MY TRANSGENDER ARTIST MANIFESTO
We transgender gender non-conforming men and women are AUTHENTIC people.
To be trans is to split self-acceptance in a world that welcomes us out.
We're RIGHTEOUS people.
To be trans would be to walk the fine line between personal ethics and personal safety every moment. And we choose ethics again and again and again.
We are COURAGEOUS people.
To be trans is to get the courage to show ourselves even and to explore our self.
We show up. No matter what hardships we face, we show up with elegance.
We're men and women.
There are millions of transgender people around the world and we face staggering rates of discrimination and violence. We are bullied, threatened, harassed, and murdered 2-3 times more frequently than other groups and the numbers are even https://www.virtosuart.com/blog/art-theme-transgender more alarming for people of colour and trans women. When fixed on survival we lose sight of their power, love, and strength within our transgender family.
We highlight power and the beauty among us to remind us connect, to make, and dream.
We are VIBRANT & ALIVE.
"When obedience is demanded and individuality isn't honored, the conditioning that is meant to help in the creation of healthy communities becomes... quite damaging to the self that wants to emerge and develop.
In that state of conditioning we are not allowed flexibility, choice, spontaneity, or gap. Our will may feel broken or weak, and we may feel depressed, flat, or with a clear sense of defined and vibrant self..." ~Alana Fairchild
To be trans is to renounce social structures to honor our true selves. Authenticity is chosen by us.
We're people that are POWERFUL.
Seeing our varied beauty reflected in art that is fine makes us feel. We are in need of images of non-binary family and our resilient defiant and joyful trans to inspire spaces.
Gender non-conforming youth and trans need to see images of strong, kind, hard-working, individuals who live beyond the definitions of society.
We are ROLE MODELS.
People outside our community have to explore their fluid gender identities.
Cisgender people, it's okay to play, experiment and color outside the gender lines. It's okay to enjoy yourself as you are. We have valuable lessons to teach, and to teach we should be seen.