Why
The FaceOut Project?
Why Now?
Hi there! My name is Sora J. Kasuga and I'm the founder of The FaceOut Project. When I started this venture in April of 2024, my hope was to create a living, breathing entity where members of the Facial Difference (FD) community would come together and collectively face out toward the world. It started with a weekly, virtual Activism Cohort meeting. Since then, we have met almost every Monday night on Zoom to share stories, take action. While we are mostly centered in North America, we have had community members come in from all over the world. This movement is growing and it's electrifying to see more people regularly join in!
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Facial Difference is an oft-ignored social disability, meaning that we are disabled by stigma which shows up in our lives through lack of access to jobs, verbal and physical violence, abandonment by family and community...and all of this creates an internal environment of self-stigma/ableism and deteriorating mental health.
Here at The FaceOut Project, we are changing the conversation. We are planting seeds in each others' hearts which will grow into gardens across the world. We are creating resources to educate society about FD and to help our community members take back their power. We are building bridges with other movements in a move toward collective liberation.
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In short, The FaceOut Project is about two things:
community and activism.
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People with facial difference exist in every sector of society across race, ethnicity, gender, age, class, sexuality, disability, and religion. We as are bonded not only by trauma, but equally by joy and belonging found in our shared experiences. We are resilient. We have to be. We know what it is like to be shut out from society, and as a result,
we carry wisdom and creativity from our life experiences that can compassionately redesign existing systems for all of humanity.
The global human rights epidemic plaguing the FD community is actively being ignored. The time is NOW to make radical change. We can do that by gathering on a regular basis with one common goal:
Divest from Appearance-based Worth
and
Create face equity
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If face equity becomes a reality, it will mean that physical appearance will no longer be a measure of a person's worth. It will mean that as humans, we will have evolved to value and connect to each other based on who we are, not what we look like. It will mean greater innovation in societies and wholeness in our communities. Because when we demolish arbitrary barriers that are meant to keep people out, we invite in invaluable wisdom and life experience that can innovate prosperity for everyone. That's a win-win.
I have hope in the passionate people around the world who's activism brings about visibility and change.
Featured on the home page page, you'll see people in this community I admire...people like
Christina Raj, an activist in India who founded the Center for Ichthyosis Related Members Foundation. You can read her story here.
Then there's David Roche from Canada...an inspirational humorist who has dedicated his life to appearance advocacy, changing hearts and minds, educating people around the world about the wisdom members of the FD community have to offer. David has a new book coming out in April!
And finally, there's the UK's Crystal Marshall who is rocking it at the esteemed London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA). She is a fierce Face Equality activist, fighting for more and better representation in the media and onstage. And there are so many more activists that I want to highlight!
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If you are a person who found this website through a card I handed to you, I encourage you to read my open letter to learn more about facial difference.
And to my beloved community members,
WELCOME!
I'm so, so looking forward to changing the world with you!!