In a shoot timed to coincide with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on the constitutionality of DOMA and Proposition 8, the NOH8 Campaign today released NOH8 portraits for the 67 Members of Congress who took part in its third NOH8 on The Hill event, which took place in Washington, D.C., on June 13.
NOH8 on The Hill III marked the first time ever a U.S. senator has posed for a NOH8 photo. Not one, but two senators participated in the shoot: Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).
Equally as groundbreaking was the participation of Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, of Florida's 27th District, who became the first Republican Member of Congress to lend support to the NOH8 Campaign.
(See a selection of the NOH8 photos in the slideshow below)
NO H8 On The Hill 3
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09)(01 of15)
Open Image ModalThe first openly bisexual person elected to Congress.
Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41) (02 of15)
Open Image Modal"As the only openly gay member of Congress from California, I am proud to support the NOH8 campaign. Proposition 8 is a stain on our nation's character, one I believe will soon be removed. All American families deserve to be treated equally under the law."
Tammy Duckworth (IL-8)(03 of15)
Open Image Modal“The LGBT community is entitled to the same rights afforded to everyone else. My view on LGBT equality is rooted in love. While I was recovering at Walter Reed after being shot down in Iraq, my husband Bryan was at my bedside every day. Not only was he offering love and support during such a difficult time, but he was also making critical decisions for me that improved the quality of my life to this day. Often, those decisions were contrary to what my mother would have decided, but as my life partner, my husband knew me better and made the correct choices for me when I could not. I support the freedom to marry because everyone deserves the same level of access, support and love.”
Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03)(04 of15)
Open Image Modal“Whether it’s No on 08, voting against DOMA, or supporting marriage for all; this new voice in Congress will not be silenced. Let’s stop the discrimination and support marriage equality.”
Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-17)(05 of15)
Open Image Modal"I feel that hatred of any kind has no place in America. I'm honored to participate in a campaign that encourages the progress that our country has made over the past few years with regard to the rights of the LGBT community. This is a great way to support their struggle for equality and to discourage discrimination based on who people love.”
Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01)(06 of15)
Open Image Modal“I’m proud to represent the first state to recognize the right of same sex couples to marry under the Equal Protection Clause of our state constitution. I stand with NOH8 because we share a vision for America where everyone is treated equally in the eyes of the law, no matter your sexual orientation. After all, ‘freedom’ means freedom for everyone.”
Rep. Donna Edwards (MD-04)(07 of15)
Open Image Modal“I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting and participating in the NOH8 on the Hill campaign. Maryland took a great step forward by joining a small group of states and the District of Columbia to support the freedom to marry, but we cannot stop there. Marriage equality is a civil rights and social justice issue that must not be limited by state borders. Let’s continue the fight for equality and fairness for all Americans.”
Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01)(08 of15)
Open Image Modal“I’m proud to join so many of my colleagues in standing for equality. NOH8 highlights how we, as leaders on Capitol Hill, cannot remain silent in the face of hatred and discrimination. Let’s continue the fight for marriage equality so that everyone has the opportunity to marry the person they love.”
Rep. Tim Bishop (NY-01)(09 of15)
Open Image Modal“All Americans should be free to love the person of their choice and marry them if they so choose. I am proud to join the NOH8 Campaign and support efforts to guarantee that all Americans are recognized equally by the federal government. In the greatest nation on Earth, there should be no second class citizens.”
Rep. Gwen Moore (WI-4)(10 of15)
Open Image Modal“I am proud to join the NOH8 campaign for the second year, because love sees no sexual orientation or gender identity. My support of the LGBT community and marriage equality is strong and resolute. We must stand up for marriage equality, today and always.”
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)(11 of15)
Open Image Modal“I’m proud to support NOH8’s campaign against discrimination. Equality will be the result of our fight against hate.”
Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-15)(12 of15)
Open Image Modal"Hate of any kind has no place in our society. I’m proud to join the NOH8 campaign to bring attention to the hate, bullying, and inequality still faced by LGBT people. It is time gays and lesbians had the same right to love who they want, work where they want, and go to school where they want, without facing discrimination.”
