This year has been a great one for women and feminism. Gender equality is at the forefront of public conversation and concern, and people are actively throwing themselves into the cause. That includes a swag of our famous friends, like Beyonce, Lena Dunham, Amy Poehler and Joseph Gordon Levitt. Yes, for what seems like the first time, men are standing up and saying gender equality should be a national priority, and feminism is important in achieving that goal.

RELATED: Is It Enough To Call Yourself A Feminist?

Joseph Gordon Levitt

Levitt has really seized his responsibility to campaign for gender equality – and don’t you just love him for it? He first stated he was a feminist on Ellen, and since released a short video explaining that feminism means:

“that gender doesn’t have to define who you are. That you can be whatever you want to be, whoever you want to be, regardless of your gender.”

Daniel Radcliffe

The Harry Potter star proclaimed his support for gender equality long before his co-star’s HeForShe campaign. He has advocated for more complex and substantial roles for women in film, and just generally seems to be a lovely wizard and defender of people.

“I think I’m a feminist just by the virtue of the fact that I believe in equal rights for everyone.”

John Legend

John Legend is a supporter of the Chime for Change charity – an organisation that raises funds to advocate for equal education, health and justice for girls.

“All men should be feminists. If men care about women’s rights, the world will be a better place… We are better off when women are empowered. It leads to a better society.”

Mark Ruffalo

Ruffalo has long been an active feminist. He has advocated for abortion rights, lending his support to the 2013 Abortion Rights Freedom Ride, condemning threats to healthy, safe and legal abortion.

 “I trust (women) with their choices, I trust them with their bodies and I trust them with their children. I trust that they are decent enough and wise enough and worthy enough to carry the right of Abortion and not be forced to criminally exercise that Right at the risk of death or jail time.”

Aziz Ansari

Aziz recently threw his support behind feminism on The Late Show with David Letterman. The Parks and Recreation star said he obviously supports the notion that men and women should have equal rights, summing up his case with:

“You’re a feminist if you go to a Jay-Z and Beyoncé concert and you’re not like, ‘I feel like Beyoncé should get 23 percent less money than Jay-Z.”