Monday, November 24, 2008

The Human Element

When we look at our fellow humans so often we see right through them. And every once in a while there is an interaction that really touches us indelibly and leaves an impression. But through all our differences, there is a human element effecting and shaping the world around us. Stop and take a moment to really look at the people you encounter today, and find what you have in common. Because it's the human element that really matters. Today's pictures were taken at Glendale Community College on November 22nd.







If you would like to be represented on humans4equality.blogspot.com just send in your human picture/s to humans4equality@gmail.com

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Transgender Day of Remembrance


Thank you to the ASU Students for putting on such a beautiful day of remembrance, and for their participation in the Humans4Equality project. 31 humans whose names we know were killed this year for being transgender, and others go unknown, but all are remembered. www.transgenderdor.org







Saturday, November 22, 2008

Humans at the Larame Project

November 22nd hundreds gathered at Glendale Community College's performance arts center to support the college for putting on the Larame Project. GCC decided to perform the Larame Project in honor of the 10 year anniversary of the death of Matthew Shephard. They were told that a church preaching hate of gays would show up to protest the event, the same church whose pastor is represented in the play, the Larame Project. Instead, all you could see outside GCC's Performing Arts Center were hundreds of students, H.E.R.O.s and other supporters. Sometimes standing silently in memory of matthew shephard and the very first angel action which took place at his funeral...sometimes singing Amazing Grace or some other hymnal, these people shared the love. Thank you to the students and faculty of GCC for standing firm and holding their play despite the threat of Fred Phelps attendance. And thank you to those two lovely ladies in the back working lights and sound who so often go unnoticed.


These 2 Humans were working lights and sound at the Larame Project

Transarchist Pride Don't forge the Transgender Day of Remembrance
Check out www.transgenderdor.org to find one near you.

We love those H.E.R.O.s!

Milo from 1 Voice, a local JC's LGBT student group

Friday, November 21, 2008

Phoenicians, Nov 20, 2008

No matter who you are, or what you look like

Kindel and Bear

Bonnie

Humans4Equality are all over the world. If you would like to show your wish for equal rights for all, send your picture to humans4equality@gmail.com

Thursday, November 20, 2008

I'm holdin' out for a HERO!

Community Church of Hope, HERO planning meeting - Nov 19, 2008

David - Phoenix Clarendon - Nov 19, 2008

Melissa (HERO Communications Liason) - Nov 19, 2008

Alan - Phoenix, Clarendon - Nov 11,

HERO in the front row - Nov 19, 2008

For more information go to be-a-hero.us

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

National Impact, National Humans for Equality

Check out the National Day of Impact Numbers list on wetpaint! With all those people out, some of you must have gotten your picture taken holding a sign up about equal rights. If so, send them in to humans4equality@gmail.com and we'll add them to the blog.

Just as you'll see below, in these pictures of various people, from a diverse set of backgrounds, all humans who believe equal rights are for all.

Keep on keeping on people. Visit jointheimpact.com to find out how you can get involved in your city. Or if you're in Arizona go to be-a-hero.us Because we are all Human and Equal Rights Organizers when it gets down to it!




Thank you Sister Bearie, my sentiments exactly!

No matter what you look like, who you are, or who you love, all humans should have equal rights and representation under the law. Preach it Sister!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

We need more humans 4 equality

As people get used to having a humans4equality blog of their own, I am reposting the humans4equality posts here today and every day this week, although it can also be seen over on http://humans4equality.blogspot.com. Next Monday Gender DiverCity will resume posting once a week, but I will continue posting to Humans4Equality as often as I have photos sent in to humans4equality@gmail.com, up to once a day.

No matter your background, age, gender, orientation, race, or religion, the human race needs you to stand up for equal rights and protections for all people. This is not a black and white issue, it's a human rights issue. Stand with us (or sit with us) and send in your human picture. Just take a photo of yourself, or have a friend loved one take it for your, and send it to humans4equality@gmail.com. Be the change you want to see in the world. Show your love and support the way you want to be shown love and support.

Here are some photos of just a few of the over 5,000 humans of all stripes from the Equal Rights Rally h8 102 protest in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday Nov 15th. Please send in your photos from various Equal Rights rallies along with your human4equality photo and we'll be happy to post them here.

All Humans - We the People includes Gays

Equal Rights are not Special Rights

Civil Rights NOW

Mike and his partner Erik have been together 16 years

Erik - Love is NEVER Wrong - Nov 15, 2008

Be a H.E.R.O.

Be a H.E.R.O. (Human and Equal Rights Organizer) met tonight to discuss what is happening in Arizona, and specifically Phoenix. Plans were made, ideas, discussed, passion shared, and volunteers signed up for some specific tasks for the near future, including making angels wings to support the Larame Project over at Glendale Community College. If you want to learn more, go to www.be-a-hero.us, and if you are in Phoenix, stop by the Community Church of Hope, 4121 N. 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013 at 6:30 PM on any Monday or Wednesday to be the change you want to see in the world.

