How George Takei Helped The Marriage Equality Crusade Boldly Go Where Few Campaigns Have Gone Before

Apr 15, 2013 11:10 AM ET

Prove Your Purpose

George Takei, an American actor best known for his role in the original television series "Star Trek," may seem to some like an unlikely choice for today's major consumer campaign spokesperson. Yet since Monday, March 25th, Takei – who is openly gay and prolific on social media – has been credited by many with sparking the initial success of the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) marriage equality crusade that turned many a social media profile picture crimson. With Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram still draped in the color of love two weeks later, the holistic and lasting success of the campaign can be attributed to several key elements. Sure to become a case study in social campaigning for years to come, here Julie Kane, a senior account executive in Cone's Social Impact practice, outlines those elements that helped the HRC boldly go where few viral campaigns have gone before.

1.    Preparedness
In the past ten years, in part due to the passing of California's Proposition 8 in 2008, the state constitutional amendment that banned same-sex marriage, public opinion on the issue of same-sex marriage has changed dramatically.

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