You'll Be Shocked By These 7 Unlikely Advocates For Gay Rights

Impact

As the case for LGBT rights picks up fervor in the Supreme Court and around the country, more and more public figures are coming out with their stance.

With the debate becoming more derisive by the day, you can probably guess where a Republican Congressman and a San Francisco indie rocker align, but some celebrities endorsing gay marriage may surprise you. Let's toast to some allies and advocates that you never saw coming.

1. Toby Keith

A country singer from Oklahoma not opposed to gay rights? You can bank on this one. Keith "doesn't see the reason behind getting into people's personal lives," and notes that gay couples will inevitably live together regardless of marital status. He also weighed in on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." There certainly have been documented cases of homophobia in the country music culture, but Keith stands out here. Proceed to party.

2. Kobe Bryant

Not too long ago, Bryant drew flak for shouting a homophobic slur at a ref. Now, he's taken colossal steps forward, promoting a more tolerant vernacular in basketball and praising Jason Collins and Magic Johnson's son, both of whom are openly gay. Perhaps it was the NBA-imposed fine that swayed his opinion; perhaps it's just maturity and a sign of the times. Either way, Kobe's support is huge for a sport ridden with homophobia.

3. Dick Cheney

Despite riding a 2004 presidential ticket that used antigay rhetoric to rally conservative and evangelical voters, Cheney is actually an advocate for marriage equality. His daughter, Mary, married her partner and they are now raising kids. Though never very open about his stance while in office, Cheney's side-switching is still significant.

4. Glenn Beck

A notoriously-conservative talk show host, Beck's never been too liberal on social issues. Yet he has no problem with gay rights, claiming that marriage equality is right "in principle." Though he's made many conflicting statements on the issue, it appears that Beck's moving in the right direction. In an interview with Bill O'Reilly (who we'll get to in a moment), he notes that there are much bigger fish to fry.

5. A$AP Rocky

It's no secret that hip-hop and gay rights haven't been hand-in-hand. But for a myriad of rappers, including Jay-Z, Kanye West, and A$AP Rocky, that needs to change. Despite homophobic lyrics from his cohorts and some insensitive claims in his biggest single, Rocky is all for ending the issue and preaching tolerance in hip-hop communities. 

6. Meg Whitman

When running for the governor of California in 2010, Whitman supported Proposition 8. A wealthy Republican with immense political potential, she recently inked a brief asking the Supreme Court to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act. Talk about a quick turnaround. She's now the president and CEO of Hewlett-Packard.

7. Bill O'Reilly

One of the most polarizing media figures in the country, O'Reilly has espoused many conservative right-wing stances. Initially a vocal opponent of gay rights, he's been softening his position of late, saying that the federal government shouldn't be in charge of imposing legislation on the issue and that opponents are "thumping the Bible." Often full of contradictions, the jury's still out on O'Reilly's exact platform.