WASHINGTON - Christopher Meloni, star of Law and Order SVU, joins the Human Rights Campaign - the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization - in a new video in the "New Yorkers for Marriage Equality" campaign. In the video, Meloni says, "I believe in love, in family, and in fairness. That's why I'm a New Yorker for marriage equality." The latest video come as the debate over marriage equality once again takes center stage in Albany and across the state. The campaign, which raises the public profile of marriage equality in the Empire State, can be viewed online at www.hrc.org/NY4marriage.

"As public opinion continues to dramatically move in favor of marriage equality and more elected leaders embracing fairness for all New Yorkers, we are close to making equality a reality," said HRC New York Senior Strategist Brian Ellner "We are excited to have Christopher Meloni join our New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign."

A new poll released yesterday by Siena Research Institute shows public opinion continues to trend toward marriage equality in New York State with a record high of 58 percent support and a record low of 36 percent opposition.

The New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign is centered on video testimonials from New Yorkers who support the right of same-sex couples to marry. To date, HRC has released videos from Christopher Meloni, Mario Batali, David Chang, and Tom Colicchio, Lucy Liu, Bill Bratton and Rikki Klieman, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, the Fabulous Beekman Boys, Russell Simmons, Mark and Sunrise Ruffalo, John Slattery, Joan Rivers, Barbara Bush, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Whoopi Goldberg, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon, Fran Drescher, Moby, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Julianne Moore and Kenneth Cole - with more to follow in the coming weeks and months.

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.