NJEQ Night @ Paradise in Asbury Park-9/26/10

Well I got a little ahead of myself! Before the October shoot, I was down in Asbury Park at the club Paradise. This was a fun night and am thankful for all the support from the people who work there, especially C.J. and Kelly! Here's the results from that evening....

National Coming Out Day Shoot-10/11/10

So it's been way too long since I've posted and am very behind . First up the shoot I did on National Coming Out Day back in October. As I mentioned in the last post I did this to give a portion of money towards some organization in the memory of Tyler Clementi. Well it turned out to be a huge disappointment.......only four people showed up. So I've decided to give the money to the Trevor Project. Here are the results of that day....

Belinda Martinez

As a member of NJ Equality and as an individual, I respect gay marriages. They are people just like us, and should be treated with the same kind of respect we show to others. If they are happy with their sexuality, let them be! I believe everyone deserves happiness, by any means necessary. I say this as a mother, wife, daughter, and sister- I believe in Equality, Love, & Happiness.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Coming up this Monday, October 11 (Columbus Day) is a special NJEQ photo shoot I will be doing at my East Orange studio. After the recent teen suicides, I got a message from Will Love (who covered our recent art show "Equality") who suggested I do a shoot and donate a portion of the money to the family of Tyler Clementi. Tyler took his own life after his roommate and next-door accomplice recorded Tyler having sex and then put it out on Twitter. It will be $25 per person with $10 going to the family.

While the internet has been great for so many things like re-connecting people, news, etc., some people have lost their sense of what's appropriate to put out for the world to see and what's not. I look at Facebook, which has reconnected me to many old friends and connected me to new, and see so many things posted (from people I wouldn't expect it from) that I think they should think twice about before hitting the send button. Hopefully people will start thinking more clearly and parents will start becoming more aware of what their children are doing and saying on these websites.

I started thinking that New Jersey Equality means much more than just the fight for marriage equality. It's a fight for equality in every aspect. There obviously needs to be more support and acceptance for young people who are able to come to terms with who they are at a young age. I hope these photos and statements here on my blog by people from different backgrounds, religions, etc. will be of some sort of help to those struggling to come out. So if anyone knows someone having problems with acceptance, send them here to see some of the people that accept them for who they are!

Keep on the lookout, I start posting photos from the recent Paradise event very soon! I will also be back at Paradise, October 15 starting at 8:30, during the Mr. & Mrs. Leather 2011 contest. For this event I will have a black background and request that people wear something black-t-shirt, tank or leather. This should be a lot of fun, come on out and see me.

NEW JERSEY EQUALITY NIGHT @ PARADISE IN ASBURY PARK, NJ

So I've been waiting for all the details to be finalized so I could let you know about the next NJEQ photo event. It all started back in June when Michael Cook contacted me on Facebook to tell me how much he liked the photos and cause and asked if I would be interested in doing a photo event at the club Paradise in Asbury Park?! So I thought about it....for a second and said YES! He then put me in contact with the event coordinator, Kelly Martin to work out the details. What a great opportunity to keep spreading the word about the New Jersey Equality Photo Campaign! I'll be there on Saturday, September 25 starting at 9 pm. Weather permitting I might be set up by the pool if not, I'll be in the lobby of the Empress Hotel.

Also, I'm sure some will notice the "Michael Craft & Shep Pettibone present"......now if anyone told me my name would be mentioned in the same breath as Shep Pettibones I would've said, well let's just say I wouldn't have believed it! :) This is the same man who remixed some of Madonna's (amongst others) biggest hits in the 80's/90's and helped write and produce "Vogue"! Now he owns this great hotel/club combo in Asbury Park. So this is all very exciting and I hope we get a great turn out! Please tell your friends, neighbors and anyone you think would be interested. It looks like I should be doing a couple more photo events there before years end, so be on the look out for those as well!

Don't forget Paradise is in inside the Empress Hotel, so you can spend the night!

Photos from the "Equality" Art Show

Our "Equality" art show was a success, we had about 100 people come out in support. I was very happy in the variety of photos I took that day.....straight, gay, married, partnered, mother-daughter and mother-to-be. We were very pleased that Will Love, a writer from the magazine Out In Jersey, came out to pose and cover the story of New Jersey Equality for their October/November issue. I was thrilled that Jon and Michael Galluccio, authors of "An American Family" and trailblazers in gay adoption came out with their two children.....their picture is one of my personal favorites, has the feel of Mt. Rushmore, which was unintentional. So take a look at the photos from that day and feel free to leave your thoughts.

Adam Neal

After coming out, my entire life changed. And not because I came out to my family, my friends, or even total strangers. At 17, I finally came out to myself. I never realized the pain I had been suppressing for years, because I couldn't give voice to who or what I was. Our society has a habit of neglecting gay people, whether or not we are 'portrayed' in a superficial way. Being gay is not a culture, a style, or a persona, it's a multifaceted identity. Until society accepts us for who we really are - people who experience love differently - there will always be people without a true voice.

Jessica Butler

I went to art school at Fashion Institute of Technology. Many of my friends from there are gay along with friends from other places and some family members. I love them all no matter if they are gay or not because their sexual preference doesn't make a difference to me. Everyone has a right to be happy! I support gay marriage!!

"Equality" Art Show-Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010

The "Equality" art show to benefit gay marriage will be coming up on Sunday, August 8 from 2-6 pm. I'll have my camera on hand for anyone who wants their picture taken for the cause-$20.00, just wear a white t-shirt and be camera ready. People are also encouraged to bring some prop to pose with that may represent a hobby or career.

