Pro-marriage equality ad features Dick Cheney, Laura Bush and Colin Powell

UPDATE: Former first lady Laura Bush asked to be – and has been – removed from an ad that's part of a national TV, newspaper and online campaign highlighting influential support for marriage equality

The Respect for Marriage Coalition will spend about $1 million on a national advertising campaign to support marriage equality.

The centerpiece of the campaign is a television commercial that demonstrates bipartisan backing for same-sex marriage by featuring clips of Dick Cheney, Laura Bush, Colin Powell and President Obama all expressing their support. The commercial will air on Sunday morning talk shows as well as national cable channels.

The ad campaign also includes print and online components.

According to the coalition, “this is the first time in history that LGBT advocacy organizations across America have come together to fund a national ad buy.”

“Against the backdrop of President Obama’s historic comments about marriage rights in his inaugural address, freedom to marry legislation pending in a number of states, and two landmark marriage cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Coalition is working to grow support for marriage rights for same-sex couples across the nation,” the coalition stated in a press release.

More than 80 organizations are involved in The Respect for Marriage Coalition.

Following is the transcript of the ad, which is titled “Leadership”:

Voice-over narrator: None of us would want to be told we can’t marry the person we love. That’s why a growing majority of Americans believe it’s time to allow marriage for gay and lesbian couples.

Former First Lady Laura Bush: When couples are committed to each other and love each other then they ought to have the same sort of rights that everyone has.

Former Secretary of Defense Colin Powell: Allowing them to live together with the protection of law, it seems to me is the way we should be moving in this country.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney: Freedom means freedom for everyone.

President Barack Obama: Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law.

Voice-over narrator: It’s time for marriage.