Interfaith Gay/Straight Alliance plans newspaper ad campaign

This fall, the Interfaith Gay/Straight Alliance (IGSA) will be placing “Why We’re Voting ‘NO’ in November” ads in newspapers in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. This series of ads in local newspapers will feature photos of people who live in the area, accompanied by their brief personal statements as to why they plan to vote “no” on the so-called “marriage amendment.”

IGSA, which had its first meeting in the spring of 2004, has already been busy with an ongoing letters-to-the-editor campaign.

When they decided to move up to newspaper ads, IGSA’s members approached friends, neighbors, co-workers and members of various faith communities seeking their participation. Individuals, couples and families welcomed the opportunity. IGSA’s goal is to include as diverse a group as possible in order to represent the range of people of faith in the Commonwealth who oppose this measure, and to better appeal to all segments of the newspapers’ readership.

IGSA had enough money on hand to run several ads, but wanted to reach as many people as possible. Raising funds from their member congregations and others, in addition to allowing IGSA to run more ads in more papers more often, has created greater interest in the campaign.

IGSA is also continuing its outreach efforts, mainly by showing Virginia filmmaker Suzanne Moe’s documentary, “Barbara and Tibby: A Love Story in the Face of Hate.” IGSA has shown this film to several area congregations, to a group of University of Virginia students and staff, and at the Senior Center in Charlottesville. Members of IGSA provide an introduction for the film and facilitate a post-screening discussion. The documentary puts a human face on the pain this legislation has caused, and offers the opportunity for people of faith to examine what their faith calls them to do when they witness discrimination. IGSA tries to provide a safe space for sharing personal stories and raising questions. Participants have had a wide range of opinions and backgrounds, so the discussions have been fruitful.

IGSA’s committed core includes people from the following faith communities: Friends/Quakers, Episcopal church, United Church of Christ, Unitarian-Universalist and Presbyterian. IGSA’s distribution list also includes people who are Lutherans, Buddhists, Jewish, Baptist, “unaffiliated” and from the Ashram at Yogaville.

For more information about IGSA, call (434) 220-0970 or visit www.InterfaithGSA.org.