#rainbowhproject

[takemehomefromnarnia]

Hey:) hope you're having a good day, as a queer individual, I'm so grateful and appreciate what you do.

I recently came across a bunch of comments made by Liam (or his twitter acc) about family values and pride flags at concerts etc. I know the pride flags comment was made around 2014 when rainbow direction was getting bigger and more ppl were showing up to concerts with pride flags. it was days before harry picked up a pride flag for the first time.

I was wondering wether Liam's comments had any affect on the lgbtq+ community of the fandom, the confidence in bringing flags to concerts, how'd did it feel and what are your thoughts on it

Hi and thanks for sharing your appreciation, it means a lot.

Just thought I'd answer this so as not to leave any open tasks in the inbox while on hiatus ;-)

You can find Takemehomefromnarnia's responses of to the "family values" tweet of January 2014, and to Liam's reaction to the massive fall out from that incident here and here. And some reactions by LGBTQ+ fans here and here. In short we spoke up about our anger at those tweets - and then it died down. This was before Rainbow Direction, so you can safely say it didn't mess with our confidence in bringing flags to concerts. If anything, it made clear the necessity of an action like the one Kat was concocting in her head at the time (because the brainstorming between her, Li and Ellis that eventually crystallized the project hadn't even happened by then)

Liam's comments in Attitude, had a completely different impact, for a number of reasons. Not talking about his sort-of apology for the Duck Dynasty incident of a year and a half earlier here, but about the "pride flags are about Louis and Harry and it's nuts" comment.

First of all, it wasn't an off hand comment on Twitter, but a cover interview for Attitude magazine, one of the biggest publications of our own community, which we had been very excited about. We had high hopes, not in the least because Harry had picked up a pride flag in Buffalo and in Montreal.

Secondly, while the name was never mentioned, the comments about the flags were directly targeted directly at Rainbow Direction, which by then had brought hundreds of pride flags and rainbows to dozens of concerts and which was starting to get quite a bit of press attention for it (Attitude itself had covered us in March of that year and Kat had just been interviewed by MTV).

Thirdly, it didn't recognize Rainbow Direction for what it was, a project meant to support LGBTQ+ fans which deliberately stayed out of the shipping wars, and it explicitly framed RD as a shipping thing, painting it as nuts.

It was a very harmful comment to the LGBTQ+ fan community, as it completely delegitimized what we were doing and made it seem disingenuous. It questioned not only our motives behind Rainbow Direction, but every LGBTQ+ fans' motive in bringing a rainbow flag, a flag expressing their personal identity, to a show - putting it aside as "not really about your identity but about something else". I still fume when I think about how harmful that was. In essence, the comment called into question whether the people in Rainbow Direction were "really LGBTQ+" (for the record: all of the founders are, almost of all of us involved as volunteerswere/are). In short: in terms of impact, it was a really harmful thing to do, and it hurt a lot of LGBTQ+ people.

The fact that the comment was made in one of "our" magazines, that was asking about whether the change of laws in the US had liberated fans made it so much more hurtful.

But it didn't stop us, and it definitely didn't stop us from bringing flags. To the contrary.

We responded to the rumors immediately and when the interview came out officially, we published a press release to correct the image Liam had spun in Attitude. We also wrote several letters to Attitude to correct what had been said, referring them also to their own article about us from March 2015.

We immediately rallied to make the next show on tour the most rainbow filled one to date and launched the #bostonrainbowwave action. Two goals, our first #rainbowlights project trying to turn the Gilette stadium into a full rainbow of lights, and to make Boston the show with the most participants bringing rainbow flags (at least on the US side). People could also participate from home and turn their icon into a literal rainbow wave for Boston.

