Shop Talk

Popular “Project Runway” mentor Tim Gunn has three words for California’s gay marriage advocates: “Make it work.”

And the urbane advisor — who won the hearts of audiences with his advice to aspiring fashion designers on the fashion design reality television show – put the emphasis on W-word.

“If we are going to change the hearts and minds of people throughout the state, it’s going to take you and me working for it,” Gunn said in this video for the Courage Campaign.

Gunn, who also is creative director at Liz Claiborne Inc, is working with the group to rally Californians to repeal Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage in the nation’s most populous state.

California voters approved Proposition 8 in November. The California Supreme Court in May backed the proposition, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Despite losses in the California courts and at the ballot box, gay rights advocates have made major strides in recent months with marriage and domestic partner rights in a handful of states, including  Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and Iowa.

Meanwhile, the battle rages with each side pulling out all the stops. 

Stay tuned.

(Photo: Reuters)