FREEDOM IS MINE

Photography Exhibition of LGBTQIA+ Asylum Seekers

Freedom is Mine is an extraordinary photographic portrait exhibition of LGBTQIA+ people seeking asylum by Peter Casamento, and presented as part of Midsumma Festival.

The photographic subjects are participants of Queer Refugee and Asylum Seeker Peers. This growing and dynamic community group supported by Many Coloured Sky, the Queer Development Agency. Participants share elements of their stories and highlight the challenges they face in their journey to freedom and the chance to be themselves.

VENUE & EXHIBITION DATES

Bendigo Library (Bendigo PRIDE Festival)

259 Hargreaves St, Bendigo, VIC

Date: 17 March to 3 April 2023

Bunjil Place - City of Casey

2 Patrick NE Dr, Narre Warren, VIC

Date: 15 June to 4 July 2022

Sunshine Library

301 Hampshire Road, Sunshine, VIC

Date: 12 April to 8 June 2022

Victorian Pride Centre (Midsumma Festival)

79-81 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, VIC

Date: 19 January to 25 March 2022

About Freedom is Mine

LGBTQI+ people from many parts of the world face persecution, violence and expulsion from their families and communities, and may be forced to flee their country. Those who come to Australia can experience prejudice, isolation, and material deprivation as they seek the freedom to be themselves.

Freedom is Mine is an intimate photographic portrait exhibition of LGBTQI+ refugees and people seeking asylum who are members of Many Coloured Sky’s Queer Refugee and Asylum Seeker Peers community. Photographer Peter Casamento gave his time to capture each participant in ways that help them to share their stories, challenges and hopes for the future.

Peter Casamento, photographer of Freedom is Mine:

“People in these images have sometimes had to obscure their identities to protect themselves from persecution and from the risk to their protection visas if they’re seen to be involved in advocacy. The collaborators have been bold and gracious in working with me in revealing glimpses of their essence. I wanted to focus on the humanity, potency and range of their raw experiences through the symbolism of a vibrant rainbow-coloured palette. With the support of ‘Many Coloured Sky’, perhaps the yearning for acceptance and of becoming cherished and empowered members of our community can be realised.”

More about Many Coloured Sky:

Many Coloured Sky supports LGBTQI+ organisations and communities in discriminatory, resource-poor and complex settings with capacity building, planning and project development, and empowers those at the margins of LGBTQI+ communities to participate fully and equally.

Based in Melbourne, Many Coloured Sky has an all-queer Advisory Group, a passionate and growing team of volunteers, and a network of LGBTQI+ partner organisations and communities.

Many Coloured Sky is currently working with LGBTQI+ communities and organisations in Indonesia, Kenya, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, as well as on several programs in Australia.

Ian Seal, Executive Director of Many Coloured Sky:

“Queer Refugee and Asylum Seeker Peers is a vibrant and growing community of more than 130 very vulnerable, very resilient LGBTQI+ people. We thank them for sharing something of themselves in this challenging, beautiful exhibition, and hope that it encourages the broader Australian community to welcome queer refugees, to work alongside them in challenging prejudice and violence, to share privilege and to celebrate diversity in all its forms.”

Hang Vo, Chair of the Victorian Pride Centre:

“Freedom in Mine is a vital exhibition that gives voice and visibility to LGBTIQ+ people seeking asylum. It highlights the plight, courage and resilience of those who’ve fled persecution in search of a safe life.”

Please note that as per current government regulations, visitors to the Victorian Pride Centre need to wear a fitted face mask while visiting and show proof of double-vaccination upon entry to the building.

Many Coloured Sky

For more information about the work of Many Coloured Sky, contact Ian Seal:

mail@manycolouredsky.org

https://www.manycolouredsky.org/

To contact the artist Peter Casamento, click here.