Marriage Equality Advocates Team Up With Shepard Fairey in Launch of Celebrity-Endorsed Print Project

Location: Andaz West Hollywood
When: Thursday November 12^th

Debuts the Online Auction of the Prints That Will Benefit Grassroots Marriage Equality Activism. Event to be Held in Association with HOMOtracker

(Los Angeles, CA) On November 12^th 2009, FAIR, an LGBT grassroots organization, and artist Shepard Fairey will debut  a select group of celebrity-customized original screen prints during an event taking place at the Andaz West Hollywood. The prints are a part of a marriage equality project undertaken by FAIR to help give a platform to nearly 100 celebrity voices in support of marriage equality. The launch event is being held in partnership with entertainment networking group HOMOtracker and its annual fundraiser ‘FallOut.’ Celebrity participants who have signed – and in some cases customized – the original screen prints include Julia Roberts, Robert De Niro, Marc Jacobs, Anne Hathaway, Ellen & Portia, Mayor Gavin Newsom, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Pine, Jessica Biel, Natalie Portman, Bradley Cooper, Lance Bass, Dave Matthews, Jared Leto, Virginia Madsen and Charlie Sheen among the group of over 80 actors, musicians, political leaders and other notables. Shepard Fairey, who created the original print, DEFEND EQUALITY LOVE UNITES, which has become a symbol in the fight for marriage equality, will attend and serve as DJ for a portion of the evening.

The event will also launch an auction of the signed and customized prints on the charity auction website charitybuzz.com. Proceeds raised from the online auction, lasting from Nov 10^th to Dec 9^th, will directly benefit the grassroots organizations fighting for marriage equality in California and across the country. A selection of the customized original screen prints, custom-framed courtesy of Allan Jeffries Framing, will be on display throughout the Andaz ballroom and pool deck. Not just the amazing venue hosting the launch party, the Andaz West Hollywood is also a significant partner and sponsor of the event.

In November of 2008, after the passage of Proposition 8 in California, artist and civil rights advocate Shepard Fairey, whose Obama HOPE print became an iconic centerpiece of the President’s visual campaign, was approached by grassroots marriage equality organization FAIR to commission an image to help unite and inspire the movement. The result was the creation of the DEFEND EQUALITY LOVE UNITES image. Shepard Fairey’s ‘Obey: Supply and Demand’ show at the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, PA, opens October 17^th.

For information about the event, the participants, the project and the auction please contact Fifteen Minutes Public Relations, or visit www.FAIRonline.org. If you are interested in participating in the project or event, please email andrew@fifteenminutes.com. Tickets for the November 12^th event are available via http://fallfairout.eventbrite.com.

ABOUT FAIR

With its finger on the pulse of the passion and potential within our generation, FAIR  is revolutionizing what it means to be young and active.  Stepping up after the passage of Proposition 8 to galvanize emerging leaders, FAIR has emerged as a grassroots force with its head in Hollywood, its heart in Sacramento, and its feet planted firmly in the grassroots. The group brings together the skills, passion, and determination of a group of young professionals from diverse backgrounds committed to ensuring that the struggle for equality has a visible face, image, and message. Rebranding activism for a new generation, FAIR engages individuals who have long remained on the periphery of political action and reinvigorates seasoned activists with new ideas, energy, and hope.  FAIR’s first event occurred on November 15th, 2008 when, in less than a week, we brought 15,000 people to City Hall and asked Shepard Fairey to create the ‘Love Unites’ image – which is now a unifying symbol at equality events across the globe. The true impact of our mission culminates with the launch of FAIRforward, a micro-fund that provides the financial and human capital needed to support up-and-coming activists in their efforts to change the world. Working to create a tangible shift in California’s marriage equality movement, FAIR embodies and empowers a new generation to claim equality and freedom as their own and wages war on homophobia, with pop culture street cred backing us up. FAIR functions under a 501c3 fiscal sponsorship agreement.

For more information please visit www.FAIRonline.org.

ABOUT HOMOTRACKER

HOMOtracker began as the brainchild of a small group of gay and lesbian professionals seeking to exchange information, give advice and gain support in the entertainment industry. Today our membership represents almost all major studios, networks, agencies and production companies, including Fox, MTV Networks, DreamWorks, WME, Warner Bros, USA Network, Sony, Lionsgate, Paradigm, Here! TV and Logo. There are also several above- and below-the-line production & creative talent involved in the group, including feature and television writers and directors. The group has since expanded its focus to include community outreach efforts which have benefited the LA Gay & Lesbian Center, the “No On 8, Equality for All” campaign, OUTFEST,  and most recently The Trevor Project. Earlier this spring, HOMOtracker received the “E-Hero Award” at the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Gala in Los Angeles.

For more info please visit www.HOMOtracker.org.

ABOUT ANDAZ WEST HOLLYWOOD

Global in scale while local in perspective, Andaz delivers an innovative hospitality experience blending personal preferences with attentive and uncomplicated service. This unique collection of hotels reflects the personality of each locale, and is dedicated to creating natural and vibrant living spaces where travelers can indulge in their own personal sense of comfort and style. The first property, Andaz Liverpool Street, launched in London, in November 2007. The first North American Andaz, Andaz West Hollywood, opened in West Hollywood on January 8, 2009. Subsequent property openings scheduled include Andaz Wall Street (Winter 2010), Andaz Fifth Avenue (Spring 2010) and Andaz Austin (Winter 2011).

For more information please visit www.andaz.com.

ABOUT CHARITYBUZZ

Charitybuzz is the world’s leader in celebrity-driven online charity auctions.  Charitybuzz enjoys the planet’s largest community of upscale bidders numbering over 25,000. There is nothing more important than the work non-profits undertake. At charitybuzz, we believe that cause marketing can be both effective and trend setting. Our innovative auctions reach millions on a global basis. Our growing community of bidders are driven to do well, affluent, well educated, well informed and brand loyal.

For more information please visit www.charitybuzz.com.

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