My forthcoming long-term project, under the working title “Forbidden Terms,” is a portrait painting series showcasing the likenesses of transgender people in America as they authentically view themselves. In addition to recording the everyday lives of myself and the people around me who are living as transgender under a historically anti-trans system, this series also features paintings from life of other transgender and non-binary individuals who pose for me in my home studio. These sessions serve as a self-directed experience for these volunteers, one that allows them to create their ideal image on their own terms, and one that allows me to look inward and pull out what I glean from my conversations with these people. “Forbidden Terms” came about as an immediate response to the current political climate, with new attacks on LGBTQ+ people in this country emerging every day, and a longstanding frustration with the treatment of individuals like myself throughout history. I view this series as a community-building initiative–down to my willingness to repay and cook dinner for anyone who elects to travel to my home and help me. it is a springboard for connecting lots of people aligned with the same survival mission to one another, fostering local solidarity during turbulent and horrific times.