In the spirit of Dublin Pride, we've gathered together ten of our favourite celebrities who are using their fame to champion equal rights around the world. There are many celebs out there fighting for gay rights and equality, and there are plenty who didn't make our list (such as Beyoncé, Miley, Sir Ian McKellan, Jane Lynch and many, many more) but these select few are fearlessly and impressively supporting the LGBT community, promoting equality at every opportunity. We salute you lads and ladies.

Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris has been one of the most outspoken campaigners, championing the rights of gay marriage, gay parenting and equality in the media at every chance he gets, ever since he came out in 2006. It's worth mentioning also that he does this endlessly, all the while playing one of the straightest characters on TV: Barney Stinson in How I Met your Mother.

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster claims she was always out and proud, but her acceptance speech at this year's Golden Globes ended years of all-but-confirmed speculation in the media surrounding her sexual orientation as she celebrated her life's work by thanking her ex-partner and co-parent Cydney Bernard.

Zachary Quinto

Quinto came out in a 2011 New York Magazine article stating that 'In light of Jamey's [Rodemeyer] death -- it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it -- is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality'. And the man is playing Spock, so you can't argue that he's not doing exactly that.

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia DeRossi

Ellen and Portia have rapidly become the most famous lesbian couple in the world, and DeGeneres has overcome years of prejudice to become one of the most popular celebrities in America, using her platform on The Ellen Show to constantly push for equality and that we all 'be kind to one another'. This year she even took time out on her show to celebrate Portia's 40th birthday and their relationship in a very funny and moving segment.

Barack Obama

While he hasn't always been publicly on the side of gay marriage, Obama's made history this year by referencing the Stonewall riots in his inauguration speech and then telling ABC News he thinks 'same-sex couples should be able to get married'. Yesterday Obama tweeted his support for the striking down of the Defense of Marriage Act by the Supreme Court, reaffirming his stance. When the most powerful man on the planet is fighting your corner, well you can't get better than that. 

Kristen Bell

The 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' and 'Veronica Mars' star is such a firm believer and supporter of gay rights and marriage equality that she vowed to not get married to fiance Dax Shepard until gay marriage was legalised. And then yesterday they got to celebrate the fact that they finally can.

 

Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean made history in 2012 becoming the first black male hip-hop artist to come out, doing so just before the release of his debut album with a moving Tumblr post and garnering support from Jay-Z, Beyoncé, 50 Cent and more in the R&B Hip-Hop community.

Lana Wachowski

One half of the creative minds behind The Matrix Trilogy, Lana Wachowski made her first public appearance as a transgender woman last year, becoming the first major Hollywood director to do so. Wachowski told The New Yorker at the time 'I chose to change my exteriority to bring it closer into alignment with my interiority. My biggest fears were all about losing my family. Once they accepted me, everything else has been a piece of cake', before making this moving speech at the Human Rights Campaign Awards last October.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis broke onto the music scene with 'Thriftshop' but before that declared their alliance with the LGBT community with their song 'Same Love', which has over 50 million views on YouTube.

Lady Gaga

Love her or loathe her, Lady Gaga has long been one of the most outspoken fighters for equal rights on this here list. Not only did she turn a song about equality into a global hit, she used her fame around the world to constantly champion the cause, fighting for the repeal of the US military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy and become a rallying point for bullied teens in the LGBT community around the world.

 Dublin Pride is running until this Sunday, with the Dublin Pride Parade taking place in the capital this Saturday at 2pm. For more info on Dublin Pride and events go to dublinpride.ie