Bruce Springsteen Gets Vocal In Campaign For Marriage Equality

A same-sex marriage initiative out of the United States is asking voters to “Listen to The Boss” in an effort to rally support for marriage equality in an upcoming ballot in four US states: Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington, according to reports from CBS.

‘The Boss’, of course, refers to Bruce Springsteen who has lent his image and voice to The Four 2012’s web-based campaign. The poster features a photograph of the music legend alongside quotes that support efforts to legalise same-sex marriage.

American radio station WCBS reports that the comments attributed to Springsteen were not supplied to The Four 2012 campaign directly; rather, were taken from a blog post the music icon wrote back in 2009, which quoted former New Jersey governor John Corzine:

“The marriage-equality issue should be recognized for what it truly is — a civil rights issue that must be approved to assure that every citizen is treated equally under the law,” goes the quote.

Following on from its use as promotion, Springsteen proclaims, “I couldn’t agree more with that statement and urge those who support equal treatment for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters to let their voices be heard now.”

Both quotes are featured on the poster in the lead up to the November ballot, which includes marriage initiatives that will help to legalise same-sex marriage in three states (Maine, Maryland, Washington State) whilst preventing a total ban on same-sex marriage in the fourth (Minnesota).

Springsteen is an obvious candidate to inspire political activism given his role as a blue collar hero for the everyman and music legend status.

Something that, as we saw back in August, even Aussie politicians have tried to use to their advantage - Wayne Swan, anyone? The Labor Treasurer gave a lecture that stated the importance of Springsteen’s legacy with working class America was just as applicable to Australia’s current social climate.

“If I could distil the relevance of Bruce Springsteen’s music to Australia it would be this: don’t let what has happened to the American economy happen here,” Mr Swan said.

Springsteen’s support of the gay and lesbian community has been evident for some time. Most famously in 1993, when he wrote “Streets of Philadelphia” for the film Philadelphia, which starred Tom Hanks as a gay man living with AIDS. The film was well received and seen as a turning point in the way gays and lesbians were represented in films.

It will be interesting to see whether Wayne Swan’s fanboy-esque routine will extend to the support of marriage equality in Australia. Although it doesn’t seem likely.

You can view The Boss’ call for gay-marriage equality below: