On Saturday, May 14th at Siren Studios in Hollywood, author Judy Rickard (TORN APART: UNITED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY LAW) and filmmaker/photographer David W. Ross joined forces for a special event to help raise awareness to fight the outdated and unjust immigration laws facing bi-national LGBT couples.
WHO: Judy Rickard, author of the award winning book TORN APART: UNITED BY LOVE, DIVIDED BY LAW and civil/LGBT rights activist. She was joined by her partner Karin, who shared their story with the crowd.
David W. Ross, photographer/filmmaker, beautifully captured the powerful images for the project. Ross is also working on his upcoming feature film, I DO, which will expose the human costs of DOMA (now raising funds on Kickstarter.com).
Lavi Soloway, immigration attorney and co-founder of Immigration Equality was on hand to discuss the fight against these unfair deportation cases.
WHAT: The shoot brought in over a dozen LGBT couples, families and solo partners of bi-national relationships to represent the unjust treatment facing over 36,000 same-sex bi-national couples. These couples (half of them raising children) face extended separation, exile or deportation because of U.S. immigration and marriage laws. Participating couples were photographed together, with the non- U.S. citizen's faces ultimately blurred in the final portrait to represent their status as legal strangers. A sense of pride, determination and commitment filled the room. Judy Rickard met with guests and signed copies of her book — of which all royalties go towards the cause.
Attached are behind the scenes photos from the event. No photo credit necessary. The official images from the awareness campaign "United by Love, Divided by Law" will be available in early summer.
WHEN: Saturday, May 14th
12:00pm — 4:00pm
WHERE: Siren Studios
6063 W. Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028
