MALIBU, Calif. -- This weekend, straight ally and ten-time Olympian swimmer Gary Hall Jr. will swim to raise awareness for LGBT Equality, advocacy organization Equality California announced today.

The swim, which takes place Saturday, Sept 24, 2011, starting at 9 am, is a 1.7 mile open-water swim, and Hall will join 30 other swimmers as they make their way through the surf from Malibu's Tower 1 to the Zuma Lifeguard Headquarters.

Each swimmer or team has committed to raising a minimum of $2000 per person to benefit Equality California.

"Issues of LGBT equality hit particularly close to home, as I have friends who are LGBT, some of whom have been afraid to come out of the closet,” said Hall in the EQCA announcement. “I see the work that Equality California is doing as so important to the welfare of my friends and all LGBT people."

"It is an incredible honor to have a distinguished athlete and straight ally like Gary Hall Jr. join the swim and support our effort to advance equality," said Equality California Development Director Eric Harrison. Harrison is also participating in the swim.

"The Swim for Equality is an exciting, fun way to get involved in a movement with a very real, positive impact on LGBT people, especially LGBT youth who need support and positive role models," Harrison said.

"This year, I’m dedicating my swim in memory of Seth Walsh, a California middle school student who took his own life nearly one year ago after enduring relentless bullying solely because of his sexual orientation."

A Finish Line Pool Party will take place immediately after the swim at the home of True Blood music composer and OUT 100 recipient, Nathan Barr.

To learn more about the Swim for Equality, visit EQCA Swim page.

About Equality California

EQCA is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights advocacy organization in California. Over the past decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for LGBT individuals to a state with some of the most comprehensive civil rights protections in the nation. Equality California has passed more than 80 pieces of legislation and continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org