10 Members of Congress Pose for NOH8 Campaign

The NOH8 Campaign focused its camera on the nation’s capitol earlier this month, with 10 members of Congress donning white to pose for “NOH8 on the Hill."

The members of Congress who participated represent the District of Columbia, California, Oregon, Colorado, Massachusetts and Ohio, including Rep. Dennis Kucinich, the former Democratic presidential candidate who encouraged the photo campaign's venture to Capitol Hill and was the first to sit for the shoot.

"Our nation was founded upon the principle of equality,” he said in a statement released with his photo. “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."

All of the 10 lawmakers photographed were Democrats, and although the shoot was open to any member of Congress, no Republicans chose to participate. Among the pictures is one member of the LGBT caucus. On the following pages, see all of the photos and the lawmakers' accompanying statements about why they chose to pose.  [The Advocate, NOH8 Campaign]

"On the same week that Maryland and Washington stepped up for marriage equality, I stood with NOH8 in solidarity with those who are fighting Prop 8 in California. Gay and lesbian Americans are part of the fabric that makes this country strong. The notion that we could ask these men and women to do everything from paying taxes to serving our country in uniform while denying them the right to marry is offensive to everything I believe in as a public servant. I won’t stop working for equal rights in Congress until they have been extended to every American."
- Rep. Earl Blumenauer

"The reason why I support the NOH8 Campaign is simple: our country rests on the principle that all people are equal, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. If we deny that fact then we are no longer the Land of the Free. The most important freedom is the freedom to be the person you truly are and embrace the life you want to live. It’s my hope that LGBT youth across the country and in Massachusetts feel our encouragement and support. They are not alone. I stand firmly behind them, and the important message that NOH8 is spreading."  
- Rep. William Keating

"I’m proud to join over 20,000 participants who’ve posed in NOH8 photos depicting the silencing of equality by California’s Prop 8 and similar legislation around the world.   These pictures speak volumes about the will of the American people to be treated the same, regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation." 
- Rep. Judy Chu

"Hate does not belong in our communities, families, schools, the workplace and certainly not in our government.” 
- Rep. Barbara Lee

Check out the other five members and their statements after the jump.

Gay News of the Day! Proposition 8 Struck Down

In awesome gay news yesterday, proposition 8 was ruled unconstitutional by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in California, and there's nothing more exciting in recent memory to hear.  Besides mine and Ryan's love for each other of course. :-).

Nearly one and a half years since Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker declared Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional in the landmark Perry v. Brown case, the 9th US District Circuit Court of Appeals finally announced this morning that they will be upholding Judge Walker's decision:

PROPOSITION H8 IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL!

Opponents of same-sex marriage will likely file an appeal to the decision, and the next steps may inevitably lead to a hearing before the US Supreme Court; casting the national spotlight on California's fight for the freedom to marry and putting the focus on same-sex marriage at a federal level. Most importantly, today's rulings open up the door for the same arguments to be used to the benefit of advancing pro-same-sex marriage legislation in other states. Read Full Story here!

Republican's Wife & Daugther Pose for NOH8 Campaign

Oh I love it.  Cindy McCain, the wife of former Presidential Candidate and Republican Senator from Arizona John McCain has teamed up with their daughter Meghan McCain in support of equal rights once again.

Two years ago they appeared in separate photo shoots for photographer and activist, Adam Bouska, but this year they have moved it up a notch and had themselves photographed together.  You gotta love'm both, thank you Cindy and Meghan!

You can see more pics from their photo shoot at the NOH8 Campaign website.

God Hates You and Me

This is one of those posts I hate to write about, because I hate to give publicity to those who enjoy hating others, but when it involves the man upstairs, it becomes my issue, when it involves the man I love, it becomes my issue, when it involves our family, our military, and so forth - IT BECOMES EVERYONE'S ISSUE.  I believe in God whole-heartedly, and truly believe that he is not as hateful as these people portray him to be.

The Westboro Baptist Church uploaded a video on Tuesday that is beyond anything I've ever seen. Not only did they feel the need to imitate the NOH8 campaign started by Adam Bouska to create their own version, they felt they needed to promote hate on every level. 

It is so disturbing to me that the children in this photo are being taught to hate from birth and to believe that God hates the majority of people.  These idiots picket the funerals of our military soldiers, celebrities, and abuse victims who have died, all in the name of God.  They spew hatred in every ounce of their sermons, and the messages they deliver affect people's lives.  I blogged about one of Fred Phelp's children in February on the abuse he had endured while living with with his father and his other siblings, it is really upsetting.

Why do I post this video? To remind us that we have crazy people out there, and that it starts with people like this.

I am truly thankful to the Lord for my parents and Ryan's parents who raised us in Christian households who showed us what love was all about; And while they dealt with problems and personal issues that arise in every family.  They had God in their hearts and it was their faith that kept them going.  I'm Gay... and I Love God.

NOH8 Music Video of "Born This Way"

I can honestly say this video was fun to watch. Several dancers got together and created a routine that is truly amazing.  While the video starts off kind of slow due to their warm-up and practicing, it eventually picks up and you get to see the complete performance. Choreographer Chris Downey created the video and it was directed by both he and Danny Cerny.   

In the "Celebration of Individuality," I urge you to watch the video.  

The thing I liked most about the video is that I could not tell who was gay, lesbian, straight or transgendered and that is the thing - it doesn't matter who we are, nor should we be judged or subjected to treatment as second class citizens, because of our sexuality, race, gender or how we measure up to notions of beauty.

For more information on how can you help the NOH8 campaign please go to: http://www.noh8campaign.com.