This week’s My Mission Is… podcast guest is Daniel Lismore, an artist, fashion designer, and LGBTQ+ activist who uses his body as his canvas and lives in extravagant ensembles. His outfits consist of an eclectic mix of upcycled fabrics, clothes, and items: from trash to centuries-old jewelry. Described as tapestries of his life, his ensembles are often exhibited in museums worldwide, such as Savannah College of Art and Design and the V&A in London. His signature traveling exhibit, titled “Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken,” made him a fixture in the art and fashion worlds. Still, his otherworldly appearance has also made him a target of hate and homophobia in public. This doesn’t stop him but compels him to campaign for LGBTQ+ rights and advocate for authenticity.

In this week’s episode, Lismore talks with Mission’s founder and editor-in-chief Karina Givargisoff about trans rights, “stealth” activism in the form of persuading influential people through calm discourse, and unexpected reactions to his exhibitions. 

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Karina: @missionmagazine