Inviting everyone under the rainbow

from Umbrella Summer 2021

2021 Arts Bursary winners

By Fiona Campbell

June is Pride month, a time when LGBTQ2S+ communities around the world celebrate the freedom to be themselves. And so the Quinte Arts Council proudly hosted the third annual Everyone Under the Rainbow show.

But Pride is about more than just rainbows and parades. Pride month is rooted in a history of oppression, harassment and violence against the LGBTQ2S+ community, and this month’s celebration is an antidote, of sorts, dedicated to uplifting and amplifying LGBTQ2S+ voices, celebrating their culture and supporting LGBTQ2S+ rights. Sarah Winn, Daniel Fobert, Ella Wagner, Rosyln Dechert and Yuan-Quin Ingrid Kao in our Gallery Window.

While there are dozens of different pride flags, representing a spectrum of sex, sexuality, attraction, and gender, we displayed the under three flags: the six-striped rainbow flag, a symbol of LGBTQ2S+ pride, the transgender flag and the pansexual flag. Our intention is to foster new connections with artists in our LGBTQ2S+ community in Quinte to provide a safe place for them to showcase and celebrate their art, and provide a safe place for them to be.

While the QAC gallery was still closed, we hosted a celebration of art in a variety of mediums – sculpture, oil, acrylic, collage and digital – that reflects, respects, features and speaks to our LGBTQ2S+ community and allies. We featured artists Luis Cisneros, “LGBTQ2S+ representation matters, and seeing artists, allies and advocates who proudly embrace their identities contributes to education, increased acceptance and ultimately community building,” says QAC executive director Janet Jarrell.

**"Breadwinner" by Yuan-Quin Ingrid Kao**

**"Ladyfingers" by Yuan-Quin Ingrid Kao**

“Art increases visibility of the LGBTQ2S+ community as opposed to being rendered invisible. Art affirms that the LGBTQ2S+ community exists, it matters, and is worthy of love, respect and inclusion.”

While Pride is celebrated in June, it’s imperative to work towards a more diverse, inclusive and educated community year-round. The QAC is proud to be part of the LGBT+ Tourism Strategy Working Group led by the Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board (which came out of a Destination Audit by Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC)), that is working towards the goal of creating a welcoming region for LGBT+ travellers and providing a voice (and safe space) for the local LGBT+