Artist Statement
My identity has always been influenced by queer individuals. My LGBTQ+ parents, friends, and family members have and will always be an inspiring cornerstone of my life. They have all had to rise above the stigma and assumptions which people like them encounter in the world. However, I’ve come to realize that, much like their handwriting, these people’s individual experiences as members of the LGBTQ+ community are not all identical. They each struggle with their own aspect of being queer, be it their label, their relationships, their religion, or their family. The way they choose to declare their identity and endure the challenges that come with it depends on who they are and who they want to be. These portraits present these people’s everyday lives interwoven with their handwritten stories, struggles, and experiences. In doing so, the images explore the beautifully unique ways in which human beings choose to establish themselves in a community that faces oppression.