Positive Reinforcement

Between the rash of suicides tearing through the LGBT community and news stories like Clint McCance's, a Board Member of the Midland School District in Northern Arkansas who posted hateful homophobic comments on his Facebook, it's certainly been easy for the media to focus on all the negative stories popping up seemingly everywhere. While it's definitely important for these stories to be heard and for changes to be brought about because of them, it's equally important to reinforce the positive messages and remind the community that there IS good work being done.

We at NOH8 wanted to take a moment to reflect on some truly positive experiences for us; two of our most recent photo shoots, held on either side of the country that introduced us to two entirely new communities for the very first time.

Various Seattle Supporters make their statements.

First, the NOH8 Campaign traveled to the Northwest to visit Seattle, Washington for the very first time. Hosted by the W Seattle, we met hundreds of people from the community who were anxious to take their photos and tell their stories. We've been receiving messages from Seattle for quite awhile now, and we were excited to finally get there! NOH8 Supporter Sarah Toce (of The Seattle Lesbian) put together a Behind-The-Scenes video featuring some clips from our Seattle Open Shoot that you can check out below!

Behind-the-Scenes: The Seattle NOH8 Campaign Open Shoot from Sarah Toce on Vimeo.

"I was, like most people, gravely disappointed to see what happened with Prop 8.  It literally is incomprehensible that there are people out there to this day who think that someone being gay would somehow devalue their... "straightness."  I am a straight woman and my relationships are unaffected by my gay friends and their relationships.  Love is never something that should be denied and I hope and do believe that this message will prevail.  I posed with my very close friends Robert and Jason, a couple; my lesbian roommate Mary and our bisexual New Zealand friend Tammie.  I was proud to represent a photo of true LGBT and Straight Alliance. All of us standing in a message of LOVE.  Thank you for bringing NOH8 close enough to me that we could pose together and stand up for what we truly believe.  WE WILL PREVAIL. <3 " - Rikki Sixx (Seattle)

On the opposite side of the country, we had an opportunity to travel to our nation's capitol - Washington, D.C. - and open a shoot up to the public there for the very first time. While NOH8 Co-Founders Jeff Parshley and Adam Bouska were a part of the National Equality March in 2009, this was the first time we were able to set up our studio in DC (courtesy of Cobalt, who graciously made this shoot possible).

Even though same-sex couples in DC can legally marry in their district, the community still came out in droves to support their LGBT community all over the US and encourage change everywhere.

RIGHT: Karl Frisch. LEFT: A family of NOH8 Supporters who volunteered together at the DC shoot.

When we gather these quotes and stories from people about why they posed, it's usually not until those people have received their photos back from the shoot. That being said, we're not truly aware of some of the strongest statements and stories until some of these supporters write us back and let us know exactly how they feel. Perhaps one of our most surprisingly powerful accounts came from Patrick Anthony, a wedding officiant from New Jersey who drove all the way to DC specifically for the NOH8 Shoot.

"Why did I pose? I posed because I was the bigot. I was the hater. I was the person who denied who I am and in doing so denied those around me.

I have been a wedding officiant for three years. I have married over a hundred couples. When I first got started in weddings, I turned away every single request to preside over a Civil Union ceremony (the NJ equivalent of same-sex marriage). I took that hatred so far that I even publicized my refusal of Civil Union couples on my website.

Simply put, I hid behind hatred and the fear of realizing who I am. Those days are behind me.

There were a lot of factors that changed me into the man I am today. Factors that included searching within my soul and allowing the true me to come to the surface. Factors that include friends and family that support me no matter what I decide to do. I opened my eyes and saw my truth and in doing so was completely transformed. As a wedding officiant I now embrace all couples who wish to marry regardless of who they are. I look forward to the day that there is marriage equality for everyone!

I drove from Collingswood, NJ to Washington D.C. for nothing other than to participate and be photographed by the NOH8 Campaign. I posed because I now believe that all of us deserve to be truly loved and accepted. I posed because we all have the right to share in the love that comes from taking care of someone who takes care of you. I posed because it will forever be a reminder to myself and those around me of my commitment to being a better human being. I posed because for the first time in my life I am finally ALL <3 NOH8." - Patrick Anthony

"When my partner and I saw on FaceBook that NOH8 was campaigning here in DC we knew we had to be a part of that. We had just celebrated our one year anniversary and we knew we had to show all the love and support that the campaign has showed to our community. We wish to marry and become same sex parents here in DC pretty soon." - Terrika Hooks

LEFT: Terrika Hooks & Partner      RIGHT: Jason Ford

"I strongly feel that gay rights & equality is the biggest civil rights issue of our time. I took my photo because I wanted to lend my face & voice to an already strong & powerful movement. I want to be able to look back 50 years from now, when we are all equal, with my children and show them that daddy played a part in history." - Jason Ford

Just because I'm straight and have never married doesn't mean others should be denied that right. Who is anyone to tell another who they can love? - Mark Thoresen

With voices like these continuing to make their stories heard, we can only continue moving in the right direction. For a complete list of upcoming open photo shoots for the NOH8 Campaign, please visit our EVENTS Section.

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