Kallice does her part for equality
A pupil at Blairgowrie High School is representing Perth and Kinross in a national project celebrating equality this summer.
Kallice Gracey (15) designed and made a panel for the Equality Quilt, a 36-panel quilt which will be exhibited in Pride House in Glasgow during the European Championships in August.
The panels explore issues relating to LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning) rights and equality in sport and cultural heritage.
Thirty-two schools from across Scotland, one from each local authority area, were asked to create a panel and make a contribution to the quilt.
The Equality Quilt is expected to be seen by around 4000 people while it is on display at Pride House, which is organised by LGBTIQ charity Leap Sports. The venue will welcome LGBTIQ athletes, fans, and their allies during largescale international sporting events such as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.
The quilt will then spend a year travelling to schools, as well as being shown at an equality event at the Scottish Parliament during LGBT History Month next year.
Kallice was studying fashion and textiles in third year when she designed and made her panel.
She said: “The colours came from the gay Rainbow Flag, which really inspired me.
“The main image is a swimmer, which I chose for my uncle who is a keen swimmer and gay, and the colours are the lanes for the
Kallice with head teacher Bev Leslie (left) and home economics teacher Sheena Thom swimmer to swim in. I turned the flag on its side so that it looked like the lanes of a swimming pool.
“The panel was made from different colours of cotton fabric stitched on a white background with wadding in the middle.
“I’m very happy with the way it has turned out and can’t wait to see it sewn into the quilt.”
Head teacher Bev Leslie said: “Kallice came up with the design on her own and we are so pleased to see it come to fruition.
“She has a natural eye for fashion and this was a great opportunity for her to extend her skills.
“We will hopefully be able to see the quilt in its entirety here in the school next year as part of its tour of participating schools.”
I can’t wait to see it sewn into the quilt