About Us → News & Events Stigma Warrior: Meet Mario

Hello, I'm Mario Cantone, actor, comedian and LGBTQ Stigam Warrior.  

 Why do I think it's important to stand up to stigma and discrimination? 

Well, where do I start? First of all, this country is taking a scary turn to the right. If we don't push back at them, they're gonna just push us back to the 1950s and nobody wants that.  Unless we're bringing Dinah Washington back from the dead and we get to see her in a small nightclub.  I don't want to go back to the 50s, it's not good so we have to push. 

How do I fight stigma in my own life?  By speaking up to people that make stigmatizing statements to me and believe me they do this.  People can be so uneducated sometimes. It's so upsetting. You got to speak back with facts and with your life experiences.  Hopefully make them hear you and maybe they'll learn from it, but you know what?  Maybe they won't, but at least you tried. 

My advice to anyone facing stigma and discrimination within their community is first of all, speak up, show up and share your truth.  You got to voice your truth, you got to let them know. Be as authentic as possible. I know that's very difficult sometimes, but you can do it.

One word that describes me living as my true authentic self is just "truth." 

It's always been that way. I've been gay since I came out of the womb. I had a Judy Garland microphone cord at the end of my umbilical cord and I sang "you made me love you" to the doctor. I've been living that way for a long time and I'm old,  in the 70s I was out and about baby.

 One word that describes me as a stigma warrior is Strong! I've been through it, we've all been through it, you gotta stay strong, you got to have a thick skin. Sometimes we must also be vulnerable, but that can only get you so far,  so strength and love, a lot of love makes me a Stigma Warrior!