Collected Item: “This is what a lesbian immigrant looks like”
What is your name?
Weiwei Huang
What are your pronouns?
she/they
Use the following phrase for your photograph's title, filling in the blank with however you self-identify. Feel free to include all intersections of your identity. (Examples: lesbian, trans person of color, Latinx queer woman, radical faery, butch, etc.): "This is what a _______ looks like."
This is what a lesbian immigrant looks like
Tell us more about your photo by sharing a brief artist statement or answering this prompt: "This is what being ______ means to me..."
Being a lesbian immigrant in this political climate means constantly navigating the tension between visibility and survival. In this photograph, I sit inside my closet, both literal and metaphorical, covering my mouth in a gesture of silencing that reflects the fear of displacement and erasure. Dressed in a Chinese-style garment, I carry the weight of cultural heritage and personal identity, both of which shape and complicate my existence in spaces that may never fully accept me. Yet my eyes stare straight at the camera, a quiet act of defiance and a refusal to disappear.
Describe your photo so we can provide alt-text for future visitors to this website. Example: "Two women holding hands and smiling as they walk in a pride parade, surrounded by rainbow flags and a vibrant crowd celebrating LGBTQ+ pride."
A young queer woman sits inside a small, dimly lit closet, wearing a traditional Chinese-style dress. Her hands cover her mouth, while her eyes stare directly into the camera with an unwavering gaze.
Do you consent to The Curve Foundation storing, sharing, and using this image and its description as we deem appropriate, including disseminating on our social media, website, and Curve quarterly? Do you confirm that you hold the rights to this image?
Yes
What is your instagram handle?
@theyarebirdalien
In the event that you win this contest, how can we best contact you: Instagram, email, or other? If other, please provide contact details.
email