The Pride Palm

You may have noticed an unusual palm tree as you travel up Granuaille Road. It’s affectionately known as The Pride Palm of Bangalow. I painted it with the colours of the rainbow, and I included the transgender, nonbinary, and intersex colours to show anyone and everyone who sees it that it’s safe to be yourself here.

A few years ago, my eldest was brave enough to trust me with his true self, and together we celebrated a new identity and a new name. It got me thinking about how I could make space for open (and sometimes difficult) conversations about gender, sexuality, and diversity. I had to learn some new concepts, which was challenging as in the past I’ve been a teacher of anatomy and previously thought in very binary terms. It turns out that the world is a much more colourful and interesting place than that.