We've been keeping tabs on the GLAAD public service announcements Be an Ally, & A Friend first mentioned several weeks ago and it looks like the campaign is going strong. And we were happy to learn that this holiday weekend a new 20 second spot will be aired following the Sat Nov 24th airing of the highly-anticipated Battlestar Galactica: Razor TV movie on Sci-Fi. Why such a big deal? Well, for one the spot features Jamie Bamber, who plays the hunky and often shirtless Apollo on the show. And being that this is a major TV event the exposure for this GLAAD campaign will be significant.

 Battlestar Galactica has been one of the most popular shows on Sci-Fi and has had a strong gay following thanks to hunks like Bamber and gender-blind cast and storylines.  And Sci-Fi showed great foresight by inviting GLAAD to be a part of this movie event.

 Brit Jamie Bamber will be joined in his psa by other straight actors with gay followings-- Jason Lewis (Brothers and Sisters), Jerry O'Connell (Carpoolers), and Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty). To get an idea of what the campaign is all about we urge you to go to http://www.glaad.org/PSA2006/index.php and check out the previously released psa spots at http://www.glaad.org/2007/2007Video/allypsas.php. 

  

 So far, the participants in this campaign have been a strong alliance of gay and straight celebrities including  Jerry O’Connell, T.R. Knight, Marlee Matlin, John Amaechi, Martina Navratilova, Rachel Griffiths, Ana Ortiz, Sara Ramirez, Rebecca Romijn, Eric Mabius, Kate Walsh,  Michael Urie, Becki Newton,  Dayanara Torres,  Rex Lee,  Alexandra Billings, and Jamie Bamber.

 This campaign also comes at a critical time when the percentage of hate crimes is on the rise (including one against former Top Chef contestant Josie) the debates over hate crimes legislation rage on, and presidential primaries get closer.