This is our “Excerpts from a Dairy” series. We publish excerpts of thoughts and reflections from emails, dairies and journals of people from the queer community. These excerpts could be complete entries or uncompleted and unstructured excerpts that show our personal thoughts and reflections about our lived experience.
We welcome submissions and they can be sent to etqueerfamily@gmail.com.
It is easy to forget how crucial representation and visibility are to our sense of self and wellbeing. Below, is a brief email exchange between two masculine presenting women who met in Addis Ababa. One of them lives in Addis Ababa while the other lives in the West. Although brief and to the point, these email interactions provide a window into the sense of liberation both feel. It is also a reminder about the importance of making room to meet with others, when it is safe, of course.
Hi L,
I don’t remember the last time I talked so much about being queer. Thank you for giving me a sense of “normality” … my city felt infinitely safer while walking around with another queer woman.
Have a safe trip.
F
Peace F,
I hope this email finds you well. I too have never felt safer in Addis then [sic] walking around with you- it is a powerful experience to see yourself reflected in another person, especially in a place where visibility is limited. For this I thank you. Our time together literally warmed my soul and thank you for trusting me to make it happen.
Best,
L
