Joel-Peter Witkin

Translation of the retablo prayer:

I was born and raised with this sexual controversy, enduring jeering and insults and humiliations. My family was ashamed of me for being queer. It is not my fault I was born this way. Tired of all the scolding I left home, I studied and I fought it all off. I made my life and I am very happy. May it be God's will that they understand me some day and I give thanks to San Sebastian because I came safely through the operation that changed my life.