Hugh Hefner advocated for gay rights in the 1950s.

It doesn’t sound impressive at first, but when you recall the state of the gay community in America in the 1950’s, it kind of stands out. 

Back then, videos like this were generally what represented homosexuality in America. In 1955, Esquire rejected a science fiction short story about heterosexuals being the minority against homosexuals. 

Hefner accepted the piece and had it published in his relatively new magazine, Playboy. Letters poured in, outraged at the story’s publication. Hefner responded with “If it was wrong to persecute heterosexuals in a homosexual society, then the reverse was wrong too.” To this day, Hefner is a big advocate of gay rights and gay marriage. 

(Source)