You are not alone. You matter. And you belong.

No matter how you identify, no matter where you’re from, no matter what you’ve lived through, asking for help is hard – but it is always worth it.

This piece was written for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington D.C.’s “Portraits” project and premiered on June 16th, 2024. Inspired by the artwork “Steeled” by Judith Peck, it takes the stormy and abandoned themes of the painting and tries to find hope in the solitude. As a queer person, this piece of art and the idea of steeling oneself from the world resonated with me. I am privileged to be in a place where I can freely express myself, and I wanted to write something that added a message of hope to such a powerful painted representation of solitude.

For more information on GMCW’s Portraits Project, click here.