7/30/2014

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 professional skateboarder and CEO Tony Hawk.  In the video, Hawk states, “We all deserve to follow our hearts, and we need to continue working until every state recognizes marriage as an equal right.”  The video can be viewed online at americansformarriageequality.org. Past videos include Kristen Bell, Bryan Cranston, Stanley Tucci, Busy Philipps, Cybill Shepherd, Jason Mraz, Krysten Ritter, Matthew Morrison and many more.

“Like most Americans, Tony Hawk knows that all families deserve to be treated with respect, dignity, and equality under the law,” said HRC’s Charles Joughin.  “We are incredibly grateful to Tony for speaking out in favor of marriage equality, and lending his voice to HRC’s fight for fairness nationwide.” 

The most recognized action-sports figure in the world, Tony Hawk is also President of Tony Hawk Inc., a worldwide leader in action-sports video games, merchandising, events, endorsements, and film and digital media. He regularly appears on television and in films, hosts a weekly show on the Sirius XM satellite radio network, and frequently takes his talent on the road with the Birdhouse Skateboards team. Tony’s success and good fortune have inspired him to do what he can to help young people, so in 2002 he launched the Tony Hawk Foundation to help achieve that goal.

This is the third video released for the re-launch of HRC’s Americans for Marriage Equality video campaign. Last week, Academy Award winning actress Susan Sarandon showed her support for marriage equality through a video ad where she states, “While marriage might not be my thing, if it’s your thing you damn well ought to be able to have it equally and unequivocally.”

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 visit http://americansformarriageequality.org.

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.

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