As the UK celebrates 50 years of Pride, Skittles has partnered with Gay Times, Queer Britain and Getty Images to fill the gaps within the LGBTQ+ historical archives.
The work is part of the brand’s #RecolourTheRainbow campaign, which calls on the queer community and allies to submit their own photos from Pride’s history.
The partners are collaborating to help develop and create the LGBTQ+ archives of tomorrow, shaping them into dynamic and representative collections. Together, the group will document and represent the historical and current experiences of the queer community, telling visual stories with authenticity, and accurately portraying and documenting the community’s impact on society.
LGBTQ+ representation in archives, museums and galleries is severely lacking. While queer people have always existed, documentation of the community and experiences has often been obscured or erased due to legal persecution, leaving a LGBTQ+-shaped hole in narratives about the past.
The group is hunting for images that have never been previously published, to create a collection which truly represents the varied and vibrant diversity of LGBTQ+ lives. Those who submit their images to recolourtherainbow.co.uk are also in with the chance to have their pictures published in Gay Times and donated to Queer Britain’s collection.
The work builds on Skittles’ efforts last year to recolour and restore iconic photos from Pride’s history, to bring new interpretation and meaning to these images for younger generations.
The group is ensuring that this new collection and future documentation is truly representative of the LGBTQ+ community. Existing collections depicting queer people, while important and vital documentation, often do not accurately represent the intersections and diverse spectrum of LGBTQ+ identities. Research has found that when images of queer people are used in the media, they often rely on outdated stereotypes of LGBTQ+ people.
For example:
- 30% of images used show gay men as flamboyant;
- 29% images of lesbians depict them as looking more masculine;
- 29% of LGBTQ+ images used feature queer people carrying the rainbow flag.
Victoria Gell, Skittles Brand Director, said: “Skittles is passionate about advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, not just during Pride month, but year-round, and we’re excited to continue to use our platform to do our part in supporting the community.”
