Editing Henry Rollins (section)

==Campaigning and activism==
Rollins has become an outspoken human rights activist, most vocally for [[gay rights]]. In high school, a gay classmate of Rollins' was bullied by classmates to the point of attempting suicide. Rollins has cited this as the main catalyst of his "[[Straight ally|anti-homophobia]]".<ref>{{Citation|last=Big Think|title=Henry Rollins on Gay Marriage|date=2012-07-01|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF7vNVmb2fo&t=5m11s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/kF7vNVmb2fo| archive-date=2021-10-30|access-date=2017-05-31}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Rollins frequently speaks out on justice on his spoken word tours and promotes equality, regardless of sexuality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://instinctmagazine.com/celebrity-interviews/henry-rollins.html |title=Henry Rollins |access-date=2007-08-14 |author=Rollins, Henry |publisher=InstinctMagazine.com |date=2007-06-01 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070610202932/http://instinctmagazine.com/celebrity-interviews/henry-rollins.html |archive-date=June 10, 2007}}</ref> He was the host of the WedRock [[benefit concert]], which raised money for a pro-gay-marriage organization.

During the [[Iraq War]], he started touring with the [[United Service Organizations]] to entertain troops overseas while remaining against the war, leading him to once cause a stir at a base in [[Kyrgyzstan]] when he told the crowd: "Your commander would never lie to you. That's the vice president's job."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-12-22-uso-cover_x.htm |title=USO cheers troops, but Iraq gigs tough to book |access-date=2007-08-14 |author1=Kasindorf, Martin |author2=Komarow, Steven |date=2005-12-22 |quote=Rollins, 44, has made six USO tours. The former lead singer for the punk-rock group Black Flag said that he generally keeps his anti-war views to himself at USO shows. |work=USA Today}}</ref> Rollins believes it is important that he performs for the troops so that they have multiple points of contact with other parts of the world, stating that "they can get really cut loose from planet earth."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://crasierfrane.com/interviews/henry-rollins |title=Henry Rollins Interview |publisher=Crasier Frane |date=2010-06-20 |access-date=2011-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523045944/http://crasierfrane.com/interviews/henry-rollins |archive-date=May 23, 2011 |url-status=usurped |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He has made eight tours, including visits to bases in Djibouti, Kuwait, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan (twice), Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Honduras, Japan, Korea and the United Arab Emirates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rollinscauses.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/the-uso-united-services-organizations/ |title=The USO (United Services Organizations) – Henry Rollins' Causes |publisher=Rollinscauses.wordpress.com |date=2007-11-28 |access-date=2012-10-31}}</ref>

He has also been active in the campaign to free the "[[West Memphis Three]]", three young men who are believed by their supporters to have been wrongfully convicted of murder, and who have since been released from prison, but not exonerated. Rollins appears with [[Public Enemy]] frontman [[Chuck D]] on the [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]] song "Rise Above" on the 2002 benefit album ''[[Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three]]'', the first time Rollins had performed Black Flag's material since 1986.<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r608078|pure_url=yes}} |title=Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three |access-date=2007-08-15 |author=Prato, Greg |website=Allmusic}}</ref>

