So Long As They’re Friends: Queer Safety On This Side of the Rainbow
Open Gallery
August 10 to September 7, 2024
Curated by Teresa Donck-Matlock
“You have some queer friends, Dorothy,' she said.
The queerness doesn't matter, so long as they're friends,' was the answer”
— L. Frank Baum, The Road to Oz
So Long As They’re Friends; Queer Safety on This Side of the Rainbow presents traces of how queer folks have created safety within conditions of criminalization and discrimination, and creates a space for education and dialogue around 2SLGBTQPIA+ topics. A collection of archival and contemporary zines on queer and related subjects illustrate how the zine has been used to provide educational resources, represent divers perspectives, tell stories of queer joy, and occasionally provide a great sourdough recipe. Recreations of archival buttons selected from The ArQuives, Canada’s 2SLGBTQPIA+ Archives, looks at past, but still relevant, issues with striking phrases and colourful graphics that can be easily pinned to your backpack, lapel, cargo pants pocket, or sequin tube top.
“Dear Dorothy” is an anonymous question and answer resource provided in collaboration with the Kamloops Pride Society from July 29 to August 30. You can ask your questions, bear your soul, confess to those more-than-a-friend feelings you have for your roommate, and get advice from a volunteer group of wise queers who have seen their fairshare of messy breakups and uncomfortable conversations with family members and co-workers. Or maybe you are just confused about what a pronoun is. Dorothy is here for you. Queer folks and their allies are all encouraged to participate. Responses are posted on the Open Gallery from August 10 to September 7, 2024
All Dear Dorothy questions and responses can be read here.
