Rainbow Youth Project gives voice to young queer and trans people, November 16, 17, 23, and 24
Zee Zee Theatre teams up with Vancouver Public Library for free one-on-one storytelling sessions
Rainbow Youth Project producer Yanting Qiu (from far left) with community connectors Alan Pronger, Deborah Williams (storytelling mentor), Brittany O’Rourke, and Bria Shantz. Photo by Sarah Race
Zee Zee Theatre and Vancouver Public Library present the Rainbow Youth Project on November 16, 17, 23, and 24 from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Vancouver Public Library’s central branch
ZEE ZEE THEATRE is shining a light on youth stories and giving voice to queer and trans individuals aged 14 to 17 from across Metro Vancouver.
It’s all part of its Rainbow Youth Project in partnership with Vancouver Public Library. The 14th edition of the organization’s annual community storytelling project centres 2SLGBTQIA+ voices who often don’t get a say in their lives, bodies, and identities. Produced by Yanting Qiu and curated by Brittany O’Rourke, Alan Pronger, and Bria Shantz, the event takes place on November 16, 17, 23, and 24.
The idea for this year’s edition came about following last year’s protests against Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) in schools that took place across Canada. Zee Zee Theatre’s team stood among the counter-protestors at Vancouver Art Gallery and a question arose: Why aren’t we listening to the youth these protests claimed to protect?
The result is the Rainbow Project, a low-barrier one-on-one initiative in which people share true stories from their lives. It is designed to challenge stereotypes and preconceived notions of otherness, foster understanding, diminish prejudices, and encourage dialogue by connecting people who under normal circumstances might never meet.
Here’s how the free event works. Each day from 1 to 4 pm, people can go to the sign-up booth on third floor of the VPL Central Branch. There, they pick a story, based on the title alone, that intrigues them, kind of like picking out a book. Maybe it’s “falling in love at debate club” or “getting sober at 14”. From there, storytelling sessions last 20 minutes and take place in small groups with the audience member, the storyteller, and an active listener to support the youth sharing their story. Depending on how busy the event is, people may be able to sign up for multiple sessions with different storytellers. Once the storyteller has completed their story, there may be time for a short conversation to encourage connection and empathy.
One in 10 youth in Canada report belonging to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, according to Statistics Canada. One in four queer or trans youth in B.C. are forced out of their homes due to severe family conflicts. 
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