High school hosts photo exhibit of families with gay members

[Ian David]

Published: March 06, 2008 10:06 am print this story email this story

High school hosts photo exhibit of families with gay members
By Brian Messenger
Staff writer

A photo exhibit showcasing families with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members was expected to attract the attention of a diverse sampling of high school classes and the public beginning yesterday, March 5.

A student group, the Andover High School Gay-Straight Alliance, made a 20-photo exhibit called "Love Makes a Family" available to the school and greater community. The exhibit also includes first-person narratives and quotations from people depicted in the predominantly black-and-white photos.

"Just to see it — it's one thing to be accepting and it's another to realize that there's not much to accept," said Zach, an Andover High student and member of the Gay-Straight Alliance. "When you see this you get a sense that it's really normal, that there's no real difference between families."

It is the policy of the Andover High School Gay-Straight Alliance not to reveal the last names or ages of its members. The policy started several years ago, when a high school student's home was vandalized after being identified in a local newspaper, according to club co-adviser and high school science teacher Deb Burch.

More:
http://www.andovertownsman.com/local/local_story_066100633.html

[peace13]

1. Thanks for this. n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. This is a great idea

because seeing photos and reading narratives will truly help folks to realize that there is nothing to fear from the LBGT community. And I think a lot of the hate is created out of fear.

[Gala328]

3. A Welcome Change

This is excellent news. For those who are filled with hate, this may go a long way to soften them. I have found that people are so much less likely to hate the closer they come to knowing someone.

[insleeforprez]

4. Not to toot my own horn, but...

Andover received money from MIT's LBGT center, as one of many mini-grants that they made to local high school GSA's, in a program called LYPSTIC (God knows if I know what it stands for). I'm glad to see it's working.

[swimmernsecretsea]

6. Thanks for this, then.

It's going to be remembered for good reasons, and years later, hopefully it will make things better for someone.

[qb]

5. Love Makes a Family

This is the perfect message to respond to the freakish "family values" conservatives. My kids have a gay dad (with a boyfriend... maybe :shrug:) and a straight mom (with a boyfriend) and we're still a family with lots of love :)