If you go to the TMHFN archive for September 2015 you will find the many supportive reactions by fans LGBTQ+ and other in response to the Attitude comments and our actions for Boston. It really created a very positive vibe and strong commitment to make the shows even more rainbow filled

At least six Youtubers made videos in our support after this happened (unfortunately some didn't understand our no shipping policy so there are some references to Harry/Louis/Larry on one or two posters featured in these videos, but not matter, it didn't stop people from bringing and featuring rainbows is the message - and unfortunately 3 of them are no longer up but you can see the rest here)

The moderate success of the #rainbowlights action in Boston led to an attempt to organize rainbow lights project for the entire UK tour, some with more success than others, but it's the Boston action that eventually inspired the rainbow lights projects during SOTT at Harry's first solo tour in 2018, and the #turnforestrainbow project for Nial's gig in Brussels that year. And these in turn inspired the rainbow lights for OTB during Louis' tour this year and #rainbowforlightsup for Harry's tour this year.

In short: neither incident felt too good and the second one particularly did a lot of harm to LGBTQ+ fans, and to our reputation. Bringing rainbows to shows does feel very good though, and we are going to keep doing it, no matter what.

[tee1d-2016]

💙 LOUIS TOMLINSON LONDON PROJECTS: 23-24 MAR 2020 🎉

I'm a total novice on these social media sites. I'm more comfortable using twitter than tumblr. I can't find my original post so here it is again updated.

@28nachos @lads-laddylads @louist91updates @louistomlinsoncouk @misfitstylinson @britishhusbands @thetomlinsondaily and anyone else, please RT and boost. Please and thank you 🙏🔥💙💋

Although these LOUIS projects are not a rainbow project unlike the ones I was part of with @RainbowHProject in April 2018, on BOTH nights there WILL be rainbow elements. This projects' aim is to show Louis we love and support him but their purpose is ALSO to create a SAFE SPACE for ALL who wants to go to Louis' concerts 🌈💙🔥

The projects' focus for each night is LOUIS. It will also be about being SAFE, INCLUSIVE and KINDNESS for all who attends.

How do I know and can guarantee this? Because I AM funding and organising these. I'm spearheading this with some wonderful volunteers executing them on the nights.

Please feel FREE to bring your rainbow flags. You WILL NOT be alone 🏳️‍🌈

Pop over to twitter and look up @lwt_show for more info and updates 🙏💙

My stance has always been I love ALL the boys and what they stand for. I love this 1DFam. We have some crazies but also the crazy talented, the crazy dedicated and the crazy detectives.

I myself might be a larrie, louie, harrie, nialler, lima, but first and foremost I'm a Directioner.

Come and join me on these nights on giving back to Louis what he has given us, and at the same time, be inclusive, be kind, and most importantly be YOURSELF 🔥💙💋

[thisiskatsblog]

The thing is, the rainbows are part of his brand. He makes money off of rainbow merchandise. If equal rights for LGBTQ people isn't the issue he wants to stand up for then maybe he should drop the rainbows.

Anon you are so far off the mark. Not with the rainbows are part of his brand. It’s true, they are. 

But Harry isn’t trying to make money off rainbows gratuitously. He is part of the LGBTQ community himself and made that very clear in November 2014 already saying gender was not that important to him in a significant other and “don’t knock it til you try it” about sex with a man. That was earth shattering for many at the time. Since then he’s said he didn’t label himself, that he’s exploring issues of identity and sexuality on this new album and there is Medicine. Harry is not straight, and he has said numerous times that LGBTQ issues for him are not a matter of politics but of basic human rights, which are not even in question. He waves a rainbow flag every single time he can get hold of one from one of the fans. His LGBTQ activism is genuine and not just a capitalist pretense so I really don’t understand where you get the idea that equal rights for LGBTQ peopel isn’t the issue he wants to stand for. He had the Forum light up in rainbow fucking last night… ?!

If you get it from what I was saying - then you got me wrong. I was trying to make a few different points

1. These last two shows we have seen that when fans don’t bring the rainbows, no rainbows get waved on stage  - and in a sense I find that gratifying. Please let this be a reminder that the whole LGBTQ activism CAME FROM US, THE LGBTQ FANS. 

