Untitled Project

Untitled is an exploration into my husband Stephen's troubling past, the institutions that put our rights in danger, and our marriage, seen through the lens of the home. These themes intersect in a project centered around loving even during immense tribulations. In 2021 during therapy, Steve uncovered that his childhood church, where his father was a minister, was deemed a cult. The tension between Steve and his parents escalated, and the belief that they would confront their homophobia seemed futile. When Steve and I married in 2023, it was deeply troubling, yet not surprising that neither parent attended. Conservative Christians attempt to erase narratives like ours on the pulpit and the floor of Congress. Discriminatory people in Steve's timeline symbolize the terrifying push for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. For us, marriage is at stake, for others, their very lives are. I show ourselves in our home, a domestic sphere, doing chores, lying in bed, joyful. Fighting prejudice with happiness rebels against people who will never recognize our queer love. To link present-day Stephen to his past, some of the images allude to religious motifs. Like faith, the concept of home is constructed. To us, it's not in a geographic location per se. It's a place of security. My home is with Stephen. Steve's story is unique yet not uncommon. The broken relationships in our lives may never mend, but we have each other. To live authentically is both radical and profound.