My close friend and fellow artist Lisa D'Amico and I decided to ask four other good friends to join us this time around. We'll have sculpture by Ramon Sierra and Carlos Sierra, painting by Jessica Butler and photography by Rob Kovacs. We chose Garden State Equality to donate 25 % of the proceeds. I'm also very excited that a writer from Out In Jersey magazine will be there covering the art show for an article about New Jersey Equality in their October issue.

We're hoping for this to be a big event so please let anyone you know who cares about the legalization of gay marriage here in New Jersey about this show.

Keep checking back there will be a couple exciting NJEQ events coming up!

East Orange Photo Shoot-Sunday, May 23, 2010

Here are the shots from my third open call, it turned out to be the most successful shoot yet! I finally ordered tattoos to use for the NJEQ instead of face paint, which made everything go much smoother (considering I wasn't able to get volunteers this time, I might have still been there painting everyone's face!). It was nice to see those who came with some kind of prop having to do with a hobby or career and others who came with young children. Hope to see more of this at future shoots!

Look for a post this week with some details about the "Equality" art show that my friend and fellow artist, Lisa D'Amico, are putting together for August.....you won't want to miss this art show!

Daniel Koye

I'm a Hair Stylist, Make-up Artist, Wig Designer, Son, Brother, Cousin, Grand child, Friend, Co-Worker, Boss, Helper, Business Owner, Volunteer, Lover. Who just happens to be GAY.

Malicha & Francisca

I'm a 29 year old mother of two. As a mother I thrive on my child's happiness. Wouldn't you as a parent want your child to be happy too?

Camillia Marie Rodriguez

I am a 17 year old student whose friend and uncle are gay. I support gay marriage since marriage is about love between two people. Gay and lesbian couples should have the same rights and privileges that straight couples do.

Lizzette Rodriguez

I'm a 37 year old free bird. I have been around those we call "gay" my entire life, some family members, others friends. My beliefs have always been that no one has the right to dictate to others how we should live and who we should love. No one has the right to judge or deny another their freedom to love whomever they want. It is up to God to judge us. Live and let live, love and let love! Support gay marriage and rights. Equality for all!

Analisia Reyes

I am a full time student, full time bank employee, and a full time believer of happiness and our right to have it. I support gay marriage because we as humans are all made EQUAL. We can't control the way we feel towards others whether it be male or female. How do we know? Have we ever been in love? We tend to judge people easily because we’re not in their shoes. However, it's 2010, and we have no right to prevent happiness from ANYONE. Gay marriage SHOULD be allowed, let's stop this ignorance and stop pretending we don't know any better.

Zanna Haq

Deanna Haq

Jessamine "Minnie" Roman

I am a 30 something year old School Teacher with a background in the Performing Arts, I support gay marriage because love has no color, race or gender preference, I love ALL love...

Cecilia Ceron

Being a part of the NJ Equality campaign is very important to me because I believe everyone has the right to be happy, regardless of gender or sexual preference. I have two best friends and a cousin who are gay whom I love very much. I am a firm believer in not judging people by their way of life but by who they are as a person. When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. So be open to treating everyone equally and support gay marriage. If everyone joins the cause, we can start change here, one person a t a time here in New Jersey!

Gianna DiMatteo

I am 20 year old hairdresser who supports gay marriage. I come from an old school close knit Italian family, growing up my family and I were taught to live life by the books, but what kind of life am I living if I don't believe what I am being taught. I remember being told back in the day that gays were unacceptable in our culture, well why? No one ever answered that question fully; I always got the answer, because being gay is wrong. Well, there are a lot of things that are wrong, and being gay isn't one of them. Everyone is created equal, no matter how you choose to live your life. I have numerous friends, girls and guys, that are gay and they are regular people just like me, and my family. I will always support the gay community.

Gianna & Rey

Kathy, Monica & Erica

We are proud supporters of the New Jersey Equality Blog!!! We believe people should be free to love who they want without being judged. If two people want to share a bond of marriage who are we as people to make judgement upon others. Our Motto is: Live (how you please) - Laugh (with joy) - Love (whoever your heart desires)!!!

Kathy - A proud daughter & stepdaughter to an amazing gay couple
Monica - A strong believer of freedom
Erica - A proud supporter of Gay Rights

Hayley O'Brien

I am a 19 year old student and I'm a supporter of gay marriage because I believe marriage is a human right not a heterosexual privilege.

Brittany Martinez

I am a 19 year old student who supports gay marriage because I believe that it shouldn't matter who you love; we should all have the same rights.

Daphne Victoria

I am a 29 year old healthcare rep. and I support gay marriage. My uncle is gay and is a very successful fashion designer. Because of him I design as a hobby. I feel we should not judge ANYONE for the way they want to live their lives.

Wendi Noriega

I am a 32 year old surgical coordinator in support of gay marriage. I have close friends who are always looked at wrong. I feel we are all equal no matter who we choose to love. It doesn't make us any different than the next one. We all breathe the same air and we all bleed red, so we are all alike and equal.

Chris Mora

I'm a 30 year old mother of two daughters, who has family members and friends that are gay. I am very proud to be their relative and friend since I love them very much and don't see them any different than a human being that just has so much love for their partner. I support gay marriage because a marriage is two people that have love for one another. It doesn't matter whether it's two people of the same sex or not. Love is love and there is no difference.