Mo’Nique’s for Gay Marriage

As Maryland debates marriage equality, Academy Award-winning actress Mo’Nique threw her support behind LGBT advocates. Recently, she sent a fundraising email on behalf of the HRC, urging people to support the fight for marriage equality in the Free State. Mo’Nique, a Maryland native, also recorded a video for the “Americans for Marriage Equality” campaign, and delivered a similar message for Marylanders for Marriage Equality.

In her new email, Mo’Nique criticizes opponents who devalue same-sex parents and their families. “Nothing is more difficult than hearing attacks being made on anyone, especially my fellow Marylanders, however anti-equality forces are not going to make it easy,” she says. “They say that children will be hurt by having two moms or two dads and that religious institutions are under threat. You and I both know that simply is not true.”

Earlier this week, HRC announced a $1 million investment in the four ballot states pushing for marriage equality, including Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington – a major issue this election year. And having a Hollywood honcho on board definitely helps up the awareness.

“We are thrilled that Mo’Nique is continuing her efforts to protect marriage equality in Maryland,” says HRC President Chad Griffin. “Our opponents are running a deceptive and divisive campaign, but Mo’Nique’s voice is representative of the broad support for equality we’re seeing across the state.”

A new poll shows that more than half of Marylanders agree with her. The overall support for marriage equality in Maryland is up to 54 percent. A Public Policy Poll from earlier this summer also shows that 55 percent of African-Americans in Maryland support marriage equality.

This also comes on the heels of the Democrat Party drafting marriage equality into their platform. According to HRC, the draft also includes support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that protects people from losing their jobs on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. In 34 states, you can still be fired for gender identity. In 29 states, you can be fired simply for being gay.

Here’s what Mo’Nique thinks about all of this: