‘Big Rainbow’ on the Peninsula?

A local performer has launched a campaign to help install a ‘Big Rainbow’ public artwork installation on the Central Coast to help bring about visibility and change to regional queer communities.

Gosford-Woy Woy resident, Jack Williams, has been passionately campaigning on the project ever since learning of its inception, and is now asking locals to join them in voting for the installation to find its home on the Coast.

Reminiscent of the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour and the Big Prawn in Ballina, the Big Rainbow would be the first landmark ever to celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities in Australia.

Funded by Tinder, the project has, from concept to final design, come to life being made with members of the LGBTQIA+ and First Nations communities.

Williams said the project would be life-changing for queer communities.

“There is nowhere in Australia that recognises, promotes and represents LGBTQIA+ communities … it’s great for visibility,” Williams said.

“I’m really hoping this goes towards more acceptance, creating safer environments for queer people, queer people of colour, transgendered people … I’m hoping it’s going to fight stereotypes, homophobia and transphobia and overall make those who already identify within the queer community, and those questioning, feel safer.

“When I heard about this idea it clicked in me and I knew I had to do it for the little seven-year-old inside of me that wanted something like this, that little kid in me that knew I was gay … I knew it in my body, but I was never able to put it into words because I didn’t see it around me.

“You would expect something like this on Sydney’s Oxford St … we can’t just have one place for people to feel like they can go to, to experience the queer scene.

“Because in reality, when you look around in every direction, you can probably find someone that identifies within the community – we’re not just on Oxford St.”

Williams said they would like to see the Big Rainbow erected at either the Umina or Ettalong waterfront as a nod to the work the Naughty Noodle Fun Haus does for queer communities.

“I might be a little biased, but how beautiful is a rainbow going to look with an ocean behind it,” Williams said.

“Finding Glitta [Supernova] and Juan [Iocco] and the Naughty Noodle changed my life, it saved me – I just wished I had known about them sooner and I think something like the Big Rainbow might help that.

“The Naughty Noodle is such a spot-on representation and image of what the Coast actually is – everybody up here is so much more chilled, fluid, laid-back, it’s such a safe and welcoming space.

The landmark is inspired by the 2018 Progress Pride Flag, originally designed by non-binary artist Daniel Quasar.

To help bring the Big Rainbow home to the Central Coast, vote at bigrainbowproject.com.au/#Form

Maisy Rae