You may have heard about a “skeleton video” making its way around the Internet lately, but did you know that two Philly-area natives and their son starred in the viral PSA?
The video aims to spread the message that “love has no labels” by depicting dancing digital skeletons on a giant screen in front of a live crowd — gender, race, age, etc., are indiscernible — who eventually step out from behind the screen to reveal that they are a same-sex couple, biracial friends or of different religions, etc.
Anthony Henderson, from Germantown, and Jason Strong, from Abington, along with their 4-year-old son Marcelino — who all now live in Los Angeles — were among only a handful of lucky participants who got to share their love with the world.
Henderson, 38, a celebrity fashion stylist, and Strong, 40, a manager at the L.A. LGBT Center, met online. After almost 10 years together, they will be tying the knot on July 17. Their dream of starting a family came true in May when they were able to adopt their son.
The opportunity to participate in the PSA came about when, unbeknownst to Strong, a colleague of his sent the PSA’s casting director a photo of Strong and his family. Things moved very quickly from there.
“I didn’t even know that my coworker sent the photo,” said Strong. “The casting director called me 20 minutes later while I was in a meeting and said they would love if we could come in and do a screen test.”
Two days later, the family did so.
“We just acted like ourselves,” Strong said.
The assistant director loved the family, Strong said, and promised to get in touch soon for a call-back.
By the end of the week, the family was meeting with the filmmakers again and answering questions about their life as gay men raising a child.
The family was deemed a perfect fit for the project, which was filmed on Santa Monica’s famous Third Street Promenade over Valentine’s Day weekend.
Strong said it was a bit of a challenge to get their son to perform on cue.
“We were fitted with sensors to track our movements as the skeletons on the screen,” said Strong. “It was tough to get our son to go along with it. As cute as he is, kids do what they want to do,” he added jokingly.
It was even more of a challenge for Henderson, who performed without the sensors.
“There were only two sets of sensors, so I had to pretend that they were standing next to me,” said Henderson. “It was difficult, but we nailed it.”
Both Henderson and Strong were touched by the crowd’s reaction when they stepped out from behind the screen.
“I loved their reaction,” said Strong. “It was overwhelmingly positive. There was no negativity.”
“They were inviting and happy,” added Henderson. “They seemed very joyful when we came out.”
The video quickly went viral and now has more than 40 million views on YouTube.
“I am so surprised that the video has taken off like it has,” said Henderson. “All the views, First Lady Obama retweeted it. Everyone that has seen it has cried.”
Henderson cited Marcelino as their reason for participating in the PSA.
“It has been nothing but an absolute pleasure,” said Henderson of raising their son. “We are so blessed.”
“This is probably the greatest experience that we have had,” said Strong. “The way he looks at you is just a joy. It makes everything worthwhile.”
“Our family is no different than anyone else’s,” he added. ‘When you strip away the layers, we are all alike.”
To view the PSA, visit www.lovehasnolabels.com.