 2. Let this also be a reminder to people going to the shows to  KEEP BRINGING THE FUCKING RAINBOWS. They are needed, and without you, they won’t be there. Don’t fall asleep on the job. Our job isn’t finished. And Harry is still half in the closet. 

3. Yes this is definitely also a subtle dig at GayTimes who either didn’t do their research very well, or were misled by HSHQ in the direction of the RainbowHProject to credit them for the all the rainbows and not just the one night of rainbowlights amongst many - not the first and not the best - to keep them from saying who actually started bringing the rainbows and did the first rainbow lights: RAINBOW DIRECTION. In fucking 2014. I’ve deleted two versions of a very bitter paragraph, so let’s keep it to: from what I can see, Harry has very much benefited from the years of hard work we did, and it’s clear from everything he does and says that he recognizes that, but apparently, it can’t be said, and that makes me very sad. And sometimes, like today, it makes me angry. There. I’ve said it. I’ve been keeping that one in for a very long time. It’s one of the reasons I left. At some point, you just feel you’ve done everything you could and when that’s not enough, you need to make sure it doesn’t break your heart. 

That doesn’t mean I am angry at Harry or think his LGBTQ activism is a sham. It’s as genuine as mine, which is also regularly put away as a sham. The reason for that is Harry is still actively being closeted by “someone” - hard to say exactly who, but I sense HSHQ is involved and I am not happy with them for that. And today there are many other reasons not to be happy with them. SO that’s where I am coming from. 

[findaplacetofeelgood]

The Rainbow Project on the O2 is a twitter moment! SOMETHING INCREDIBLE HAPPENED DURING A HARRY STYLES CONCERT The public transformed London’s O2 Arena into a LGBT flag! @RainbowHProject planned - and succeed - to color the place like a rainbow during “Sweet Creature”. Fans used scraps of paper or an app that made the phones light up with different colors.

[naogata]

Favorite tweets: E o projeto de fã do @RainbowHProject que transformou o estádio em um arco-íris foi impressionante. pic.twitter.com/e9lGiimFFq— Harry Styles Brasil 🇧🇷 (@MarcyMelo) April 12, 2018

http://twitter.com/MarcyMelo

[sunflowerxny]

Hey love, for the fan project in London, do you know if the girls will still be handing out papers before Mabel arrives about 7:45?

Hi!! I'm not entirely sure what their plan is with handing out papers. I would imagine they've recruited people to help for each section, but I don't know for sure I'm afraid. They've asked me to help and I can only help on the second night. If you're on Twitter I would ask them on there @/RainbowHProject 😊😊

[takemehomefromnarnia]

Hi! I want to organize something like a rainbow lights project for one of Harry's shows maybe, but I've barely seen anyone on tumblr who's going, and I'm afraid it might not reach a lot of people and will ultimately flop. I assume I'm not the only one in this case, sooo... Any ideas? Should I try Twitter? Oh and thank you so much for what you do! 🌈✨

Aaaaah, rainbow lights projects - not the easiest thing in the world to make them succeed! But that’s exactly why they are so wonderful.

You can’t be succesful if you’re not willing to take the risk of failure.

In terms of tips and tricks, here are a few -  we are working on a full length HOW TO post (anyone has tips, feel free to share and we’ll put them in):

When to/when not to:

- solo shows are better than festival type shows, it’s difficult when half of the audience is not there for the same artist - you’re good there

- time to prepare is needed - you can’t do this on a whim/in a week - harry’s tour is not for ages

- venue with majority seated tickets (otherwise people don’t know which section they should be in)

How to:

- step 1: look for a map of the venue - in the layout for that particular concert (this is crucial) - divide it up in colours - stick to existing sections - the clearer the better

(this one’s for Louis’ Poptopia by the way!!!) - Also make sure you know what to do with the general admission/floor - as you can’t easily divide that up - in Milan they did miniprideflags on the floor instead of lights, in Bologna they did flowers - really beautiful both. 

