Quigley tapes mouth shut for NOH8 Campaign and National Coming Out Day
Thu. October 11, 2012 12:32 PM
rep. mike quigley (d-il)
photo credit // adam bouska/noh8 campaign
National effort is a visual protest against discrimination faced by LGBT community
Chicago, IL -
Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-Illinois) reiterated support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and National Coming Out Day by participating in the NOH8 Campaign, which promotes equality through education, advocacy, and visual protest.
"I've always been a strong supporter of marriage equality for all, so I consider it an honor and a responsibility to draw attention to this cause through unique opportunities like the NOH8 Campaign," said Rep. Quigley. "I'm proud to reaffirm my support to the LGBT community on National Coming Out Day and promise to continue working to make America truly a place of liberty and justice for all."
Quigley, along with 25 of his colleagues - including Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois) - and more than 100 congressional staffers, participated in a NOH8 on the Hill photo shoot last month. The NOH8 Campaign is a global art protest project conceived by photographer Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley in opposition to California's Proposition 8, that banned gay marriage. Photos feature subjects with duct tape over their mouths, symbolizing their voices being silenced by anti-equality legislation around the world. Three years since its inception, the NOH8 Campaign has grown to over 20,000 faces and continues to grow at an exponential rate.
As a member of the Congressional Equality Caucus, Rep. Quigley has been a tireless advocate for the LGBT community. Recently, Rep. Quigley called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reexamine its antiquated blood donation policy that places a lifetime ban on men who have sex with men (MSM) from donating. He has also offered legislation that would expand the Violence Against Women Act to include the LGBT community. In 2011, Rep. Quigley hosted a DOMA field forum to investigate the impacts of the Defense of Marriage Act on individuals and families in Chicago. He is a co-sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would ensure that all couples are treated fairly under federal law.
The new photos were released Thursday, National Coming Out Day.
Related: Read the ChicagoPride.com interview with Adam Bouska (Oct. 6, 2010)
"I've always been a strong supporter of marriage equality for all, so I consider it an honor and a responsibility to draw attention to this cause through unique opportunities like the NOH8 Campaign," said Rep. Quigley. "I'm proud to reaffirm my support to the LGBT community on National Coming Out Day and promise to continue working to make America truly a place of liberty and justice for all."
Quigley, along with 25 of his colleagues - including Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois) - and more than 100 congressional staffers, participated in a NOH8 on the Hill photo shoot last month. The NOH8 Campaign is a global art protest project conceived by photographer Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley in opposition to California's Proposition 8, that banned gay marriage. Photos feature subjects with duct tape over their mouths, symbolizing their voices being silenced by anti-equality legislation around the world. Three years since its inception, the NOH8 Campaign has grown to over 20,000 faces and continues to grow at an exponential rate.
As a member of the Congressional Equality Caucus, Rep. Quigley has been a tireless advocate for the LGBT community. Recently, Rep. Quigley called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reexamine its antiquated blood donation policy that places a lifetime ban on men who have sex with men (MSM) from donating. He has also offered legislation that would expand the Violence Against Women Act to include the LGBT community. In 2011, Rep. Quigley hosted a DOMA field forum to investigate the impacts of the Defense of Marriage Act on individuals and families in Chicago. He is a co-sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would ensure that all couples are treated fairly under federal law.
The new photos were released Thursday, National Coming Out Day.
Related: Read the ChicagoPride.com interview with Adam Bouska (Oct. 6, 2010)