CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT: #NOH8OnTheHill
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Last week, we announced NOH8 Co-Founders Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley would be hosting a special photo shoot in Washington, D.C. for any and all Members of Congress in the US Senate and House of Representatives who were willing to show their support for the LGBT community and take a stand against bullying and discrimination. This unique initiative was geared toward engaging more elected officials and encouraging them to participate in the cause, communicating their advocacy of equal human rights to their constituents.
Today, we are excited to follow-up that announcement with the news that ten members of congress participated in the NOH8 ON THE HILL photo shoot; all of them being Democrats from the House of Representatives, including a Delegate to Congress from the District of Columbia. Representatives from Ohio, Massachusetts, California, Oregon, and Colorado took a few minutes away from the floor to pose for their NOH8 photo - making it known where they stand on equality.
"Our nation was founded upon the principle of equality. It is imperative that we work for equal rights for all in order to make that principle a reality. Love isn't gay or straight, tall or short, black or white, it is for everyone," said Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio's 10th District (Pictured Above/Right). Each and every member of Congress who participated also included a statement to be paired with their NOH8 portrait about why they posed.
“I’m proud to participate in this extraordinary campaign, to make this statement of protest against the treatment of LGBT Americans as second-class citizens. I believe this is the defining civil rights struggle of our time -- where you stand today on marriage equality will determine how you are judged by history. What’s at stake is the human dignity of LGBT people. To deny equal rights and freedoms based on sexual orientation does violence to American values.” - Rep. Lynn Woolsey
"Equality before the law is an American value articulated in our Constitution and it’s at the heart of the NOH8 Campaign. With a focus on our nation’s value of freedom and an unflagging insistence on equality for all, we can look forward to a time when equal rights for all is a given.” - Rep. Jared Polis
"NOH8 because we are a country of equality and inclusion, not hate and segregation. NOH8 because the state should not dictate love or marriage. I proudly join with the NOH8 campaign to stand up for marriage equality and oppose laws that suppress it." - Rep. Jackie Speier
We thank these politicians for their support, and encourage our supporters to continue reaching out to their elected officials and asking them to take part in the NOH8 Campaign!
How can you help? Take a few minutes to write or call your representatives and tell them you want to see them participate in the NOH8 Campaign. We've even found an easy way for you to find their information! Click here to find the contact information for your Representative (House of Representatives: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml), and click here to contact your US Senator: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.
What should you tell them? Let us give you an example (below). Feel free to say whatever you'd like! When providing the contact information, please remember to spell out the e-mail address (ie: "n-o-h-8" instead of "no 'hate'").
"Hi, my name is _____________.
As one of your constituents, I respectfully and enthusiastically encourage you to participate in the NOH8 Campaign; a silent photographic protest to promote marriage, gender and human equality through education, advocacy, social media, and visual protest.
By posing for a NOH8 photo, you would send a clear, critical message of support to the LGBT community, its allies, and most importantly, its youth. Please join over 20,000 faces, including political figures like Cindy and Meghan McCain, Dennis and Elizabeth Kucinich, and other Members of Congress in taking part in this historic movement. Please e-mail press@noh8campaign.com for more information. Thank you for your time."
With 2012 being such an important year for civil rights, we want to remind you that it's so important to make your voice heard by taking the time to VOTE. If you haven't registered to vote, it's easy: all you have to do is click the button below, fill out the short form to register, and you'll be ready to vote!
Like every single face that makes up the NOH8 Campaign, every vote counts and you have the right and the responsibility to tell our government how you feel.
