Vans Celebrates self-expression by sharing the creative stories of four regional ambassadors for Pride 2021
Vans is teaming up with these LGBTQIA+ creators because of their willingness to embrace the messy process of living in the moment and their abilities to live their own truths each and every day. Through their diverse creative outlets they are each able to communicate their lived experiences to others in a meaningful way.
These four regional ambassadors include Get Lit poet, Tyris Winter, painter, designer and printmaker, Mich Miller, singer and songwriter, Serena Isioma, and skateboarder, photographer and creative director, Sam McGuire. Each of their unique stories will be shared in the form of a short video that spotlights how their queer identities inform their creative pursuits.
This short video serves as an important vignette emphasizing the importance of LGBTQIA+ representation and contributions in their creative communities as well as throughout society at large. “I know that there’s a lot of people like me, but they’re just not shown. So it’s cool now that there’s people like me flourishing in whatever career they have,” explains Serena Isioma.
Pride’s significance for the LGBTQIA+ community is imperative for recognition, celebration, and continued advocacy from allies. To emphasize the importance of the present moment, Vans encouraged each ambassador to explore their creation process instead of focusing on the final product. This inspired a shift in focus amongst the ambassadors that is demonstrated in the video as they spotlight how intertwined their queer identities are with their creativity.
“My photography is celebrating being comfortable with yourself,” details Sam McGuire. Sustained amplification of LGBTQIA+ stories and voices is not only empowering, but it also cultivates a vital sense of self-worth that is often times diminished by hate, discrimination, and intolerance. “Right now there’s a lot of bittersweet in the world. As a queer person I experience a lot of bittersweet,” exclaims Mich Miller.
By elevating these ambassadors’ creative endeavors throughout this project, Vans is committed to supporting and celebrating the creative impacts that the LGBTQIA+ community has had on society. Beyond this month, Vans is committed to advocating for support of the LGBTQIA+ community year-round in order to ensure that equality and progression prospers throughout all corners of the world.
Throughout the month, Vans will also be broadcasting digital live streams on Channel 66 with curated shows hosted by LGBTQIA+ musicians, DJs and more. Stay tuned for a DJ set by Chav on 6/7 at 6pm PST, Dance Show: Travestia on 6/11 at 4pm PST, a DJ set by Laura Jane Grace on 6/16 at 12pm PST, Drag City Radio on 6/25 at 12pm PST, and Laura Jane Grace will also be hosting a panel and performing live on 6/25 at 2pm PST.
