girl in red designs unique rainbow guitar to raise money for LQBTQ+ charity

Marie Ulven, aka girl in red, has teamed up with Fender to design a unique guitar for Pride featuring the colours of the rainbow flag.

The electric guitar arrives a month after the global Pride celebrations throughout June, and will see Ulven give 100% of proceeds raised from the guitar to Kaleidoscope Trust.

Kaleidoscope Trust "works to uphold the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in countries around the world where they are discriminated against or marginalised due to their sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression".

girl in red painted the Fender Telecaster herself, and it'll be auctioned off in a charity raffle that closes on 2 August at 11:59pm BST. It costs £5 minimum to enter the raffle. The winner will also receive three months of free online guitar tuition via Fender Play.

Ulven says of the unique guitar, "As a privileged queer person, I feel it is important that I am as loud as possible. Music can create an incredible and safe space for those who need it the most and this feels like an authentic way I can help others in the community. My first electric guitar was a Fender and the rainbow flag is such an iconic and positive design that I hope everybody loves this guitar as much as I do. What’s better than raising money for an amazing cause and helping somebody to pursue their music dreams at the same time!?"

Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Executive Director of Kaleidoscope Trust added, "We are thrilled to have the support of both girl in red and Fender in raising funds for Kaleidoscope Trust. As a charity that works alongside grassroots activists internationally and who are combating the inequalities faced by LGBT+ people, the proceeds raised from the raffle will help Kaleidoscope Trust to continue carrying out the critical work that we do towards ensuring a free, safe and equal world for LGBT+ people everywhere. Our community is being affected disproportionately by the COVID-19 pandemic, so we are grateful for girl in red’s support - not only through the proceeds from the raffle - but also in having the opportunity to highlight and raise awareness of the work that we do to help fight discrimination against LGBT+ individuals around the world."