“There is the family that we are born into and the family that we choose.”

Since 2007, celebrating and documenting the history of our chosen family has been the guiding purpose of the Queer History Project. We believe that our stories and our genealogies are best shared through artistic vision and community participation.

We are pleased to introduce you to our next Queer History Project community-based creation: Chosen Family Portraits with Artist-in-Residence, photographer Sarah Race.

Chosen Family Portraits is a photography project that invites you—our Festival audience and dynamic communities—to model with your chosen family. Pose with your partner(s), your best friends, the folks you celebrate your birthday with, or the folks whose shoulders you cry on. Share your own chosen family history. These portraits will be unveiled at a special Queer History Celebration in July 2011 in partnership with Pride in Art, Xtra!, Qmunity and the 2011 North American Outgames.

During the eleven days of the 2010 Vancouver Queer Film Festival, the Queer History Project hosted 120 participants in our mobile portrait studio. Thank you to the participants and volunteers who have played such a vital part in this project.

For more information, please email chosenfamily@outonscreen.com