6/21/2011

Washington - The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest civil rights organization fighting for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality, released its 51st and final video featuring iconic and everyday New Yorkers for marriage equality. The video tells the story of what this campaign is, has been, and continues to be all about -- using a montage of actors, sports figures, politicians, and everyday people who have appeared previously in the group's video campaign.

"This has been an incredible campaign. We are in the home stretch. We are grateful to all New Yorkers who lent their voices to the fight for equality," said HRC Senior New York Strategist, Brian Ellner. "Their efforts and participation helped people realize that support for marriage equality is about basic fairness for all New Yorkers."

HRC's New Yorkers for Marriage Equality videos have collectively received more than one million views on YouTube.  All videos from the campaign, including the new montage, can be viewed at www.hrc.org/ny4marriage.

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 WWII Veteran Edward Hinz, Uma Thurman, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Tisch, Harold Ford, Jr., Michael Strahan, Ben & Jerry, Broadway Actors, Vanessa Williams, Anna Wintour, Larry King, Sean Avery, Julianna Margulies, Bill T. Jones, Sam Waterston, Christopher Meloni, Mario Batali, David Chang, Tom Colicchio, Lucy Liu, Bill Bratton and Rikki Klieman, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Former New York City Mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins, 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, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Julianne Moore and Kenneth Cole.

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.