Celebrating IDAHOBIT: Joyce

This May 17 on IDAHOBIT (International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination), we’re celebrating community members who are thriving in Brimbank. Joyce is an 18-year-old transwoman who is part of the Crystal Queer program and lives in Brimbank, working part-time in Sunshine and creating moving artworks in her free time. Check out her interview below.

Tell us about your art journey – when did you start being interested, to now?

I mainly just have used art as something to do when I’m bored. While I haven’t done it much recently, it’s mainly been used as a hobby.

Why do you love making art, and how does it allow you to express your trans identity?

I used art early in my transition as life goes on –  like, “Oh, this is what I want to look like in the future.”

IDAHOBIT is the International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination. Why do you think days like IDAHOBIT are still important? 

I feel now more then ever it is more important with everything happening in the U.S.A with LGBTQIA+ people, as well as in Queensland. Now more then ever, we need to stand up and show we are here, strong and proud to be ourselves.

What does LGBTQIA+ inclusion look like to you?

Not having to worry about whether you have to hide who you are. Inclusion, to me, is just letting people be themselves without having people stare and think ,”Oh, they are going to hell.”

Do you know a young person who deserves to be spotlighted? Reach out to us at bys@brimbank.vic.gov.au.