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It has come to my attention that a few prominent members of the Deaf Community are making life uncomfortable for the deaf supporters and deaf filmmakers of the Matt Hamill Film Project. I'm asking you please, stop.

Having the courage to pursue a life in the arts can be hard enough. And I'm speaking as a hearing artist, let alone an artist who happens to be deaf. When the success rate of artists is less than 1%, and considering the turmoil that even that 1% has to endure before they're deemed as a success, I don't understand how anybody could think that making someone feel uncomfortable or unwelcome for simply following their dreams and seizing well deserved, creative experiences, is a positive thing.

Please, I ask you again, stop.

I don't know what I would do if my family or friends disowned me for following my chosen career path. It's because of their support that I have the strength to continue down this rocky road. They haven't always believed whole-heartedly in the projects that I've chosen and sometimes I've strayed off course to the point where they've felt propelled to lightly nudged me in the other direction, but they've never, ever, gone to such great lengths as to disown me for my artistic choices. Maybe because they believe and respect me enough to know that I have the intelligence and strength to build on each creative endeavor that I dive into and walk away a better person, and therefore a better artist.

Ostracizing the deaf filmmakers who choose to support this project will not make this project go away. It will just make that job opportunity for a deaf artist go away. And that deeply saddens me. This project is authentic, unique and filled with beautiful layers because of the efforts and collaborations that our deaf filmmakers have contributed.

I thank all of our deaf supporters and especially our deaf filmmakers for all their hard work and incredible courage during these trying times… they're not only weathering the effects of the stock market crash, the death of the independent film market, and the pending artists' strikes daily, they also have to deal with their own community turning their backs on them, just when they need them the most.

I encourage anyone who feels the same way as I do to speak up in support of these brave individuals, and discourage those that feel it necessary to embark on other people's dreams.