UK unveils first-ever rainbow coin dedicated to LGBTQ+ community
The Royal Mint has launched a rainbow-colored 50p coin to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the LGBTQ+ pride movement in the United Kingdom.
The coin, designed by east London artist and queer activist Dominique Holmes, features the values pride, unity, equality, visibility, and protest. It also marks the first time the British LGBTQ+ community is celebrated on an official UK coin.
"I created a design intended to inspire conversation around what Pride should represent. The prospect that it would land in the hands and pockets of millions across the UK seemed a great opportunity to open this conversation up to those outside our LGBTQ+ community," Holmes said on Twitter.
UK's first official pride event was a protest for queer rights organized by the Gay Liberation Front in 1972. Now, pride has become an annual event.
While there have been landmark laws like the same-sex marriage act and the gender recognition act, the fight for equality still continues for the UK queer community.
"We all know that this coin won't force our sh*tshow government into finally banning conversion therapy, or roll back the levels of homelessness in our queer youth, or fix the mental health crisis in our community. Those are major issues we will continue to fight," said Holmes.
"But I truly hope [the coin] will raise funds our community desperately needs to progress, whilst commemorating the progress made so far, and maybe bring a little bit of queer joy," they added.
The 50p will not enter circulation, but it will be available for purchase on the Royal Mint website. The commemorative coin was created by Pride in London and the Royal Mint. A donation will be made to the London LGBT Community Pride as part of the release.