Pride Together

Whilst we celebrate how far LGBTQIA+ rights have come in Australia, we reflect on how much work there is left to be done especially in countries in the Middle East where people have restrictive civil rights and are vulnerable to punishment, imprisonment, violence, discrimination, isolation, hostility and abandonment.

In light of this, we asked our in-house Brazilian-born artist, Murilo Manzini to create an artwork called Pride Together. Proceeds of this collection goes to Helem, the first LGBTQIA+ rights organisation in the Middle East. Established in Beirut, Lebanon in 2001, its mission is to represent, protect and lead the liberation of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Intersex, Transgendered, Queer (LGBTQIA+) and other people with non-conforming sexualities and/or gender identities in the Middle East and the SWANA region.

The goal of HELEM is to empower, represent, support and care for LGBTQIA+ people. They run programs and advocacy campaigns, emergency response, case management, legal assistance, housing, social support and mental health support.

They also seek to create initiatives and spaces where local communities can leverage unity through diversity and build power together. They empower the youth in the Arab world and abroad through education and community building.