Perhaps it was subconscious, maybe synchronicity, but it wasn’t until after I completed this Astroportrait painting (1st slide) that I recognized its similarity with the intersex pride flag (2nd slide) 💛💜💛 This Astroportrait features my intersex self but I’m not the only person in it. It’s an almagomation of my husband and I, and not my first duo Astroportrait by far. I’d combined other couples and several mother-daughter pairs before. The round shape of the Tiger’s face in purple and blue against a yellow background evokes the purple circle on yellow designed to represent the intersex experience in all its variations, celebrating us as whole and complete outside the blue/pink binary.
Intersex people report the highest amount of exclusion from family, resulting in higher levels of homelessness, chronic illness, and disability (all of which I’ve experienced) among the Queer community. (Relevant stats in 4th slide above) We have even reported the highest amount of incidents of exclusion from the Queer community based on our type of Queerness, higher than bisexuals report. These reports are even higher for intersex PoC. Indeed every step in inclusion of these identities in progressively intersectional Pride flag designs have initially been controversial among the queer community. This was no different with the debut of the yellow triangle with the purple circle inclusive of intersex people. (5th slide below) I remember the short lived backlash well. But the ensuing conversations brought more understanding that I have personally felt make a positive difference in my own experiences since! (6th slide below with intersex pride float in background 📸 @sweepingpetals )
Symbols hold meaning that matter, that spark conversations that actually make a difference and bring personal and collective progress. This is seen in the Queer community, in our Pride flags, in our fashion. This essence of symbolism is present in esoteric practices and something I share through my work, especially in my Astroportraits ✨
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