Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon
Ayanbadejo on Monday kicked off a video campaign to legalize gay
marriage in more states.
Freedom to Marry, the Human Rights
Campaign (HRC) and 80 other groups last year launched the Respect for
Marriage Coalition, which is working to build support for the Respect
for Marriage Act, the federal bill which seeks to repeal the Defense
of Marriage Act (DOMA).
DOMA is the 1996 law which prevents
federal agencies from recognizing the legal marriages of gay and
lesbian couples.
Ayanbadejo, fresh off the Ravens' Super
Bowl XLVII victory, on Monday launched the group's first video.
“I believe we should be doing
everything we can to make families stronger,” Ayanbadejo says in
the 30-second ad. Which is why I support marriage for gay and
lesbian couples who want to make a lifetime commitment to each other.
People from all walks of life, including gay and lesbian couples,
want their children to be in stable homes and protected under the
law.” (The video is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
Ayanbadejo also campaigned for passage
of a marriage equality law in Maryland.