Sartorial symbol of LGBTQ persecution arrives in Ottawa-Gatineau

It took two days at the sewing machineto stitch together the 71 flags thatmake up the Amsterdam Rainbow Dress.

The result a voluminousmulticoloured gownthat embodiesa powerful statement about the global persecution of LGBTQ people is now making its way through Ottawa.

Each flag represents a country where LGBTQpeople faceimprisonment, torture or even death.

"The dress is a conversation starter with an ugly story behind it " said Arnoutvan Krimpen, one of the garment's creators.

While the vibrant colours may attract the eye, the dress also revealsthe horrors ofstate-sanctioned homophobiaand transphobiathat makes life intolerable for many in those countries, said van Krimpen.

"There are people fleeing that because of who they are and whom they love. Andwe should be open and receptive topeople coming from these countries," he said.

Dress went viral

The idea for the dress came about in 2016, when Amsterdam was hostingEuro Prideand the flags of countries that criminalize the LGBTQ community were carried in the opening parade.

Van Krimpen and a few artist friends gathered the flags, started sewing, and then arranged for a photo shoot of the dress at theRijksmuseum,wherehe works.

The images went viral. Since then,the dress has travelled the globe, modelled by LGBGTactivists in iconic locations.

'A story to tell'

The dress is now making its way through Ottawa-Gatineaufor a series of photo shoots, appearing earlier this weekat theCanadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que.

"I never wore something impressive like that,"said Montreal trans-rights activistAlicia Kazobinka, who modelled the dress at the Canadian Museum of History on Tuesday."It's an honour to represent the people who supported me, and the community."

Kazobinka, who's from Burundi, saidseeing its flagon the dress reminded her that there's still a long way to go.

"Me as an African who decided to move here, it's very difficult for me I never went back home since I left for my own safety," she said.

"We are humans like everyone else. Our sexual preference or identity [should] not be a problem to live our lives like any other person."

On Wednesday, it will arrive at theNational Gallery of Canada, where it will be modelled byOttawa drag queen and Canada's Drag Race contestant Icesis Couture.

After that, it will be displayed at the top of Toronto's CN Tower. The photo tour is arranged by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Van Krimpen sees the dress as a living work of art, reflectingwhat he hopes will be positive advances in human rights.

"As soon as a country changes their legislation ... we take out that country's flag and replace it with a rainbow flag." he said. "Imagine if it would be one big rainbow dress. Then you have a story to tell, right?"