In my family, red eggs are gifted to family members when a newborn arrives, as well as to celebrate and commemorate when the newborn reaches a month old, also known as a “full moon” (满月). The red egg is also given at important birthdays and weddings. The symbolism of the red egg for my family’s culture is connected to new beginnings. The red colour expresses good luck, good births, and good beginnings.
I remember when I “came out” as non-binary. I announced it accidentally on Facebook, the words “as a non-binary person” nestled in a long post I had written about personal struggles. My then-partner brought this revelation to my attention as soon as she read the post. I must have disassociated when I found out what I had done – I had declared and announced to the world that I am queer; I am different.
Thinking back, I was perhaps not ready to share my gender identity with the world but instead of retracting it, I took up the attitude of “oh well, it is out now and whoever sees it will see it and I will deal with it.” I “accepted” my coming out even though it was not a “red egg moment.” Indeed, there were no red eggs waiting for me from my family (who still doesn’t know my gender identity) to wish me a good (re)birth.
Red Egg is a project aims to spotlight and share new perspectives on birthing queer identities. I will be working from my experience as an immigrant as well as the use of a Southeast Asian community practise that celebrates new births through red eggs. I will be engaging with this ancestral practise to give new meaning, relevance and pay homage to the diasporic and immigrant LGBTQIA+ communities specifically our journey of coming out as queer while highlighting the ardous journey to connect with lost ancestral practises and perhaps create news ones that accept and celebrate more-than-binary gender identities.
In 2024, I had the opportunity to work with the Tri-Cities Local Immigration Partnership (TCLIP) to present a workshop to over 40 immigrants at the Coquitlam Public Library. I shared the stories of the 4 red eggs that I gifted to myself and invited participants to create their own red egg with meanings important to them. The workshop was also visually recorded by Graphic Facilitator Adriana Conteras.
Photos of the workshop were captured by the amazing photographer Luana Magno.
I remember when I “came out” as non-binary. I announced it accidentally on Facebook, the words “as a non-binary person” nestled in a long post I had written about personal struggles. My then-partner brought this revelation to my attention as soon as she read the post. I must have disassociated when I found out what I had done – I had declared and announced to the world that I am queer; I am different.
Thinking back, I was perhaps not ready to share my gender identity with the world but instead of retracting it, I took up the attitude of “oh well, it is out now and whoever sees it will see it and I will deal with it.” I “accepted” my coming out even though it was not a “red egg moment.” Indeed, there were no red eggs waiting for me from my family (who still doesn’t know my gender identity) to wish me a good (re)birth.
Red Egg is a project aims to spotlight and share new perspectives on birthing queer identities. I will be working from my experience as an immigrant as well as the use of a Southeast Asian community practise that celebrates new births through red eggs. I will be engaging with this ancestral practise to give new meaning, relevance and pay homage to the diasporic and immigrant LGBTQIA+ communities specifically our journey of coming out as queer while highlighting the ardous journey to connect with lost ancestral practises and perhaps create news ones that accept and celebrate more-than-binary gender identities.
In 2024, I had the opportunity to work with the Tri-Cities Local Immigration Partnership (TCLIP) to present a workshop to over 40 immigrants at the Coquitlam Public Library. I shared the stories of the 4 red eggs that I gifted to myself and invited participants to create their own red egg with meanings important to them. The workshop was also visually recorded by Graphic Facilitator Adriana Conteras.
Photos of the workshop were captured by the amazing photographer Luana Magno.