The New York State LGBT Family Photo Album on display in April 2007At LGBT Equality & Justice Day in Albany
Last Wednesday a portion of the New York State LGBT Family Photo Album began a nine-day exhibition at an art gallery in Larchmont. The album is a collection pages made by families and individuals--gay and straight--who declare their support for marriage equality simply through photos of their everyday life.
Last year the photo album was the center of controversy when it was unveiled in another part of the Lower Hudson Valley. In February 2007, part of the album was was to be displayed for a month at a Cosi restaurant in New Rochelle. The display, however, was ordered taken down after less than one day of being on display because Cosi corporate headquarters received "complaints" from people who claimed to be offended by the sight of same-sex couples at family celebrations, smiling with their children or enjoying a vacation, etc. The Pride Agenda and local community (including many straight allies), however, immediately responded and organized, demanding that the display go back up. After thousands of emails and phone calls flooded Cosi's corporate headquarters within a period of less than 24 hours, the display was put back up and remained up for the entire duration of the planned exhibition.
Last week's reception in Larchmont was much less dramatic, but more than 70 people packed into the art gallery to see the album once again on display. Same-sex couples, parents, friends, neighbors and coworkers gathered to enjoy the exhibit and support the call for marriage equality in New York State.
You can watch News 12 Westchester's coverage of the event.
The exhibition runs through January 25 at Larchmont's Palmer Art Gallery.
Last year the photo album was the center of controversy when it was unveiled in another part of the Lower Hudson Valley. In February 2007, part of the album was was to be displayed for a month at a Cosi restaurant in New Rochelle. The display, however, was ordered taken down after less than one day of being on display because Cosi corporate headquarters received "complaints" from people who claimed to be offended by the sight of same-sex couples at family celebrations, smiling with their children or enjoying a vacation, etc. The Pride Agenda and local community (including many straight allies), however, immediately responded and organized, demanding that the display go back up. After thousands of emails and phone calls flooded Cosi's corporate headquarters within a period of less than 24 hours, the display was put back up and remained up for the entire duration of the planned exhibition.
Last week's reception in Larchmont was much less dramatic, but more than 70 people packed into the art gallery to see the album once again on display. Same-sex couples, parents, friends, neighbors and coworkers gathered to enjoy the exhibit and support the call for marriage equality in New York State.
You can watch News 12 Westchester's coverage of the event.
The exhibition runs through January 25 at Larchmont's Palmer Art Gallery.
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