NOH8 Campaign - Proposition 8 - Photographic. Silent. Protest.

On November 4, 2008 Proposition 8 passed in California, amending the state Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. The defeat provoked a groundswell of initiativee 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 (www.adambouska.com) 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.

Seven years since its inception, the NOH8 Campaign has grown to over 55,000 faces and continues to grow at an exponential rate. The campaign began with portraits of everyday Californians from all walks of life and soon rose to include politicians, military personnel, newlyweds, law enforcement, artists, celebrities, and many more from across the globe.

Ricky Martin

While inspired by the passage of Prop 8 and the fight for marriage equality, the scope of the NOH8 Campaign has grown to stand against discrimination and bullying of all kinds. The message of 'No Hate' can be interpreted and applied broadly, and everyone can relate to the message of NOH8 in their own way.
The NOH8 Campaign has received overwhelming support from around the world, and has appeared in various local and national news programs and publications. The images are widely used on various social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to proudly show support for equal rights.

Edgar Micua
(Participated in the San Francisco Shoot)

To date, NOH8 Campaign has hosted official photo shoots in 45 of the 50 United States (plus D.C.) and 19 countries around the world. While our work continues here in the US, we must not forget that there are still places around the world where simply being who you are means living in fear for your life every single day. Our mission to promote love, acceptance and respect for all human beings will continue in pursuit of #NOH8Worldwide.

Liza Minnelli

Disruptive. Political. Climate.

February is upon us and we are well into 2017 and yet there is still some unsettling energy in the American air. What is it? Obviously it's our recent election result that has dramatically changed the politic climate in our country.  No sooner have our newly elected president, Donald J. Trump arrival to the White House, executive orders are signed, new inexperienced staff members are in place, and a brash and combative White House Press Secretary takes the podium.

Personally, I have yet to fully recover from the election results; I've gotten over hang overs much more quickly than this situation and still find it still unsettling. With no time to digest these sudden and intrusive political announcements have I had a chance to really recover. It has been clearly disruptive. It's clearly not your politics as usual.  To get my bearings, I begin to try to combat this direct hit to help soothe the pain of political jolt.

I participated in a recent Women's March in San Francisco that drew thousands in the pouring winter rain in the city. But not one person flinched, many carried on in protest to our new President's policy announcement changes. Many marched for various reasons, dissent to resistance to government or specific issues that are at stake affecting their lives. For example, women's health, health funding cuts, gay and lesbian rights, and supreme court rulings that can be reversed like Roe v. Wade, a ruling that has held for decades for women having the right to have an abortion. I participated because of my own dissent, disappointment, and anger in some ways on American civil rights in general.

Women's March - San Francisco, CA
One of many protest signs

Women's March - San Francisco, CA
Started at City Hall, and ended at the Ferry Building

It felt liberating, celebratory, and at the same time civil. Seeing other protesters marching in peace and carrying signs that are thought provoking and resonate clarity of the sign holders thoughts about our new leader in office.


The climate has surely changed for many Americans, somehow though, middle America sees things differently. Living in San Francisco, California is clearly different in social, economic, and job opportunities compared to states say, in Arkansas or South Dakota. I should remind myself that those regions of our country are different and their thoughts and ideas are not as one with Americans to the west or east. I get that, but when I voted for our next President, I honestly had them in mind, and hoped they had the same thoughts, clearly this was not the case.

I'm hopeful that in 2017, we will be able to do a restart, reset, or start a dialogue that allows all Americans to meet in the middle. We need this to happen. Always the optimist. Let's see where we go as we head into spring.