Syracuse University welcomes ‘Love Makes a Family’ exhibition

Syracuse University welcomes ‘Love Makes a Family’ exhibitionOctober 18, 2006SU News ServicesSUnews@syr.edu

The exhibition titled “Love Makes a Family: Portraits of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People and their Families,” will provide the Syracuse University community and larger Central New York community with the opportunity to engage in an exhibition that features true-to-life representation of LGBT families. By allowing members of the campus and community to come face-to-face with images of LGBT families, this exhibit challenges stereotypes and portrays images of real life LGBT people that are lacking in the mainstream media.

This exhibit is particularly important at a time in history when LGBT people continue to fight for basic human rights including the right to legally marry, the right to lead a Boy Scout troop, the right to have access to partner health benefits and the right to be adoptive and foster parents. This exhibit visibly demonstrates the love, caring and connection that are so basic to all families.

Family Diversity Projects of Amherst, Mass., a non-profit education organization, created “Love Makes a Family” as a way of combating homophobia and transphobia. More information on Family Diversity Projects, including publicity photographs for the exhibit, is available online at http://www.familydiv.org.

The “Love Makes a Family” exhibit is scheduled to be displayed in the Panasci Lounge, located in the upper level of SU’s Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center, from Oct. 18-Nov. 1. An opening reception will be held on Monday, Oct. 23, from 5:30-7 p.m. in Room 304 of the Schine Student Center. The keynote address will be delivered by Minnie Bruce Pratt, University faculty member and a contributing author for the exhibit’s companion book.

Pratt comments that the exhibit “reflects the reality that three-quarters of families in the U.S. today are `non-traditional,’ and that includes families of LGBT parents and children. These photographs affirm that what matters most in any human relationship is respect and love, and gives hope that all of us can create families full of comfort and support and joy.” The exhibit’s companion book will be available for sale at the SU bookstore throughout the duration of the display, and copies signed by Pratt will be available at the opening reception as well.

Since it began touring in 1996, the exhibition has traveled to more than a thousand communities. Inspired by the exhibition’s mission to embrace LGBT families, local artist Ellen Blalock invites families in the Central New York LGBT community to have their family picture taken at no cost for a similar photographic collection. Families will also be given a print from this photo shoot free of charge. The photo shoot will occur on Oct. 28 and Nov. 4. Interested parties should contact Jackie Micieli by Friday, Oct. 27, for more information.

Parking is available in paid parking lots located near the campus. For more information contact Micieli, graduate assistant at the LGBT Resource Center, at 443-1529 or jamiciel@syr.edu.

This exhibit is sponsored by the Syracuse University LGBT Resource Center; the Team Against Bias; Light Work and Community Darkrooms; Student Center and Programming Services; U.Encounter; Orientation and Transition Services; the Division of Student Affairs; LGBTQ Youth Center @ ACR; and Pride and Joy Families.