Gay Pride is about 3 months away! And Utah Pride, who organizes the event needs volunteers. 50,000 people will attend during the Friday, Saturday and Sunday in June and that requires volunteers for drinks, booths, parades, and more. And if you volunteer you get into the event free. And you support the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender community (GLBT).
Click here to learn more and sign up.
Utah Pride's Volunteers
I am first and foremost a portrait photographer – I photograph people. But I love the idea that I can switch hats and change my job title to landscape photography, sports photographer, and last night? photojournalist. Tuesday night QSaltLake Magazine asked me to photograph the Salt Lake City Council’s historic hearing and vote on the nondiscrimination ordinances regarding GLBT individuals and housing and employment.
This photograph is going to be Wednesday’s cover for QSaltLake Magazine – and I am pumped! I think this is my second cover shot for the magazine. But check out this new edition – it has other photographs I have taken as well.
Salt Lake City Council discusses nondiscrimination ordinances
Tuesday night was truly historic. 10 years ago the SLC City Council voted down similar legislation. Tuesday night was a different story. The vote was unanimous – and the LDS Church had given it’s seal of approval for the new nondiscrimination laws.
Most all of the photographs were taken at ISO 2000 – this way I wouldn’t have to use flash. I didn’t want to be a distraction. I also used a monopod to take the photographs – I wanted as much stability in low light. I had the VR support in my 70-200mm lens and it was wide open at f/2.8 but every little bit helps.
Always photograph the signs at events
This was the second year to photograph Equality Utah’s fundraiser dinner. This dinner was focused on the Common Grounds changes that fight for equality of people in respect to jobs, housing and other issues.
Did you know it is legal to fire someone in Utah because they are gay, lesbian or transgender? Did you know that people are evicted just because of who they love? There are basic rights that are denied people everyday – and that has got to stop.
Glassware and lights create a very cool photograph
Saturday night I photographed the Human Rights Campain Gala Dinner in Salt Lake City, Utah. I will say that I rock as an event photographer – and I am not afraid to toot my own horn. I should change my business cards to say dav.d, ninja photographer
.
I get everywhere and I try to photograph everyone and everything. And I try to be as unobtrusive as possible. (more…)
Did you know that it is legal to fire someone from their job because they are gay? Did you know it is legal to evict someone from their home or apartment because they are a lesbian? How does this defend marriage?
In my opinion everyone is equal under the law – everyone should have the same rights and the same protections. Jim Crow laws of the south were once the rule of the day and they were wrong. So I stand with friends to fight for equality.
This past week we made signs at the Utah Pride center and the next day we held a peaceful protest outside Thanksgiving Point. Freedom isn’t free, but freedom is for all.
Click any of the following photos to go to my new SmugMug gallery of photos. You can order prints or digital downloads! This is a new service I offer to people. Woo hoo for capitalism!
Braving subfreezing temperatures about a dozen people held a candlelight vigil in Park City, Utah. This protest was part of a national protest.
From the group’s Facebook description:
Most Utah residents don’t know that it is perfectly legal for an employer to fire an employee simply because he is gay. Or that a landlord can evict a tenant, simply because she is lesbian–no other reason need be given. The candlelight vigil provides the LGBT community and supportive straight allies an opportunity to educate the public about these and other disparities and how they render LGBT residents “2nd Class Citizens.
Click any of the photos below to see the full gallery.
A Town Hall Meeting was held December 14th at the Tower Theater in Salt Lake City, Utah. Equality Utah, the Human Rights Campaign, Utah Pride, the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, All For One Initiative, People of Color Coalition, the Utah Faith Coalition and others gathered to talk with the gay, lesbian and transgender community.
I was not the only photographer in attendance. There was a newpaper photographer and there was another photographer who was instructed by his mother to take lots of photos. And he was diligent. I have included a few photos here in the blog post – he definitely knew how to handle the camera and he knew how to find good vantage points.
Photographers always try to get the good locations to take the perfect photos. And the other goal is to be stealthy. I think I do alright. I should dress like a ninja perhaps. Anyway, this other photographer had this skill nailed.
Anyway, the Town Hall meeting was a success in my opinion. I encourage everyone to be more politically active. Even if you find just one thing to support – support it whole heartedly.
Click any of the following photos to see the full Town Hall gallery.
