Lee Chaloemtiarana | Unprecedented: Stories from the 2024 DNC

Lee Chaloemtiarana is an attendee from Oak Park, Illinois at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

“I'm 19. I just turned 19 the first day of the convention,” Chaloemtiarana said. “So this was my birthday present.

“The ‘Don't Say Gay’ bills will largely impact kids growing up. You know, I'm a queer person. I've been on the receiving end of bullying from that. But the best way that it has been prevented is through education and telling kids from a young age that queer families exist. You know, somebody can have two moms or two dads. It doesn't mean you're indoctrinating them with pornography. It's just showing them that people live differently. Families look differently, and that's okay. And that can prevent so much bullying. The suicide rate amongst trans youth is particularly high, and I'm concerned that if Trump gets elected and Project 2025 is implemented, that that suicide rate for trans and LGBTQ youth will largely increase, because not only are maybe some of their peers telling them it's not okay for them to love who they want to love or be who they want to be, but the whole government is telling them that that's wrong.”

Unprecedented examines the backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of Massachusetts attendees and others at the 2024 DNC in Chicago, Illinois.

For more stories from the DNC by photographer Barry Goldstein, visit https://www.nepm.org/dnc2024

New England Public Media: https://www.nepm.org