Noh8 Photo Shoot

One day I was sitting in the Nugent Lounge when a friend asked me if I would like to get my photo taken by a professional, and I LOVE getting photographed so agreed. He then told me that it would cost 40 dollars. I quickly worried as a college student how would/ could I justify this purchase. I then inquired what the photo was for and decided that I needed to do this. I went around the school to staff members and expressed the importance of this photo and in no time acquired the funds and was on my way downtown. The atmosphere was unbelievable. Everyone there gay, straight, bisexual and everything in between was there to show support for same sex marriage.
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.Nearly one year since its inception, the NOH8 Campaign has grown to over 2,000 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. The NOH8 Campaign has received overwhelming support from around the world, appearing on various local and national news programs and publications. The images are currently being used on various social networking sites to spread the message of equality, predominantly Facebook and Twitter. Eventually the images are expected to be compiled for a large-scale media campaign.
Funds raised by the NOH8 Campaign will be used to continue promoting and raising awareness for Marriage Equality and anti-discrimination on a global level through an educational and interactive media campaign.

April Update

Hullo therr! Sorry it’s been so long. Spring break was delightfulish. I bussed off to Virginia to get ready for my summer job dancing at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Got an apartment on hold, a sublet for my NYC apartment, signed on, orientated, and drug tested so I’m ready to start the day after classes end. Ha! I hung out with my best friend Casey, who took my spot at CNU when I transferred- literally. My roommate became hers and my bed became hers! Funny how it worked out. Then my family and I drove down to North Carolina to visit my aunt’s family for a night before heading to Florida to visit grandparents. Luckily, we’ve taken super long car rides before- ie, driving from our home in California to our relatives in Vermont. In case you didn’t know that’s a four day trip; needless to say we all learned to hold it, stop infrequently, and just get there. This ten hour trip wasn’t bad. I even brought study materials for my midterm in Dance and Culture. Yah…I’ll admit I didn’t study over spring break at all. But I crammed for that midterm Monday and Tuesday and I think I did well on it on Wednesday. I hope so anyway! Florida was good- a bit hectic. My grandparents are the type of people who are constantly worrying about something, which is the complete opposite of my personality. But I dealt with it and hung out with my cousin, who’s around my age and just had a super cute little boy name Caden about a month ago. He’s adorable. We also went to the beach, which I can’t complain about. Then I jetted back Monday morning around 7, so I got to watch the space shuttle launch from the Orlando airport! I started back to classes at 4pm that night. It was a tiring day but a nice break from school and all that jazz. I’m getting back into the swing of things- kicking it into high gear to welcome the spring and the pollen and the sunshine! I’ve decided to regulate my workout schedule because I’ve determined that I’m a binge worker-outer. I do like three days of REALLY INTENSE workout and then am sore for forever and don’t do anything. So yesterday, I just ran three miles and let my body pace itself. I didn’t check time and it was a great workout! I feel really good today, although tired. Two friends from Virginia are in town and they got lost somehow driving around the Upper West Side. I told them to just drive east and keep driving east. Note to car travelers- do NOT follow GPS directions if you are staying in Queens. It rarely works. Four out of four times Bessie, Betty, Hilda and whatever else you call your GPS will fail you. (: Yesterday I felt very artsy, as well. I read John Guare on a rock in Central Park and was inspired, walked barefoot for TOMS (look it up! A very worthwhile cause), talked to my studio art advisor and some students which made me feel like buying clay and ceramic and making something. After my gym time I went to the restaurant that I work at and had dinner with my roommate and came back to write my art history midterm paper! A very fulfilling day, if I do say so meself. I can’t wait for springtime in the city! It is so beautiful outside- I love going up on the roof and looking at the Manhattan skyline and just soaking up the sun and breeze. It’s perfect here, I do declare. I’m lovin’ life! (: