We Are Universal

This mural is a culmination of a two-year partnership between Mural Arts Philadelphia and Resources for Human Development (RHD) Morris Home, the only residential recovery program in the country to offer comprehensive services specifically for the trans, gender non-conforming, and non-binary communities. The portraits feature RHD Morris Home residents Tazmere Stephens (left) and Jourdyn Carter (right).

From the Artist’s Statement:

The mural says ‘we’re trans, we’re survivors, we are joyful, we feel rage, we are universal!’ and it features line drawing portraits of black trans people surrounded by stems and flowers and a butterfly taking flight.

I wanted the mural to be a celebration of trans joy and trans existence at a time when trans pain is the dominant narrative. I wanted to make something that felt warm and loving and joyful because so much of the time, I feel like that is what the experience of being trans is.

I also created this in the context of a year when there has been sweeping, nationwide legislation against healthcare for trans youth and trans participation in sports, and during what is on track to be the worst year for murders of trans people on record in the US. I wanted to make something that would feel like a hug in a hard season, and would make trans people feel seen and accepted and loved.

In spite of what this community faces, there is a lot of resilience within trans people. We are also just people, and I wanted to communicate that in the mural as well, and make something that people who aren’t trans can connect to — these are the faces of real people in our community. We are not a concept or weird, we are real and we live here, too.