Family

In shadows cast by the family's stern decree,

A soul, queer and vibrant, sought to be free.

Rejected, abandoned, by blood disowned,

Yet within, a spirit resiliently owned.

Through tear-streaked nights, they found their way,

To a world where acceptance held sway.

A community forged with colors unseen,

Embracing the beauty that had long been.

The shackles of judgment, they cast aside,

With open hearts, no need to hide.

A dance of acceptance, a song of grace,

In this newfound refuge, they found their place.

                  -fv

Explore 5 Haiku- Katie Harmon

 

Vogue, work, shade, queen, ball

Etymology unknown

By me, and so many

(Reflecting on how surprised I was to learn that these popular phrases originated decades ago in the Ball scene)

 

Katie Harmon, she/her, Queer Theory, Fall 2023

Negotiating Intersections

 I did this artwork to visually explore the points where queer theory intersects with other frameworks, such as gender studies, post-colonial theory, indigenous studies, and disability studies. In this painting, each color merges and mingles with the next. The blending of these colors represents the intricate process of negotiation, where diverse theoretical perspectives harmonize, clash, and coexist. This dynamic interplay mirrors the intersections of individuals and their multifaceted identities, revealing the richness of human experience. By blending and merging, these colors remind me of the strength found at the crossroads of diverse identities and perspectives. - Dahara de SIlva-

A Dream of Belonging

 

A Dream of Belonging

The freedom of expression,

to something so natural.

I feel like myself,

even if I don't know who that person is.

Explore 2 Haiku- Katie Harmon

 “Normal”/“Abnormal”

Stigmaphile or stigmaphobe

The binary is fake

 

Katie Harmon, Queer Theory, Fall 2023

Explore 3 Haikus- Katie Harmon

“An identity”

“Always a social statement”

“Mocking everyone”

(Quotes from the RuPaul article)

“Equality state”

Eye-roll, bullshit, lip service

Prove it with a law

(Referencing Wyoming’s low score on the  State Equality Index)

 

Katie Harmon, Queer Theory, Fall 2023

On My Body

 Module 4 submission.

On My Body

Dust, slime, scaley skin.

Take it for granted

Fight against it

Decide it is not there for me

When my back doesn’t have my back.

Alter it, shape it, moon sand in my hands

When I woke up from the surgery I cried

And I said I was just happy but I cry when I

Come out of anesthesia- did after I broke the bone beneath my eye.

It reminds me too much of the other times when my body

Has been in other’s hands.

My hands in others.

My hands on my chest, absentmindedly

But this is about the body as a whole.

Working moving parts

Womanly- not if I have anything to do with it.

I shape my body but recognize that my body shapes me

And the world shapes it

And at any moment—

The world is not in our control, nor is it in mine,

And if the world controls my body

Or if things are fated then—

Well.

I am not good with change but

It is nice

And scary

To know things might not always be this way.