The LGBTQ rights group Human Rights Campaign is launching a nationwide multimedia campaign to support the approval of the LGBTQ nondiscrimination legislation, or the Equality Act, starting with the “LGBTQ reality flag.”
The campaign will center on the depiction of the American flag with 29 out of 50 stars removed to highlight the states that don’t have legal comprehensive protection for LGBTQ people.
In those states, LGBTQ people can be legally discriminated against in housing, credit, government services, and public accommodations.
A 85-foot long version of this “LGBTQ reality flag” was unveiled last February 23 during the campaign’s launch on the wall of the HRC headquarters building in Washington, DC.
LGBTQ reality flag at the center of the campaign
Surrounding the flag is HRC’s campaign, which includes a series of video ads for social media and TV narrating stories of individual LGBTQ people affected by discrimination.
The ads will be helmed by Joey Soloway, the Emmy Award-winning director, producer, and creator of Amazon’s Transparent, together with a primarily LGBTQ crew.
Joni Madison, HRC’s interim president, said in a statement: “The Reality Flag campaign is designed to point out the inequalities LGBTQ+ individuals face every day– in our own voice.”
“From housing and educational discrimination to denial of government and health services, LGBTQ+ people are confronted by hurdles to simply exist every day,” Madison declared.
She added, “The Reality Flag not only calls out the 29 states where basic freedoms are still missing for millions of people but stands as a symbol of hope that communities can rally behind to enact meaningful change.”
The Equality Act in lawmakers’ hands
Presently, the Equality Act is pending at the US Senate after passing the US House in February 2021 by a vote of 224 to 206, with three Republicans crossing party lines to join the 221 Democrats in approving the bill.
However, while the Democrats have a slim majority in the Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris ready to break any tie with a vote in their favor, the legislative chamber has a longstanding filibuster rule.
Under this rule that Democrats are unable to change, the Equality Act needs a 60-vote majority to pass.
Meanwhile, 49 of the 50 Senate Democrats have signed as co-sponsors of the Equality Act except for Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who is unwilling to support its current version.
Manchin is protesting the provisions related to transgender nondiscrimination in school sports and school bathroom use.
LGBTQ reality flag to fire up public support
Given the situation at the legislative front, HRC hopes to galvanize public support for the measure.
In a statement released during the launch, HRC said this campaign “underscores the importance of lifting up and showcasing the real stories and lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people impacted by discrimination.”
JoDee Winterhof, HRC’s senior vice president of policy and political affairs, told Metro Weekly that the campaign’s visualizing of the missing protections for LGBTQ people “really does help get a point across.”
Meanwhile, Soloway said in a statement that they had jumped at the opportunity when approached with partnering with HRC.
Soloway said this campaign has “the potential to fundamentally shift the conversation around equality in a way that brings more people together than ever before to ensure we are all equally protected and represented under the law.”
For an example of the video ads that can be found at RealityFlag.com, check out the video below:
