FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Contact: John Becker, Truth Wins Out Director of Communications & Development
Phone: 920.265.6023
Email: john@truthwinsout.org
Contact: Madelyn Baer, Pride Vermont Director
Phone: 802.881.4968
Email: vtpridedirector@gmail.com
Truth Wins Out, Pride Vermont Bringing NOH8 to Our State in September
BURLINGTON, Vt – Truth Wins Out and Pride Vermont announced an exciting collaboration today that will bring the national NOH8 Campaign to Vermont for the first time in September. The NOH8 photo shoot will be held in conjunction with Pride Vermont at Burlington’s Battery Park on September 22, 2012 from 1-4 p.m.
The NOH8 Campaign is a photographic silent protest created by Hollywood-based celebrity photographer Adam Bouska and his partner Jeff Parshley in response to the passage of Proposition 8. Subjects are photographed wearing white, with a temporary “NOH8” tattoo on their cheeks and duct tape over their mouths. The duct tape symbolizes the way Prop 8 and other anti-LGBT initiatives around the world silence the voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons.
TWO's John Becker and husband Michael Knaapen © 2010 NOH8 Campaign
Over 20,000 people have been photographed for the NOH8 Campaign, including celebrities like Kathy Griffin, Lisa Ling, Cindy and Meghan McCain, Miley Cyrus, Leslie Jordan, the Kardashian sisters, Jane Lynch, Lt. Dan Choi, Margaret Cho, and Lance Bass. Thousands of other everyday people have also been photographed at NOH8 open photo shoots across the country.
“Truth Wins Out is thrilled to be able to help bring the NOH8 Campaign to Vermont for the first time,” said John Becker, TWO’s Director of Communications & Development. “This wildly popular national initiative sends a powerful and important message about the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bigotry.”
“At Pride Vermont, we celebrate Vermont for its safe, healthy, empowering community that embraces all of life’s colors,” added Madelyn Baer, the Pride Vermont 2012 Director. “We look forward to welcoming the NOH8 Campaign to our vibrant state as part of this year’s festival, and we can’t wait to celebrate in September with LGBTQIA people from all across Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Quebec, and beyond.”
The NOH8 Campaign, which routinely attracts hundreds of people to open photo shoots across the country, is expected to be a major regional draw for Pride Vermont. More information about the Burlington photo shoot can be found at http://www.pridevt.com/ and http://www.noh8campaign.com/event/open-photo-shoot-in-burlington-vt.
“Participation in the NOH8 Campaign will offer Vermonters the opportunity to fight hate in a uniquely special way,” said TWO’s Becker. “Truth Wins Out and Pride Vermont want to encourage equality-minded people all across the region to attend the 2012 Pride Vermont Festival and get photographed for this great campaign.”
Pride Vermont is the statewide pride festival for Vermont’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and ally community. Equality-minded Vermonters gather to celebrate our state for its safe, healthy, empowering community that embraces all of life’s colors. We take Pride in Vermont’s progress towards equality and want Vermonters to know that being queer in Vermont is something worth celebrating. This year’s festivities consist of a week of activities culminating in the Annual VGSA Pride Cruise on September 21 and the Pride Vermont Parade, Festival, and Northern Decadence Food Expo on September 22.
Truth Wins Out is a national, Burlington-based nonprofit organization that fights anti-LGBT extremism, religion-based bigotry, and the “ex-gay” myth. Its goal is to create a world where LGBT people can live openly, honestly, and true to themselves. TWO monitors anti-LGBT organizations, documents their lies, and exposes their leaders. It specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating, and fighting for LGBT equality.
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