Okay, I'm learning some very important lessons in the art of humility. And I'll say, that whenever I do find myself getting a little cocky or too preoccupied with my needs being the most important, I ...am...leveled! Perhaps if my partner was not as incredible as he is, or if there was a lack of ice cream or sun, I'd be less gracious about my shortcomings. After feeling my feathers sufficiently ruffled yesterday (details not important as it happens to us all) I was about to hightail it out of a project that was occurring today. Thank the fill-in-the-blank that I was able to work through the blur of my pride in time to actually participate in today's events. The coordinator's of Colectivo 41 arranged (in about 24 hours) to do a provocative photo campaign with a successful Mexican photographer. Make-up, models, and snacks were all arranged as well. We wanted to document to entire process, so I had a camera as well as the graphic designer from CASA and another volunteer. All of the models (mainly youth from the LGBT community) had their faces painted to appear as if they had just been severely beaten. The message of the campaign will be something to the effect that "The violence stops with you." There was a lot of laughter and general enjoyment whilst everyone was getting bruises and blood painted onto their faces. At quite a few points (and I'm sure I wasn't alone in this) I did take a look around and think, "we can afford to laugh because we feel safe right now" and it hit me really hard that tens of thousands of people have and continue to be victims of horrible acts of violence because they are considered "different." At one point today, one of the coordinators started conducting video interviews with the volunteers. Many told their own personal stories with such honesty and depth... well, no words to convey my own reaction. One women told of an incident in Mexico City, walking down the street with her girlfriend, simply holding hands, and a group of about 30 men started yelling aggressively to them that they were going to "rape them in order to teach them a lesson." Well what can be said? This hatred, is too profound for me to comment on. All I can do is silently create benevolent energy, an energy based in undifferentiated awareness and love. We have to do something.