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Politics & Government

Bishop Joins in NOH8 Campaign

Southampton congressman advocates equality in photo campaign.

U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop, of Southampton, poses with "NOH8" painted on his cheek and his mouth covered in duct tape for a visual campaign that promotes equal rights for all orientations and protests discriminatory attitudes.

The NOH8 Campaign was formed in 2009 in response to Proposition 8 striking down same-sex marriage in California. Pronounced "no hate" the name is also a play on words — as in, "no Proposition Hate."

Bishop's participation was part of the third "NOH8 on the Hill" day, during which co-founder and celebrity photographer Adam Bouska shot federal lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Many NOH8 photo subjects wear duct tape over their mouths to symbolize the voices that have been silenced by Proposition 8 and similar initiatives and legislation, according to NOH8 Campaign.

The "NOH8 on the Hill" photos shoots were June 13, when Bishop tweeted a behind-the-scenes preview, and then the photos debuted Monday.

In a "Be Heard" statement to accompany his NOH8 photos, Bishop said, “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.”

Bishop supported the repeals of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, voted against a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage and co-sponsored the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, and is a member of the House LGBT Equality Caucus.

Bishop was one of 67 members of Congress who participated in the third NOH8 on the Hill day, setting a record. NOH8 boasted that this year the campaign had its first Republican participant, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, of Florida, and its first two senators, Martin Heinrich, of New Mexico, and Richard Blumenthal, of Connecticut.

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