The link below is to a wonderful story about the photography of M. Sharkey. I hope you check it out. But I wanted to share one of the photos and text with you. I generally use the abbreviation LGBTQ instead of LGBT or GLBT or Gay. For me, the Q matters. If you aren’t using it, you are probably stuck in an outdated framework and understanding of our rainbow collective of communities.

M Sharkey’s series, Queer Kids may be most potent when seen as a whole series, but this image and text really spoke to me-

Tell me about an average day in your life.
“After class it’s basketball, basketball, basketball, every night.”

When did you realize you were queer?
“I realized I was gay from a young age, maybe when I was in the 9th grade. But I realized I was ‘queer’ this year, actually. I view those two things as very different. I like ‘queer’ a lot more. I feel like it’s a more confrontational identity that’s necessary when you are in such a marginalized position. Queer is in your face and tough and calling people out and not being afraid to speak your mind and that’s more me, more of what I’m about. I like ‘queer’. I am queer.”

http://www.buzzfeed.com/gabrielsanchez/queer-youth-of-today#.hdOvPJly7