IDAHOBIT Art Showcase

IDAHOBIT is observed on May 17^th as the international day against LGBTIQ+ discrimination.

At DPV Health this also marks the anniversary of the release of the ‘You Are Who You Say You Are’ report, which identified the needs, strengths, and hopes of LGBTIQ+ people in Whittlesea, Hume, and surrounds. https://www.dpvhealth.org.au/lgbtiq-support/

DPV Health, in collaboration with the local community and Councils in Hume and Whittlesea, has created an art project to celebrate the diversity and creativity of LGBTIQ+ people and allies. These community pieces respond to the question: “What does LGBTIQ+ mean for you?” and contribute to the LGBTIQ history in Hume and Whittlesea. We are grateful for the hard work, thoughtfulness and skill that can be seen in these pieces, and we thank all the community members that took part.

Copies of the artwork will continue to be displayed at community centres and libraries across Hume and Whittlesea.

Art Pieces

Proud and Deadly (Emilee Hill)

As an Ally, I wanted to create something showing that you deserve to be yourself no matter how you identify. I am not a part of the LGBTQIA+ community but I am an ally with loved ones who are.

Forest of Colour (Louis Basham)

It’s about how finding out about your queer identity is like walking through an internal forest.

At first, it was confusing and terrifying but the more you wander through it the more beautiful and colourful it becomes.

Solidarity (Sophie Williams)

Solidarity – We are all one but yet different!

Stained glass window (Anonymous)

I don’t understand why some people react with hate. For me, being gay is all about love, colour and joy. I like the tissue paper collage because it looks like a stained glass window, which I love in church. Like being gay, the church is about love and acceptance. All the little pieces of tissue paper are a mosaic of all the different kinds of people that make up this vibrant community.

The Butterfly (Anonymous)

Even though I am in my 40s,

I finally feel ready to come out of my cocoon and be the woman I always felt I was. I may not be perfect, but this is me and that is good enough

Connections (Anonymous)

I was inspired by Yggdrasil the World Tree in Norse mythology. It connects the nine realms. We are all connected as a part of this world, we are a world community no matter what our identities may be.

Sun in the horizon (Anonymous)

Sometimes coming out in this area feels like a dark storm, I don’t know if my family or community will ever accept me, but I can see the sun on the horizon and I believe that there will be people who love me for who I am.

Hasanlu Lovers (Catherine Marley)

This drawing depicts the Hasanlu Lovers, two skeletons from an archaeological dig site in Iran.

The skeleton on the right has been identified as male, and the one on the left was originally identified as female and since re-identified as male.

Ally (Anonymous)

I share the frustrations but believe in people. It is up to allies to step up and support LGBTIQ voices.