Jackie Chan, Pauley Perrette, Jason
Alexander and Giada de Laurentiis are among the celebrities urging
support for equal rights for LGBT people in a new public service
campaign by GLAAD helmed by director Brett Ratner.
The campaign, titled Coming
Out For Equality, features a diverse group of straight
celebrities and athletes “coming out of the closet” as supporters
of equality.
“Our straight allies are essential
participants on the road to full acceptance of the LGBT community,”
said GLAAD's Wilson Cruz in a statement. “From athletes to faith
leaders to elected officials across the political spectrum, straight
Americans are speaking out for equality at a rapid rate and we hope
more across the nation will be inspired to take action in support of
LGBT people.”
“I know what it's like to be in the
closet,” Jason Alexander is heard saying from behind a closet door
in one of the 30-second videos. “I know what it's like to be
bullied and attacked because someone or some group thought I was
different or below them. And I know what it's like to do nothing
when it happens to someone else.”
“So I'm coming out of the closet,”
Alexander says as he steps out from a closet, “as an ally for
equality for everyone.” (The video is embedded on this page.
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GLAAD announced last year that it was
developing the campaign with Ratner after he stepped down as producer
of the Oscars over an incident in which he used an anti-gay slur.
(Related: Brett
Ratner says something positive came from anti-gay slur incident.)