Rebel Girls Celebrate Pride: 25 Tales of Self-Love and Community
IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING ENOUGH AND YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT AND YOU REALLY WORK AS HARD AS YOU HUMANLY CAN ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE ALANA SMITH ILLUSTRATION BY RUT PEDREÑO
9 ALOK VAID-MENON WRITER AND PERFORMANCE ARTIST Alok was always fond of colors the brighter the better When selecting clothes they always chose vivid patterns If the boys clothes were too drab for Alok they dressed in their mother's and sister's things Alok didn't feel like a boy or a girl As they grew up Alok began to understand that boy and girl weren't the only options and that they were nonbinary They began to use the pronouns they and them Sometimes people were mean about the way Alok chose to dress which made them sad and afraid So Alok turned their feelings into art performing onstage and writing beautiful poetry One day a dress nearly leaped off the rack at Alok begging to be worn They put it on nervously But when Alok strolled down the street they felt completely at peace Vibrant material billowed around their legs The breeze ruffled their long flowy hair They wore some purple lipstick and shiny shoes just for fun Once someone stopped Alok at the grocery store and asked Why do you dress like that Alok started to walk away but the person admitted they used to like dresses too They laughed it off but the person seemed wistful like they missed wearing dresses What if all clothes were for all people Alok wondered They knew exactly what to do They started designing clothing that anyone could wear no matter their gender Alok's clothes feature the brilliant colors and patterns they have always loved Alok rocks their strong style every day After all fashion is for everyone BORN JULY 1 1991 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ILLUSTRATION BY PEARL AU-YEUNG BE YOURSELF UNTIL YOU MAKE THEM UNCOMFORTABLE ALOK VAID-MENON
BELLE BROCKHOFF SNOWBOARDER Once upon a time there was a girl who flew across the snow like magic Even though Belle is from Australia the driest continent in the world she comes from a long line of snow athletes Belle took to the slopes on skis at age three and at age 10 she hopped on a snowboard Belle loved the cold rush of the wind against her face and the thrill of the steep mountain with its twists and turns Her heart beat fast and adrenaline coursed through her She was one with her snowboard Belle started off competing in small contests in Australia When she was 17 she signed up for larger international competitions She finished 36th in her first World Cup championship She kept trying and two years later she finished third Belle was proud to be the first Australian woman to win a Snowboard World Cup medal Finally Belle was ready for her first Olympics It was in Sochi Russia where it's illegal to be openly part of the LGBTQ community Belle was nervous but she didn't want to hide her sexuality Ahead of the games she came out to reporters as a lesbian They asked if she was scared to compete I don't want to risk my safety Belle said I want to be proud of who I am and be proud of all the work I've done In Sochi she was interviewed for a documentary called To Russia with Love She showed her anxiety anger and defiance about anti-LGBTQ laws in Russia and expressed her support and love for members of the LGBTQ community living there No matter where she goes Belle will not compromise who she is BORN JANUARY 12 1993 AUSTRALIA 11
