#LoveForAll

During a recent trip to Asheville, N.C., I found a sign welcoming all, regardless of race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual preference, etc. displayed in the windows of every local shop and restaurant I visited. I learned the appearance of these signs wasn’t a city-lead effort, but the act of a Good Samaritan. I immediately reached out to the City of Orlando, a city that’s already deeply committed to embracing the diversity of people from all walks of life. There are many wonderful programs currently in place, including the initiative to display a decal that’s a symbol of safety for victims of hate crimes. But what about signs like these in our local business windows? What if every local business in the Central Florida area displayed a sign that welcomes residents and visitors from all walks of life? What if every resident and visitor feels respected and valued walking around our beautiful city? With the help of a friend in graphic design, I created this sign to canvas our city and surrounding areas with copies to display in local business windows. I started calling this little project of mine #OrlandoForAll. And while this little movement originally started as #OrlandoForAll, it has now expanded to Tampa, Boston and some cities in California so I’ve re-branded it #LoveForAll. #LoveForAllOrlando, #LoveForAllTampa, #LoveForAllBoston, #LoveForAllCalifornia. And I want to keep expanding all over the country. This isn’t a political or religious statement at all. I very much want to emphasize that. It’s a statement of love in a city that has plenty of it. And who doesn’t love LOVE? I’m interested in promoting the acceptance of everyone from all walks of life, to help eliminate discrimination and to raise my daughter with the same values that I was raised with. I also want to help everyone open their hearts just a little bit wider. Could I get these signs in every local business window in Central Florida? And with the help of friends, could we get these signs in as many local business windows around the country as we can? One hundred percent of donations collected have been used for the cost of printing these signs ... and car magnets. I currently have plans to create smaller signs with a more legible font plus clear window decals, but all of this requires money. And finally, I’d like to raise enough money to apply for non-profit status. Please feel free to check out the #LoveForAll Facebook page for additional information. Http://www.facebook.com/groups/220486311971558/