The book I worked with, Uncommon Heroes, which contained short biographies of GLBT
artists, musicians, politicians, playwrights, and public figures inspired me to make a
painting focusing on the idea of a hero—a person willing to take enormous risks in order
to do what he or she believes in. The creation of this work coincided with my own life
change—moving from a small New England city to San Francisco, and changing my
gender. Asking folks to call me by a traditionally male name felt like diving into unclear
waters—a leap of faith. We do these things for ourselves and for those to come. Leslie
Fienberg, Kate Bornstein, Tony Kushner and Ellen De Generes all spoke the truth, risking
ridicule to make things better for GLBT of future generations. No vandal can take away
our history or our future.
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