By Alexandrea Seggewiss, Local 715, inSolidarity Committee member
With creativity, and community spirit, the Rainbow Alliance arc-en-ciel (RAA) welcomed guests to an evening of connection and reflection at a unique Convention event that featured both a powerful film and some fun bracelet-making.
As guests entered, they were warmly welcomed and invited to make a friendship bracelet from an array of colourful beads.
Laughter emanated throughout the room while guests bonded over their unique methods of creating the “perfect” bracelet.
Then, guests gathered as RAA Chair and Region 1 rep Billie Bridgewater, introduced the evening’s feature presentation: I am Samuel.
Filmed over five years, viewers are given a glimpse of the trials and tribulations faced by Samuel as a young gay man in Kenya.
Lindsay Mosley, Region 3 Representative, said it best, observing that although Samuel’s family, particularly his father, was upset to learn of his sexual orientation, they were able to maintain a relationship under the unspoken guise of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
The evening culminated in a vibrant discussion, not only about the film, but also about the ongoing challenges faced by the 2SLGBTQI+ community.
Robert Hampsey, Equity Executive Board Member, emphatically spoke about their experience at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) World Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, and the heinous acts of violence against 2SLGBTQI+ people being used to garner clout and notoriety in the gang world.
Despite the heavy truths explored in the film and shared during the discussion, what carried the evening was a strong sense of resilience—of finding joy, building community, and continuing to speak out in the face of adversity.
From the quiet power of Samuel’s story to the voices in the room that night, the event was a reminder that even in the most difficult circumstances, 2SLGBTQI+ communities continue to rise, resist, and support one another. That strength is what binds us—and what carries us forward.
To connect with Rainbow Alliance arc-en-ciel: https://opseu.org/committees/rainbow-alliance-arc-en-ciel/
To learn more about I am Samuel: https://www.watchiamsamuel.org/