Gay dads Kent and Diego know that the impact of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade will have wide-ranging effects, including threatening LGBTQ families and their marriages. They urge voters to show up to the polls to protect all families in “Marriage Threat,” a new 30-second PSA from GLAAD in collaboration with Family Equality. The ad premieres October 12 with a digital and broadcast media buy that stretches nationwide. 

View/embed the ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaaQRtzk2DI

“When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, we both looked at each other and said: I think our family could be at risk,” say Kent and Diego. “When we fought for marriage equality, we never thought we would be at risk of having it taken away. Walking down the aisle was very special and something I never imagined would happen for me. We can no longer take for granted the rights we thought were our protections. And marriage equality could be next. We all have to turn out to vote. It’s important for all families.” 

A record high 71% of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, support same-sex couples’ rights to marry. The approval number has grown every year since the Obergefell decision legalized marriage equality nationwide in 2015. Yet in the concurring opinion overturning Roe v. Wade in June, Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas stated that other landmark decisions including Obergefell, Lawrence, and Griswold could be “reconsidered.” Justice Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the majority opinion overturning Roe, have both repeatedly questioned marriage equality in Court documents and public speeches, and have consistently voted against discrimination protections for LGBTQ people. A bill to codify marriage equality for same-sex couples and couples of different races is on hold in the U.S. Senate until after the election, and was discussed in a debate this week in Ohio between candidates for Senate, Rep. Tim Ryan and J.D. Vance.

GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis, said, “The stakes could not be higher. Every LGBTQ person and every one of our allies must hear the warning in these ads and make a plan to vote. The legal protection of our marriages is at risk,  and marriage equality is on the ballot. We urgently need everyone to speak up for LGBTQ people with their votes to protect our marriages, our children, our families and our futures.”

Family Equality CEO Stacey Stevenson said, “It’s clear from the 300 plus anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the United States in 2022 that our families are at risk. Our legal protections are at risk. Our kids are at risk. The LGBTQ+ community and our allies must come together and vote. We can’t afford to sit this one out.” 

The Respect for Marriage Act would codify marriage equality for same-sex couples and couples of different races. The legislation was introduced in July by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Diane Feinstein (D-CA), and Susan Collins (R-ME). It passed in a bipartisan victory in the U.S. House of Representatives, with support from 47 Republicans and every Democrat, yet Senators announced last month they would hold the vote on the bill until after the election. 

The “Marriage Threat” and “Protect Our Families” (re-introducing Americans to the Briggle family of Texas and their transgender son) ads are part of GLAAD’s ongoing work to ensure voters know the stakes and the key issues affecting LGBTQ people. LGBTQ voters made the deciding difference in the 2020 election for pro-equality candidates to take the White House and ensure a new pro-equality majority in the U.S. Senate. 

Be sure to check your registration status and make a plan to vote in the Tuesday, November 8, 2022, election at glaad.org/vote. 

About GLAAD:

GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.

About Family Equality:

Family Equality is creating a world where everyone can experience the love, safety, and belonging of family. As the leading national organization for current and future LGBTQ+ families, we work to ensure that everyone has the freedom to find, form, and sustain their families by advancing LGBTQ+ equality through advocacy, support, storytelling, and education. Learn more at familyequality.org