Minnesota Senator Al Franken has
recorded an ad for the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) Americans for
Marriage Equality campaign.
“I support marriage equality,”
Franken says in the 40-second video released Thursday. “My wife
Franni and I have been married for 36 years, many of them happy.”
“I think everybody should be able to
marry the person they love, and I think our government should help
people make those loving lifelong commitments.”
HRC President Joe Solmonese thanked
Franken for his appearance.
“The government should not be in the
business of getting between two people making a loving commitment to
each other,” Solmonese said in a statement. “We are grateful to
Sen. Franken for his unwavering support for marriage equality, and
know that he will continue to advocate for fairness and equality on
behalf of the state of Minnesota.”
Franken has also spoken out against
Minnesota's proposed gay marriage ban, which will be decided on by
voters in November.
The issue of marriage equality is being
discussed in six states. In three states – Washington, New Jersey
and Maryland – lawmakers are debating whether to legalize the
institution. In Minnesota and North Carolina, voters will decide on
the definition of marriage. And supporters of marriage equality in
Maine announced
on Thursday that they will return the issue to the ballot box this
November.
Recent contributors to Americans for
Marriage Equality include The Talk co-host Aisha
Tyler, Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott
Fujita, Pariah's Kim
Wayans and Dee Rees, the film's star and writer-director,
Precious star Mo'Nique,
The Good Wife's Josh
Charles, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon
Ayanbedejo and Julian
Bond, chairman emeritus of the National Association for the
advancement of Colored People (NAACP).