GUEST POST: Happy Birthday, Tom Hanks!

July 9th is Tom Hanks’ 58th birthday, and as a long time supporter of the LGBT community, it’s important to celebrate him as one of those who have stepped out to support equality for all.
Since his Oscar-winning portrayal of a gay lawyer wrongfully terminated due to having AIDS in 1993’s Philadelphia, Tom has had a large following in the LGBT community. He boldly took this role during a time when AIDS was viewed much differently by the general public and almost never discussed. By introducing the struggle that millions of those in the LGBT community deal with, he opened up a dialog that was unprecedented.

Since Philadelphia, Tom has never stopped vocally supporting equal rights for the LGBT community, even when other actors were not so bold. He has publicly praised the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and blasted the Mormon Church and the State of California, calling them “un-American” for their role in the passing of Prop 8 and stating "I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper in any of the 50 states in America.” He later apologized to Mormons for calling them "un-American."

So, let’s celebrate one of the most influential and groundbreaking LGBT allies in honor of his 58th birthday. Happy birthday Tom, and thanks for all of your support.

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About the Author: Spencer Blohm is an entertainment and culture blogger for SatelliteTVFamily.com. He enjoys long walks on the beach, a nice glass of wine and equality for all. He currently lives in Chicago with his cat Rupert.