The Vote Against Project
I was speaking with the folks at
Protect ALL NC Families, and as an aside they mentioned the
Vote Against Project. It isn't affiliated with the official campaign at all, in fact, it began long before they set up shop.
The Vote Against Project began soon after the North Carolina General Assembly passed a state constitutional amendment that would ban legal recognition for all unmarried couples. On May 8, 2012, voters in North Carolina will decide if they want to etch discrimination into our state’s constitution.
Raleigh photographer Curtis Brown, outraged at the harm this would cause many families in his home state, started this project with the help of a team of dedicated volunteers. He aims to create a portrait of North Carolina unity — connected by a common bond to defeat discrimination.
Participants are photographed in shirts that boldly read “Vote Against”, providing North Carolina voters a creative outlet for sharing their opposition to the amendment. All images are posted on this website and participants are encouraged to share their image with everyone they know.
The Vote Against Project team is touring the state and doing free photo shoots in a city near you! Click to find locations nearest you.
This project is clearly inspired by
Adam Bouska's NOH8 photography project. NOH8 sprang out of opposition to Proposition 8, and has since continued to be a very public face of general support for marriage equality and LGBT rights.
The photo sessions are over, but it's nice to see this grassroots project was obviously a big success evidenced by the huge gallery of portraits up at the site. It's nice to see people brainstorming creative ways to reach out, engage, educate and inspire one another. Thanks to photographer Curtis Brown for doing more than his part.
Don't let the May 8 date confuse you. That's the drop dead date. North Carolina has early voting and it starts today! So why put off to tomorrow what you can do today? You can register to vote at the site.
I thought today I'd post this album of the Vote Against Project photos courtesy of their Facebook page and website to get you inspired. I thought taking a look at all the smiling, optimistic, passionate people who oppose Amendment One would be a great motivator to Get. Out. The. Vote. Early voting sites can be found here.
For more information on volunteering opportunities please see the Protect ALL NC Families coalition website.
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/Sign.jpg)
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/signintable.jpg)
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![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/SettingUP.jpg)
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/WithkidBTS.jpg)
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/WithKid.jpg)
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/Jump.jpg)
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![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/Joking.jpg)
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/Group2.jpg)
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![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/Hotboy.jpg)
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/Motocycle.jpg)
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/Preggers.jpg)
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/Flamboyant.jpg)
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/img_2084.jpg)
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/Kids.jpg)
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/Kiss1.jpg)
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/img_1024.jpg)
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/img_0643.jpg)
![Photobucket](http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a479/scottwooledge/Vote%20Against/Kiss2.jpg)
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NOM's Brian Brown
These portraits demonstrate why the marriage equality movement is picking up steam and the opponents will lose eventually. The "defenders of marriage," the self-appointed scolds of morality, the protectors of propriety, they are not fun and attractive people. They are not happy or joyful or loving people. They pretend to be, but their hatred
spews out,
over, and
over, and
over, and
over, and
over. Because there is hatred in their hearts, they are finding it impossible to
hide what is in their venomous souls forever.
Life is too often long and lonely and cold and scary and frustrating and the LGBT community's allies realize that anytime when any two people meet, and find love, and affection, and support, and that special someone that can make them happy and bring a smile to their face, and brighten a dark day that is always a thing to be celebrated. How can that be bad? How can any God condemn that?
The LGBT community's opponents' hearts are too damaged or too small or too cold or too corrupted to see that simple, honest truth. Fortunately, more and more of America is not.
And in the end, no force is powerful enough to overcome having love on your side.
Early voting sites can be found here.
Fresh in my email box:
SIX-SCHOOL INTERCOLLEGIATE MOVEMENT “JOIN THE REVOLUTION”
MARCHES TO DEFEAT AMENDMENT ONE IN GREENSBORO
Marks the First Day of Early Voting, Thursday, April 19, at 3:15 PM
Greensboro, N.C. —Encouraging student-voter participation against Amendment One will be the focus of a march today, April 19, beginning at 3:15 pm, in Greensboro as six local colleges and universities take part in “Join the Revolution,” an event designed to collectively cast ballots on the first day of early voting.
With the goal to have “12,000 college students, alumni, and members of the community refuse the notion that their generation is apathetic or deaf to social issues by standing together and exercising their right to vote on the first day of early voting,” featured speakers will discuss the historical importance and social ramifications of Amendment One.
At 3:15 pm, students from UNC-Greensboro, Greeensboro Technical Community College and Greensboro College will head east on Market Street in route to the Guilford County Board of Elections. Simultaneously, Bennett College, North Carolina A&T University and Guilford College will head west on Friendly to the same destination culminating in an assemblage in Government Plaza, that will feature FREE live music, free food, and Join the Revolution merchandise.
New also is
Courage Campaign has organized remote phone banking operations,
more info here.