for love undivided is damned strength
fl•uids
a one-time virtual project centering queer, trans people of color and their art forms - all in motion.
before continuing with this project, please take a minute to remember the trans lives that have been taken from us.
you may access a link to GLAAD’s TDOR: Memoriam via their website.
one more note:
you’ll find a button in each artist block that hyperlinks to actions you can take in support of queer community.
please take the time to explore, learn + give back.
he/him
~ Stigmas in Trans Love ~
"To love a trans person is beautiful. For trans people to love each other is beautiful. The loss of life and emotional damage that trans people have experienced at the hands of society has gone another day, another year too long. Like everyone else we deserve to see a world where we can all be open, ourselves, and be able to give love and be loved."
Micah
she/her
~ Violence against Black trans women and femmes ~
“This pervasive idea that trans women deserve violence needs to be abolished. It’s a socially sanctioned practice of blaming the victim. We must begin blaming our culture, which stigmatizes, demeans, and strips trans women of their humanity.”
― Janet Mock
Syl
they/them
~ inaccessibility of gender affirming health care ~
“gender affirming health care has always and will continue to save trans and gender non-conforming lives, but seldom comes as easy for our black, brown, indigenous poor, siblings as compared to their white, rich counterparts around the world. Inaccessibility should never be what holds someone back from living their most honest, happy, and healthy life.”
Ang
he/him
~ identity documents ~
“accessing identity documents that reflect one’s gender identity is a human right. often taken for granted, an ID allows one to work, vote, travel, and to prove that one is who they claim to be. the legal barriers to attaining accurate documents are difficult to overcome. trans people deserve equitable access to the same systems utilized by cis people, while being recognized for who they are.”
Sean
they/them
~ expanding queer education ~
“it seems as though the only exposure cishet people are getting to queer education is in college. not only is it too late by that time, this also creates an even wider gap between those who can “afford” knowledge and those who can’t. why is it so simple to teach the lists and loves of Shakespeare but we are averse to speaking about love in all its facets? in all its fluidity? it must be all or nothing.”
Nas
so when love is in its purest form - untainted, untouched, undivided - it is damned.
being visible is not an issue, and has never been an issue. if it were, punitive oppression against queer people would simply not exist.
the issue is that we are actively ignored, dismissed and harmed.
we must counter with greater and grander actions.
actions that will help someone pay rent.
actions that will help someone afford affirming surgery.
actions that will protect lives.
actions that will decriminalize love.
this project’s gallery is populated by queer and trans people of color at Stevens Institute of Technology.
— with love, Nas.