Finally something we can read@NewAgeofActivism.com is guided by the knowledge that the Origin of All life is Lov. We believe that respecting and taking care of our home planet 'earth' keeps us safe and healthy. New ageofactivism.com is dedicated to all men and women who have been persecuted or murdered because of their sexual orientation, spiritual beliefs, race, age, gender, martial status, disability, or HIV infection. We loves god very very much.

Friday, April 20, 2012

National Day of Silence: Portraits of Out and Proud LGBT Young Athletes By Deana Mitchel (ABC NEWS)

Today, thousands of students around the United States are falling quiet.  Participating in National Day of Silence, they hope to raise awareness to the continued harassment and discrimination faced by many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. Photographer Jeff Sheng has been documenting openly gay LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) high school and college athletes since 2003. It is an ongoing project that is very close to his heart.
Reposted from ABC NEWS.COM

Amanda, Varsity Lacrosse
University of California-Santa Barbara, 2007
Sheng who was a promising tennis star in high school, said he had trouble wrapping his head around being openly gay and being an athlete, so he stayed in the closet. “I found I had two identities and I didn’t see how they could coexist – being an athlete and being gay,” he said. It wasn’t until later that Sheng started gradually to come out.
Adam Water Polo
John Abbot CEGEP, Canada, 2009
“I think I spent my 20s trying to make up for that through photography,” he said.  He currently is working on three ongoing projects focused on LGBT issues. In addition to “Fearless,” the photo series from which these pictures came, he is also creating portraits of LGBT servicemen and women, called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which has received critical acclaim. His newest project is a series of portraits of LGBT-identified individuals who are survivors of suicide attempts.
Lauren, Varsity Basketball
Mount Holyoke College, 2005
Sheng said the reaction to his projects has been positive. He finds most of his subjects through word of mouth and social networking sites on the Internet.  He travels the country visiting high schools and universities sharing his project and continuing to photograph new subjects. He believes high school kids may not have realized they could be on sports teams or in classes with kids who are LGBT. “It makes them a bit more introspective, maybe watch their language a little bit,” he said. Sheng recalled how a college student told him that he had visited her high school a few years prior and that his project inspired her, made her more confident and helped her to come out. “That was really amazing,” he said.

Matt, Varsity Football and Baseball
Marywood-Palm Valley School, California, 2009
Matt, Varsity Football and Baseball
Marywood-Palm Valley School, California, 2009
Jamar, Track and Field (Hurdles)
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 2007
Anna, Track and Field
University of Pennsylvania, 2007
Matt, Varsity Tennis
University of California, Santa Barbara, 2006
Rachel, Women’s Rugby Team
Yale University, 2008
Nick, Cross Country/Track and Field
San Ramon High School, California, 2007