I’ve been a performance artist most of my life; from playing the villain in school plays as a child, to cosplaying various characters in my burlesque routines for Drrrty Queer. In the midst of all that, I’ve always been passionate about advocacy, and expressing a message through my art. Growing up in Compton, I grew…
Miss Ian
She helps run a needle exchange in the Tenderloin called San Francisco Drug Users’ Union. Outside of work she mostly just waits for Billi Moon to develop a clothing line so she can accessorize better for her other full-time job, her King Janesta’s arm candy at social events. When she first to landed in the…
Bri
The thing I love most about being trans is how much we live for each other. Growing up no one told me that my life was possible, but I caught whispers of it online from others living their life. All these years later, and I’m so happy to be carving out little spaces outside and…
Venus Selenite
The late Mark Aguhar wrote a legendary poem called “Litanies to My Heavenly Brown Body.” There are many lines that strike with boldness. My favorite verse is “BLESSED ARE THE SEX WORKERS.” Rarely are we considered blessed. Who controls who receives the blessings in the world? I’m grateful for this beloved artist for writing this…
Jesse
Being homeless in San Francisco is weird as hell. There are a lot of resources available, but they’re just completely inaccessible to most people who need them. Everything feels stagnant. Even if someone tries to engage with some of these resources, like homeless youth organisations, it’s impossible for them to get anywhere because of obstacles…
Athena
Growing up I considered myself male-adjacent (what might now be called a demi boy). Eventually I gave that up for genderqueer, which is something I still identify with. I have complimented that with a few other off-the-rack gender descriptions: non-binary, gender fluid, and trans woman. However, I feel like a bespoke gender is the best…
Femmebear aka Leah Ann Mitchell
I am so many things, TransFemmebear is just one facet of me. Trans woman / woman / Femmebear Pronouns : She/Her Age : 31 Location : Oakland
Jane Marie
I’m an animist and a down-to-earth mystic. I see the world as both beautiful and alive and full of suffering. I think suffering gives grace meaning and I revere it; this makes me an outlier as far as this culture goes. James Baldwin was talking about being an artist and an outsider when he said…
Tobi Hill-Meyer
Having struggled for community, connection, and a space to be recognized as me, I create media – books, films, and performance – stories that our community needs and a place to see ourselves reflected from our gloriously messy selves to our most optimistic visions of shared power. Multiracial Colonized Mestiza Genderqueer Butch Trans Woman. Gender…
Marley Alexander
I’ve tried to be a ton of different people, and I picked up a ton of party tricks along the way, but I’ve finally found the only way I make sense in the world. Queer trans woman she/her Oakland