National Coming-Out Day: Erie Family Photo

Contributed

This original "Erie Family Photo" was taken in 1995, when many of those present felt unsafe being out, but found solidarity and comfort in the local LGBTQIA+ community. 30 years later, the folks from Erie Gay News are hoping to recreate the Erie Family photo and need your help to pull it off.

SATURDAY, OCT. 11

On National Coming Out Day, the local LGBTQIA+ community and their allies plan to convene on the steps of the Erie County Courthouse to celebrate 30 years of progress.

At the heart of the celebration is the "family photo," which will be a group photo mimicking a similar photo taken 30 years earlier. According to organizer Bobbie Fenno, "This will be a powerful and unforgettable visual testament to our resilience, unity, and pride. To honor this milestone, a professional photographer will capture not only the iconic group photo but also portraits of organizations and groups highlighting their impact in our region." This photo will then be published in the long-standing Erie Gay News (EGN) in a full color issue (which is a first for the paper). 

Publisher of EGN Michael Mahler comments, "When we took the original family photo in October of 1995, it was barely five months after some friends of mine had put together an LGBTQIA+ float to participate in the City of Erie's Bicentennial Parade. The parade was on a Saturday, and late Thursday night, unknown assailants vandalized the float. People gathered together to repair the float, and it was indeed in the City of Erie's Bicentennial Parade the next day." He continues, "When we took the original photo in 1995, many people did not feel 100 percent safe being out. Gathering together and sharing our joy as a community was tremendously empowering."

Fast-forward 30 years and much has changed, while the community also acknowledges the current challenges many of their earlier victories face. Mahler comments, "In today's political climate, many may also not feel safe being open about who they are. There has been fantastic progress in the local community since I first became involved in late summer/early fall of 1991. It is even more critical now that members and supporters of our local community band together and celebrate the strength and resilience of Erie's Queer communities."

Organizers are putting out a call for sponsorships, both for local businesses and nonprofits to publicly show their support for the LGBTQIA+ community while also helping to cover the costs of the photographer and printing the color EGN edition. There are multiple sponsorship levels ranging from Friends ($10–$99) to Society ($1,000+). To sponsor or donate, please contact Michael Mahler at info@eriegaynews.com or call (814) 456-9833.

The family photo will take place at 12 noon // Erie County Courthouse, 140 W. 6th St. // For info visit the Facebook event page or eriegaynews.com