Outreach Campaign
The aim of the Out in the Silence Campaign is to increase the visibility of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people in rural and small town America and to promote dialogue and action that will help strengthen the struggle for fairness and equality for all.
The underlying concept of the campaign is that the simple act of holding an Out in the Silence screening can help inspire, connect and mobilize GLBT people and their allies, particularly in small towns and rural communities where such events are rare and unexpected.
Your Participation is Vital!
Out in the Silence events are ideal for public libraries, churches, schools, colleges and universities, community centers, and local theaters.
To schedule an event with the filmmakers in your area, please contact: Joe Wilson at qwavesjoe@yahoo.com.
And by all means, please keep in touch. We'd love to hear about your activities and share the exciting news with others. We're all part of building this movement and we need to stay connected!
Background
For the past 40 years, the right wing has dominated the social, political and economic landscape of small town and rural America, largely because those of us with a different, more welcoming worldview, have failed to organize and to act. While the conservative policies that have resulted from this dynamic have harmed many groups, they have been particularly devastating for GLBT people, who have been forced to live in fear and isolation, unable to speak out about issues that matter for fear of losing their families, friends, jobs, personal safety, even their very lives. Meanwhile media representations of GLBT people have concentrated almost exclusively on people living in urban and suburban settings, as has most of the work of the large national GLBT advocacy groups, further deepening the isolation of those living in small towns and rural areas.
Building the Movement Through Grassroots Outreach
At the heart of the Out in the Silence Campaign is our dedication to the idea that small acts of GLBT visibility in places where they are rare and unexpected help to raise awareness and open-up dialogue in profound new ways and create ripple effects and opportunities to organize for change that go far and wide. The Campaign has already conducted more than 300 town-hall-style screening events across the country, including work in Pennsylvania, where it all started and the stories in the film take place, as well as very successful statewide tours in South Carolina, South Dakota and Oregon.
With your help, we can do much more. As we look to the future, we are dedicated to expanding efforts to reach, support and strengthen local organizers and advocates working for change in the most challenging environments.
If you and/or others in your community might be interested in helping to organize a local screening, please contact Joe Wilson at QwavesJoe@yahoo.com or 808-629-9864
Addressing Teen Bullying
In response to the tragic epidemic of gay teen suicides that has galvanized national attention, the Out in the Silence Campaign is making concerted efforts to reach out to youth, families and educators to help facilitate the formation of new gay-straight alliance groups and promote safe school and anti-bullying policies and legislation to protect GLBT youth at the local, state, and federal levels.
Through partnerships with two organizations providing critical services to these constituencies, the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), the Campaign is making the film and organizing resources available to all interested schools and community groups.
To get involved, and put your school or community on the map, contact Joe at QwavesJoe@yahoo.com or 808-629-9864.
LETS GO WHERE THE SILENCE IS
AND SAY SOMETHING
- With Major Support From:
- Presented by Penn State Public Broadcasting.