London indie-pop trio The xx have issued a statement via their official Facebook page, condemning Croatian anti-gay marriage group U ime objtelji, which translates as In The Name Of The Family, for non-permitted use of their track Intro in one of the group’s campaign ads.
Making a rather ironic choice, the group, which according to its website, seeks to “protect marriage in Croatia as a union of man and woman,” chose to score their campaign with the music of a band in which two of the three members are openly gay, and who “unconditionally support” gay marriage.
“It has come to our attention that our music has been used without our permission in a promotional advert by the Croatian organisation ‘U ime obitelji’,” opens the missive by The xx. “We wish to state that we didn’t, and would never, approve the use of our music by this organisation,” they add.
According to NME, U ime obitelji have managed to garner enough petition signatures to force a referendum on banning gay marriage in Croatia. The vote will take place 1st December and could potentially see marriage in Croatia legally defined as being only between a man and a woman.
Meanwhile Gay Star News is reporting that The xx are considering legal action against the organisation, with a band representative reportedly sending a letter to members of Croatian Parliament to seek advice in taking “appropriate action.”
Readers can check out The xx’s full statement, below.
Watch: The xx – Intro Live at Glastonbury 26/06/10
The xx ‘U ime objtelji’ Statement
It has come to our attention that our music has been used without our permission in a promotional advert by the Croatian organisation “U ime obitelji”. We wish to state that we didn’t, and would never, approve the use of our music by this organisation. To be clear, we unconditionally support the equal right to marriage regardless of sexuality.
xx The xx
