WASHINGTON – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released a video ad featuring Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Colbie Caillat for the group’s Americans for Marriage Equality campaign. In the video, Caillat states, “Whether you are LGBT or straight, you should be able to marry the person you love… We have to raise our voice together and demand it now, because only together can we protect love.” The video can be viewed online at americansformarriageequality.org.

“Colbie Caillat stands with the majority of Americans who know that allowing loving gay and lesbian couples to get married only strengthens the intuition of marriage,” said HRC spokesperson Charles Joughin. “We thank Colbie for lending her voice to this important cause, and encourage everyone to heed her call to demand marriage equality nationwide.”

Since bursting onto the music scene in 2007, Colbie Caillat has sold millions of records worldwide and won numerous awards, including a Grammy in 2010 for her collaboration with fellow marriage equality supporter, Jason Mraz for their song “Lucky”. Caillat, whose latest video for the single “Try” has recently gone viral with over 17 million views in just 3 weeks, uses her platform to bring forth positive messages. By featuring girls and women of all ages, “Try” highlights the importance of empowering women to stay true to themselves, and embrace their natural beauty.

This is the fourth video released for the re-launch of HRC’s Americans for Marriage Equality Video campaign. Last week, legendary skateboarder and CEO Tony Hawk showed his support for marriage equality through a web ad where he states, “We all deserve to follow our hearts, and we need to continue working until every state recognizes marriage as an equal right.”  Hawk’s video followed Susan Sarandon and Demi Lovato.

Same-sex couples can legally marry in nineteen states and the District of Columbia, while 31 states have a law or constitutional amendment restricting marriage to the union of one man and one woman.  However, polling continues to show Americans moving inexorably in the direction of supporting equality for same-sex couples, and there are over 70 court cases across the country challenging bans on marriage equality.

Nationally, Gallup puts support for marriage equality at 55 percent – an astonishing 15 points increase from just 5 years ago – with other polls showing support at even higher margins.  And support for same-sex marriage rights continues to grow in virtually every demographic group.  According to ABC News / Washington Post, 77 percent of adults under age 30 favor marriage equality.  40 percent of Republicans – an all-time high and jump of 16 points in under two years – now support marriage for gay and lesbian couples, while the number of Catholics supporting marriage has grown to 62 percent, according to the New York Times.  These numbers continue to grow, with no indication that support will slow down.  

HRC’s Americans for Marriage Equality campaign seeks to advance marriage equality nationwide and provide up-to-the-minute information for lawmakers, legal experts, media, and grassroots supporters. Following the defeat of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8 last year, new marriage equality battles are underway in the courts, at the ballot and in public education campaigns.  The campaign’s video series will draw from a cadre of supportive professional athletes, film and music celebrities, and political and civic leaders speaking out in favor of marriage rights for same-sex couples nationwide.  For more information on the campaign or to see the videos, visit http://americansformarriageequality.org.

For more information about Colbie Caillat visit www.colbiecaillat.com

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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