pocket shrine:
Krishna’s gender fluidity is a big deal because it breaks away from the old, male-dominated rules. It lets people express themselves in different ways, both masculine and feminine. Queer Vaishnava communities in West Bengal love this fluidity because it helps them show off their Indian heritage and fight against Western ideas that try to change them. And guess what? Modern pictures of Krishna show him in a more feminine and loving way, reflecting this change.
Atlas Moth:
Just like moths and butterflies, we all go through a transformative journey in our lives in particular the Queer community. We start as tiny larvae with dreams and potential, but we don’t fully realize them yet. Then, we take a break and cocoon ourselves, protecting ourselves from the outside world while we figure out who we really are. Finally, we break free from our cocoon and emerge as our true selves, free from the limitations of our past and ready to explore the world with newfound confidence and joy.
Fan
The folding fan, originally created in Japan for cooling, has a history of symbolizing elegance and luxury in Europe and North America. Its association with Queer culture, is likely influenced by its flamboyant nature, practical cooling function, and historical ties to flirtatiousness in various cultures. While a definitive origin story remains elusive, the fan’s popularity in gay culture is attributed to its feminine, campy, and fabulous appeal.
Greek Helmet
The Greek helmet is one of the most iconic symbols of Greek culture. In ancient Rome, homosexual relationships weren’t uncommon. A Roman man could choose any sexual partner, regardless of gender. So, it was pretty common for Roman men to have sexual relationships with men.
Civil War Armour
In the queer community, we often wear a kind of ‘armor’ when we leave the house. This can be more masculine or feminine clothes that are coded to fit in and be accepted, or more queer-identifiable items like a rainbow pin or carabiner.
The Civil War armor reminds us of this idea, not only because it protects or identifies you, but also because the metal plates of the armor remind us of chest binding in the trans masculine and non-binary communities. Transgender and gender non-binary people often feel gender dysphoria when they compare how they present themselves to their gender identity. Chest binding has become a popular practice to make a person’s presenting gender and gender identity more in line.
East African Crowned Crane
The East African crowned crane has become a symbol of queer pride in Uganda, notably making an appearance during the 2012 gay pride march where a crane proudly displayed rainbow colours on its crown.
Even in regions with rigid anti-homosexual laws, queer communities continue to thrive and assert their identity. Uganda may have a reputation for being one of the world's most challenging places for queer individuals, but hope and resilience persist. Courageous people continue to gather and celebrate who they are, signalling a brighter, more inclusive future. The unwavering spirit and unity of the community are a testament to their unyielding determination for acceptance and love.
Giraffe
Giraffes have a reputation of being gentle giants with a calm demeanour. Tenderness is a facet of the queer community that is often overlooked. Communities are fostered through ideas of found families, often when their blood relationship and the wider society have rejected them. Often we see in media, in particular more historical depictions, that queer-coded people are often portrayed as villainous; however, this is an outdated stereotype. The queer community, as seen by an often-used slogan, Love is Love.
It has been noted that Giraffe’s display same sex interactions bringing into question the sexuality of giraffes, with differing viewpoints on whether their interactions constitute homosexuality or dominance displays. While some argue that giraffes lack sexual orientation and engage in both heterosexual and same-sex behaviour, others emphasize the importance of accepting individuals for who they are.
Ammonite
Ammonites have no direct association to being queer, and the community; however, for me, they present history and beauty, and we can take from it lessons going forward.
To hold an ammonite in your hands is to hold history, something that existed millions of years ago; however, a lot of their history and facts we can only assume from the physical fossils and traces left behind. The history of the queer community is much the same; we only have traces left and have to piece together our history from the fragments left behind. Artefacts of our history are present, but the history and facts are shrouded and lost to time. The queer community is more present and vocal today than it’s ever been, and we can leave a more storied history for future generations to hold in their hands.