R.I.P. Hugh Hefner (Playboy Founder). You did what many couldn’t do. I deeply respect your unique and powerful contribution to society for these 4 reasons:

Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy, has passed away today after an amazing life of 91 years! Love him or hate him, what I would like people to remember is that he did 4 things that most people could not do:
 

1. He revved up the sexual revolution. And God knows we need that! The world had become so prude and prejudiced. Mind you, he started his magazine in 1953, at a time when prejudice of all kinds was at a feverish level. Just to give you perspective, Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968. In the 1950s, professional jobs were still largely closed off to women. That was the environment that this champion decided to launch Playboy in. We just needed a break!
2. He was a massive supporter of the civil rights movement. How? He used his magazine (yes, Playboy), to promote dialogue and bring edgy interviews with extraordinary people in the civil rights movement, challenging the establishment. He was the voice of the downtrodden. 
3. He brought respect, acceptance and class to nudity. The thing about him that I want people to remember is that he treated women with respect. He cherished them, celebrated their beauty, encouraged them to be free and liberated, and empowered them in all sorts of ways, including financially. In his magazine, ladies were invited to participate voluntarily, they were viewed as classy and not trashy like in other magazines, and they were in the company of amazing editorial content.
4. He had loads of fun and inspired millions of women and men to enjoy life beyond society’s imposed A4 limits! Enough said!

Here are a couple of articles you might enjoy reading:

Hugh Hefner’s death: Celebs, former Playmates weigh in

Celebrities and civil rights leaders remember Playboy’s Hugh Hefner

And here is an amazing video, in his own words, on why he did what he did to promote equal opportunity for all and stop people from hurting one another:

He was (and is) a great person, and he has left a legacy behind. I am sure he will be missed. by many. 

Thank you, Hugh! We love you!

Photo credits: Hugh Hefner attending Glamourcon #50, Long Beach, CA on November 13, 2010. Photo by Glenn Francis of www.PacificProDigital.com