HRC Launches Powerful New Video of Olympian Adam Rippon in “Americans for the Equality Act” Campaign

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization released a new video from HRC’s Americans for the Equality Act campaign featuring Olympian and figure skater Adam Rippon. As an openly gay athlete, Rippon calls on Congress to advance the Equality Act — bipartisan legislation that would finally extend clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections to millions of LGBTQ people nationwide. The Americans for the Equality Act series, filmed by award-winning directors Dustin Lance Black and Paris Barclay, was first launched in March and has featured Academy Award-winning actress Sally Field and her son Sam Greisman, transgender singer and songwriter Shea Diamond and actress Justina Machado.

“An out and proud star both on and off the ice, Adam Rippon is a trailblazing athlete whose advocacy is changing countless hearts and minds,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “As LGBTQ Americans face real and persistent discrimination in their everyday lives, Adam Rippon is using his global platform to urge Congress to pass the Equality Act and to extend comprehensive non-discrimination protections to all LGBTQ people.”

“So much of the progress of the LGBTQ movement has hinged on our ability to tell our stories and move people — and that’s the same spirit with which we’ve approached this compelling project,” said Emmy Award-winning director Paris Barclay when the campaign launched last month.

“Every American deserves a fair shot at a job to support themselves and their family, and the security of a roof over their head. These are key ingredients in what we’ve long cherished as our ‘American Dream.’” said Academy Award-winning director Dustin Lance Black. “But until the Equality Act is signed into law, this dream may not be a reality for far too many Americans in many areas of our wild and wonderful country.”

Rippon won the hearts of America and the world at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea where, in winning a bronze medal in the team competition, he became the the first openly gay athlete to medal in a Winter Olympics. Known for his refreshing candor and wit, his rise to fame on the global stage has provided him with a platform to speak out in support of LGBTQ rights and the freedom to be oneself. He has inspired young and old with his passion and charm, becoming a role model and icon to millions. Rippon was also a competitor and winner on Dancing with the Stars: Athletes with professional dancer Jenna Johnson, where he became the first openly gay celebrity to win the competition. An outspoken advocate for LGBTQ equality, he has called out Vice President Mike Pence and the Trump administration on their anti-LGBTQ record. HRC honored Adam Rippon with the HRC Visibility Award at the 2018 Los Angeles Dinner and the HRC Upstander Award at the 2019 HRC Time to THRIVE Conference.

Currently, 50 percent of LGBTQ Americans live in one of the 30 states without statewide legal non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people — leaving millions at risk of being fired, denied housing or refused service simply because of who they are or whom they love. The Equality Act would guarantee existing civil rights laws apply to LGBTQ people by providing clear, consistent non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally-funded programs and jury service.

Reintroduced in Congress on March 13, the Equality Act has growing unprecedented support, including from nearly 70 percent of Americans, hundreds of members of Congress, 190 major businesses and more than 350 social justice, religious, medical and child welfare organizations. Recent polling finds that a growing majority of Americans support federal non-discrimination protections and LGBTQ equality. A recent survey by PRRI found that nearly seven in 10 Americans support laws like the Equality Act, including majorities in every single state and majorities of Republicans, Independents and Democrats alike.

Over the coming weeks, HRC will roll out additional videos in the Americans for the Equality Act series featuring a powerhouse lineup of supportive film and television actors, influencers, musicians and professional athletes, including Alexandra Billings, Charlie and Max Carver, Dustin Lance Black, Paris and Christopher Barclay, Gloria Calderon Kellett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Lynch, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita, Karamo Brown, Marcia Gay Harden and Nyle DiMarco. The Americans for the Equality Act series is modeled after HRC’s successful Americans for Marriage Equality campaign.