Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash Makes a Video in Support of NY Marriage Equality

NEW YORK -- In the wake of Phoenix Suns president and CEO Rick Welts' revelation that he is gay, Suns point guard Steve Nash has made a video in support of New York's marriage equality proposition.

"Hi I'm Steve Nash," he says in the video, produced by the Human Rights Campaign, a national organization leading the effort to legalize same-sex marriage in New York. "I spend my summers in New York and I love playing at the Garden. A growing number of professional athletes are speaking out in support of gay and lesbian couples getting married, I'm proud to be one of them. Join me and the supermajority of New Yorkers who support marriage equality."

Nash had been considering appearing in the video for months. According to HRC vice president of communications Fred Sainz, the NBA star ultimately timed the release to support Welts and New York Rangers forward Sean Avery, who experienced a backlash among hockey fans after making a similar video. NHL player agent Todd Reynolds called Avery's support for the issue "misguided." Many anonymous commenters on message boards harshly criticized Avery for his support of the proposition, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo has advanced. Cuomo is hoping for a vote by legislators in June.

A previous proposition was defeated in New York by the State Senate in 2009. This time, proponents have generated a marketing campaign that has drawn the support of celebrities such as New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and actors Julianne Moore and Sam Waterston.

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=6576883

:toast:

:bounce: :thumbsup:

on and off the court.
:bounce: