When I was a teenager coming to terms with my sexuality, I just wanted to find another queer Egyptian person to look up to. I remember googling “gay Egyptian” and found articles about gay men being disowned by their families and living their lives in fear. Coming out destroyed my relationship with my family, and I carried that pain with me. ⁣ ⁣ But I refused to let that stop me from living my truth. I think about those articles I read, and the countless queer people around the world who lose their families simply for being who they are. ⁣ ⁣ Grieving the loss of my family emboldens me to own every part of who I am because there is nothing more powerful than defying the bigotry in your own culture and being yourself. ⁣ ⁣ This defiance is what makes me a true Egyptian goddess 🌶🇪🇬🌈 ⁣ ⁣ Shot by: @luna.khods Beauty: @kevikodra Hair: @duyenhuynh ⁣ Asst: @mikerizzi @notanothergay Studio: @anthonydelucv @delucamediagroup