NOH8 Photo-shoot

There's not much you can convey to someone once they've stuck a bit of gaffa tape over your mouth. I wonder if this will catch on as a technique for photographers working with unruly models. The up side of this for me was that I didn't have to smile! or even worry that much about my expression, although looking at it now I think that I could have expressed a little of something! 

If you've been living under a rock and don't know what the NOH8 campaign is about then you can visit them here. I've lifted this bit of info from their website bcos I'm sitting here with a hot water bottle trying to ease some stomach cramping before heading off to teach Body Balance in a minute (wah wah), so yeah, too lazy to summarise. 

"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 GLBT community at a grassroots level, with many new political and protest organizations being formed in response. 

The NOH8 Campaign is a photographic silent protest created by celebrity photographer Adam Bouska (http://www.bouska.net) 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."


Funds raised by the NOH8 Campaign are used to promote and raise awareness for Marriage Equality and anti-discrimination on a global level through an educational and interactive media campaign.

Make LOVE people!

NOH8 photo shoot in Perth

There's going to be a NOH8 photo shoot in Perth in August. Who wants to come with me???
Here's some info:

The shoot we’re planning will be shot on a Sunday from a home studio (Beckenham/Cannington area) in late August, we want to try and get as many people in as possible so we’re aiming for 1-2 people every fifteen minutes. After looking at the responses there will be a small cost involved of $25 which will need to be paid before your shoot BUT this includes:

- Professional photographer
- Food / drinks 
- MUA through the day for touch ups, if needed.
- Supplies for the shoot (duct tape and tattoos/paint)
- Email copies of your photo with light re-touching.

Any extra or left over money we receive will be donated to the WA AIDS foundation.

The shoot will require you to turn up within your delegated hour (shoot will run from 11am-4pm) wearing a white top of any sort, preferably denim bottoms and your hair and makeup ready to go! We will either temp tattoo or paint “NOH8” on you when you arrive, then you can enjoy some food and drink until your turn in front of the camera!

Now as we want as many people as possible, if you have a boyfriend, girlfriend, child, parent or friend who wants to come along then bring them! (Just be sure to let us know before hand!) No race, age or gender discrimination here! If you want to bring someone (with the exception of children) they’ll only be charged $5 on the day if they want a paired shot with you! If individual shots are wanted then it's still $25 each.

So if you're interested either email Mark at

noh8campaign_australia@hotmail.com

or email/fb message/call me and I'll add you to my application.

You can also 'like' them on fb


and check out examples of photos here.

Update on Resignation (or have they already Ex'd me on the quiet?)

Shortly after posting this I was introduced to a secret facebook group where people are gathering to resign en masse. Their (our) Mission Statement:


Resign8: For those who believe they should leave the church because of the LDS's association with Prop8, who have been instrumental in funding the campaign to take away the rights of gay and lesbian couples in California. This group is also for those who may have already resigned and want to support those who may be considering leaving the church over this issue and for those who are NOT LDS but want to support those leaving the church. WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? The mission of the group is to rally as many members together and send the LDS our resignations EN MASS on the day the Supreme Court rules. Because the LDS church raised over $15 million dollars for YES on PROP 8 and requested that all church members "do all they can" to pass the measure. We believe this is wrong and are resigning *EN MASS* to dis-associate ourselves from the LDS church for commiting, endorsing and supporting this act of hate. Please contact the source of our mission statement for access to the Resign8 and stand with us!


Buuuut it's a secret group so to get the word out Josh Reynolds has created another group, a 'holding tank' if you will, for people to join on facebook. With a really short name for you to remember...


"Resignate: Mormon mass resign for Prop 8 pending supreme court ruling." 


So copy and paste that title into the search engine on facebook and you'll be able to click on the 'ask to join group' button. 


The reason for this extra step and the secrecy is that there are members of the group who have not revealed to their family and/or friends their disaffection from the church and/or their sexual orientation. 


So that is what I am now doing. And if the Morg decides to excommunicate me before then (or if they already have, cheeky buggers) then I really won't GAF because I'll still add my name to the mass resignation anyway. 


So a call out to all ex-Mo's, 'inactive' Mo's, never Mo's, transitioning Mo's come and join our resignation celebration if you feel like making a stand. 


Say NO to H8 and Yes to LOVE! 

Thanks to Laura Bergells for the free download of her happy heart chakra :)