Uma Thurman Speaks Out for New York Marriage Equality

As the New York state senate deliberates whether to vote on the marriage equality bill, Uma Thurman turns up the star power with the latest video in the New Yorkers for Marriage Equality series from the Human Rights Campaign.

“What we’re fighting for is a conservative value, the right to make a life-long commitment to someone you love,” says the star of Kill Bill  and many other films.

The mention of “conservative” seems intended for state senate Republicans, who on Thursday will continue their closed-door discussion about whether to bring the bill to the floor for a vote by the end of session on Monday. Political calculations rank high on the list of concerns for the GOP majority, which in anticipation of the 2012 elections must weigh widespread public support for the issue and millions of dollars in gay fund-raising against entrenched opposition from some parts of the Republican base.

The New York state assembly passed the bill on Wednesday night for the fourth time, which puts the matter entirely on the senate. One more Republican vote is needed to pass the bill in the senate, where 29 Democrats and two Republicans currently support the measure.

The New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign, which has appeared online and on New York City’s Taxi TV, features video testimonials from high-profile and everyday people with connection to the state in order to raise awareness of the issue. So far, HRC has released videos from Harold Ford, Jr., Michael Strahan, Ben & Jerry, Broadway Actors, Vanessa Williams, Anna Wintour, Larry King, Sean Avery, Julianna Margulies, Bill T. Jones, Sam Waterston, World War II veteran Edward Hinz, Christopher Meloni, Mario Batali, David Chang, Tom Colicchio, Lucy Liu, Bill Bratton & Rikki Klieman, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Former New York City Mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins, Russell Simmons, Mark & Sunrise Ruffalo, John Slattery, Joan Rivers, Barbara Bush, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Whoopi Goldberg, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Kyra Sedgwick & Kevin Bacon, Fran Drescher, Moby, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Julianne Moore, and Kenneth Cole.