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (CA-46)(13 of15)
Open Image Modal"I applaud NoH8 for mounting an awareness campaign that brings thousands of people across the country together to make it clear that intolerance and hatred have no place in our society. We will not rest until all Americans are treated equally under the law."
Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (CA-35)(14 of15)
Open Image Modal“Being an American means having the liberty to be who you are and to love who you want.”
Rep. Tony Cardenas (CA-29)(15 of15)
Open Image Modal“Marriage equality is a critical step our nation must take to create a ‘truly perfect union,’” said Cárdenas. “No government has the right to tell consenting adults that their love is inadequate or unacceptable. Marriage is not a political issue, it is a sacred contract between two people who love each other and commit themselves to that love for the rest of their lives. That is a promise that makes politics and hatred irrelevant.”
The event, organized by the NOH8 Campaign and the office of California Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), featured a record-setting number of participants. The very first NOH8 on The Hill event took place on February 15th 2012, with 10 Members of Congress taking part. That was followed by NOH8 on The Hill II some seven months later, on September 13th 2012, when a further 26 Congressmen and Congresswomen posed for photographer Adam Bouska.
The groundswell of support generated by NOH8 on The Hill III now means that, after deducting duplications, exactly 100 Members of Congress have demonstrated their support for marriage equality via the NOH8 Campaign. Arguably the huge increase in portraits at this year's event can be attributed to the proximity of the shoot to the Supreme Court's ruling on Proposition 8 and DOMA and the fact that a growing majority of Americans are now in favour of marriage equality.
In the words of Adam Bouska:
The growth of NOH8 on the Hill in so short a time -- from ten participating Members of Congress to 98 Members of Congress and two U.S. senators -- proves that hearts and minds are changing across the country. We're on the cusp of marriage equality, and we're proud to have these elected officials sending a strong, clear message of support: No Hate.
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (MD-05), who participated in the event, added, "By giving our thumbs-down to hatred, intolerance, and injustice, we reaffirm the principles that make our nation great. The march toward full equality for all Americans, including same-sex couples who wish to marry, continues."
The entire 2013 NOH8 On The Hill shoot, including quotes from each participant, can be found at the NOH8 Campaign blog.
NOH8 portraits, created by NOH8 Campaign co-founders Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley, feature individuals with duct tape over their mouths to symbolize the voices of equality being silenced by laws like DOMA and Proposition 8. The NOH8 face tattoo worn by participants symbolizes solidarity with others standing up for equality.
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra (CA-34), who took part in NOH8 on The Hill III, added: "NOH8 On The Hill, NOH8 anywhere. No American, regardless of who they love, should be denied equal protection under the law. History is on our side and our march towards justice will prevail."
In full, the senators, Congressmen and Congresswomen who took part in NOH8 on The Hill III were Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH03), Rep Xavier Becerra (D-CA34), Rep. Timothy Bishop (D-NY01), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR01), Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA01), Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA26), Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA29), Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA17), Rep. David Cicilline (RI01), Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY09), Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO01), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO05), Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11), Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY14), Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR04), Rep Suzan DelBene (D-WA01), Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL08), Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD04), Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL22), Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH11), Rep. Joe Garcia (D-FL26), Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL04), Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI01), Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA10), Rep. Steven Horsford (NV04), Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD05), Rep. Jared Huffman (CA02), Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX30) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA04).
Plus Rep. William Keating (D-MA09), Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL02), Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI05), Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH02), Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA02), Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA47), Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM01), Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA06), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA07), Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY06), Rep. George Miller (D-CA11), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI04), Rep. James Moran (D-VA08), Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY10), Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA32), Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-CA35), Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ10), Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA52), Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI02), Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO02), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL27), Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA36), Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA46), Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL10), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA30), Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA09), Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA15), Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA41), Rep. John Tierney (D-MA06), Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV01), Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA51), Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX33), Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY07), Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA33), Rep. Peter Welch (D-VTAL) and Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL24).
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.