queer as in not your token gay or your gay best friend,

queer as in more bite than bark and proudly so,

queer as in the only thing you need to know about is the pepper pray and switchblade in my pocket from years of fear of the streets at night,

queer as in loud and proud and shouting out fuck you.

my identity is not water color so diluted you'd never know it's there without being told, my identity is spray paint on city walls that makes you wonder how it got there,

my identity is drag shows and men kissing men with passion,

my identity is not going to taste sweet in your mouth,

my identity is sour and bitter and bites back harder.

i do not exist to fit within the confines of boxes drawn by the hands of cishet bigots dreaming of crossing out my life, i exist at riots and rallies and pride parades along side allies; i exist in strength and pride earned by bricks thrown and i will not be silenced: