Voice for Equality: Haaz Sleiman

Haaz Sleiman is an American actor originally from Lebanon. One of Sleiman's first roles was in the 2004 African-American gay comedy film The Ski Trip. He co-starred as undocumented Syrian immigrant Tarek in the critically-acclaimed 2008 independent film The Visitor, directed by Thomas McCarthy. Sleiman also had small roles in the 2006 film American Dreamz and the 2007 film AmericanEast. In 2006 Sleiman portrayed an American soldier in Iraq on the NBC series ER, and that same year had a recurring role as an Arab billionaire in the CBS series Company Town. He portrayed the terrorist suspect Heydar in three 2007 episodes of the FOX series 24, and appeared on both NCIS and Veronica Mars in 2007. Sleiman costars as gay nurse Mohammed "Mo-Mo" De La Cruz in the Showtime dark comedy series Nurse Jackie, which premiered in June 2009. The straight actor is proud to portray the only gay character of Middle Eastern descent currently on the air and one of the few to have ever been portrayed on television. Learn more here.

Mr. Sleiman was photographed wearing a White Knot at the Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, CA on February 21, 2009. The White Knot for Equality organization is dedicated to the idea of marriage equality. One of their quotes is “Everyone should have the right to tie the knot,” and they illustrate this point by producing and distributing White Knots nationally and worldwide. They encourage marriage equality supporters to “wear the White Knot every day to show support and to create conversation. Share the White Knot and spread the word that all loving couples deserve the same legal rights, benefits, and respect that civil marriage bestows." [Link]

Freedom to Marry salutes Haaz Sleiman as a Voice for Equality! Learn about other Voices for Equality here.

If Mr. Sleiman's support inspires you, take action! Link to No on 1/Protect Maine Equality to find out how you can help with the vital work of preserving marriage equality in Maine!

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