US actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg will be honored for her gay activism work with an award from one of America’s leading human rights organizations.

The Human Rights Campaign will give the star the Ally for Equality Award in a ceremony in New York City on 2 February.

Goldberg has been an outspoken advocate for equality worldwide, using her platform as one of the entertainment industry’s most vocal women to stamp out hate and advance equality.

Among her achievements is publicly calling gay marriage a ‘no-brainer,’ and has made the case for equality in her role on ABC’s The View.

‘We are proud to honor Whoopi Goldberg with the Ally for Equality Award for her commitment to the LGBT community through her public support of marriage equality, including taking part in our successful New Yorkers for Marriage Equality video campaign in 2011,’ said HRC President Chad Griffin.

‘Whoopi is always willing to stand up for our community and is a longtime friend of HRC.’

For more information or to purchase tickets to HRC’s Greater New York Gala Dinner click here.