ABOUT US

We are devoted to educating people of all ages about the full range of diversity.

Family Diversity Projects (FDP) is a national nonprofit devoted to eliminating prejudice, stereotyping, and bullying based on sexual orientation, gender identity, race, national origin, religion, and disability through storytelling and photography. Founded in 1995 by Peggy Gillespie and Gigi Kaeser, our mission is simple: challenge ignorance and hatred with education and love.

We believe that real stories told with honesty, dignity, and love are among the most powerful ways to confront prejudice. Our eight award-winning traveling photo-text exhibits highlight the lived experiences of marginalized communities – tools that encourage empathy, spark dialogue, and share authentic narratives.

The exhibits consist of framed photographs with personal narratives. They arrive ready to display in your community – schools (K-12), colleges, universities houses of worship, libraries, workplaces, museums, conferences, and more – four of which are also published books.

At a time when censorship and attacks on marginalized communities are escalating, fostering understanding is vital.

You too can have an impact. Please contact us to host an exhibit and help spread the word about our exhibits.

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Peggy Gillespie

Co-Founder/Director and Editor-in-Chief of FDP exhibits and books. As a journalist for over 35 years, she has written feature articles for the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine and many others. She is co-author of Less Stress (Signet) and the autobiography of choreographer/dancer Bill T. Jones: Last Night on Earth (Pantheon). A Smith College graduate and certified social worker, Peggy was the first Assistant Director of Jon Kabat Zinn's Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program at UMass Medical Center.

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Gigi Kaeser

Co-Founder/Director of Family Diversity Projects and the photographer for all of their projects. She has had photographs published in Teaching Tolerance Magazine, the NAMI Advocate, Rethinking Schools, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe, among others. Gigi is also an early childhood educator.

Our Supporters

Thank you to our present and past donors, including:

The Annie E. Casey Foundation • The AEC Trust • The Arcus Foundation • A.L. Mailman Foundation • Target • Massachusetts Cultural Council • The Gill Foundation • The Icarus Foundation • The Tsunami Foundation • The Astraea National Lesbian Action Foundation • The Funding Exchange • The Chicago Resource Center • The Frances R. Dewing Foundation • The MENTOR Network Charitable Foundation • The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) • The Patrick-Murray Inaugural Committee • And, many generous individual donations from friends, family, and community supporters.

Foundation Support

Our special thanks to The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation
for their very generous annual grants supporting our work with religious organizations to promote LGBTQIA+ justice and education over many years.

Advisory Board

Those listed have served or are serving in an advisory capacity on one or more projects.

(partial list)

  • Dr. Michael Adee, Founder and Former Ex. Director, More Light Presbyterians, Director, Global LGBT Faith Project of the Horizons Foundation

  • Macky Alston, Film Director of Love Free or Die,about Bishop Eugene Robinson

  • Virginia Casper, Former Director, Infant and Family Development Programs, Bank Street College of Education

  • Rev. Dr. Patrick Cheng, Episcopal Divinity School, author Radical Love: An Introduction to Queer Theology

  • Kate Clinton, Comedian

  • Margery Dimond, educator and activist for LGBTQ+ rights

  • Bishop Yvette Flunder, City of Refuge Church, Fellowship of Affirming Ministries

  • Dr. Frederick Frese, Board member of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)

  • Rabbi Steve Greenberg, Director of Diversity Project at the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership

  • Rev. Darlene Garner, co-founder of the National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays

  • Rodney Glasgow, Educator, Head of Sandy Springs Friends School, President of The Glasgow Group, and co-chair of the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference

  • Dr. Sharon Groves, Former Religion and Faith Director, Human Rights Campaign

  • Rev. Candy Holmes, Former Public Policy Minister for Marriage Equality for the Metropolitan Community Churches

  • Kay Redfield Jamison Ph.D, Professor, Professor and Co-Director, Mood Disorders Center at Johns Hopkins University. Author, An Unquiet Mind

  • Kevin Jennings, Founder and Former Executive Director, Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Educators Network (GLSEN), Executive Director of Lambda Legal

  • Bill T. Jones, Choreographer/Director, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company

  • Rev. Harry Knox, President and CEO, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

  • Joy Ladin, Professor, Yeshiva University, Author: Through the Door of Life: A Jewish Journey Between Genders

  • The Rev. Canon Mally Lloyd, CEO, MA Episcopal Diocese

  • April Martin, New York, NY, Author, Lesbian and Gay Parenting Handbook

  • Rev. Irene Monroe, Theologian, scholar, author

  • Jay Neugeboren, Author, Imagining Robert and Transforming Madness

  • Lesléa Newman, Northampton, MA, Author: Heather Has Two Mommies

  • Sonia Nieto, Ph.D, Amherst, MA, Author: Affirming Diversity

  • The Very Rev. Katherine H. Ragsdale, President and Dean, Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA

  • Rev. Jane Spahr, Presbyterian minister and activist

  • Lesley Stahl, New York, NY, News Correspondent, 60 Minutes

  • Lynn Sullivan, Associate Dean, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at the Yale Divinity School, Yale University

  • Rev. Rebecca Voelkel, Faith Work Director, Institute for Welcoming Resources, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

  • Rev. Dr. Christine Wiley and Rev. Dr. Dennis Wiley, Co-Pastors, Covenant Baptist UCC Church, Washington, D.C.