The intent of the We Are campaign is to show that we, the members of the gay community and our supporters, are just like everyone else. We come from all walks of life; we have jobs and families and homes; we worry about the economy and the environment; we have hopes and dreams and fears; and most importantly, we are human.
Originally created as a response to the passage of Proposition 8 in California, the We Are campaign strives to go beyond any single issue and reach out to make a connection between us and the people who don't know us. Experience has taught us that people who are inclined to have negative or neutral feelings about the gay community and the issues that affect us can often change their minds when they find out they know someone who is gay and that we have commonalities between us. Further advances in gaining acceptance and understanding can be reached when people who are not gay stand up and proclaim that they support our fundamental human rights.
We hope that these photographs will make the kinds of connections that could change minds. Imagine the power of a person finding out, perhaps for the first time, that just like them... We Are Americans, We Are Your Neighbors, We Are Football Players and Bowlers and Race Fans, We Are Soap Opera Fans and Country Music Line Dancers, We Are Pharmacists and Lawyers and Retail Salespeople and Construction Workers, We Are Husbands and Wives and Mothers and Fathers, We Are...
Anyone wishing to participate can do so by simply writing their "We Are..." statement on a piece of paper, taking a photograph, and submitting it to photos@citizensforequality.org. "We Are..." statements can also be added to existing photographs using any simple photo software tool.
To find out more about We Are, visit citizensforequality.org/weare.
