LGBTQ+

The queer community is a seriously underrepresented community, for a multitude of reasons previously written in law and/or seen as societally acceptable. We’re in a time where we claim to be progressive and inclusive but there’s still plenty of time (and work) to go before we see true equality for those who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

This, and all of the reasons below, is why we uplift those who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Who continue to uplift their community, through activism, charity and visibility.

UNDER REPRESENTED

The recent Arts Council Diversity Report reported the shocking statistic that the “total percentage of LGBTQ+ people in the portfolio’s workforce is six per cent, while theatre and visual arts had the highest percentage of LGBTQ+ workforce with nine per cent in each discipline.” (McCrae, Pink News, 2022)

Such statistic is clearly incredibly low and offers a clear explanation of just why we don’t see enough of the representation many young LGBTQ+ peoples need within the arts.

EDUCATION

Visibility is vital for everyone, even more so for those who don’t fit into an archaic societal “norm.” But for LGBTQ+ peoples, it’s not just the arts that see them robbed of education, but school also. With Stonewall recently reporting that 40% of LGBT students are never taught anything about their community issues within school.

This is where the arts become important. Because if people aren’t being taught important information within school, they need to seek it elsewhere.

ART

Such alternative education has been offered by LGBTQ+ artists around the world, including Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Alison Bechdel. All of whom saw the need for LGBTQ+ visibility within their society.

As Keith Haring so aptly put it, “art is for everyone.” But for those who rarely see others that they can relate to, it means more.

Check out our collaboration with Liverpool-based LGBTQ+ organisation Homotopia by clicking the image below: