Ethan and Ryan Hawke for Marriage Equality

Ethan Hawke and his wife, Ryan, are the latest prominent New Yorkers to join the marriage equality video series from the Human Rights Campaign.

The New Yorkers for Marriage Equality Campaign is designed to move viewers to lobby state lawmakers for marriage equality through video testimonials featuring high-profile allies like the Hawkes. The 30-second spots have aired online and on Taxi TV in New York City.

In the new video, the theater and film star says, "Our relationship is recognized by the government, but some of our friends don't have the same opportunity."

Last year at an HRC fund-raiser, Hawke took a similarly pragmatic approach to the marriage issue, telling The Advocate, "I don't romanticize the institution of marriage, but the truth is, there are real advantages that come with marriage and it should be available to everyone. That is why I am involved with this."

The new video arrives as the marriage equality push heats up in New York. Last Wednesday advocates met for a confidential strategy session in Albany with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has said he wants to see another vote on the marriage equality bill by June. The bill, which has passed the state assembly numerous times, failed in the state senate by a 38-24 vote in 2009.

"Last week our meeting in Albany with Governor Cuomo reminded us why it's important that New York lead again on equality for all, and today we're honored to release a new video from Ethan and Ryan Hawke urging people to contact their state representatives and ask them to support marriage equality now so that this can be the year we allow all loving and committed couples the same dignity and responsibility," said an e-mail from Brian Ellner, senior strategist for the Human Rights Campaign in New York, and one of the advocates who met with the governor.

Other videos in the New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign so far have included Barbara Bush, daughter of former president George W. Bush, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon, Russell Simmons, Julianne Moore, Moby, Fran Drescher, Mark and Sunrise Ruffalo, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Kenneth Cole, John Slattery, and Daphne Rubin-Vega.