Beth on Family
What does “family” mean to you and who belongs in yours?
Family means acceptance. It means no matter how messy, how scary, how confusing, how unknown the future may be, I will be here. I chose Bella, Jude, Eve, and Taylor because despite not being friends for a long time, being with them is a place of love, of safety, of hope for a better future. Being with them makes me feel able to be my full self in ways I haven’t felt in a long time. And my son Trystyn is here too. He has seen me mask myself in every way possible to fit in. And now he gets to see me be truly happy and myself.
If your family had a theme song, what would it be?
Freak Flag from Shrek the Musical
What’s one word you’d use to describe yourself, and why?
Expansive.Because no matter how much life throws my way, I grow, I change, I transform, and I become more than I was before.
A Few More Questions
If you could shapeshift into anything for a day, what would you be?
Probably a panda. Because they just be rolling around, falling off stuff, being cute and squishy and eating snacks. Sounds like a great day.
What is your most useless but impressive talent?
Being able to say the alphabet backwards
What advice would you give to your younger self, or someone struggling to feel seen?
Keep putting yourself out there. Eventually you will find the room you fit in and the people you belong with. It may take 34 years. But its worth it.
More Faces of Pride
Faces of Pride is a portrait project celebrating the LGBTQ2S+ community of the Kootenays. Browse the full collection of portraits and stories.