Sudbury's LGBT community, allies say 'We Are' in gallery exhibit

A photo exhibition in a downtown Sudbury coffee shop aims to highlight LGBT community members, as well as the people who support them.

Aedan Charest organized We Are, a series of photos which he hopes to expand into other cities in the north.

The photos are overlaid with text — quotes from the subjects of the work— as to why the pride movement is personally important to them.

In some ways, Charest said, the exhibit acts as a thank you to the people who've supported the community.

"Here in Sudbury...we have had such work and generosity with our allies, which shows me what we've accomplished couldn't be done without [them.]

"It's a hard truth to admit, but our allies are just as much a part of our community," Charest said, "excluding [them] felt wrong. And they put their faces out there and associate with us and say 'I'm ready to stand by you and fight with you.'"

The quotes range from people's dreams and aspirations, to identifying themselves and their place in the community, Charest said.

Charest said he hopes that the exhibit can show people that the LGBT community has long been a feature of Sudbury's' landscape, whether or not it has always been vocally accepted.

"I'm hoping it makes the viewers realize that we have always been a part of the community," he said, "tolerating hatred is actually detrimental to all of us."

We Are is currently on display at at Kuppajo Espresso Bar on Larch St. 

Hear the interview on Up North

Up North6:35Art exhibit tackles LGBTQ issues on your coffee break

The "We Are" photo project in a downtown Sudbury coffee shop is portraying members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities and their allies too. We spoke to Aedan Charest, the exhibit's creator.