Friends with the 'Pangolin for Pride'. Photo: Helen Carter-Shaw.
Pangolin for Pride
Friends crafted a multi-coloured pangolin at Bourne Free
A large handcrafted model of a pangolin painted in rainbow colours (see above) drew visitors to a Quaker stall at a local Pride event, ‘Bourne Free’, last month.
Quakers from Bournemouth Coastal Area Meeting showed their support by joining the Pride parade on 13 July for the second year running. This year, as well as Quaker leaflets and information from the Quaker Gender and Sexual Diversity Community, the stall had plastic-free giveaways including origami peace doves and painted rocks.
Helen Carter-Shaw, from the Area Meeting, told the Friend that: ‘Discussion with people gave us an opportunity to discover how much we still have to learn and that dialogue should be welcomed rather than avoided. Recent crimes against members of the LGBTQT+ community have highlighted how important it is that this dialogue continues.’
She added: ‘Pangolins are among the most trafficked and endangered animals in the world, and drew attention to our testimony to equality and respect for all with whom we share the planet.’
