10/19/2011

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign today launched Americans for Marriage Equality, a public engagement campaign featuring prominent Americans who support committed gay and lesbian couples getting married.  The campaign will draw from a cadre of supportive professional athletes, film and music celebrities, political and civil rights leaders– and will have a special emphasis on Republicans, African-Americans, Latinos and elected officials. The campaign can be viewed at www.hrc.org/americansformarriageequality.

“Americans for Marriage Equality will help drive the national conversation on marriage equality at a critical time as the issue moves through the electoral, legislative, and judicial arenas,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “It’s critically important that we continue a conversation with Americans from all walks of life on this issue of fundamental equality.”

Efforts to deny marriage equality are on the 2012 ballot in North Carolina and Minnesota and other electoral contests could emerge in Maine and Oregon. Bills related to marriage for same-sex couples are possible in state legislatures next year in Maryland and Washington State. Activists continue to protect marriage in New Hampshire and Iowa. And momentum for the Respect for Marriage Act at the federal level continues to grow. HRC President Joe Solmonese testified at the historic Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and just last week, Chairman Patrick Leahy announced that the Committee will consider the bill next month. Numerous court cases, including Perry v. Brown  and challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act, are making their way through the judicial system.  

Newark, NJ Mayor Cory Booker, who ranks on this year’s Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world, kicks off Americans for Marriage Equality.  In the 30-second spot, he says, “I’m Mayor Cory Booker and I support marriage equality. I support it because from my earliest of ages I made a pledge that we will be a nation with liberty and justice for all. I support marriage equality because I believe in the 14th Ammedment: ‘equal protection under the law.’ And, I support marriage equality because I support love and in this nation we need a lot more of it.”

About 53% of Americans support same-sex marriage, according to a raft of recent polls. Polling organizations continue to underscore the unprecedented surge in support for the issue.

Over the coming months, HRC will roll out targeted videos playing off of the Americans brand, including Republicans for Marriage Equality, African-Americans for Marriage Equality, Latinos for Marriage Equality and Elected Officials for Marriage Equality. The ads will run online with possible placement elsewhere.

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.