Voice for Equality: Russell Simmons

Russell Simmons is an American entrepreneur, the co-founder, with Rick Rubin, of the pioneering hip-hop label Def Jam, and creator of the clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and American Classics. He is the older brother of Rev. Joseph Simmons, better known as "Run" of Run-DMC. His older brother, Daniel Simmons, Jr, is an accomplished abstract artist. Since May 2005, Russell Simmons has been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post, and in January 2009 he was named Editor-In-Chief of GlobalGrind.com: The World According To Hip-Hop. Simmons is the third richest figure in hip hop, behind only Jay-Z and Sean Combs. Learn more here.

In April 2009, Mr. Simmons sent an open letter to New York Governor David Paterson in support of marriage equality, and then in October 2009 his participation in the Love Unites Shepard Fairey Equality Project, a new marriage equality advocacy project, was announced. More than 80 celebrities were enlisted to sign their names to a Shepard Fairey print titled Defend Equality - Love Unites. Fairey, whose Obama Hope print became the iconic emblem of President Obama’s 2008 campaign, was approached by FAIR, an LGBT grassroots marriage equality organization, to commission an image that would help unite and inspire the marriage equality movement. “I am proud to contribute the Defend Equality Love Unites image to the fight for marriage equality, and commend FAIR for putting this image to good use." The signed prints will be sold in online auctions starting in November 2009. [Link]

Freedom to Marry salutes Russell Simmons as a Voice for Equality! See other Voices for Equality here.

If Mr. Simmons' support inspires you - get involved!

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!