Lin-Manuel Miranda is known for being the creative genius behind Hamilton, the hit Broadway hip-hop musical. But outside of the theatre world, Miranda has been working to make significant strides to reach gender equality.
Back in 2016, Miranda joined actress Emma Watson in a campaign for the United Nations’ HeForShe organization –– a movement centered on promoting gender equality in all social and economic areas. He used his hip-hop skills to satirically yet educationally rap about the gender pay gap.
The year after, Miranda took his then 2-year-old son to the annual Women’s March in London. What’s important about this tiny feat is that Miranda is encouraging change directly within his reach by teaching his son the importance of being an ally. Gender equality can’t be accomplished without men, after all.
More recently, though, the playwright and composer has been standing by his Puerto Rican roots. He has continued to express support for the protests against Puerto Rico’s governor, Ricardo Rosselló. Miranda led his own march earlier this month. He was joined by about 200 people as they rallied in Manhattan’s Union Square.
Protests in the country have been occurring since the governor’s chat messages leaked in early July. The messages included several hateful comments targeting women, the LGBTQ community, and even Puerto Rican citizens. Rosello went so far as to joke about shooting San Juan’s Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, and blatantly calling New York City Council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito a wh*re.
Puerto Rico, along with the support of Miranda and other Puerto Rican celebrities, has been passionate and vocal about their distrust in the governor and demanding he step down. The governor actually has a history of ignoring the country’s feminist issues, and women’s rights groups say the protests have been a “long time coming.” With the support of public figures like Lin-Manuel, global issues gain more recognition and reach more individuals eager to make change.
After he refused to step down amidst the scandal, Puerto Rico fiercely wore Rosselló down. The former governor resigned two weeks ago. Citizens rallied in the streets in celebration, waving flags and singing in joy.
Though this is good news, Puerto Ricans acknowledge that there’s still work to be done to address how the nation’s issues with gender inequality. The political unrest even has Miranda wondering: What’s next?
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