West Hartford Event To Fight Hate Toward LGBTQ Community

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Supporters of human rights and equality are asked to come to a West Hartford theater Monday and participate in a national movement promoting those ideals.

Organizers of West Hartford Pride, the annual June celebration honoring the LGTBQ community and equality causes, are hosting a photographer Monday, Jan. 30, as part of the national "NOH8" campaign.

The photographer, Adam Bouska, will be at the "Playhouse on Park" site, 244 Park Road, West Hartford, to take pictures in line with the NOH8 movement.

From 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, people or groups can have their pictures taken in the signature, "NOH8" style, namely a white shirt.

In addition, participants getting their picture taken can have tape over their mouth and "NOH8" on their face, if they desire.

The national movement started in November 2008, when California voters actually passed Proposition 8, amending the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage at the time.

The "NOH8" symbol now has multiple meanings, first being a symbol of protest over Proposition 8, then evolving into a loosely translated symbol meaning "No Hate."

In the years since, "NOH8" has been supported by many celebrities and activists as a symbol for LGBTQ freedom, equality and human rights in general.

The "NOH8" campaign is a photo campaign where supporters "silently protest" inequality (hence the tape over the mouth) and, so far, 56,000 faces have been entered into the "NOH8" movement.

The event is also a fund-raiser of sorts for the cause, with single photos being sold for $40 and group photos costing $25 per person.

Fees cover services and costs for one edited digital print only, made available via noh8campaign.com, and do not include physical prints. "NOH8" accepts cash and credit cards only.

The event comes to West Hartford as Playhouse on Park is performing the controversial play "Indecent," which features a lesbian couple central to the story.

The play made headlines in Florida, where the deeply red state's new "Don't Say Gay" law prompted the state school board to nix a Jacksonville, Fla., high school's production of the play.

"Playhouse on Park" actors and actresses recently issued a video supporting the student-production on the even of their own performance of "Indecent."

From Jan. 13: 'West Hartford Theater Group Pledges Support For Florida Performers'

From Jan. 25: 'Hartford Theater Hosting Anti-Hate Event For LGBTQ Community'

For more information on the "NOH8" event in West Hartford, click on this link.

For more information on West Hartford Pride, click on this link.