Beautiful portraits of kids with LGBT parents line Sydney street
Huge portraits of children from LGBT families have been displayed on the streets of Sydney, Australia.
The "Gaybies: We are not a hypothetical" exhibition coincides with the launch of Sydney's Mardi Gras festival, which culminates in one of the largest gay pride marches in the world on March 5. The launch of the exhibition on Friday evening will also be accompanied by the raising of a rainbow flag above Sydney's Town Hall.
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The black and white images, by photographer Jez Smith and artist Casey Legler, seek to put a face to the children growing up with LGBT parents to showcase the diversity of Australian families. It follows the 2015 documentary Gayby Baby by Australian filmmaker Maya Newell, which was controversially banned in Australian schools.
"Debate rages about these children’s existence, with many claiming to understand how they think and feel. The truth is they are already here and can speak for themselves," the Gaybies Facebook page explains. "It says to Gaybies everywhere: you are seen, you are wonderful and you are loved."
Featured in the striking photographs are children with ages ranging from newborn to 32 years old. The photographs include a personal quote that allows the subjects to give a piece of advice to other children.
"We are special because we have two dads," the portrait of 4-year-old Azra and Wednesday reads. "No one can ever discriminate against you if you are proud of yourself. You shouldn't have to hide," Jesse states.
"Know that you are allowed to be human and flawed, that you don't have to be a poster child for LGBTI families," Maeve writes. "But also know our community is creating generations of diverse, loving, courageous, big-thinking, wonderful warriors and you can be proud."
To continue the push for gay pride and acceptance, the rainbow flag will fly above the city for the seventh year in a row.
"The City is a dedicated financial sponsor of Mardi Gras and we’re proud to fly the rainbow flag on our most important civic building, signalling to all that we are a welcoming and inclusive community," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said in a statement emailed to Mashable Australia.
"These flags are a powerful symbol of our commitment to equality, social justice and diversity. Despite much progress over recent years, we must continue to work toward marriage equality and address discrimination by educational institutions."
Alongside the flag, 200 rainbow banners will fly on Oxford Street, where the LGBT Mardi Gras parade takes place, during the course of the festival. A huge flag will also fly in Taylor Square, in the heart of the LGBT district of Sydney.
Sydney may not know how to celebrate its nightlife, but it does know how to celebrate diversity.
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