I've lived most of my life in the Southern United States and never tire of exploring the region. The South is teeming with life and filled with biodiversity - from the rolling mountains of Appalachia, to the coastal regions of the gulf coast, and the plains of the Mississippi delta. My favorite critters are the ones that you have to look a little harder for, living under rocks and among the foliage as they quietly play their parts in a robust ecosystem.

After returning to the South as a queer adult, I've been disheartened by the misrepresentation of the region's human diversity. People often mistake the South's currently hostile political landscape for a lack of LGBTQ+ presence, but if you look just a little closer you'll find robust queer history and perseverant communities. Over the past few years I've vended at Pride festivals and events from big cities like Atlanta and Charlotte to tiny towns having their inaugural events. Again, my favorite ones are the ones you have to look a little harder for - with drag queens performing on back porch steps, a cow and tractor leading the parade, or festival tents under a cover of Spanish moss with a coastal breeze.

This project is inspired by my love for the South's little critters and is a tribute to the tight-knit communities working to make my home region a more inclusive place.