PFLAG National Releases New Video featuring Indigo Girls, Antigone Rising, K’s Choice, and More as Part of #EqualityStartsWithMe Campaign

The #EqualityStartsWithMe campaign includes videos, graphics, letter-writing actions, and more in support of passing the federal Equality Act (H.R. 5), to ensure that LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones are protected from discrimination and harassment

WASHINGTON — PFLAG National—the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies—released a new video, part of PFLAG National’s #EqualityStartsWithMe campaign. The video features musical artists Indigo Girls, Antigone Rising, K’s Choice, Lauren Ruth Ward, Smoke Season, and Violet and The Undercurrents sharing what equality means to them, and why passing the Equality Act is a crucial step in protecting LGBTQ+ people in America from discrimination and harassment.

WATCH NOW: Musical artists state: #EqualityStartsWithMe!

The video was created in collaboration with Sound & Vision Collective, a Los Angeles-based social impact agency for musicians of all levels. Founded by Dom Kelly and Kat Manos, Sound & Vision Collective brings great artists together with impactful and socially conscious nonprofit organizations to make the world a better, more just, and equal place.

“We’re honored to share the message of equality from these incredible artists,” said PFLAG National Executive Director Brian K. Bond. “The Equality Act is a critical piece of legislation for hundreds of thousands of PFLAG families across the country, and we’re grateful to Amy Ray, Emily Saliers, Kristen Ellis-Henderson, Phylshawn Johnson, Violet Vonder Haar, Sarah Bettens, and all of the artists who spoke out on behalf of our LGBTQ+ loved ones and their families.”

The participating artists have a huge following and a diverse range of backgrounds. Indigo Girls’ recording career includes fourteen studio records, three live records, and three greatest hits compilations, as well as seven gold records and a Grammy win. Antigone Rising has established a far-reaching reputation for being true to themselves. While the New York trio’s high-energy live performances and emotionally resonant songwriting have earned the long-term devotion of the band’s fans, their passionate social conscience continues to manifest itself in the group’s tireless activism. In more than 20 years they’ve established themselves as one of America’s hardest-working, most self-reliant bands.  Lauren Ruth Ward’s music has spread like wildfire these past two years in LA after leaving her hometown of Baltimore. Her band re-creates 60s rock and roll nuances, allowing Ward to release a powerhouse of raw, visceral emotion in their live show. Smoke Season is out to make the world a little weirder, one song at a time. The outspoken pair leaves no stone uncovered in their songwriting, often opting to tackle tough subjects that hit close to home, such as discussions of gender, sexuality, and race. K’s Choice, founded by sibling duo Sarah and Gert Bettens, have fulfilled their musical destiny by crafting a completely in your face, from start to finish, draw a line in the sand, don’t hold back, get up on your feet and get ready to party, you must hear it to believe it, rock record. Violet and the Undercurrents is a Columbia, Missouri-based quartet anchored by the intrepid songwriting of Violet Vonder Haar and enriched by the creative energy of her musical counterparts: jazz drummer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Phylshawn Johnson, bassist Linda Bott, and guitarist Lizzy Weiland. The group has appeared at prominent festivals around the country, including SXSW and the Folk Alliance International Conference.

PFLAG National’s #EqualityStartsWithMe campaign launched in March at the introduction of the Equality Act in Congress, with the entire PFLAG National Board of Directors unanimously endorsing a resolution in support of the Equality Act, a resolution which was also translated into Spanish. The resolution was shared at the Congressional introduction by Rep. David Cicilline, lead sponsor on the Equality Act.

Despite significant steps forward, LGBTQ+ people living in the U.S. lack basic legal protections under federal law, and the patchwork of current laws leaves millions of people subject to uncertainty and potential discrimination that impacts their families, their livelihoods, their safety, and their day-to-day lives. The Equality Act would add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing civil rights protections, prohibiting discrimination based on an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity at work, in the context of housing, credit, education, and jury service; and in programs that receive federal funding and places of public accommodations.

Currently, PFLAG National has a Mother’s Day #EqualityStartsWithMe action going online, with mothers sending Mother’s Day messages to their legislators in advance of a likely vote on the Equality Act next week in the U.S. House. Supporters are taking ongoing action at pflag.org/equalitystartswithme, sharing their stories about what equality—and passage of the Equality Act—means to their families.