Photo Exhibit Addresses Gay Family Stereotypes

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (October 11, 2004) - In conjunction with its fourth annual Community Works fundraising campaign for non-profit agencies, Vassar College will present the acclaimed photo-text exhibit Loves Makes a Family: Portraits of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People and Their Families, in the campus James W. Palmer Gallery from October 25 - November 5. A reception celebrating the exhibit will be held Wednesday October 27 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

"Love Makes a Family challenges stereotypes of gay people, and breathes life into the humane values of our Community Works campaign," explained campaign director Jill Schneiderman, an associate dean of the faculty, as well as chair of the Vassar department of geology and geography. "It shows that gay people are loving parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and children and that whether by adoption or biology, families are made up of people who love each other."

Vassar created Community Works in 2001 to uphold its non-discrimination policy and provide a fundraising alternative to the United Way of Dutchess County. Vassar disassociated from the local United Way because it supports and funds the Boy Scouts of America, which in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision (BSA v. James Dale, 28 June 2000) won the right to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation against staff and volunteer service providers.

Family Diversity Projects, Inc., a non-profit educational organization, created Love Makes a Family to combat homophobia, and in seven years the exhibit has already toured over 1000 universities, schools, public libraries, corporate headquarters, and houses of worship in the United States (http://www.lovemakesafamily.org/).

Gigi Kaeser's photographs for the exhibit capture a variety of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender families, in familiar family settings. Through the accompanying text, excerpted from interviews by exhibit co-creator Peggy Gillespie, family members speak candidly about their lives and their relationships.

"Our family life is a very traditional American one," commented Doug Robinson, in one of Gillespie's interviews for Love Makes a Family. "Early morning getting up, eating breakfast, getting dressed, making sure everyone has matching socks, getting the boys off to school, and then going to work. At night, it's homework and getting ready for bed. Michael and I have been class parents in Zach's and Justin's classes every single year. We could not imagine living without children. It's a wonderful experience to watch our boys develop and mature."

The companion book to the Love Makes a Family exhibit is on sale at the Vassar College bookstore, and will also be sold at the October 27 reception for the exhibit at the James W. Palmer Gallery. A portion of the book proceeds will support the college's 2005Community Works campaign, which is making grants to the Children's Media Project, Circles of Planned Parenthood, Crossroads Springs Orphanage, Dutchess Outreach, Grace Smith House, Latinos Unidos, Living Room of the Mental Health Association of Dutchess County, Mill Street Loft, New Horizons, River Haven of Hudson River Housing, Rodney K. Douglas New Day Repertory Company, Sadie Peterson Delaney African Roots Library, and Taconic Resources for Independent Living.

For hours and other information on the James W. Palmer Gallery in the College Center at Vassar College, call the Office of Campus Activities (845) 437-5370. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should call Cathy Jennings at the same phone number. Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential, liberal arts college founded in 1861.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations or information on accessibility should contact Campus Activities Office at (845) 437-5370. Without sufficient notice, appropriate space and/or assistance may not be available.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

This article was posted on Monday, October 11th, 2004.