Freedom to Marry Debuts Alabama TV Ad Ahead of Marriages Commencing on Feb. 9

New York - Feburary 2, 2015 – Following two recent rulings striking down Alabama's ban on marriage for gay couples and last week's sideshow drama by Chief Justice Roy Moore, Freedom to Marry began airing a TV ad across Alabama calling for respect for all families. The ad airs as many anticipate the possible start of marriages in the state beginning February 9.

"Our ad keeps the spotlight on what's at the heart of the Alabama marriage cases, as well as similar cases now before the U.S. Supreme Court: love, commitment, family, and equality under the law," said Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry. "Alabama's federal judge -- appointed by George W. Bush -- joined a dozen other Republican-appointed judges in recent months, and 60 state and federal courts, in holding that marriage bans are unconstitutional. And how can you not be touched by Jessica and Chi's heartfelt desire for the state they love and live in to respect their family and treat them as what they are -- married? Alabama, like all of America, is ready for the freedom to marry."

The ad features a lesbian couple, Jessica and Chi Peoples, and their daughter, Nailah, who live in Birmingham.

The ad began running during the Sunday political shows in Birmingham and Montgomery, and will run through Tuesday in each of the Birmingham and Montgomery markets. The ad can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/yOe9dWbjd3Y In addition, the ad will be running online across Alabama from Feb. 1-8.

Last week, Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore responded to the marriage ruling claiming that marriage is a basic foundation but that "the destruction of that institution is upon us by federal courts."

A transcript follows of the thirty-second spot.

Chi Peoples: "I can't imagine anyone loving a person as much as I love my wife. Alabama does not recognize our marriage. Everyone wants to believe that if you do what you're supposed to do your family will be taken care of. But we don't have that safeguard – that every child can feel good about the home they come from. Isn't that what matters?"

Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage nationwide. We are pursuing our Roadmap to Victory by working to win the freedom to marry in more states, grow the national majority for marriage, and end federal marriage discrimination. We partner with individuals and organizations across the country to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and the protections, responsibilities, and commitment that marriage brings.