Ariana DeBose did the thing. In a total girlboss move (non-derogatory), the Academy Award-winning actress joins the ACLU’s Artist Ambassador Program to advocate for voting rights, Betches can exclusively reveal. In partnering with the organization, DeBose’s goal is to debunk myths and provide trusted information (so, the opposite of most of our politicians).
The ACLU Artist Ambassador Project connects influential creatives with public education and advocacy for crucial ACLU issues. (For example, Padma Lakshmi traveled to the Southern border to meet with people seeking asylum.) It’s a great way to bring attention to important work by harnessing the power of celebrity. (Because — let’s be real — if it’s not tied to pop culture, it can often go over my head.)
DeBose’s work with the ACLU will focus on fighting against voter suppression efforts. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with the ACLU around an issue that is one of the single most important rights that we hold as citizens of this country: the right to have our voices, values, wants, and needs heard at the ballot box,” she shared in a statement. Basically: protect democracy.
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For those who only started paying attention post-Roe (welcome to the hell we’ve been living in!), you’re in luck. DeBose stands behind the belief that there are no dumb questions regarding voting rights. As ambassador, DeBose will work alongside ACLU legal experts and advocates to disseminate information to those widely impacted by voter suppression. As someone who belongs to many communities, DeBose is distinctly aware of the impact voting has on marginalized groups. “I’m an Afro-Latina, mixed race, queer woman from North Carolina living in New York City. I’ve witnessed the effects of gerrymandering and voting restrictions on many of my communities.”
Jessica Herman Weitz, director of artist and entertainment engagement nationwide at the ACLU, heaps praise on DeBose, referring to her as a force of nature and a once-in-a-generation talent. “[Ariana] is also representative of so many voters in this country who have more questions than answers and are the sum of all the different parts of their identity and lived experience,” she says.
“It’s not news that 2024 is an important election year,” Herman Weitz continues. “But the work of advocating for the rights of everyone happens every day, every month, and every year whether there’s a presidential election or not. Ariana understands this, and we are grateful to partner with her in this work.”
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I can’t wait to see how Ariana DeBose utilizes her platform during a pivotal year for voting rights — and I wouldn’t be mad if we got another song out of it.