Betsy Parsons Collection

Betsy Parsons was a teacher in the Portland Public Schools and a Board member, GLSEN-Southern Maine (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network). She also served on the LGBT Advisory Committee for the Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine at the University of Southern Maine and was involved with the Unitarian Universalist Church. She was the Southern Maine coordinator for the Marriage Equality Family Ambassador Project, a grassroots educational initiative to promote understanding of how marriage for same-sex couples will help Maine children, families and communities, supported by Maine Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders and Equality Maine Foundation. The Collection consists of signs used in a Nov. 5, 2005 rally, organized by the Unitarian Universalist Church in favor of LGBT civil rights legislation, as well as printed material from the Maine Won't Discriminate campaign.

All works in these collections are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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"Love is Love" sign

Betsy Parons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons foe demonstration or march. Text reads: "Love is Love".

Black text on white background, drawing of rainbow.

Acrylic, tempera, and/or marker on posterboard.
:Anti-Gay Discrimination is Illegal..." sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for protest or march. Text reads "Anti-Gay Discrimination is Illegal in Maine Schools and Universities".

Handpainted. Blue and red paint, likely acrylic or tempera on white poster board.
"Equality" sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for demonstration or march.

Text reads "EQUALITY"

Black text on red posterboard.
"Freaking Awesome Gay" sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for demonstration or march.

Text reads: "I'm A Freaking Awesome Gay". Sign also features a GLSEN bumper sticker.

Acrylic or tempera on poster board.
"Free to Learn..." sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for demonstration or march. Text reads: "Free to Learn Teach LEad".

Green, red, purple, and black text on white background with a rainbow. Acrylic or tempera on poster board.
GLSEN Safe Schools Map

Betsy Parsons

1997 DeLome road map which was altered by Betsy Parsons in June 2009 to indicate the success of GSLEN's Safe Schools work in Maine. Parsons noted the locations of Gay-Straight Alliances, student groups located in Schools.
"GLSEN" sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for event. Text reads: "GLSEN Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network

Black text on yellow background. Acrylic or tempera on poster board.
GSTA "Crest" poster

Betsy Parsons

Poster created by Betsy Parsons for conference, workshop, or training. Poster feature a drawing of a crest divided into four quadrants, with each listing goals, positive affirmations, and well-known public figures.

Multicolored marker on posterboard.
"GSTA Youth Testimony" sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for demonstration or march. Text reads: " GSTA Youth Testimony Helped Protect the Maine Human Rights Act".

Black, red, green, and blue text on white background. Acrylic or tempera on posterboard.
"Love is Compassion..." sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for demonstration or march. Text reads: "Love is Compassion Love is Caring Love is Beautiful Love is Love"

Pastel marker on white background.
"Never Be Ashamed of Love" poster

Betsy Parsons

Poster created by Betsy Parsons for demonstration or march. Text reads: "Never Be Ashamed of Love".

Black and multicolored marker on white posterboard.
"Proud Gay Student" sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created for march or demonstration. Text reads: " Proud Son Christian Student Gay". Note, the word "Gay" is written vertically next to "son", "Christian" and "Student".

Acrylic paint on white background.
"Proud GLBT Students + Teachers" sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for demonstration or march. Text reads: "Proud GLBT Students and Teachers".

Black text with rainbow-colored hand prints. Acrylic or tempera on posterboars. GLSEN bumper sticker.
"Proud Lesbian Teacher" sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign carried by Betsy Parsons for a march or demonstration. Text reads: "Proud Lesbian Teacher 30 (x29) Years ~Portland Public Schools~.

Hand-painted, purple, red, and blue paint (likely acrylic or tempera) on white poster board.
"Rainbow Is The Way To Go" sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for demonstration or march. Text reads: "Rainbow is the Way to Go!"

Multicolored marker on white posterboard.
Safe Schools for All" sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for demonstration or march. Text reads: "GLSEN Safe Schools for All".

Black and rainbow text on white background with GLSEN bumper sticker. Acrylic or tempera on poster board.
"Safe Schools for GLBT People" sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for demonstration or march. Text reads: "GLSEN Safe SChools for GLBT People".

Black and red text on white background. GLSEN bumper sticker.
"Thou Shalt Not Eat Clams" sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for demonstration or march. Text reads: "Guess What... The Bible Also Says: 'Thou Shalt Not Eat Clams' )do you eat clams, Mr. Phelps?) What Now?

Black marker on white psterboard.

The "Mr. Phelps" referenced in the text is likely Fred Phelps (1929-2014), former pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church.
"Trans Gay-Straight Alliance..." sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for march or demonstration. Text reads: "Trans Gay-Straight Alliances: Youth Leading for Equality".

Red and black text with a rainbow in the background. Acrylic or tempera on posterboard.
"Trans Students Are Everywhere" sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for protest or march. Text reads "Trans Students Are Everywhere".

Handpainted rainbow text, likely acrylic or tempera on posterboard.
"We Are A Land Of Many Colors" sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for demonstration or march. Text reads: "We Are A Land of Many Colors America the Beautiful"

Multicolored marker on white background. Rainbow details.
"We are All In This Together" sign

Betsy Parsons

Sign created by Betsy Parsons for demonstration or march. Text reads "We Are All In This Together" in several languages.