must.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) May 3, 2022
Bill Gates added to the conversation and wrote,
“I was shocked to wake up to the news this morning. A reversal of Roe v. Wade would set us back 50 years and disproportionately impact the most vulnerable women in society. I support a woman’s right to make their own decisions about their health care.”
I was shocked to wake up to the news this morning. A reversal of Roe v. Wade would set us back 50 years and disproportionately impact the most vulnerable women in society.
I support a woman’s right to make their own decisions about their health care.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) May 3, 2022
And Mark Ruffalo called the reversal of Roe “backwards and cruel.”
I can’t believe we are here. Book burning, bans on classroom discussions about race and sexuality, the erosion of voter’s rights aimed at the poor and people of color. It’s literally a right wing crack down on democratic norms. The worst are full of passionate intensity.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) May 3, 2022
The Lack of Cisgender Male Support For Abortion Rights.
The lack of support from cis male celebrities when it comes to abortion rights should come as no surprise. When it comes to supporting and amplifying issues that have historically been considered “women’s issues” (inaccurate), cis male celebrities tend to stay suspiciously quiet.
And it’s not just cis male celebrities — it’s cisgender men, in general. Cisgender men are typically less likely to get involved and support abortion rights and reproductive justice than their cisgender female counterparts.
Of course, this doesn’t apply to cis men on the anti-abortion side. *Those* cis men seem to have no issue telling people what they can and can’t do with their own bodies.
It may be that liberal cis men feel that it’s not “their place” to get involved. After all, pro-choice rallying cries often include “no uterus, no opinion” and “my body, my choice.”
But that doesn’t mean that we couldn’t use the support of our cis male counterparts.
Musician Billie Eilish even called out the lack of cis male voices in the pro-choice movement when the Texas 6-week abortion ban went into effect in September 2021. On Instagram, she wrote,
“I really wish men cared more. I’m so f***in tired.”
She added,
“Makes me sick how many men say nothing when it comes to women’s rights.”
And it’s not as if there aren’t plenty of cis men out there who are pro-choice. In fact, men and women tend to identify as pro-choice in approximately equal percentages (45% of men, 52% of women).
So, where are all these pro-choice cis men? And why won’t they speak out?
With our reproductive rights in more danger than ever, it’s time for people of *all* gender identities to fight. We can’t do this alone. It’s time for cis men — and celebrity cis men with platforms, in particular — to step up. Speak out and speak loud. And do it now.
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