Beck

Beck (they/them)

“I got this suit when I was asked to be a ‘groomsman’ at my mates wedding. I love it and it makes me feel so free and powerful. It has an intentionally gender neutral cut, with oversized lapels and deeeeep pockets. It is the first piece of clothing I owned that makes me feel so gender fluid and completes my queer joy.

I wore it on the cycle down to the photoshoot and I felt so happy. I felt like a big boss city banker on their way to close an important business deal but chose to travel by Brompton to let their personality out a bit. It helped me relax and have fun with Chris on the shoot, leaning into that persona… Big boss off doing business and hitting the barbershop on their lunch break!”

As an Engagement and Development Worker on the Sussex Gender Service for The Clare Project, Beck is non-binary, ever-evolving, and embracing life on their own terms. Since finding the words to express their identity, they have stepped into a life that feels truly their own – free from labels, tick boxes, or gendered expectations. They describe themselves as a bit of a mess but uniquely so, with a deep love for cycling, the outdoors, the sea, and birds (especially sea birds). Coffee and wine also hold a special place in their heart.

For Beck, queerness is about freedom – freedom from societal norms, the joy of celebrating others in their authenticity, and the resilience to enter spaces that might not feel safe but doing it anyway. One of the most defining moments in their journey was getting a short, permed haircut after their divorce from a cis man. Stepping out of the salon into a sunlit Trans Pride march, their non-binary partner simply said, “You look like you.”

Their style and presence are fluid, shifting between invisibility and bold self-expression. Haircuts and fashion are their way of shaping identity, rejecting rigid perception, and embracing the freedom queerness allows. Some days, they blend in; other days, they radiate confidence, wearing outfits they once never dared to.

Their message to queer youth? You don’t need to have it all figured out. The words will come. Keep kind people close, trust your journey, and never compare yourself to others. You are one of a kind, and the world is lucky to have you.