Barry Brandon, better known as @thequeerindigo, has curated and produced a queer take on “The Last Supper” – retold through a lens of unapologetic, highly visible, queer excellence.
Barry Brandon brought 13 humans from around the world together to celebrate inclusivity, diversity, and visibility for this project that aims to dismantle anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric, legal precedents, and social stigma. These outdated notions only serve to reinforce biases and foster social systems alleging that queer humans are not worthy of equality or agency.
Of the project, Brandon said: “If the Jesus that Christians worship were alive today he would be the biggest socialist. He would be protesting in the streets to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights. He would be a champion for queer and trans people.
He definitely wouldn’t be the kind of person that the American Republican Party would support. It is essential for queer people to find solace and value in themselves, rather than seeking approval from outside people and institutions. It is my goal to build a stronger community and find actionable solutions. This will always be more effective than waiting for change — and infinitely more effective than “thoughts and prayers”.”
“The First Queer Supper” is intended to be both referential and disruptive. By depicting powerful queer humans in a canonical piece of Christian iconography, the workforces a duality that is both uncomfortable and comforting to the viewer.
Further, by highlighting this dual space — the work calls attention to the heteronormative and harmful systems continuing to affect queer people, while also very explicitly undermining them.
This work doesn’t just offer you a seat at the table, no matter what your identity might be. It truly welcomes you with open arms.
