March 1, 2013
Rapper Macklemore Teams Up With Gay Awareness Campaign
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 2 MIN.
It may not surprise anyone that rising rap star Macklemore and his trusted producer Ryan Lewis, who gained notoriety for releasing their pro-gay marriage single "Same Love," have joined a pro-gay campaign, Billboard reports.
The Seattle-based duo is now working with You Can Play, a campaign that is attempting to eliminate homophobia in sports, music and entertainment. The artists have appeared in YouTube videos condemning anti-gay attitudes.
"You know someone who's gay, they just haven't told you yet," Macklemore says in the clip. "Don't let being gay hold you back, and if you're straight, do not hold others back...Anti-gay language has no place in sports, or music."
Macklemore and Lewis release the song "Same Love" in July 2012, which was made in support of legalizing same-sex marriage, particularly during the campaign for Washington state to approve gay marriage. The rapper said the song was created out of his own frustration with the rap community's views on the LGBT community.
"Misogyny and homophobia are the two acceptable means of oppression in hip-hop culture. It's 2012. There needs to be some accountability," he said. "I think that as a society we're evolving and I think that hip hop has always been a representation of what's going on in the world right now."
It should be noted that Michigan middle school teacher Susan Johnson was initially suspended for playing "Same Love" in her classroom. The school's superintendent, however, later reversed the punishment.
"I am willing to not uphold the suspension, but the violation of the district practice regarding web-based clips and our expectations for instructions previewing materials under this will remain in writing," William Pearson, Centennial Middle School's superintendent said in a statement.
More recently, the musicians have released their world-dominating hit, "Thrift Shop," which has gone to number one in the U.S. as well as several other countries, including the U.K., France and Canada.
Watch the campaign video and "Same Love" below:
