Hip hop artists Macklemore and Ryan
Lewis have joined a United Nations campaign that seeks to end laws
worldwide that discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people.
Free
& Equal, an initiative launched in July by the United Nations
Human Rights Office, on Tuesday announced the artists as their latest
equality champions.
“We're so honored to be working with
the United Nations and Free & Equal to help spread a message of
equality and respect,” Macklemore said in a statement. “Ryan and
I have always believed that human rights are for everyone – no
exceptions.”
Macklemore and Lewis won this year's
MTV Video Music Award for “Best Video with a Social Message” with
their chart-topping single Same Love, which has become an
anthem for gay rights.
(Related: Macklemore
says gay rights are human rights in accepting VMA award.)
“Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are
probably the biggest duo in music today,” said Charles Radcliffe of
the UN Human Rights Office. “Their music is enjoyed by hundreds of
millions of people but it's also brought a human rights message to a
massive new global audience. We are thrilled to have their support
for the Free & Equal campaign.”
Other celebrity supporters include
Ricky Martin, South African singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Bollywood
actress Celina Jaitly and Brazilian singer Daniela Mercury.