Californian rapper Murs has joined other US hip-hop stars in supporting gay rights by kissing another man and wearing a 'Legalize Gay' T-shirt in his latest music video.

In the five-minute video for his latest single Animal Style, Murs plays closeted high school student Roderick whose friends are homophobic but is secretly having a relationship with classmate Jonathan.

In the song, he raps: 'Boyfriend Roderick kept his secret closeted, scared to come out into this world of zero tolerance.

'Off to college, wanted Roderick to follow him. He'd see him in the halls but Rod would never acknowledge him. Away from school though he was so affectionate. Jon had a good thing, no use in upsetting it.'

However, when Jonathan accidentally shows his feelings in front of Roderick's anti-gay 'crew' the couple break up, ending in violence and suicide.

Murs explained on his YouTube page that he did the video because he wanted to be 'an advocate for people close to me who are out and those who have yet to come out.'

He said: 'It's also a love song, which is nothing new for me. But with this one I wanted to challenge the listener to ask themselves, "Is the love shared by two people of the same gender, really that different than the love I have for my partner of the opposite sex?"

'And finally, I just felt it was crucial for some of us in the hip hop community to speak up on the issues of teen suicide, bullying and the overall anti-homosexual sentiment that exists within hip hop culture. I felt so strongly about these issues and this song that I had to do a video that would command some attention, even if it makes some viewers uncomfortable. Even if it came at the cost of my own comfort.'

Murs is not the first rapper to publically support gay rights and join the fight against homophobia and teen suicide, reported The Advocate.

Will Smith, Jay-Z and T.I both backed US President Barack Obama's historic announcement to support gay marriage, while Frank Ocean's song Channel Orange calls on more hip-hop stars to speak out against homophobic discrimination.