Continuing his activism on behalf of US troops and veterans, Rollins joined [[Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America]] (IAVA) in 2008 to launch a public service advertisement campaign, CommunityofVeterans.org, which helps veterans coming home from war reintegrate into their communities. In April 2009, Rollins helped IAVA launch the second phase of the campaign which engages the friends and family of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans at SupportYourVet.org.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}
[[File:Henry Rollins in Iraq with USO tour.jpg|thumb|Rollins signing a guitar while on a [[United Service Organizations]] (USO) tour in Iraq in 2003]]
On December 3, 2009, Rollins wrote of his support for the victims of the [[Bhopal disaster]] in India, in an article for ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]''<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2009/12/twenty-five-years-after-the-disaster-bhopal-is-still-ill.html |title=Twenty-five Years After the Disaster, Bhopal Is Still Ill |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=2009-12-03 |access-date=July 3, 2010 |archive-date=May 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528052005/http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2009/12/twenty-five-years-after-the-disaster-bhopal-is-still-ill.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> 25 years–to the day–after the [[methyl isocyanate]] gas leak from the [[Union Carbide Corporation]]'s pesticide factory exposed more than half a million local people to poisonous gas and resulted in the deaths of 17,000 people. He spent time in Bhopal with the people, to listen to their stories. In a later radio interview in February 2010<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jennifer-davies.com/index/home/Entries/2010/2/5_Henry_Rollins.html |title=Henry Rollins on positive anger – audio interview with Jennifer Davies (2 mins) |publisher=Jennifer-davies.com |date=2010-02-05 |access-date=2011-05-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713102036/http://www.jennifer-davies.com/index/home/Entries/2010/2/5_Henry_Rollins.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Rollins summed up his approach to activism, "This is where my anger takes me, to places like this, not into abuse but into proactive, clean movement."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://worldradio.ch/wrs/news/switzerland/rollins-still-wakes-up-angry-every-day.shtml |title=Henry Rollins radio interview with World Radio Switzerland (10 mins) |publisher=Worldradio.ch |access-date=2011-05-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414135449/http://worldradio.ch/wrs/news/switzerland/rollins-still-wakes-up-angry-every-day.shtml |archive-date=April 14, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Rollins is an advocate for the [[Legalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States|legalization of cannabis]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Courtenay |first1=Piper |title=Henry Rollins makes case for decriminalization of cannabis through prism of civil rights |url=https://www.straight.com/cannabis/1085966/rollins-decriminalization |access-date=June 18, 2018 |work=The Georgia Straight |date=June 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627015043/https://www.straight.com/cannabis/1085966/rollins-decriminalization |archive-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref> Rollins has stated he does not personally consume cannabis<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rollins|first1=Henry|title=Henry Rollins Doesn't Smoke Marijuana. But He Has No Problem With It|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/henry-rollins-doesnt-smoke-marijuana-but-he-has-no-problem-with-it-4167221|access-date=June 18, 2018|work=LA Weekly|date=January 3, 2013}}</ref> but views the issue as an important matter of [[civil rights]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nagasaki |first1=Haley |title=Henry Rollins Talks Cannabis Culture: A Sneak Peak[sic] at Vancouver's ICBC Keynote Speaker |url=https://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2018/06/13/henry-rollins-talks-cannabis-culture-a-sneak-peak-at-vancouvers-icbc-keynote-speaker |access-date=June 18, 2018 |work=Cannabis Culture |date=June 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618130015/https://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2018/06/13/henry-rollins-talks-cannabis-culture-a-sneak-peak-at-vancouvers-icbc-keynote-speaker |archive-date=June 18, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> arguing that its illegality is based in "bigotry and racism and financing the [[prison–industrial complex]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Nugent|first1=Serena Markstrom|title=How Henry Rollins Became a Drug-Free Pot Advocate|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/how-henry-rollins-became-a-drug-free-pot-advocate-w481602|access-date=June 18, 2018|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=May 11, 2017|archive-date=May 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512015017/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/how-henry-rollins-became-a-drug-free-pot-advocate-w481602|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rollins has shared his views on the subject as [[keynote speaker]] at the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference and the International Cannabis Business Conference.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Anthony|title=Henry Rollins to Keynote International Cannabis Business Conference|url=https://www.weednews.co/henry-rollins-to-keynote-international-cannabis-business-conference/|access-date=June 18, 2018|work=Weed News|date=January 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618152225/https://www.weednews.co/henry-rollins-to-keynote-international-cannabis-business-conference/|archive-date=June 18, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Anthony|title=Henry Rollins to Keynote the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference|url=https://www.weednews.co/henry-rollins-to-keynote-the-oregon-marijuana-business-conference/|access-date=June 18, 2018|work=Weed News|date=March 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618125639/https://www.weednews.co/henry-rollins-to-keynote-the-oregon-marijuana-business-conference/|archive-date=June 18, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Mansur|first1=Keith|title=Henry Rollins Keynotes the OMBC in Ashland, Oregon|url=https://www.occnewspaper.com/henry-rollins-keynotes-the-ombc-in-ashland-oregon/|access-date=June 18, 2018|work=OCCNewspaper.com|date=October 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828085517/https://www.occnewspaper.com/henry-rollins-keynotes-the-ombc-in-ashland-oregon/ |archive-date=August 28, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelley |first1=Ken |title=Henry Rollins On Marijuana Legalization: 'To Me, It's A Political Thing, It's A Civil Rights Thing, It's A Bigotry And Racism Thing' |url=https://www.civilized.life/articles/henry-rollins-on-marijuana-legalization-to-me-its-a-political-thing-its-a-civil-rights-thing-its-a-bigotry-and-racism-thing/ |access-date=June 18, 2018 |work=Civilized |date=June 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618060448/https://www.civilized.life/articles/henry-rollins-on-marijuana-legalization-to-me-its-a-political-thing-its-a-civil-rights-thing-its-a-bigotry-and-racism-thing/ |archive-date=June 18, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In August 2015, Rollins discussed his support for [[Bernie Sanders]] as a candidate in the [[2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ora.tv/offthegrid/2015/8/10/jesse-ventura-and-henry-rollins-talk-the-2016-elections-why-bernie-sanders-has-their-vote-0_5lg244bfmdsd |title=Jesse Ventura and Henry Rollins Talk the 2016 Elections & Why Bernie Sanders Has Their Vote |publisher=Ora TV |date=2015-08-10 |access-date=November 13, 2015 |archive-date=November 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115092650/http://www.ora.tv/offthegrid/2015/8/10/jesse-ventura-and-henry-rollins-talk-the-2016-elections-why-bernie-sanders-has-their-vote-0_5lg244bfmdsd |url-status=dead }}</ref>