Erin Davies, a remarkable individual, owned a Volkswagen Beetle that was tagged with derogatory words, including "fag" and "u rgay", on its driver's side and hood. Instead of having the graffiti removed, she chose to keep it on her car for a year, aiming to spark a dialogue with the general public about homophobia. She wanted America to confront and address this issue, and not just tolerate it.
As part of her effort, Erin embarked on a 58-day cross-country trip in her now-infamous Fagbug, which led to the creation of an award-winning documentary about her journey. After a year, she gave her car a makeover and has since been touring with her rainbow-painted Volkswagen Beetle, speaking at over 300 colleges and universities across North America to raise awareness about hate crimes and homophobia.
Erin's remarkable story has garnered significant media attention, with appearances on BBC, NPR, and ABC News, as well as features in prominent publications such as Newsweek, Vanity Fair, The Advocate, Curve Magazine, and Clara Lewis' book "Tough On Hate? The Cultural Politics of Hate Crimes".
In addition to her advocacy work, Erin has also pursued her passion for art, earning a master's degree in Art Education from Sage College. She has also found love and partnership with her wife and artist collaborator, Sonya Parrish, and the couple resides in Syracuse, NY, with their three dogs, three cats, and two turtles.
Together, Erin and Sonya have sold over 80 paintings they've created using a unique liquid latex resist painting process, a testament to their artistic talents and collaborative spirit.
