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 project is structured around an extensive series of community screening and town hall events that complement PBS broadcast by engaging people at the local level.

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 facilitate your event, you may wish to purchase a complete screening package that contains multiple DVDs that can be resold for fundraising along with a complementary discussion guide, event planning tool kit, and sample posters and press releases.

PURCHASE 5-DVD SCREENING PACKAGE FOR $49.95

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 show up. 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.

Pennsylvania County-by-County Campaign

The Out in the Silence Campaign has particular resonance in Pennsylvania, where the stories in the film take place. With the support of a major donor, the Campaign is collaborating with the ACLU of PA, Equality Pennsylvania and other state and local groups to conduct facilitated events in each of the state's 67 counties. These events are being used to encourage local participation in ongoing grassroots work and in important policy debates now on the agenda.

Going Public Nationwide

Similar efforts are underway in Arkansas, South Carolina, South Dakota and beyond, with state and local groups setting up Out in the Silence Campaign events and mini-tours to shine a light on the important issues raised in the film and bring new constituents to their work. The core audiences include youth, civic, and faith-based communities where the film is most likely to catalyze change.

LETS GO WHERE THE SILENCE IS
AND SAY SOMETHING

With Major Support From: