Ukrainian Diversity Pins

Nicole Renae Design

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

The original Diversity Symbol was created for the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers to symbolize the acceptance of queer communities within the Shumka family. Queerness in the greater Ukrainian community is largely frowned upon and underrepresented, so the Diversity Symbol was adapted into the Ukrainian Diversity Pins. It is a way to represent queer communities within the Ukrainian community with the goal of being unapologetically proud to be both. 

The design is a cross-stitch pattern representing the word “love,” with Shumka represented in the middle with red, and the many other communities Shumka supports represented by various colours on the outside, referencing the traditional rainbow colours of the pride flag. When the project expanded into the Diversity Pins, colours were pulled from other pride flags and applied to the existing design to create a line of pins celebrating five queer communities: lesbian, bisexual, trans, non-binary and queer pride. The Ukrainian Diversity Pins have been sold across Canada and the United States, with all proceeds from the sale of each pin being donated to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation to help support the brave people fighting for a free Ukraine. Since the pin launched in June 2023, over $800 has been donated.

Credits

Creative Director & Designer: Nicole Beztilny