that proves we are here, just living our lives. ffs
Artist Statement
My name is Lucky. My pronouns are they/them
I identify as non-binary, transgender
and..
I am privileged.
With the family I chose,
together we have grown
our garden.
Our safe space.
I sit in the warmth,
Surrounded by
stunning strong flowers,
that blossomed from
secure roots of acceptance
entwined over time.
I’m happy there.
Then without warning
my bubble pops.
I’m in shock as TikTok
delivers the news,
in my “for you” page.
Over 30 Nazis
on display,
at the anti-trans rally.
Gnashing teeth
unleashing
hate speech.
oh, and the cops take their side,
because it’s their rally??
Um
I’m sorry,
what??
It’s our rights!
I can’t make it
make sense.
I just don’t understand
so, I stand there,
my phone in my hand
my eyes locked on TikTok,
my stomach in knots.
I’m in disbelief.
I mean, come on!
It’s fucking 2023!?
And I had the audacity
to think that
we
were better than this.
Then across my screen,
a brawl breaks out
between us
and them
and its then
that I have no doubt
about the next rally,
I will be there
to stand with my family.
……..
Wrong camera,
wrong lens,
but I have a good friend
to back me up,
to watch my back,
maybe even hold me back
if it came to that.
It starts to rain.
Pouring rain now.
But people still pour in
trickling down
around
and onto
the library steps.
A tide of transgender folks
and our allies
spill and pool all over the lawn
overflowing into Swanston Street.
Pink, white and blue
decorate our claimed space.
Some of us wear smiles on our face.
All of us hold resistance in our gaze.
The energy of the crowd
engulfs me now.
Anger, fear, defiance,
excitement, hope, acceptance.
Alive with so many emotions,
my eyes swim in our ocean
of gender expressions.
We are all so tired
of suppressing
who we are
so we march.
For ALL of my family. All past present and future “others”. Lucky Frawley 2023.
