04/18/2012

Washington – Today the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released two video ads, one in English and one in Spanish, featuring Eliseo Medina for its Americans for Marriage Equality campaign.  In the videos, the SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer says, “I believe that committed and loving gay and lesbian couples should be able to get married in all fifty states.”  The videos can be viewed online at www.hrc.org/marriageequality.

“Everyday Americans recognize that denying basic opportunities like marriage to gay and lesbian couples is wrong,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.  “Eliseo Medina, the 2.1 million members of the SEIU and working people across this country know that every person and every relationship deserve equal treatment under the law.” 

Eliseo Medina has dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of workers, immigrants, voters and all people seeking justice and equality. As Secretary-Treasurer of the 2.1 million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Medina is the labor movement's foremost champion of immigrant rights, leading the union's efforts to pass comprehensive immigration reform, and overseeing its long-term strategy and vision for other key programs. Described as, "One of the most successful labor organizers in the country," by the Los Angeles Times, Eliseo Medina began his career organizing immigrant farmers in Southern California, where he went on to play a key role in some of the United Farm Workers early victories.

This is the nineteenth video released by HRC for the Americans campaign.  Past videos feature Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman, Cybill Shepherd, Kristen Bell, Jason Mraz, Rossana Rosado, The Rev. Al Sharpton, U.S. Sen. Al Franken, Michael K. Williams, Aisha Tyler, Scott Fujita, Josh Charles, John Leguizamo, Julian Bond, Mo’Nique, and Mayor Cory Booker.

About 53% of the American public supports marriage for same-sex couples, according to a number of nonpartisan polls, including Gallup, CNN, and Washington Post/ABC News.

Americans for Marriage Equality is a public engagement campaign featuring prominent Americans who support committed gay and lesbian couples getting married.  The campaign draws from a cadre of supportive professional athletes, film and music celebrities, and political and civic leaders. 

For more information on the campaign or to see the videos, visit www.hrc.org/marriageequality.

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.