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- Television icon Betty White died at the age of 99 on Dec. 31, just weeks before her 100th birthday.
- Most knew her as a bubbly comedian, but she was serious about condemning racism and homophobia.
- She defended civil rights on her talk show and advocated for marriage equality.
Emmy Award-winning actress and comedy legend Betty White died at the age of 99 on Dec. 31, just weeks before her centennial birthday. To millions, she was “America’s sweetheart” best known for her iconic TV roles in “Golden Girls” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Younger generations knew her for her peppy personality and snarky humor that solidified her place in pop culture. But there was another side to White, one that was committed to social justice.
In the 1950s and ’60s, White championed diversity and inclusion issues, a brave and controversial act at the time. In 1954, she took a public stance against racism when she bucked complaints about having a Black performer on her TV show. She championed LGBTQ rights over the years, starring alongside queer characters in “The Golden Girls,” and she later spoke out in favor of marriage equality in 2014. In 2018, White supported disability rights as a major donor to Guide Dogs for the Blind, and she also starred in several public service announcements for AARP, an organization supporting older Americans. The actress…
