From ABC News:

Former fashion photographer Rick Guidotti began a systematic effort to photograph people with albinism after he was struck by the beauty of a young girl he saw on the street in New York.

His work is now at the center of an effort by the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH) to fight social stigma and discrimination against people with a genetic condition that affects an estimated 18,000 Americans.

Guidotti’s remarkable and joyful photographs of people with many different genetic conditions can be viewed at his website, positiveexposure.org. His mission: to “challenge the stigma associated with difference by celebrating the beauty and richness of human diversity.”

Reports of atrocities against people with albinism in Tanzania and discrimination elsewhere are spurring advocacy efforts.

In Tanzania — where albinism occurs at rates as high as 1 in 3,000 births — people have been slaughtered by witch doctors for their organs, which are considered lucky and used in magic potions. Rapes also have been reported in Zimbabwe, where many believe that having sexual intercourse with a person with albinism can cure HIV/AIDS.

Even in the United States, children of all races with albinism face ignorance and discrimination because of their unusual coloring.

See also:

• Albinos face harm, stigma in Africa (earlier post)
• Artists find beauty where others see genetic disorders (Michigan Daily)
• Albinos find voice in Tanzania (NPR)
• Africa’s ‘golden voice’ shines light on a plight (Washington Post)

(Photo from positiveexposure.org)

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 10th, 2008 at 7:23 am and is filed under NOT2BEMISSED, arts/music, discrimination, genetics, public attitudes, stereotypes, stigma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.  Email This Post