The term “passing” refers to the ability to disappear into an identity or category to which we don’t actually belong. These identities can include our sexuality, socio-economic class, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, and disability status. For example, when people outside of the LGBTQ+ community assume a queer woman is straight, that woman is passing as heterosexual. Passing isn’t always intentional and may happen without our knowledge or consent.

SimplyLead designed The Passing Project as a way for people to share their individual stories and experiences around passing—whether intentional or not. Envisioned as a virtual community space, this will create a safe space for discussing how these experiences impacted us, our relationships, and our larger communities.

Anyone who’s experienced passing is invited to participate by submitting some form of media that communicates your passing story. We encourage you to embrace your creativity and tell your story your way. Submissions can be in the form of an essay, a poem, an illustration, a video, or anything else that gets your story across. Please, join us and share your story today with our virtual submission form. Submissions are ongoing and there is no deadline.