Wishes for the New Year

So much has happened in 2017, Marriage Equality in Australia, Germany and more even more countries, stars and athletes coming out on Instagram, there is a lot for the LGBTQIA community to celebrate. The year had some low points for the gay community too, but as 2017 is nearly over let’s look forward to 2018 and hope for a brighter future. We reached out to some artists, directors, models, lovers, and activists, previously featured in the PLANETROMEO blog to ask them, ‘What are their personal hopes and dreams for 2018?’ Read on and be inspired.

Wishes for the New Year

Brendan Maclean Australia — Brendan Maclean

“Having conquered the battle of same-sex marriage in Australia, my hopes turn to another important battle for the queer community: Legalising it. You know what I mean. HEYOOO!”

Brendan Maclean – Aussie’s finest export and a ground breaking queer pop star

“For 2018 I wish that we continue celebrating the diversity in our community and stop discriminating against each other – and therefore against ourselves. Let’s keep on fighting as a family for the freedom to live and love as who we are.”

Tristan Ferland Milewski – Film Director, Documentarian, Dream Boat

“I don’t really know haha, if anything I wish the global community would band together and move our species forward with compassion, understanding and fix some global issues we’re dealing with currently. But, for LGBTQ hopes and dreams, maybe less sexual harassment, less hookups, more chances for love and friendship!”

Stephen McDermott – Designer, Queer Career, Canada

“My wishes for 2018, is that let’s not let ourselves be won by indifference, I want justice for LGBT people in Chechnya, freedom, and health for Venezuela where people with HIV do not have access to medicines. I wish nobody could steal our smiles, our love, our hope, our chosen family.”

Daniel Arzola – Artivist

“In 2018, I’d love to see us do more empathy, less patriarchy, more gender-fuck and less normativity. Is that even a word? Well, now it is! Happy 2018!”

Nish Gera – Activist, Script writer, Journalist

“I hope in 2018 that I make an absolute shed tonne of mistakes. When you make a mistake, it’s because you are doing something you have never done before. You are learning something new. Trying something new. Seeing something new. Loving something new. I hope your next year is one mistake after another.”

Conor Collins – Artist and Activist, Manchester

“My wish for 2018 is to find gratitude in times both monumental and trivial. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that 2017 had more than its share of personal and professional challenges, and it’s far too easy to dwell on the negative. Yet as I celebrated Christmas, I realized I was ending the year gainfully employed, without any serious illnesses or injuries, and with the anticipation of things to come — not everyone is that fortunate. Of course, I’d like for everyone to find luck, love, and happiness in the new year, but for those who struggle, I hope they find some much-needed support to carry on to the next triumph.”

Curtis M. Wong – Senior Editor HuffPost – Queer Voices

“2017 has definitely been a milestone in my life, and for next year I hope to take my exploring, experimenting, and openness a step further, hopefully helping others gaining confidence to be themselves along the way.”

Christian Vincent – Actor, Translator, Performer, Puppy