| CNY Pride Families
March 24 - April 7 , 2008
Reception in honor of the artist Ellen M. Blalock:
Wednesday, March 26, 5:30-7:00pm
Panasci Lounge,
Schine Student Center
Syracuse University
In 2006, the LGBT Resource Center, supported by a UEncounter grant, brought the nationally renowned exhibition Love Makes a Family to Syracuse. The exhibition challenged damaging myths and stereotypes about LGBT people and their families through first person accounts and positive images. In an effort to bring these issues to the forefront of the Syracuse University community, and to help them appreciate the breadth and diversity of the LGBT community in this area, the LGBT Resource Center, Light Work, and local photographer Ellen M. Blalock collaborated to create a regional model of Love Makes a Family, and titled this project CNY Pride Families. The regional model uses the same approach of positive images and first person accounts to relay the stories of LGBT people and their families here in the Syracuse area. Through the support of the Chancellor's Feinstone Grant for Multicultural Initiatives, the culmination of this collaborative effort will be on view in the Panasci Lounge of the Schine Student Center from March 24 through April 7, and it will live on in an advocacy brochure that features may of the photographed families.
While the exhibition and publication can only showcase a selection of the families who participated in the portrait project, a full line-up together with personal accounts by each family is available online.
The project forged a connection with the arts and the local community in a strong reflection of Scholarship in Action through involvement with the Arts. Through these initiatives, the partners in the project hope to bring a more diverse understanding of individuals in this community, and a more enlightened view of LGBT people's role in, and around, Syracuse University and Central New York.
A reception in honor of the artist Ellen M. Ballock and all the local LGBT families that participated in this project has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 26.
There are lots of different kinds of families. My name is Orla. I am seven years old. I live in Syraucse, and I am in first grade. I have two moms. I live with my Mom, and I see Matoo on some weekends. My Matoo is my other mom. The best part of being in my family is being loved. My favorite tradition is having M&M pancakes on birthdays.
—Orla, age 7
Exhibition Links:
VIEW FAMILY PORTRAITS
Artist Statement by Ellen M. Blalock
Bringing Light...by Adrea Jaehnig and Amit Taneja
Community Resources + Referrals
LGBT Rights
LGBT Resource Center
Light Work
The Office of Multicultural Affairs
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