Several people from the Be A HERO meeting allowed Sister Mischif (see photo on left) to take their picture, and we now share their images here. Thank you to each and every person who has participated in this project, showing the world the diversity of the U.S. population. Please keep sending in your human pictures!






If you sent in a human picture of your own and haven't seen it here, keep checking back. We still have more photos from livejournal members, people at the various Join the Impact Rallies, and more from Be A HERO. Keep on sending in your photos to humans4equality@gmail.com and I will keep adding more photos to the blog each day!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Humans 4 Equality - a blog of it's own

As I move the first few posts over to this new blog, I thought I would take a moment to speak to how and why this blog started. Originally, Sean-Michael was working on a project called Gender DiverCity, a photographic attempt on his part to explore gender ...the way we see it internally, vs how it is perceived externally, and how we express gender in today's society. Hence http://genderdivercity.blogspot.com was born.

After 3 propositions in 3 different states passed banning gay marriage, and one state had an anti-gay adoption prop pass, not to mention the many failed attempts to gain job protections or educational protections for transgender people right here in AZ and all over the US... it became clear that not only does our society still not get that gender should not be a reason not to have equal rights, but homophobia is alive and well and even being preached from the pulpits in some places.

Just because one is in love with someone of the same gender... or just because one is born transgender, does not mean one should not receive medical care, education, or jobs, and just because one is in love with someone of the same gender does not mean one should not be able to visit loved ones in the hospital, or be buried next to one's spouse because it just isn't legally recognized. I know, it sounds so old school doesn't it? and yet veterans with same sex partners go through that now! We want equal rights, not special rights.


And so the blog entry titled All Humans are Created began the Humans 4 Equality thread. http://genderdivercity.blogspot.com/2008/11/all-humans-are-created-equal.html began it all, but it has become clear that there needs to be a Humans4Equality blogspot all it's own.


Now it has become clear that today people are needing to talk about gender identity and presentation, but also they are needing to talk about sexuality. Proclaiming your truth about sexual orientation? That's SO 80's! For you who are too young to remember, the chant of the 80's was "We're here, we're queer, get used to it." I know, I know, but it's back. We're here, we're queer, and apparently some people STILL haven't gotten used to it. Only now the common refrain is "A People, United, Can NEVER be divided!"

So stand with us now and send in your picture alone, with friends, with loved ones, or pets... to humans4equality@gmail.com and then visit humans4equality.blogspot.com and play your own version of where's waldo, watching for yourself and people you know on the blog. Gender DiverCity will continue along with the humans4equality theme, but now there is an easier URL to remember, and to share with your friends: http://humans4equality.blogspot.com bookmark it, or subscribe to the feed, and pass it along.

And for future rally info in your city, go to www.jointheimpact.com and tell a friend, tell 5 friends, tell ALL your friends, just spread the word! If you have seen yourself on the blog, and would like to have your name and any other details added, please send them along with the title of the blog entry to humans4equality@gmail.com.

If you have not seen you picture here but you have sent it in to humans4equality@gmail.com, or had it taken at a phoenix event by a representative of Humans 4 Equality, keep on watching this blog, because it will show up in a future post!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Joining the Impact

Today Humans for Equality took to the streets of Phoenix, and people took a ton of pictures, some of which are here today. I will add more tomorrow, so if you're looking for a picture that you, or someone else took at the Phoenix Stop the h8/Spread Love rally, then keep on looking back daily.

Protect this Family - Julie Purdy and Becky Garcia with their son - Phoenix, AZ

If you have pictures of Humans for Equality from one of the national Stop the H8 rallies, another Equal Rights Rally, or if you just want to send in a picture of yourself at home like the one I took of myself shown here to the right, or if you have some other creative idea of how to express the desire for all Humans to have Equal Rights, please send them to Humans4Equality@gmail.com along with your first name, and where you're from, or anything else you want to share with the world.

Unfortunately I don't know all the names of all the lovely people at yesterday's rally, but I thank them for the use of their photos and for coming out to stand up for Equal Rights. This whole things may have started with marriage, but it is about so much more.

Luis from Echo Magazine - 11, 15, 2008 - Phoenix, AZ

Sister Felicity - 11, 15, 2008 - Phoenix, AZ

PFLAG Parents - 11, 15, 2008 - Phoenix, AZ

Rev. Michael and a Rally Worker - 11, 15, 2008 - Phoenix, AZ


The people of our nation are coming together and standing up to say that they believe that "A person's a person no matter how small" and all humans deserve equal rights and protections under the law. And if you'd like to join in on future national rallies, go to jointheimpact.com for more details.

If you saw your photo here today without your name, and you would like your name mentioned, or to add some words of your own, please send them to humans4equality@gmail.com with the subject line "Joining the Impact" and I will add your name and/or 2 cents into the mix.

Thank you to Sister Mischif for so many fabulous human pictures!