dear personal care attendant,

this weekend i want to play with gender
wrap myself in it
it’s not every day i get to see queers
maybe to them it’s just another conference
but i don’t ever take it for granted

yes i’m gonna speak in queer
talk liberation
whisper and shout
get free, get free

i’ll get all lipglossed up, use eye shadow that make my eyes pop
you’ll curl and pin my hair so the highlights shine against the blackness of my hair
i’ll know i look fly in my red summer dress and matching cherry toenails

or maybe, just maybe, i’ll sport a fedora
it’s been sitting on my shelf, just begging to be worn— peacock feather and all
i could do this properly in a button-up shirt, pinstripe pants, new black-laced white sneakers…

either way
i will radiate

thank you for making this happen

thank you for being safe space, even when you disagree 

thank you