Forest Gate-based artist and activist Dominique Holmes was approached at the start of 2021 by the Royal Mint to submit some designs for a coin depicting 50 years since the first London Pride.

Dominique explained exclusively to Newham Voices why they wanted the coin design to highlight the ethos and drive behind the Pride movement,

“Pride is so often dismissed as just a parade and a celebration when in fact it has always been much more than that; Pride is Protest,” they said.

“It was important to me to include that message in my design. The idea I kept returning to was inspired by the protest marches, especially those of the early days, and the things that stood out were the protest placards, the words shouted out and presented to exclaim what we LGBTQ people are fighting for when we march through the streets of London.

“Words are powerful and I felt centering them in the design leaves very little doubt about what Pride represents.”

Dominique moved to Forest Gate in 2015 after they had been looking for somewhere to settle and create a space for their art practice, with a creative energy and strong community.

Since the move to Newham Dominique has been involved in local LGBTQIA+ community projects, as Co-Director of Forest Gayte Pride from 2019 until this year, founding and organising SheHerTheyThem – a community building social initiative for Queer Women and Gender Diverse people in Newham and the surround- ing areas.

Dominique, currently organising the next event for SheHerTheyThem on Saturday 10 September, is also continuing ongoing research into Tattoos and Gender Equality Movements, and working on a new series of artworks that explores and confronts the stigma and shame projected on Queer Sex and Desire. This project should be ready to exhibit in summer 2023.

Dominique is also working on a pro- ject that will tell the stories of the Queer Women and Marginalised Gender Diverse people who have been working to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people through activism.

For more information: www.dominiqueholmes.com or www.shehertheythem.com

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.