Here and Queer
‘Just Married’ is a mural made by street artist Eddie Cola. This mural was originally placed in the upscale Hayes Valley neighborhood in San Francisco in 2008. LGBT+ street art functions as a way to rebel against the standards of society and the street art community itself, which is so often misogynist and queer-phobic. Hence, pieces of street art like this one often carry a political message.
One of the clear messages in ‘Just Married’ is the artist’s support for gay marriage. This mural was made in 2008 when gay marriage was legalized for some time in California. Hence, this mural may have been made in celebration of that short-lived victory.
The beer cans dangling from the women’s thighs seem to be the artist’s humorous way of subverting the customs of straight weddings. It parodies the custom of tying cans to the car of newlyweds to signify that they’re just married.
The purpose of this mural is clearly to take pride in the queer identity. However, instead of placing the mural in gay-friendly places like the Mission district in San Francisco, the artist placed it in the more conservative Hayes Valley. In doing so, the artist is honoring the tradition of using street art as a form of resistance. The message clearly seems to be ‘We’re here, we’re queer, deal with it’.
Unfortunately, the mural was quickly taken down, just as gay marriage in California was banned again in November 2008. As such, the original destination never became a tourist attraction.
However, ‘Just Married’ was featured in a queer street art exhibition in San Francisco. It became an official tourist attraction for queer people seeking strength and solidarity from art. In the end, ‘Just Married’ still manages to fulfill the artist’s original intention of resistance through visibility.
