This past June, New York City once again stood proudly for love, equality, visibility, and acceptance as the NOH8 Campaign returned to the Bowen Center for its annual NYC Pride Weekend Photoshoot. The event brought together New Yorkers from across the city and all walks of life to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and deliver a simple but powerful message: there is no place for hate.

Among those stepping in front of the camera this year were New York City Council Member Carl Wilson and social media influencer The Staples Baddie, joining scores of participants who came out to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community and the NOH8 Campaign’s message of equality.

Created by photographer Adam Bouska and his partner Jeff Parshley, the NOH8 Campaign began in 2008 as a photographic protest against California’s Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in the state. What started as a grassroots response grew into an international movement, with tens of thousands of people photographed wearing the campaign’s signature white shirts, duct tape and “NOH8” painted on their cheeks.

Now an annual tradition, the New York City NOH8 Campaign Photoshoot at the Bowen Center has become a special part of Pride Weekend, bringing together elected officials, community leaders, advocates, celebrities, influencers, families, friends, and New Yorkers from all walks of life to stand united against hate and discrimination and in support of equality, acceptance, and love.

This year, Council Member Wilson’s participation underscored the important role public officials can play in standing visibly with the LGBTQ+ community and affirming that equality and dignity belong to every New Yorker.

The Staples Baddie brought a different but equally important voice to the photoshoot. With social media providing an increasingly powerful platform for reaching and influencing new generations, creators can use their visibility not only to entertain, but also to encourage acceptance, celebrate individuality, and remind audiences of the importance of standing up for one another.

Now an annual tradition, the New York City NOH8 Campaign Photoshoot at the Bowen Center has become a special part of Pride Weekend—bringing together elected officials, community leaders, advocates, celebrities, influencers, families, friends, and New Yorkers from all walks of life to stand united against hate and discrimination and in support of equality, acceptance, and love.

Among this year’s memorable moments, Bowen Center COO Lawrence Fowler teamed up with Ryan Health President & CEO Daniel Pichinson for a powerful united photo, demonstrating the strength of community partners standing together as allies and affirming their shared commitment to inclusion, dignity, and equality for all.

That is what makes this annual photoshoot so much more than taking a photograph. It is a declaration of solidarity, a celebration of authenticity, and a powerful reminder that when New Yorkers stand together against hate and discrimination, love will always speak louder.

One community. One message. NOH8. Just love.