About Us
The Rainbow Pro-Life Alliance (RPLA) is a nonsectarian, nonpartisan, educational organization that promotes the pro-life ethic within the LGBT+ community while encouraging involvement within the pro-life community. Our particular emphasis is on the unborn and the needs of the mother. We promote collaboration within the pro-life movement.
Our Story
The Rainbow Pro-Life Alliance (formerly the Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians) was organized in 1990 in Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis, MN. Initially it was called "Gays Against Abortion,". The founder was Tom Sena, of Washington, D.C., and the first president, Philip Arcidi, of Concord, Mass., was first elected in 1994. The former president, Cecilia Brown, of Ocala, Fla., was installed in 2000.
RPLA is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) corporation, governed by a board of directors of nine members. We are a 100% volunteer organization and rely on our volunteers and board members to run our programs.
We have sponsored forums on abortion and breast cancer — anticipating more general public recognition of the highly probable link — and preventing HIV infection in the children of HIV+ mothers. We have participated in the annual January 22nd March for Life since 1991, local Pride events in DC, Philadelphia, and Boston, the 1993 March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Equal Rights, and a number of demonstrations and counterdemonstrations. We have surprised, confounded, confronted, and enraged both pro-lifers and pro-choicers.
RPLA publishes a newsletter from time to time entitled "PLAGAL Memorandum," and several brochures presenting pro-life arguments to the lesbian and gay communities. RPLA has submitted numerous articles and letters to the editor to lesbian and gay print media, some of which have actually been published. In addition, RPLA has received media attention in both straight and lesbian and gay media at both national and a number of local levels.