ORONO — The First Congregational Church of Camden and Americans Who Tell the Truth are co-hosting a multi-event celebration of queer story telling in Orono, Maine, January 14 - February 6, 2024.

“This stunning collaboration uses portraiture and storytelling to invite communities to hear LGBTQIA+ voices and inspire us to change the way we think about queer justice, inclusion and belonging,” said the Church, in a news release.

On Tuesday, January 23, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., a panel of four portrait subjects will come together at the Orono Performing Arts Center, at Orono High School.

“At a time of so much public vitriol and animosity – steeped in lies about queer people – these participants believe in the power of art and narrative to foster better conversations,” said the release.

Two of the evening’s panelists are members of the First Congregational Church of Camden, Lucious K. Finston-Fox and Sarah Reynolds. They will be joined in-person by Betty Burkes, and appearing virtually will be Nicole Maines. The panel discussion will be led by Benjamin Perry.

Admission is free, though you must reserve a seat through this Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/queer-stories-tell-the-truth-tickets-773157243127?aff=oddtdtcreator.

“Artist Robert Shetterly’s portraits from his Americans Who Tell the Truth series masterfully capture LGBTQIA+ leaders from around the country, inviting viewers to find inspiration in their stories,” said the Church. “ And this special collaboration, Queer Stories Tell the Truth, also makes clear: It’s not just big names who are making change. The beautiful photographs and testimonies collected by the First Congregational Church portray queer people from around the state owning their own blessedness and belovedness, disrupting simplistic narratives that pit LGBTQIA+ rights and religious freedom against one another.”

This exhibit’s intention is to invite collective engagement. Pairings of portraits and photographs will be placed in public buildings throughout the community, accompanied by personal testimonies and information about the show. 

For more details about the other special events happening throughout this series, visit https://americanswhotellthetruth.org/events/queer-stories-tell-the-truth/