LGBTQ+ Rhode Islanders write thousands of letters to voters

In the lead-up to one of the most important elections of our lifetime, 18 members of the Rhode Island queer community gathered to mail nearly 1,600 handwritten letters they had collectively written to voters across the country.

Members of the LGBTQ+ GOTV posse gathered at the Providence Main Post Office with their hand-written letters encouraging voters to make their voices heard at the ballot box in November. Pictured, from left, are Rev. Dr. Donnie Anderson, Deborah Valletta, Susan Gale, Lisa Clement Koulibaly, Jodi Glass, Martha Young, and Sue Bissell.

In the lead-up to one of the most important elections in our lifetime, a dedicated group of LGBTQ+ volunteers have stepped up various efforts to encourage voters to register to vote, and to show up and cast their ballots on November 5. 

The Providence Main Post Office was the setting on Saturday morning, Oct. 5, as 18 members of the Rhode Island queer community gathered to mail nearly 1,600 handwritten letters they had collectively prepared to send to voters across the country. The nonpartisan messages expressed the writer’s personal story on why voting is important to them and provided recipients with vital information about how to vote in their respective states. 

The letter-writing initiative was organized by volunteer and community activist Sally Ann Hay, who tapped her extensive network of LGBTQ Rhode Islanders, in search of a “get-out-the-vote posse” to team together to make a difference in the upcoming elections. 

Over the past few months, the 18 GOTV volunteer posse wrote their impassioned letters both separately and at in-person gatherings for support and encouragement. Each volunteer committed to writing a specific number of letters – ranging from 5 to 200 – which would be mailed in early October to reach voters when election season was top-of-mind.

The posse included Rev. Dr. Donnie Anderson, Deirdre Bird, Sue Bissell, Betty Bourret, Rob Brinkerhoff, Marc Cohen, Tim Engels, Thea Ernest, Susan Gale, Jodi Glass, Dan Harvey, Sally Hay, Daniel Kertzner, Jill Kuhnheim, and Martha Young.

“Being a part of this posse has kept me sane and engaged over the last several months,” Hay wrote on her Facebook page celebrating the Saturday morning mailing event. “Our shared effort reminded me of a favorite African saying, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” 

OLOC members (left to right) Sally Ann Hay, Rev. Dr. Donnie Anderson, and Martha Young provided essential voter information and facilitated Rhode Island voter registrations on select Sundays this summer at the Providence Flea.

In a separate effort, a voter registration and information table sponsored by the Rhode Island Chapter of Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC) made regular appearances at The Providence Flea, Rhode Island’s largest flea market, beginning with “The Big Pride Flea,” held in June at the Farm Fresh Market Hall, and on Sundays at 195 District Park throughout the summer and early fall. Maria Tocco, Providence Flea owner and market manager, donated the space to OLOC in support of the voter effort. The table attracted visitors from across the country interested in learning more about the November elections, and enabled Rhode Island residents to register to vote, check their voter registration status, and confirm key voting dates in the election cycle. 

The OLOC voter information table was also available at select September performances of Trinity Rep’s POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.

As election day approaches, the energy and commitment of these LGBTQ+ volunteers serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of civic engagement. Through these efforts, we are not only striving to increase both local and national voter turnout but also fostering a sense of solidarity among Rhode Island’s queer community. The work exemplifies how grassroots movements can create meaningful change in the political landscape, ensuring that every voice counts in shaping our future.