What is your name?

Parker Dawson

 

In what city and county do you live?

Georgetown, Scott County

 

What are your pronouns?

He/Him

 

What does the word Queer mean to you?

Home. Knowing that throughout all of the struggle of being gay in the south I have my chosen queer family who’s there for me.

 

What was it like growing up as a Queer person in Kentucky?

Tiring. Growing up in a small town was hard especially once you add in being outed in middle school and growing up volunteering in a church. Even now I still feel rejection from family and weird stares in public, however the older I get the more used to it I get and better I get at confronting it. 

 

What would you say to any person struggling to come into their own identity?

The feeling of selfishness that comes with finding yourself is worth the love you’ll find from others who have overcome the same battle.

 

What issue are you most passionate about in the Queer community? And what do you think the best solution or approach would be?

How much of the queer community has been built off of the backs of trans women yet they’re the ones in the most danger, sometimes from the lack of protection from their own community. We especially in this current political climate need deeper queer education more than ever. 

 

Where have you found community?

Making music with other queer individuals. Some of these people are from surrounding states or on the other side of the world. It’s such an enriching experience to create a body of work with someone that can be relived and enjoyed by other people. 

 

How have recent political changes affected your life? 

In my town I’ve noticed a lot more cockiness from right leaning individuals since the results of the election. I believe it’s their opinions being more “validated” by our current president that instills a god complex in some that makes living in such a red town scarier than ever.

 

What are some ideas you have for bringing other queer people together for community?

More events for queer artists to either show off their work or take in art. I think art whether it’s music, painting, photography, etc is great for bringing people together and relating to people around you.

 

What are some LGBTQ+ experiences/artists that have helped you express the struggles or the joy of being queer? 

Some of my favorite LGBTQ+ artists I’ve felt seen by would be Lady Gaga, Arca, SOPHIE, Ethel Cain and many more. As for experiences, while I didn’t go to that accepting of a high school I went to a secondary school for media arts and was able to be more expressive with my art there and felt comfortable expressing said art with those around me in that space.

 

Are there any specific queer friendly places you’d like to highlight and share with the rest of the community? 

Pops Resale is somewhere I always feel safe and welcome into whilst shopping for music along with sQecial media and CD Central.

 

If you have some accomplishments you’re proud of, share them here! The accomplishments of queer people are something that should be celebrated!

My newest album “Alive Dead Repeat” just came out earlier this year! I did most of the production and all of my own writing for it along with any music videos / cover art for the project.