watercolor, colored pencil, ink; 20×16″
“Most of my friends are part of the Lgbtq+ community, which has been targeted with laws recently. Lgbtq+ rights are still being attacked today. I found out that there were 374 active anti transgender bills with 83 being passed in 2023, some prohibiting minors to receive gender affirming care and others attempting to ban anyone from receiving it. I also learned about flowers that represent different parts of the community, lavender and violets for the lesbian community, carnations for gay men, and roses for the transgender community. I included all of that in my art piece. I hope that soon my friends won’t have to worry about threats to their lives and happiness when they’re just trying to be themselves.”
ARTIST BIO: Briella Combs is a grade 11 student at Butler Tech School of Art studying art under art teacher Mary Catherine Ruby.