Richard Gere: An Actor with a Heart for Compassion and Activism
Richard Gere is not just an accomplished actor, but also a devoted Buddhist practitioner who actively supports various humanitarian causes. Throughout his career, he has been an advocate for human rights, cultural preservation, and social justice.
Gere’s journey into Buddhism began in the 1970s when he was introduced to the practice by his then-girlfriend. Since then, he has remained committed to his spiritual path and even helped establish the Tibet House US in New York City.
Apart from his personal beliefs, Gere uses his public platform to raise awareness on different issues such as HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, homelessness and poverty alleviation, animal rights protection, and political freedom campaigns.
In 1991, he co-founded The Gere Foundation to support various charitable organizations that work towards addressing global crises. Through this foundation, he has supported initiatives like the Millennium Promise Alliance which aims at eradicating extreme poverty in Africa.
Gere’s activism extends beyond monetary donations as well. He has served as a board member of International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) since its inception in 1988. As part of ICT’s advocacy efforts for Tibetan autonomy against China’s occupation policies, Gere addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council during their session on China’s record on human rights violations.
Aside from being a voice for those who cannot speak up for themselves globally or domestically; Richard remains active within Hollywood too. In recent years we’ve seen him appear more frequently than ever before in films such as Three Christs (2017), Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer (2016), Time Out Of Mind (2014), Arbitrage (2012) & The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel(2015).
Despite receiving criticism from some quarters over certain aspects of his activism or personal belief systems; Richard continues to be a beacon for compassion and humanitarian action globally. Through his artistry, activism, and philanthropy – he reminds us that we all have the power to make change where it’s needed most.