Zoe Leonard (born 1961) made one of the most moving works of the era, I want a president, 1992. Typed up as a statement originally intended for a queer magazine, and inspired by the great poet Eileen Myles, who had mounted their own presidential bid, I want a president combines progressive, empathetic sentences about Leonard’s hope for a new leader. Questioning the corruption of authorities, and leaders’ lack of humanity and openness to gender, race and class, today the work remains just as effective and, sadly, relevant (having been blown up on New York’s The High Line in the lead-up to
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