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Our NOH8 campaign photo is finally here. Back in April we went to the shoot in Baltimore, MD. Here is the blog entry from that event. Today we received an email that the photos from that shoot were ready and we think think our photo came out good.  Here is the photo:


We'll probably do another shoot down the line. It's for such a great cause.

We went to Baltimore yesterday to Club Hippo for a NOH8 Campaign Photo Shoot.  The mission statement for the NOH8 campaign is "a charitable organization whose mission is to promote marriage, gender and human equality through education, advocacy, social media, and visual protest."

Here is a history on the campaign:

" On November 4, 2008 Proposition 8 passed in California, amending the state Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. The defeat provoked a groundswell of initiative within the GLBT community at a grassroots level, with many new political and protest organizations being formed in response.

The NOH8 Campaign is a photographic silent protest created by celebrity photographer Adam Bouska (http://www.bouska.net) and partner Jeff Parshley in direct response to the passage of Proposition 8. Photos feature subjects with duct tape over their mouths, symbolizing their voices being silenced by Prop 8 and similar legislation around the world, with "NOH8" painted on one cheek in protest.


Three years since its inception, the NOH8 Campaign has grown to over 20,000 faces and continues to grow at an exponential rate. The campaign began with portraits of everyday Californians from all walks of life and soon rose to include politicians, military personnel, newlyweds, law enforcement, artists, celebrities, and many more."

We both support this protest and support marriage, gender and human equality. 

We got to Club Hippo a little past 7 pm and signed a model release form.  We were in the late 300s for our number, which shows how many people attended this event. We waited until our number was called which was a little bit of a wait. They were at 225 when we had gotten there. They called  groups of numbers to get their picture taken. While waiting we met a nice woman named Jennifer who came alone. She was really sweet and energetic.  We wore white tee-shirts for the shoot and had a NOH8 sticker tattoo on our cheek. 


The shoot was very quick and we had practiced what we were going to do before the shoot, however it was quick and we were directed on what to do by the photographer. I had seen pictures of other people who had done the shoot and thought the poses they did were what they created, but the photographer told us what he wanted, took about 10 quick shots and we were done. It was actually better that way. The pose he had us do was much more creative that what we practiced. I think that because of the time, since it was around 9:30 pm by the time they got to us, they might have been quicker. I saw one man before we took our shot, do a really interesting pose, where one leg was up. I don't think the photographer directed him on that, hehe. 


Overall it was a good experience. If in the future we decided to do it again, we have more knowledge of how it goes now. The shoots are all over the United States, though most are pretty far away. I think the campaign came to DC last year. I'm not sure if it'll be in DC this year. We won't see our professional shoot for 4 to 8 weeks. Hopefully the shot came out good and that we both don't look like a deer in headlights. Here is a photo gallery of some shots by other people who did the campaign.


We took these photos before the shoot.

I was on Capitol Hill in DC yesterday, helping to lobby for a program called TRiO which helped get me to where I am today. Recently the program has undergone loss of funding and support for students has been significantly reduced. Some programs may even been shut down for good.  I met up with one of the directors of the Ronald E. McNair Program at Kean University. She has come to Capitol Hill in the past, showing her support for the TRiO program and helping to show its importance.  There where also many other members of the TRiO programs all over the United States. We met with legislative coordinators and members of congressmen from both political parties. I voiced my story about how McNair helped me acquire research skills and helped me get into the Ph.D program at Howard. I also voiced about how beneficial the TRiO program is on giving students an opportunity.

We also took notice to the earlier blossoming of the Cherry Blossoms. It was nice to see the Cherry Blossoms and get away from the ugly head of politics.

For more information on TRiO check here.
For more information about Ronald E. McNair for which the McNair program was created after click here.

Below are a few pictures of the Cherry Blossoms.

 “Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson