Mark

I was recently asked an innocuous question by a friend. What does it means to be gay. My answer was unexpected. Although being gay is an integral part of my psyche and emotional being, its meaning has changed much throughout my life….When I was young with little concept of what gay was to me it meant hate and ridicule….As a young adult spent as a closeted man being gay meant secrets, self hate, and denial…..As an older adult with the acceptance of family and friends being gay meant awareness, discovery and love…….And now as I have gained the wisdom of my years being gay is truth of self and social responsibility. I am accountable to live my life as an open gay man. To demonstrate to the people in my community that being gay is a rich and rewarding life. I am loving, giving, respectful, and truthful. I am so many wonderful things to so many people. And one day they will realize that I too deserve to be married to the one I love.

Shirley

20" x 16"

Hi. I'm Shirley. When my mom saw this portrait, she said that I looked sad and my sister said that I looked brave. Here's the thing: I was born and raised in Greenville, SC, home to Bob Jones University and more confederate flags than you can imagine. I spent a lot of my life being called a dyke and a faggot. I suppose my mom and sister are both right; I felt sad and brave at the same time. I learned to have a pretty stern looking at-rest face. So, this is me now: someone with a stern looking at-rest face who falls somewhere between a dyke and a faggot depending on the day. You can call me Queer. Or better yet, you can call me Shirley.