Berger Named ‘Activist of the Year’ by Equality PA!
In addition to running SWPA, Alanna is the head of the Rainbow EqUUality Advocates Lay-Led Ministry of the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg,
and is a member of the board of the Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network (UUPLAN),
where she tirelessly works for the rights
of the GLBT community, including advocating for anti-discrimination laws and the right to marry. Alanna is also currently the Vice-President
of the Harrisburg PrideFest Committee.
The award ceremony will be held at the Equality Advocates 12th Anniversary Celebration on May 8 in Philadelphia
(see
www.equalitypa.org for tickets).
We are very proud of our Executive Director – the award is well deserved!
Alanna Berger, Executive Director of Silent Witness PA (SWPA), has been named the Barbara Gittings Activist of the Year by Equality Advocates
Pennsylvania, in recognition of her work with the GLBT community.
About Us
Silent Witness PA
(SWPA) is an organization of
gay and straight allies
dedicated to providing a non-confrontational buffer between those who
condemn others based on their sexual orientation or identity and those
they condemn. We provide visual protection from "street preachers" and
protesters at events such as Pridefests, the showing of films such as Jim
in Bold and For the Bible Tells Me So, or staging of plays such as The Laramie
Project, using our bodies and rainbow
umbrellas as shields. In times of need, we intervene to prevent
confrontations between protesters and event participants, often acting
as escorts for those who would like to attend such events. Where there
are those who publicly promote hate, we will be there to help provide a
loving, supportive front
opposing them. We are not counter-protesters. Instead, we provide a
visual representation of support for those in our society who may feel
marginalized.
Silent Witnesses receive significant training in non-confrontation techniques specially designed for the type of work they do. Only those who have received this training may participate in an event as a Silent Witness. Silent Witnesses are easily recognized by their special safety vests and rainbow umbrellas.
Silent Witnesses have
been part of GLBT events in Pennsylvania
for the past several years. Our purpose is to act as a "human spiritual
firewall" between GLBT folks and those individuals who believe GLBT's
are an abomination on the face of the earth. This concerned and
dedicated group of activists consists of over 400 local individuals who
have been specially trained to deal with hate-mongers. Because street
preachers and other vicious protestors have a long history of
picketing, antagonizing and subsequently suing various individuals and
organizations, Silent Witnesses stand ready to prevent confrontations
while welcoming and supporting GLBT participants to the event they are
attending.
It is often a
struggle to refrain from arguing with street preachers
and other protestors, but based on
past experience, confronting them is
clearly useless. Their attempts to engage participants in a "dialogue"
are thinly disguised attempts to trap unsuspecting subjects into
listening to their diatribe. They are impervious to logic. And at their
worst, they are trying to earn a living by provoking an attack and
filing lawsuits. It
is precisely this kind of result that SWPA is determined to
prevent.
While individual members of SWPA may hold deep religious beliefs, and are free to express them during events, SWPA supports diversity in all its forms, including religion. For some, it is their belief in the all-abiding love of their God that inspires them to do this work. For others it is their belief in the inherent worth and dignity of all people that drives their participation. Whatever the motivation, the result is the same: we will continue to support the rights of those who suffer expressions of hate.
For more information about Silent Witness PA and training opportunities, please select the Training item on the menu at right.
