Editing Hugh Hefner (section)

==Politics and philanthropy==
[[File:Tom Bradley, Otis Chandler, and Hugh Hefner, 1980.jpg|thumb|right|Hefner with Mayor [[Tom Bradley (American politician)|Tom Bradley]] and [[Otis Chandler]], 1980]]
In 1964, Hefner established the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation to "facilitate individual rights in our democratic society".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Museum |first=American Writers |date=April 9, 2019 |title=Typewriter Tuesday: Hugh Hefner |url=https://americanwritersmuseum.org/typewriter-tuesday-hugh-hefner/ |access-date=December 10, 2024 |website=The American Writers Museum |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2016 |title=Here's What You Need To Know About Hef and His Philanthropy {{!}} Inside Philanthropy |url=https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2016-1-12-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-hef-and-his-philanthropy-html |access-date=December 10, 2024 |website=insidephilanthropy.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The foundation funded [[Marty Goddard|Marty Goddard's]] prototype of the [[rape kit]] as part of its efforts to support [[women's empowerment]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mosley |first=Tonya |date=16 January 2025 |title=A Woman Invented the Rape Kit. So Why Was a Man Given Credit for It? |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/01/16/nx-s1-5256205/rape-kit-history-marty-goddard-pagan-kennedy |access-date=16 January 2025 |work=[[NPR]]}}</ref> Additionally, the [[Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award]] was created by Christie Hefner "to honor individuals who have made significant contributions in the vital effort to protect and enhance First Amendment rights for Americans."<ref>Playboy Enterprises, Inc., "[http://www.playboyenterprises.com/home/content.cfm?content=t_title_as_division&ArtTypeID=0008B752-BBD0-1C76-8FEA8304E50A010D&packet=0001F2B3-75D2-1C7A-9B578304E50A011A&MmenuFlag=foundation&viewMe=1 Playboy Foundation – Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924074230/http://www.playboyenterprises.com/home/content.cfm?content=t_title_as_division&ArtTypeID=0008B752-BBD0-1C76-8FEA8304E50A010D&packet=0001F2B3-75D2-1C7A-9B578304E50A011A&MmenuFlag=foundation&viewMe=1|date=September 24, 2015}}". Accessed July 12, 2011.</ref>

Hefner debated ''The Playboy Philosophy'' with [[William F. Buckley Jr.]], on ''[[Firing Line (TV program)|Firing Line]]'' in Episode 26, recorded on September 12, 1966.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Teachout|first1=Terry|url=https://www.artsjournal.com/aboutlastnight/2019/02/snapshot-hugh-hefner-is-interviewed-by-william-f-buckley-jr.html|title=Snapshot: Hugh Hefner is interviewed by William F. Buckley, Jr.|website=About Last Night|date=February 20, 2019|access-date=January 25, 2022|archive-date=January 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125134945/https://www.artsjournal.com/aboutlastnight/2019/02/snapshot-hugh-hefner-is-interviewed-by-william-f-buckley-jr.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Hefner donated and raised money for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].<ref>[http://www.newsmeat.com/media_political_donations/Hugh_Hefner.php Hugh Hefner's Federal Campaign Contribution Report] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231082551/http://newsmeat.com/media_political_donations/Hugh_Hefner.php|date=December 31, 2009}}</ref> In 2011, he referred to himself as an [[Independent voter|independent]] due to dissatisfaction with both the Democratic and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] parties.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=hughhefner|author=Hefner, Hugh|number=97538784245190656|date=July 30, 2011|title=My parents were Republican, I'm a registered Democrat, but these days I'm an Independent, not happy with either Party.}}</ref> Nonetheless, in 2012, he supported [[Barack Obama]]'s reelection campaign.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=hughhefner|author=Hefner, Hugh|number=266050407208460288 |date=November 7, 2012|title=While I was playing dominoes with the girls, we got the news that Obama had been re-elected. We're celebrating at the Mansion.}}</ref>

In 1978, Hefner helped organize fund-raising efforts that led to the restoration of the [[Hollywood Sign]]. He hosted a gala fundraiser at the Playboy Mansion and contributed $27,000 (or 1/9 of the total restoration costs) by purchasing the letter Y in a ceremonial auction.<ref name=hollywood>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article7109871.ece|title=Hugh Hefner saves iconic Hollywood sign|newspaper=[[Times Online]]|date=April 27, 2010|access-date=December 26, 2010|location=London, UK|archive-date=June 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615170010/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article7109871.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodsign.org/history-10.html|title=The History of the Sign: 1978: A Sign is Reborn|publisher=Hollywood Sign|access-date=December 26, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125131602/http://www.hollywoodsign.org/history-10.html|archive-date=November 25, 2010}}</ref>

