NOH8 Campaign

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NOH8 Campaign

NOH8 Campaign Logo
Formation 2009
Type 501(c)(3)
Location North Hollywood, CA
Founder Adam Bouska
Key people Jeff Parshley, Chairman
Website NOH8Campaign.org

The NOH8 Campaign (pronounced "no hate campaign") is a charitable organization in the United States whose mission is to promote marriage, gender and human equality through education, advocacy, social media, and visual protest.[1]

The main goal of NOH8 is to promote marriage, gender and human equality, regardless of the cultural group one may associate with. Through education, advocacy, social media, visual protest, and the use of famous celebrities as spokespersons, this campaign raises awareness of marriage equality and anti-discrimination on a global level, incorporating almost 30,000 faces with support continually growing.[1]

The campaign was created as photographic silent protest created by celebrity photographer Adam Bouska 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. The phrase refers to "H8" (leet for 'hate'), short for "Proposition H8" (pronounced "proposition hate"), a nickname used by critics of the proposition. The photos are featured on the campaign's website, as well as various social networks, as well as a virtual world campaign in Second Life.[2][3]

Nearly four years since its inception, the NOH8 Campaign has expanded at an increasing rate, with more than 33,000 photos taken at 120 open photo shoots in 43 U.S. states.[citation needed] The campaign started with portraits of everyday Californians of various nationalities, and soon rose to include politicians, military personnel, newlyweds, law enforcement, artists, celebrities, and various others.

The images are widely used on various social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to spread the message of equality. Some photographers and student groups have even set up their own photoshoots.[4][5][6][7] The campaign photos have circulated on the internet and are appearing on many supporter's social networking profiles. Both LGBT and non-LGBT people have participated in the photoshoots.[8]

History

NOH8 Campaign at Los Angeles LGBT pride parade in 2011

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 LGBT community at a grassroots level, with many new political and protest organizations being formed in response. The NOH8 Campaign was created in 2009 as a result of the amendment of Proposition 8.

While initially inspired by Proposition 8, the scope of the NOH8 Campaign has expanded its main goals to fight discrimination and bullying universally as a mean to spread a worldview of acceptance as a cultural norm and as universally valid. Cultural imperialism took on the form of an attitude and a silent protest, implementing a cultural hegemony that states that a given society should stand against the additional inequalities that the LGBT community have faced with in response to the amendment of Proposition 8.[3] The NOH8 Campaign encourages the viewpoint of an equal society by altering society and culture at large in terms of perceptions, values, and beliefs when it comes to the LGBT community. Everyone participating in the photograph and the protest identify him or herself with the hegemonic position and receive the dominant message delivered through this campaign. The NOH8 Campaign has received overwhelming support from around the world, and has appeared in various local and national news programs and publications.

Accomplishments

During the Miss USA 2009 controversy, former Miss USA, Shanna Moakler and co-executive state pageant director Keith Lewis encouraged Tamiko Nash, Miss California and Miss USA 2006 first runner-up, and 2008 Miss California Raquel Beezley to attend a photo shoot to protest Carrie Prejean's views on same-sex marriage in the United States.[9] Later, former Miss USA and Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee posed for the NOH8 campaign.

On May 25, 2009, the NOH8 campaign released a public service announcement,[10] and on August 12, 2009, a second PSA called "Coming Out".[11]

On November 18, 2009, the campaign announced that the city of West Hollywood, California, plans to make December 13 the official "NoH8 Day."[12]

On November 5, 2010, the NOH8 Campaign was approved as a Public Benefit charity by the California Attorney General's office,[13] thus allowing for its current status as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Corporation.[14]

Today, NOH8 celebrates numerous victories for equality. Washington, Maine, and Maryland have become the first states to win marriage equality at the ballot. Tammy Baldwin has become the first openly proud gay Senator of Wisconsin.[15] President Barack Obama, the first President to support marriage equality was re-elected.[15] Although the process for full equality among individuals in the United States and the rest of the world is still progressing, these small changes have led to major differences and may eventually achieve globalization in terms of marriage equality. This movement promotes a positive set of venues for democratic ideals by encouraging human equality. Through globalization, the dominant ideology presented encompasses the social, political and economic status of the LGBT Community and is beneficial for everyone, rather than the exclusion of a cultural group.[15]

Celebrity support

The proceeds from the November 2011 music video Attention Please by Darryl McDaniels of Run–D.M.C. and actress Pauley Perrette of NCIS are donated to the NOH8 campaign.[16] Perrette has also supported NOH8 by providing memorabilia for auction and with awareness-raising efforts such as wearing a NOH8 dress to the People's Choice Awards in 2011 and adding a silent protest photo as the background and profile pic on her official Twitter account.[17][18][19]

Celebrity photo contributors include Larry King, Cindy McCain, Meghan McCain, Alan Cumming, Chris Kluwe, Josh Hutcherson, Weird Al Yankovic, Kathy Griffin, Ricky Martin, Mayra Veronica, Nikki Sixx and 64 Members of the House Democratic Caucus.[20]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "NOH8 Campaign - About". Retrieved 2012-10-20. 
  2. ↑ "NOH8 Campaign SL's photostream". Retrieved 2009-11-19. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "No H8's Viral Campaign Goes Virtual". NOH8. 
  4. ↑ "Local photographer Debra Gloria gives some NOH8 action of her own". 
  5. ↑ "Students strike pose to support NOH8 campaign". 
  6. ↑ Nixon, Tim (2009-11-19). "Kardashian girls keep it schtum". The Sun (London). Retrieved 2009-11-19. 
  7. ↑ McCain, Meghan (June 19, 2009). "Why I Posed Against Prop 8". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2009-11-19. 
  8. ↑ "No H8 Photos Take Over Facebook". The Advocate. 
  9. ↑ "Shanna Moakler, Former Miss Universe Brook Lee Rally for Anti-Prop 8 Ad Campaign". Fox News. 2009-04-29. Retrieved 2009-11-19. 
  10. ↑ "NOH8 Campaign PSA". Retrieved 2009-11-19. 
  11. ↑ "NOH8 Campaign's "I'm Coming Out" PSA". Retrieved 2009-11-19. 
  12. ↑ "Twitter / NOH8 Campaign: Mark your calendars...". Retrieved 2009-11-19. 
  13. ↑ "State of California Department of Justice search of the Registry of Charitable Trusts (RCT)". Retrieved 2011-08-21. 
  14. ↑ "NOH8 Campaign - About". Retrieved 2011-08-21. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Tighe, Mike. "Battles Over Gay Marriage Loom Nationwide." Newsmax 5 July 2011. Communications and Mass Media Collection.
  16. ↑ "Pauley Perrette Teams Up With DMC". The Insider. Retrieved November 19, 2011. 
  17. ↑ "NCIS Star Pauley Perrette Answers Your NOH8 Auction Requests!". NOH8 Campaign. Retrieved November 19, 2011. 
  18. ↑ "Pauley Perrette (pauleyp) on Twitter". Retrieved 2011-11-17. 
  19. ↑ Advocate editorial staff (January 6, 2011). "NCIS's Pauley Perrette Says NoH8". The Advocate. Retrieved November 19, 2011. 
  20. ↑ http://www.noh8campaign.com/article/noh8onthehill3

External links

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