This Week's Inspirational Pop Culture Moments

This week some surprising celebrities dance for animal rights, take off their make-up, overcome illness, open a shelter, and speak out about school budget cuts. Here are our favorite inspirational pop culture moments of the week.


PETA Dances with the Stars and Adds Some Glee to Their Roster
This week People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) got support from two actresses who are getting a lot of attention these days. Lea Michele, who plays diva glee club singer, Rachel, on the hit Fox series Glee, is the latest star to stand up against the use of fur in a PETA PSA. Holding a cute little Chihuahua named Sailor, she asks why "join a club that wears someone else's coat?"


Michele has been a vegetarian and animal rights activists for years, making her first PETA PSA when she was on Broadway in Spring Awakenings.


PETA also got a big shot out from Pam Anderson on Dancing with the Stars. This week's episode featured the celebrities telling a story through their routine. So when the animal rights activist was assigned the Pasodoble, the dance of the bullfight, the Baywatch beauty used the opportunity to speak out against cruelty to all our furry friends. It seems, Anderson owes her increased fan base to PETA, who tweeted and blogged to members to vote for their favorite dancer.


A PETA spokesperson told MSNBC.com, “Pam's tireless work to expose cruelty in the meat and fur trades has created a very emotional bond with PETA's two million members and supporters who are thrilled to see her and vote for her on Dancing with the Stars.”


View the rest at Beliefnet's Idol Chatter.