When I Meet Others Like Me I Recognise The Longing, The Missing, The Memory Of Ash On Their Faces. No

“When I meet others like me I recognise the longing, the missing, the memory of ash on their faces. No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark”

— Warsan Shire, from “Teaching My Mother How To Give Birth: Conversation About Home (At The Deportation Center)”, published c. 2011.

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YOOOO

We didn’t have a word for our, as you guys call, gay/lesbian people. So we coined that word as an umbrella for all our tribes. We never said, “Well, you’re transgender. You’re bisexual. You’re lesbian.” We never knew those terms. Those are all from Western culture, you know, LGBTQ and all that. So on some level, it’s about getting rid of labels. Those terms were forced upon us.

Taemin, thank you.

Thank you for 14 years. Fourteen years of your smiles. Fourteen years of your laughter. Fourteen years of your shenanigans. Fourteen years of your dancing. Fourteen years of your singing. Fourteen years of your heart.

Thank you for always giving it your all, for performing with all your strength, and for reaching out to us fans and showering us with love.

You have brightened up our lives in so many ways and have been there for us fans more than we could ever deserve or imagine. You are more than our SHINee maknae, dancing king, vocal powerhouse, and king of Kpop.

You are a light and love and we are so blessed to know you.

You asked us during the concert if we would stay with you, and the answer has been and always will be yes. We will be there for you and stay by your side through all of this like we always have. You can count on us. And we will be cheering the loudest and giving you the best welcome when you return.

Thank you, Lee Taemin, for everything. We love you to the moon and back. Always.