- step 2: pick a moment in the show when you want to do this (first song  or a particular song that you know is going to be on the setlist) - ideally pick a song that’s linked to rainbow projects - like SoTT for Harry ( like the people in Paris & Oberhausen did) - if you don’t pick SoTT, be aware that during HSLOT 2018, Harry would always ask people to turn up the flashlights for SoTT so people would usually do the rainbow again then. 

- step 3: make it known to everyone who wants to listen that you are organising this and this is the layout, this is the song - the sooner people know and the louder you are - the less chances of “competition” for a different colour schedule or a different project during the same song - we’ve seen it happen - it usually kills both projects a bit - for maximum loudness: use us, use update accounts (the Paris rainbow, the first one that was successful, was organised by an update account), use big accounts, ask everyone for help, use existing tags ( #rainbowlights, and #rainbowdirection ) and create your own (#turnforestrainbow was very successful with that, little followers but the tag went wild) - be on tumblr AND twitter, and IG if you can. create a new account for the project if needs be. (examples: https://twitter.com/NHforestrainbow   @RainbowHProject @msg_rainbow)  that makes it easy for people to find all information easily. tweet often, search people out to rope them in, ask them for help to retweet and reblog and spread the word. search the tags for your show regularly. talk to everyone who is going to that show. talk to everyone who is or ever has organised a rainbow lights project, that will help too

Oh, and it helps to have 1 single picture with all the information on it - so everyone just needs to retweet reblog regram or share that (include your blog your twitter your Ig your FB, your every handle on there

- step 4: little pieces of paper or little stickers work best - so get moving with producing as many little pieces of coloured paper as you will need to hand one to every person in the venue - people have tried with the colour app - you can promote that - but it doesn’t work as well. People don’t download an app on the spot - while holding a piece of paper they’ve been given on the spot in front of their phone flashlight is easy. so you are going to need to bring all those pieces, and hand them out 

- step 5: get in some help preparing the pieces of paper, because you cannot do that by yourself. reach out to people early - you can ask us for help in finding other rainbowminded people going to your concert - but for this you don’t strictly need people going to the concert rope in your friends and family - you’ll be cutting pieces of paper for a lot of your evenings. What has worked wel is little pieces of paper with the instructions on them - or stuck to them.

- step 6: hand out the pieces of paper on the day - there are several ways in which you can make this work - contacting the venue beforehand is always a good idea - they can allow you access between sections  if you cannot find enough people who are going to the concert who are in different sections of the venue. you’ll need to arrive way too early to hand out pieces of paper to everyone separately so it helps if you put the pieces of paper in plastic bags per row and ask the first person to take one and pass it on to the rest of their row. 

You cannot start too early because a lot of people will not yet be there, and so on, and so on... What we’ve also seen that works are posters on poles along the way from public transport/parking to the venue and on the walls at the venue (again something you may be discussing with them beforehand) with the explanation of the project and pieces of paper/stickers  that people can take

Best of luck and ENJOY THE RESULT!!!!

[tee1d-2016]

#TwoOfUs - gifting 🌻🎈🌈💙

Hi my lovelies,

Please RT and boost.

@28nachos @1dfansgive @lads-laddyladss @britishhusbands @lawyerlarrie @conscious--ramblings @vintage1der @thetomlinsondaily @harrystylesdaily @haydolce @sexatoxbridge @srslycris @twopoppies @larrystylinsonofficial @dailyniall @dailyonedirection @liampayne @lucystarkidd @jimmytfallon @laynefaire @gloriaandrews @louist91updates @louis-arssets @larrybitsandbobs 💋

If you can't afford for whatever reason to get your copy of #TwoOfUs, I'm doing 28 gifting of it for individuals who live in UK.

I will require you to send me proof of #TwoOfUs purchase.

Please DM me with your paypal details and I will transfer 0.99p to you.

Let's GO!! Let's make #TwoOfUs and Louis number 1 on the UK chart!! 🐝🎉💙🔥

Also this is a good HD link to #TwoOfUs livestream last night https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=40a1HKqRgo4

FINALLY just in case you are not aware, headsup, we are doing projects for Louis' concerts. Go and follow @RainbowHProject on twitter for more updates.

