During the Holocaust, the pink triangle symbol was used by Nazis to label, harass, and harm homosexuals. Decades later, during the Gay Liberation Movement, the pink triangle was reclaimed as a symbol of pride. In honor of pride month and to create awareness for LGBTQ+ artist in our area, local gallery Creatives At Work is hosting their exhibit, Symbol of Pride, through July 28.

Mounted along the walls of the Creatives At Work Gallery, the exhibit features works by LGBTQIA+ artists with the history of the Pink Triangle symbol explained between each work of art. In addition to the works by LGBTQIA+ artists, Creative Exchange has produced a collective work that occupies the ceiling of the gallery. An array of pink triangles submitted from artists and creatives belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community as well as allies are suspended from the ceiling throughout the space.

Visitors to the exhibit are invited to take home a book among a selection from a wide range of genre types including fiction, non-fiction, biographical, essays, young adult, poetry, short stories, and others. Book topics specifically should relate to LGBTQIA+ matters as well as stories and issues relating to BIPOC, Women’s rights, civil rights, antisemitism, fascism, oppression, and similar subjects because “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) Any books left over at the end of the exhibit (hopefully there won’t be any) will be disseminated through the local area’s Little Free Libraries.

You can learn more about the symbol and its history here.