Here’s how my rights work…
I have the right to my own body,
to the expressions I make,
to the decision to smile or not to smile,
to flatter you or not flatter you.
I have the right to have hair or not and still be beautiful,
I have the right to make myself into a canvas-
of emotions, of color, or tattoos,
into a canvas of freedom.
I have the right to be grim,
to trust you or not,
to reward you or not,
to withhold my words and actions or not.
I have the right to be myself in all forms,
of structure or make shift patterns.
I have the right to be.
I have the right to question your politics
or adjust my own.

I have the right to synthesize and syncretize my religion,
I have the right to meditate or pray.
I have the right to be queer with men or women.
I have the right to my own emotional, physical, and spiritual safety,
I have the right to be present or alone,
I have the right to be fearless.
I have the right to establish, monitor, and honor my boundaries.
I have the right to act with intention,
to change my mind,
I have the right to desire,
I have the right to want,
I have the right to need,
I have the right to love and be loved,
I have the right to my sanity,
my humanity,
to be accountable within a community,
or to go underground for a while.

Nothing complicated.
Simple.
Here’s how my rights work.

____________________________
(Originally posted at baldgyrlmemoirs.com)