Hefner stated in a 2000 interview with ''Playboy'', "It's perfectly clear to me that religion is a myth. It's something we have invented to explain the inexplicable."<ref>{{cite web |title=Hugh Hefner - Freedom From Religion Foundation |url=https://ffrf.org/ftod-cr/item/23179-hugh-hefner |website=ffrf.org |date=April 9, 1980 |access-date=September 4, 2023 |language=en-gb |archive-date=September 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904074911/https://ffrf.org/ftod-cr/item/23179-hugh-hefner |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Lee Strobel]], a Christian author who interviewed Hefner regarding his theological positions, later described Hefner as having a "very minimalistic, [[deistic]] view of [[God]]."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hallowell |first1=Billy |title=Lee Strobel Details Conversation He Had With Hugh Hefner About God, Gospel |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/lee-strobel-details-conversation-he-had-with-hugh-hefner-about-god-gospel.html |website=The Christian Post |access-date=September 4, 2023 |date=October 7, 2017 |archive-date=September 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904074911/https://www.christianpost.com/news/lee-strobel-details-conversation-he-had-with-hugh-hefner-about-god-gospel.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Hefner donated $100,000 to the [[University of Southern California]]'s [[USC School of Cinematic Arts|School of Cinematic Arts]] to create a course called "Censorship in Cinema", and $2&nbsp;million to endow a chair for the study of American film.<ref>[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-11-15-hefner-USC_N.htm Hefner Gives $2M to USC Film School] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322050718/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-11-15-hefner-USC_N.htm |date=March 22, 2016 }} [[Associated Press]], November 16, 2007.</ref> In 2007, the university's audiovisual archive at the Norris Theater received a donation from Hefner and was renamed to the [[Hugh M. Hefner Moving Image Archive]] in his honor.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zollinger|first1=John|title=Legendary Publisher Hugh Hefner Donates $2 Million to the School of Cinematic Arts|agency=University of Southern California|publisher=School of Cinematic Arts News|date=November 15, 2007|url=http://cinema.usc.edu/news/article.cfm?id=9686|access-date=March 9, 2015|archive-date=February 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226063444/http://cinema.usc.edu/news/article.cfm?id=9686|url-status=live}}</ref>

Both through his charitable foundation and individually, Hefner also contributed to charities and other organizations outside the sphere of politics and publishing, throwing fundraiser events for Much Love Animal Rescue as well as [[Generation Rescue]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://celebrityhalo.blogspot.com/2008/10/hugh-hefner-jenny-mccarthy-fund-autism.html|title=Hugh Hefner & Jenny McCarthy Fund Autism Research|work=Celebrity Halo|date=October 2008|access-date=December 29, 2008|archive-date=July 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708030807/http://celebrityhalo.blogspot.com/2008/10/hugh-hefner-jenny-mccarthy-fund-autism.html|url-status=live}}</ref> an [[anti-vaccinationist]] campaign organization supported by [[Jenny McCarthy]].

On April 26, 2010, Hefner donated the last $900,000 sought by a conservation group for a land purchase needed to stop the development of the vista of the Hollywood Sign.<ref name="hollywood" /> ''[[Sylvilagus palustris hefneri]]'', an endangered subspecies of [[marsh rabbit]], is named after him in honor of financial support that he provided.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 11, 2009 |title=My True Love Gave To Me ... A Bat Species! |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/09/tech/main4657330.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002081736/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/09/tech/main4657330.shtml |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2012 |newspaper=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lower Keys Rabbit |url=http://www.fws.gov/verobeach/MSRPPDFs/LowerKeysRabbit.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606130811/http://www.fws.gov/verobeach/MSRPPDFs/LowerKeysRabbit.pdf |archive-date=June 6, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2012 |publisher=[[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]]}}</ref><ref name="blog.nationalgeographic.org">{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2012 |title=Interview with Hugh Hefner—the Publishing Icon with a Marsh Rabbit for a Namesake |url=https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2012/11/03/interview-with-hugh-hefner-the-publishing-icon-with-a-marsh-rabbit-for-a-namesake/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106052919/https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2012/11/03/interview-with-hugh-hefner-the-publishing-icon-with-a-marsh-rabbit-for-a-namesake/ |archive-date=January 6, 2020 |access-date=April 8, 2020 |website=National Geographic Society Newsroom}}</ref>

On November 18, 2010, Children of the Night founder and president Lois Lee presented Hefner with the organization's first-ever Founder's Hero of the Heart Award in appreciation for his unwavering dedication, commitment and generosity.<ref>{{cite book|title=2010 founder's hero of the heart Award|date=November 18, 2010|url=http://www.childrenofthenight.org/pdf/Hugh_Hefner_Founders_Hero_of_the_Heart_Award.pdf|access-date=May 9, 2015|archive-date=October 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014162304/http://www.childrenofthenight.org/pdf/Hugh_Hefner_Founders_Hero_of_the_Heart_Award.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[The Barbi Twins]], who are among a notable cohort of celebrity Playmates, including [[Pamela Anderson]] and Hefner's third wife [[Crystal Hefner|Crystal Harris]], praised the publishing icon for providing centerfolds and extended members of the Playboy family with a platform for activism and advocacy on behalf of animal populations in need.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2013/03/18/hugh-hefner-easters-bunny-hugger/|title=Hugh Hefner: Easter's Bunny Hugger|date=March 18, 2013|website=National Geographic Society Newsroom|access-date=April 8, 2020|archive-date=January 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127013511/https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/?redirect=404|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="blog.nationalgeographic.org"/>

Hefner supported legalizing [[same-sex marriage]], calling it "a fight for all our rights. Without it, we will turn back the sexual revolution and return to an earlier, puritanical time."<ref>{{cite news|title=Playboy founder Hugh Hefner writes passionate plea in support of gay marriage|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/playboy-founder-hugh-hefner-writes-passionate-plea-support-gay-marriage-article-1.1142988|access-date=August 23, 2012|newspaper=NYDailyNews.com|date=August 23, 2012|archive-date=August 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825031729/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/playboy-founder-hugh-hefner-writes-passionate-plea-support-gay-marriage-article-1.1142988|url-status=live}}</ref>