LGLV Purchases Billboard
This was the cover photo used for the May 1996 issue of Erie Gay Community Newsletter. I think that Mike A Miller took this photo. There were 4 billboards. Here is the article from that issue:
A highly visible public service campaign appears to be successfully encouraging lesbigays and others to vote and take note of the League of Gay and Lesbian Voters.
The billboards consist of the slogan "if you vote doesn't count, whose does?" in a red field, with the LGLV logo and the words "League of Gay and Lesbian Voters" beneath. The message subtly urges voters to visit the polls during the April 23 primary election.
According to Kim Bukowski, General Manager of Penn Advertisign's Erie Division, the graphics for the posters were deisgned by Penn Advertising Art Director Paul Glenn, based in Buffalo NY. The Erie Division of Penn Advertising covers billboards in Erie, Crawford and Venango Counties.
Winning Bukowski's approval of the project was apparently easy. She sees public service announcements as being important to the general public.
"This really isn't a gay message. Any group has a right to put up a message to the community, as long as that message is not offensive," stats Bukowski.
The League purchased the billboards thought the Penn Advertising public service program, which offers the advertising at reduced rates. The messages were posted "wherever, whenever" on a space available basis, providing a complete market coverage aimed at all age groups and income levels.
The initial billboard appeared on Route 20 in Fairview Township on Thursday, April 11 [1996]. Subsequent billboards have been posted within the City of Erie" 12th & Liberty Streets, 12th and Camphausen Streets, and 20th and Parade Streets, for a total of 4.
The League was prompted to proceed after is was learned that Bukowski was supportive of the plan. The project quickly received approval at the state level by Chris Young, LGLV Chair, and the Erie Chapter of LGLV provided the funding.
League members discussed a possible backlash from right wing conservatives at the regular monthly meeting in April and prepared to defend the project to Erie media. That opposition, however, failed to materialize, according to Bukowski.
The League of Gay and Lesbian Voters is a non-partisan political organization dedicated to achieving equal rights for lesbigays by lobbying, educating and registering voters, and organizing at the grass roots levels. In addition to the billboards, the Erie Chapter has distributed nearly 1,000 Voters' Guides for the primary election.
These LGLV members made the billboard possible. From left to right: Larry Sawdy, Greg Valiga, Elaine Hill, Chris Sargent, Heidi Streich, Dave Mulholland, Jeff Hill, Laura Suroviec, Ray Blount, Floyd H
