November 5-6 & 12-13, 2022
1pm-4pm
Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch
350 West Georgia Street, Third Floor Atrium
ASL Interpretation November 5th
A Free First Come, First Served Event
Produced by Jordy Matheson
Curated by Alysha Collie, Allan Morgan, Melanie Ray & Dallas Yellowfly
In partnership with the Vancouver Public Library
This year’s theme revolves around stories of 2SLGBTQI+ elders whose histories have led to the advancements of Vancouver’s queer history, and future. The Rainbow Elders & Allies Collection is Zee Zee’s 12th edition of this community engagement project, providing the opportunity for event-goers to speak one-on-one with a Rainbow Elder to break down their ideas of difference, twenty minutes at a time.
“The stories of our Rainbow Elders come from the perspective of a singular experience in the history of the world. Many of us navigated through a time where being homosexual was diagnosed as a mental illness, and societal disdain rampant and dangerous” says co-curator, Allan Morgan. “The changes we have witnessed and advocated for have changed the landscape immensely. Through these simple tales from our elders shared one-on-one with another human, we can help weave the tapestry of our rainbow cloth.”
As an audience participant you get the chance to sit across from one of these storytellers in a 20 minute one-on-one experience. Perhaps you will find out the lengths a lesbian couple went to to adopt a child in the 1990s – or what it was like to be an out gay Canadian immigrant in the 1960s?
The Rainbow Elders & Allies Collection is free and sign-up is at the door of the Third Floor Atrium at the Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch, located at 350 W Georgia St. No RSVP necessary.