Los Angeles (October 7, 2009) — Screen Actors Guild announced today that members of the Guild, SAG’s National LGBT Actors Committee, and SAG staff will join grassroots activists from around the country in Washington D.C. October 10-11, 2009. Thousands of fair-minded Americans are expected to come together in our nation’s capital this weekend for Equality Across America’s National Equality March.
The march serves as a call to action for a new generation of activists to join the movement in bringing full equality to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans and their families in all 50 states. Among the federal issues at stake are employment, military and immigration discrimination, as well as the repeal of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act.
“Screen Actors Guild has been a leader in advocating for equality for all of our members,” said SAG Deputy National Executive Director and General Counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, who will be attending the march this weekend. “With members of both the Guild and our staff supporting the march on Washington, SAG reaffirms its ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion for all. We also redouble our efforts to achieve equality for our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members.”
Among the growing list of SAG members who have endorsed the march, according to Equality Across America, are Annette Bening, Neve Campbell, Gavin Creel, Wilson Cruz, Alan Cumming, Dana Delaney, Joely Fisher, Carrie Fisher, James Franco, David Marshall Grant, Ellen Greene, Mariska Hargitay, Helen Hunt, Swoosie Kurtz, Chad Lowe, Camryn Manheim, Mary McCormack Ewan McGregor, Sir Ian McKellen, Julianne Moore, Kathy Najimy, Peter Paige, David Hyde Pierce, Anthony Rapp, Meg Ryan, Hilary Swank, Jennifer Tilly, Marisa Tomei and Liz Torres.
“This kind of support by both gay people and our straight allies shows the broad-based support that exists for full equality in this country,” said Jason Stuart, chair of SAG’s National LGBT Actors Committee. “In the 21st century, it is simply outrageous not to have full equality under the law, and we have a moral obligation to change that. Join us and walk by our side on Sunday to the doorstep of those who can make equality happen, the United States Congress.”
On Sunday, October 11, SAG members, staff and allies will congregate in Washington D.C. from 11 a.m. – noon at the statue of David G. Farragut, in the center of Farragut Square Park, before proceeding to the march route.
While the Guild works year round to advance issues of employment diversity, SAG has declared October “Diversity Awareness Month.” The National Equality March is just one of many events happening this month supported by members of SAG. A full list of events is available online here.
About Equality Across America
Equality Across America is a network of decentralized organizers in every one of the 435 Congressional districts. These organizers form Congressional District Action Teams that work within their own communities to achieve full equality for LGBT Americans and their families. EAA supports the following key pieces of legislation: the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), the repeal of Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT). With members of every race, class, faith, and community, EAA sees the struggle for LGBT equality as part of a larger movement for peace and social justice. For more information: www.equalityacrossamerica.org
EQUALITY ACROSS AMERICA CONTACT:
Phil Siegel
(415) 333-1650
Phil@nationalequalitymarch.com
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About SAG
Screen Actors Guild is the nation’s largest labor union representing working actors. Established in 1933, SAG has a rich history in the American labor movement, from standing up to studios to break long-term engagement contracts in the 1940s to fighting for artists’ rights amid the digital revolution sweeping the entertainment industry in the 21st century. With 20 branches nationwide, SAG represents over 120,000 actors who work in film and digital motion pictures and television programs, commercials, video games, industrials, Internet and all new media formats. The Guild exists to enhance actors’ working conditions, compensation and benefits and to be a powerful, unified voice on behalf of artists’ rights. SAG is a proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO. Headquartered in Los Angeles, you can visit SAG online at SAG.org.
Pamela Greenwalt
Communications Executive Director
Screen Actors Guild
(323) 549-6872
pgreenwalt@sag.org
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