The red equal sign invaded Facebook on Tuesday as millions of users changed their profile picture to the red and pink hued logo in support of marriage equality.
The latest trend to sweep the social networking site is the brainchild of the Human Rights Campaign, an organization supporting gay marriage. The group designed a picture of a two-tone red equal sign to signify that the user is also in support of marriage equality.
The campaign comes just as the Supreme Court is looking into whether California’s Prop 8 barring same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Should the court overturn Prop 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act, it would be the definitive victory for same-sex advocates.
Unlike other Facebook campaigns in support of breast cancer or other causes, the red equal sign was tied into a more concrete form of activism. On its site, the Human Rights Campaign included an invitation to demonstrate in favor of marriage equality:
“Join us to rally in support of the freedom to marry at the North Steps of the Capitol Building at 7:00 on Tuesday! We will be rallying to support Prop 8 and DOMA cases before the Supreme Court!”
The organization also called for supports to do more than just change their profile picture to the red equal sign. They also asked them to wear red in their wardrobe and splash it across other parts of their Facebook page.
The Human Rights Campaign also helped to create a snowball effect, as several other groups introduced their own images in support of gay marriage or put a twist on the red equal sign.
Some high-profile people have signed on to the movement as well. Journalist Ryan Teague Beckwith noted that several members of congress and other high-ranking officials have adopted the red equal sign.
Updated: 13 members of Congress changed their Twitter avatars in support of gay marriage today. bit.ly/YCp7sI #SCOTUS #Prop8
— Ryan Teague Beckwith (@ryanbeckwith) March 26, 2013
Conn. Gov. Dannel Malloy, Md. Gov. Martin O’Malley changed their Twitter avatars to a red equal sign. @ govmalloyoffice @ governoromalley
— Ryan Teague Beckwith (@ryanbeckwith) March 26, 2013
It’s not just the avatars they’re changing. Within the past few weeks, several members of Congress have changed their stance to support gay marriage.
The red equal sign seems to owe a lot of its popularity to actor and LGBT activist George Takei. Among the first to change his Facebook avatar to the equal sign, Takei has seen close to 80,000 likes from his vast network of followers.
