A public billboard campaign in Schenectady, N.Y. has come up with a campaign to spread awareness that gay and lesbian people are here, they’re queer, and they come in all shapes, sizes and colors. What a great message to hear on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day—and how unfortunate that a city councilman wants the billboards taken down.
The billboards depict three black men boldly proclaiming that “I Am Gay.” Included is the tagline, “This is where I play, this is where I stay, this is where I pray.” The campaign was designed by a local LGBT organization called In Our Own Voices in order to combat the perceived stigma of being a black gay man within the community.
As Roderick Rogers, spokesman for In Our Own Voices, said, “As soon as you can get those messages out, and you can have a dialogue, I think that creates an environment where race, sexuality, gender, are not taboo subjects.”
But City Councilman Joseph Allen has gone on record as saying the billboards put out a message of “approval on a gay lifestyle” (well, yeah) and so should be taken down (uh, no?) Tanda LaGrone of In Our Own Voices responded by saying that the councilman is looking at his constituency as only heterosexual voters. “You have to start from a place of respect in order to address the stigma and homophobia of being a black gay man,” LaGrone said.
The billboards depict three black men boldly proclaiming that “I Am Gay.” Included is the tagline, “This is where I play, this is where I stay, this is where I pray.” The campaign was designed by a local LGBT organization called In Our Own Voices in order to combat the perceived stigma of being a black gay man within the community.
As Roderick Rogers, spokesman for In Our Own Voices, said, “As soon as you can get those messages out, and you can have a dialogue, I think that creates an environment where race, sexuality, gender, are not taboo subjects.”
But City Councilman Joseph Allen has gone on record as saying the billboards put out a message of “approval on a gay lifestyle” (well, yeah) and so should be taken down (uh, no?) Tanda LaGrone of In Our Own Voices responded by saying that the councilman is looking at his constituency as only heterosexual voters. “You have to start from a place of respect in order to address the stigma and homophobia of being a black gay man,” LaGrone said.
I live in Schenectady, and actually drive by the billboard shown here quite frequently. I was so happy when I saw it the first time! I hope the councilman doesn't succeed. I'm actually really disappointed to see he's so heavily involved in civil rights with regard to race, but is trying to shut down something LGBT related. :/
I hope he doesn't get his way!
I grew up in Schenectady. I had many good friends who were gay in that town and Albany had a fairly robust gay scene. More power to these courageous men!
This is near where I grew up and where my parents still live, and I love going home and seeing these billboards. It's raising awareness about something really important, I can't believe that the councilman wants them taken down, what a homophobe.