Hollywood actor Alan Cumming has spoken out for marriage equality in a video recorded as part of the campaign for same-sex marriage in Scotland.
The Equality Network, the Scottish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality charity, are running a campaign to change the law in Scotland where same-sex marriage remains banned.
Speaking from New York’s Times Square the Scottish-American actor, famous for his roles in X Men, The Good Wife, and his hit Broadway version of Macbeth, explains why equal marriage is important to him.
He said:
“I support equal marriage because I think equality is great, marriage is great, and everyone in Scotland should have the right to get married. It’s 2013 – come on people!”
“The reason equal marriage is so important to me is that I’m Scottish. I come from a country where I believe that people are fair and decent, and treat everyone equally, and we are talking a lot right now – there’s a lot of rhetoric about – how Scotland is going to be a fairer place in the future. Well it should be a fairer place for everyone right now.”
Since coming out as bisexual in 1998, Alan Cumming has been an outspoken advocate for LGBT equality. In 2005 he received the Vito Russo Award at the 16th Annual GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Awards for an outstanding contribution toward eliminating homophobia in the United States.
Cumming is originally from Aberfeldy in Perthshire (Scotland) but currently lives in Manhattan with his husband, the graphic artist Grant Shaffer, who he married after New York State passed its same-sex marriage legislation in 2011. Cumming and Shaffer had originally entered into a civil partnership in 2007.
The actor has urged marriage equality supporters in his native Scotland to keep up the pressure on politicians.
He said:
“Over the next few months the Scottish Parliament is going to be discussing equal marriage, and what you need to do is contact your MSP and make sure they’re going to vote the right way – the good and decent and Scottish way.”
Cumming is one of several well-known faces who recently took part in the Equality Network’s It’s Time video for marriage equality, which has had over 100,000 views since being launched at the end of June:
To view the video It’s Time, CLICK HERE:
The Equality Network is urging marriage equality supporters to help the campaign in Scotland by donating to the cause and contacting politicians:
For more information, CLICK HERE:
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