Melody

Harmonia Rosales @honeiee

Mama Onile, 60” x 48” (2024)

She is the soil from which all life began. She is memory. She is breath. This is Mama Onilé, “owner of the house,” our shared home… Earth, held by the Orishas who guard her.

[Glee] introduced Riley to millions of fans and catapulted her into major Hollywood circles. But in other ways, it became a reminder of the types of roles Black women, especially those who are plus-sized, are relegated to. Behind the scenes, Riley says she fought for her character "to have a voice" but eventually realized her efforts were useless. "It finally got to a point where I was like, this is not my moment. I'm not who they're choosing, and this is just going to have to be a job for me for now," she says. "And, that's okay because it pays my bills, I still get to be on television, I'm doing more than any other Black plus-sized women that I'm seeing right now on screen."

The actress can recognize now that she was navigating issues associated with trauma and low self-esteem at the time [and] was triggered by how the cult-like following of the show conflicted with her individual, isolated experiences behind the scenes. But she was in her early '20s back then. She didn't yet have the language or the tools to process how she was feeling.

Riley says she eventually sought out medical intervention. "When you're in Hollywood, and you go to a doctor, they give you pills."

All done!

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Camille Sturdivant went on to join the Golden Girls dance squad at the University of Missouri.

sorry for being inactive for over a week, my wifi was OUT. i will try to get back to posting regularly soon ;)

"don't worry about it, i'll do it"

"you're my everything"

"i'd love it if you came"

"just be safe, okay?"

"i got these cause i know they're your favourite"

"in dedication to (name)"

"let's travel the world together, what'd you say?"

"you decide"

"by all means, do whatever you wish to do. don't let me hold you back"

"it's okay, baby. just let it all out"

"i'm here..."

"i'll protect you, no matter what"

"is this okay?"

"god, i don't know what i'd do if you got hurt"

"stay with me, please?"

"can we get married already"?

"you look really pretty today"

"it looks better on you anyway"

"i remember"

"you're the cutest thing i've ever seen"

"i got you breakfast in bed"

"you look like a dream"

"you have my full attention"

"i'm happy when you're around, you know?"

"come over here and sit down, tell me what's wrong"

"i'm all yours. not going anywhere"

"just tell me what you need and i'll get it for you"

"i know i need to go... but just one more kiss? please?"

"here, take my hand"

I am begging the UK trans community and its allies to attend the Mass Lobby at Parliament on June 25th, 11am-4pm, organised by Trans Solidarity Alliance.

The new EHRC Code of Practice pushes trans people out of toilets, hospital wards, and community spaces. It normalises gender policing based on appearance and stereotypes. It becomes statutory guidance in the UK by the end of June.

Trans people are now legally their assigned gender at birth and must join gendered spaces accordingly, but if they are perceived as their lived gender, they can also be ejected from those spaces. The guidance says: either break the law, or don’t pass too well.

A mass lobby is where you invite your MP to discuss your concerns with you in-person. Ask your MP to:

Demand full parliamentary scrutiny, debate, and use their free vote on the EHRC Code of Practice.

Support any motions rejecting the EHRC guidance. As of June 4th, Labour MP Nadia Whittome has submitted a prayer motion - Early Day Motion 240.

Write to Bridget Phillipson, the Minister for Women and Equalities about our concerns

Your MP does not have to be an ally, they do not have to respond to your email for you to show up and greencard them (details below the cut.) What matters is that as many people as possible show up.

I cannot stress this enough: Showing up in person matters. It is much more effective than petitions, emails, and letters.

It is a horrible, stressful time, and I am so sorry if you're trans and live in the UK. But I was at last year's mass lobby and the line for greencarding alone stretched around the back gates. It was a record breaking mass lobby and made us impossible to ignore. Let's do even better this time. Details under the cut:

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Redraw of a piece from 2018! I love this piece and its companion, and I wanted to update it for my current skills and style. It's fun to see how much progress I've made!