[tee1d-2016]

💙 RainbowHProject's announcement for Louis' project in London 🎉

... coming soon from @RainbowHProject 🔥💙

@lesbianslovelarry @lads-laddyladss @britishhusbands @lawyerlarrie @conscious--ramblings @vintage1der @thetomlinsondaily @harrystylesdaily @thedailyharry @haydolce @sexatoxbridge @srslycris @twopoppies @larrystylinsonofficial @dailyniall @dailyonedirection @liampayne @lucystarkidd @jimmytfallon @laynefaire @gloriaandrews @louist91updates @louis-arssets @larrybitsandbobs

Pls can you RT and pass the word 🙏

Giving Louis lots of love and support harmoniously with other Louis' projects when he announces the release of his album and tour 👏💙😍

RainbowHProject for Louis announcement on Twitter 💙

In 2018, RainbowHProject have successfully carried out a loving rainbow light project for Harry's London 11th and 12th April concerts.

It would be great if you'd go and visit both of our Twitter and Instagram accounts and do a follow to keep up to date with Harry's 2018 April concerts and Louis' upcoming project 🔥💙💚🎉

On Twitter you will find all of the Project's details:

On Instagram you can also find the Project's details:

RainbowHProject details on Instagram:

Hope you will all join us in celebrating our love and support of all that Louis means to us #Strength #HardWork #Talent #DreamBig #Generosity #KindHearted #FamilyValues #NeverGiveUp 😍💙🔥

[tee1d-2016]

🔥 LOUIS TOMLINSON LONDON PROJECT: 23-24 March 2020 💙🎉

Hi everyone,

We were going to do a Project for Louis' London concerts from @RainbowHProject account but have decided to keep the two separate.

I'll be spearheading the Louis one so if you're going, and is interested in knowing what's going on, please pop over to Twitter, follow and RT @lwt_show 🙏 I won't be doing an account for it on tumblr ... sorry 🙈

The project is ALL inclusive no matter who your fav is. If you love and want to show your suppport for Louis and is going to his show, either or both, I hope you'll enjoy what I've got cooking for him 💙😘

[tee1d-2016]

🔥 Louis Tomlinson - House of Solo 💙

For those who couldn't get a copy for whatever reason here's the article on Louis. They did an excellent job of it! 😍 Enjoy 🌻🎈🌈💙

Also we are once again doing concerts projects but this time it's for Louis. We did the Rainbow Lights projects for Harry's 11th & 12th April London concerts. They were extremely successful, brought so much joy to everyone both those who attended the concerts and those who read about them in national and international media write ups.

So if you're interested please go to twitter and follow @RainbowHProject to keep up to date.

The planning for Louis' projects are now completed. We have been planning these since 2018, so any similarity of ideas to other projects are coincidental.

We are just waiting for Louis to announce his album release and tour dates. We will need more volunteers when the time comes to execute.

It's going to be amazing and will do Louis proud as we did Harry proud. The message for Louis' projects like those for Harry's is very positive and inclusive to and for everyone. Hope you'll join us in spreading the news and love when the time comes 💋🌻🎈🌈💙🔥

[tee1d-2016]

🐝🔥 Heads Up! Rainbow Project for Louis 🌻🎈🌈💙

Please RT, boost and spread the word of our SURPRISE Rainbow Project for Louis 🙏

We are super excited about them and can't wait until we can execute them🌻🎈🌈💙

Please follow @RainbowHProject on twitter for more updates 😍

Thank you so much in advance for your help and support 🐝💙🔥💋

@28nachos @1dfansgive @lads-laddyladss @britishhusbands @lawyerlarrie @conscious--ramblings @vintage1der @thetomlinsondaily @harrystylesdaily @haydolce @sexatoxbridge @srslycris @twopoppies @larrystylinsonofficial @dailyniall @dailyonedirection @liampayne @lucystarkidd @jimmytfallon @laynefaire @gloriaandrews @louist91updates @louis-arssets @larrybitsandbobs