WASHINGTON — Michael Strahan, the record setting former defensive end of the New York Giants, has filmed a video with his fiancée for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, as part of the group's New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign. In the video, the Strahan feels "it's unfair to keep committed couples from getting married." The campaign, which raises the public profile of marriage equality in New York, can be viewed online at www.hrc.org/NY4marriage.
"Michael Strahan is part of an ever growing list of professional athletes speaking out for marriage equality. There are a lot of tough New Yorkers, but none tougher than Michael Strahan, one of the most feared and accomplished defensive ends in history. He's our Super Bowl champion for New Yorkers for Marriage." said HRC Senior New York Strategist Brian Ellner. "We are honored that he and his fiancée Nicole, would join us in this historic fight for fairness. A vote could happen any day now, and we need all New Yorkers to let their voices be heard in support of marriage equality."
Strahan holds the NFL record for sacks in a single season with 22.5. He was part of the 2008 Super Bowl champion New York Giants team and is currently a football analyst on Fox NFL Sunday.
Polls continue to show marriage equality is a mainstream issue in the Empire State. A strong majority (58 percent) of New Yorkers supports gay and lesbian couples getting married.
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 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 — with more to follow in the coming weeks.
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.
