ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The untold stories of the LGBTQ2S+ community in Newfoundland and Labrador will be unearthed as part of a project by PFLAG Canada.
"Shared Histories" is a documentary program co-ordinated in partnership with Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador, Eastern Edge Gallery and Retroflex.
On Friday, members of the local LGBTQ2S+ community will be invited to The Rooms for interviews about their experiences living in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Project co-ordinator Charles Murphy says the goal is to catalogue as many stories as possible.
“It’s a group get-together and a discussion around what history has happened in St. John’s and Newfoundland and Labrador for the queer and trans and LGBTQ community in general,” he said.
A series of interviews will inform a documentary about queer life in Newfoundland and Labrador. Murphy says the film will eventually be screened at The Rooms.
Murphy says it’s important to record history outside of the norms of society.
“It’s about knowing where you came from, knowing the struggles that you faced. Every year when Pride comes around, to hear people say it’s fine here in St. John’s, it’s fine in Newfoundland and Labrador,” he said.
“It’s gotten better, yeah, but we all know that’s not the case when it comes to history. We didn’t fight for nothing. There was a struggle there, and there’s still a struggle.”
While specific invites for contributors are being arranged, anyone is welcome to contribute to the project, Murphy said.
In addition to the interviews, the project will create a group mural for members to contribute to as they see fit.
The event begins at 4 p.m. at The Rooms and continues until 8 p.m., with the interviews beginning at 6 p.m.
Twitter: @DavidMaherNL
