Press Announcement: Release of Comic “Rainbow Amidst the Rain”

“Rainbow Amidst the Rain” is the title of a comic inspired by true stories of LGBTs members of Rainbow Community Kampuchea (RoCK), that they experienced at home and school. To produce this book, RoCK has collaborated with two artists, Hand drawn by Sao Sreymao and Handwritten dialogue by Alex Lyhour. The story tells about a rural youth named Sopheap. Since Sopheap leaves her hometown to pursue her study, she is on the journey to find herself and at the same time, fulfills her role as a student and a daughter in a new environment and place. It is not an easy road, Sopheap has to go through a stormy and bittersweet experience. Luckily, she is not on this journey alone.

Sopheap story shows the real experiences of many Cambodian citizens and especially, young people. In young adulthood, a phase that people are curious, wanting to explore, accept and express their identity, Transgenders and also LGB group face rejection from their families (RoCK, 2015 ) and discrimination at school, later in life, at the workplace (CCHR, 2015). The recognition and respect in the society and the protection by law and policy create a safe environment and allow the LGBT+ community to be one of the healthy cells of our motherland, Cambodia. RoCK hopes this comic encourages the LGBT+ community through the illustration of a possible solution that already happened and the supports they could find around them. It is a reminder of hope, encouragement to proceed the journey, that rainbow could be seen, even though the rain has not calmed down yet.This booklet is also an attempt to raise awareness and empathy toward the LGBT+ community that will bring social harmony for all.

“Rainbow Amidst the rain” Part 1, is a pilot process to produce a series of comics. You can find the book at the RoCK office (House 50D, street 456, S/K Tuol Tom Pong 2, Khan Chamkamon , Phnom Penh) and Pichet (House 11z, street 360, S/K Beong Keng Kang 3, Khan Beong Keng Kong, Phnom Penh). The money from selling the book will be used as an Emergency response budget for ROCK members who have been impacted by Corvid 19 and other parts of RoCK work.

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 Rainbow Community Kampuchea (RoCK) is a Cambodian non-government organization dedicated for supporting LGBT+ rights in Cambodia. RoCK works closely with LGBT communities and respective local authorities across the country to ensure long-term protection and support of equal rights and acceptance for LGBT people and their families.

Sao Sreymao (Born in 1986 in Site 2 refugee camp located at Cambodia- Thailand border) finished her study in the Art school of Phare Ponleu Selapak in Battambang province (2016) and was a student of contemporary art class of Sa Sa Art Project in 2016. Her works include drawing, digital drawing, sculpture, and performing art. Most of her work is to understand the expression of emotion and the changes of context and mentality of people in the urban and rural areas of Cambodia.

Alex Lyhour, formally known as Prak MangLyhour. She loves beautiful letters since childhood. In 2019, she takes interest in the art of Calligraphy and decided to get into art through a program called “Psar Art”. She did hand calligraphy on the wood key chain, wood board, seasonal greeting, and postal card. She loves the creativity of Calligraphy and thinks of it as a meaningful gift to loved ones.

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For more information:

TUY Raksmey

Communication Assistant

Phone: 0962092648/ 077 47 24 52

Email: [email protected]