About Grateful Rainbow |
How it works |
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In October 2018 I noticed increasing numbers of my LGBTIQ friends pulling back from social media - because of the focus on bad news from around the world. Friends told me it was challenging to hear about the erasure of TGD rights in the USA, debates on LGBTI rights in Australia and the rehashing of the Marriage Equality vote on the first year anniversary. In response, a number of us got together and said we wanted to do something - to help us all find our Strong while we continue the fight for equal rights for all. We decided to invite LGBTIQ community leaders to help build wellbeing - by focusing on gratitude. Gratitude does not change what we experience - it wont silence the LGBTIQphobes or improve LGBTIQ rights. What gratitude can do is give us something to hang on to. It can help us get through tough times, it can promote our wellbeing and build solidarity.
We set up a private Facebook Group for LGBTIQ Australians and their family members and asked our members to join us in posting one thing they are grateful for, for 66 days (thats how long it takes to form a habit). Over that period of time 901 people joined the group - creating 4,656 posts, 9,522 comments and 69,000 reactions. Thanks Kenton Miller for the beautiful image. |
LGBTIQ Australians and their family members are invited to join our Facebook group and make a daily gratitude posting. The Group is supported by an Admin team of 9 who help to screen posts to identity an potential issues - and also to help boost a culture of affirming member's posts.
Group rulesThis Group is for LGBTIQ Australians and their families (or others by invitation only). The rules are:
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Evaluation
On 5/1/19 we reached our 66 day target. We intended initially to limit the project to 66 days - because research shows thats how long it takes to form a habit. But something happened along the way - members are talking about Grateful Rainbow as being a supportive, nurturing, safe space - and about experiencing significant benefits to their wellbeing. We realise we can't take that away. We also recognise the need to rethink our plans ... so we are conducting a survey to evaluate the outcomes and canvas people's ideas for next steps. Link to the survey click the link HERE.
Gratitude Palooza
Gratitude Palooza (phrase meaning): gathering of two or more members of Grateful Rainbow for the purposes of practicing gratitude and providing mutual support.
On December 24th 2018, a number of Grateful Rainbow Members gathered at a cafe in Melbourne to eat great cake, practice gratitude and support each other (see images below). We called this a Gratitude Palooza, loved it and are planning more - which we will share with you below.
Midsumma Carnival
At Midsumma Carnival, 2019 we hosted our Tea Tent - under the banner of Alice's Garage and in partnership with Midsumma. The Tea Tent is a place for LGBTI Elders and their allies to come and put their feet up and have a nice hot cup of tea. At the Tea Tent this year we added a Gratitude Palooza - a space for Grateful Rainbow members to meet, make gratitude cards and have a cup of tea. Photos on the Tea Tent webpage soon.
At Midsumma Carnival, 2019 we hosted our Tea Tent - under the banner of Alice's Garage and in partnership with Midsumma. The Tea Tent is a place for LGBTI Elders and their allies to come and put their feet up and have a nice hot cup of tea. At the Tea Tent this year we added a Gratitude Palooza - a space for Grateful Rainbow members to meet, make gratitude cards and have a cup of tea. Photos on the Tea Tent webpage soon.
People of the Grateful Rainbow
At the Tea Tent at Midsumma Carnival we invited participants to have their photo taken with a gratitude message - because we want to see our People of the Grateful Rainbow. Thank you to Julian Meehan for these beautiful photos.
Clothes line
At the Gratitude Paloozas in the Tea Tent at Midsumma Carnival we asked participants to design a gratitude Tshirt to hang on a Gratitude Clothes line. The results were powerful. We hope to keep exploring the gratitude concept - because it was such a lot of fun.
Midsumma Queer Economies
Midsumma Festival 2019 includes an Exhibition focused on Gratitude called Queer Economies. The exhibition will be at St Heliers Street Gallery, Abbotsford Convent, takes its cue from the handmade artworks and objects that queer artist and activist David McDiarmid gifted to friends and loved ones during his lifetime. Queer Economies explores the non-monetary, in-kind economies that emerge within LGBTQIA+ communities, in order to foster resilience, love and connection. It seeks to build connections between LGBTQIA+ people through non-monetary exchange and expressions of gratitude. Queer Economies is curated by Abbra Kotlarczyk and Madé Spencer-Castle.
We have made a Tea Cosy for the exhibition. The Tea Cosy is made with shot gun shell florettes and represents how we take our experiences of LGBTIQphobia and make community for ourselves. The teapot has been photographed and printed onto tea towels which will be hung on a clothes line at the exhibition - an expression of gratitude for Ro Allen and Kaye Bradshaw.
Exhibition details: 21 January – 9 February 2019. St Heliers Street Gallery. Abbotsford Convent.
We have made a Tea Cosy for the exhibition. The Tea Cosy is made with shot gun shell florettes and represents how we take our experiences of LGBTIQphobia and make community for ourselves. The teapot has been photographed and printed onto tea towels which will be hung on a clothes line at the exhibition - an expression of gratitude for Ro Allen and Kaye Bradshaw.
Exhibition details: 21 January – 9 February 2019. St Heliers Street Gallery. Abbotsford Convent.
Gratitude by Kenton Miller
For those of you who have enjoyed Kenton Miller's pictures created for #gratefulrainbow, Kenton has generously shared some high quality images so you can print them out and put them up at home on the side of the fridge, toilet wall, or some other place of honour. If there is a particular pic you would like to have as a jpeg, please let us know and we will try to have it scanned and added here. Thank you Kenton for your beautiful pictures and your generosity.
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Support services
There are so many wonderful support services out there ready to listen. Here are just a few:
- Switchboard Victoria provides peer based support for LGBTIQ people and their friends, family and allies. Switchboard is a Victorian partner in the national telephone and web counselling, information and referral service (QLife) and are available 3pm – 12am every day on 1800 184 527 or web: http://www.switchboard.org.au/
- Queerspace provides a safe and supportive space to obtain information and access services aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the queer and LGBTIQA+ communities. queerspace is staffed by queer identified practitioners, counsellors, group facilitators and community engagement workers. we are a community space run by drummond street services that advocates, supports, researchers and engages through community driven voices and events with the LGBTIQ community. Phone: 03 9663 6733 or go to web by clicking the link here
- VAC counselling service: the first session is free and from then on fees are based on a scale depending on your income. Open Monday to Thursday 9am – 8pm. Friday 9am – 4pm. Phone (03) 9865 6700 or web: http://vac.org.au/lgbti-health/counselling
- QLife is Australia’s first nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for LGBTIQ people. QLife are available from 5:30pm – 10:30pm and can be contacted on 1800 184 527 or web: https://qlife.org.au/
- beyondblue provides a free phone service 24 hours a day on 1300 22 4636 or web: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
- Lifeline is a free phone service available 24 hours a day on 13 11 14 or web: https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Contact us
Dr Catherine Barrett
Phone: 0429 582 237
Email: director@celebrateageing.com
Phone: 0429 582 237
Email: director@celebrateageing.com