This piece is representative of my strong sense of pride and how the hatred, rhetoric, and attacks on the LGBTQ+ community have created a hole in that pride. The canvas is where this piece began, it is bright and whimsical with the colors of the gay and trans pride flags. I then cut a hole in that canvas as the emergence of hatred directed at LGBTQ+ people in Florida has really impacted me personally. Having worked for a queer youth organization I served on the front lines conducting outreach and interacting with community members. Most of these interactions were positive, but every so often someone would come along and ask me to “stop recruiting/grooming children” and/or call me a “pedophile/predator.” The more often this happened the bigger that hole became. Seeing over 400 anti-LGBTQ+ bills presented in 34 states demonstrates this is not just a local problem but a national one, which again widened that hole in my pride. The white boxes covered in blood represent harmful legislation; the numbers on them are specific bills that have been presented and will likely pass into law. The black paper creeping from the inside out represents the hate and toxicity that is spreading and is now infiltrating my exterior expression and has parts of me wanting to be a little quieter when all I want to do is scream and fight. The authentic printed logos and sayings are things that haunt negative thoughts/feelings, I refused to put the time into hand making those items. The LGBTQ+ flags and protest signs are representative of how I feel about the things that are happening and the causes I am willing to stand and fight for; reproductive rights, gun regulations, African American History, DEI, LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare, mental health resources, the list could go on.