SOUTHERN EQUALITY STUDIOS PRESENTS
SHAPES & ANGLES OF A CREATIVE QUEERANTINE
QUEER ARTIST MEETUPS 2020-2021
QUEER RELATIONSHIPS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WHAT DID YOU SEE MODELED IN CIS-HETERONORMATIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU FIND YOURSELF REPLICATING; FOR BETTER (?) FOR WORSE? INSERTING MYSELF IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS IN PROTECTIVE/'HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD' WAYS. SOMETIMES THIS CAN BE POSITIVE AND CONSENSUAL IF MY PARTNER IS LESS COMFORTABLE WITH INTERFACING WITH STRANGERS AS A TRANS WOMAN. SOMETIMES IS CAN BE MORE COMPLICATED WHERE I AM BRINGING 'RESPECTABILITY POLITICS' TO A SITUATION ON OUR BEHALF. ANYTIME I INHABIT THIS SPACE OF INSERTING MYSELF BETWEEN MY SPOUSE AND OUR ENVIRONMENT/OTHERS IT HAS THAT 'ICK' FEELING OF PATRIARCHY IN HOW I HAVE SEEN SO MANY MEN PROTECTIVELY MANAGE THEIR WIVES...
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I SUPPOSE MY MATERNAL GRANDPARENT'S RELATIONSHIP IS ONE I LOOKED UP TO. THAT IS UNTIL I FOUND OUT A BUNCH OF SAD SHIT. HOWEVER, MY GRANDNMOTHER REMAINED COMMITTED. I SAW THAT STICKING THROUGH CAN LOOK LIKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND ONE DOESN'T HAVE TO SAY IN A RELATIONSHIP IF IT'S NOT WORKING.
Being non-binary and realising this later in life, I have been expressing my 'masculinity' stronger than ever now. However, lately I have been noticing internalised sort of patriarchal forms of 'masculinity' playing out within myself and in relationship to my partner. She wants to try other sexual forms and also has expressed to me that she has a 'masculine' side that she wants satis ied. I was putt of to this at irst though because I kept having thoughts like "but I only like women.." What and where is this aversion to luid gender expression in my partner coming from? I believe it is internalised patriarchal masculinity taking the reins and getting freaked out. I think overall this is replicating a form of masculinity untrue to my values and ultimately for the worse. Sometimes it feels like my masculinity is attacking or embarrassed of my feminine side and body. It can feel like a battle ield within.
WHAT DID YOU SEE MODELED IN CISHETERONORMATIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU FIND YOURSELF REPLICATING; FOR BETTER (?) FOR WORSE? UNFORTUNATELY, I SEE MYSELF MODELING CISHETERONORMATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WHOLESALE, EVEN THOUGH I WOULD RATHER BE IN QUEER RELATIONSHIPS, BECAUSE IT'S SO HARDER TO FIND ANOTHER QUEER TO DATE. TENDING/ HOVERING AROUND AN INTIMATE PARTNER'S PERCEIVED BLIND SPOTS. STEPPING IN WITH CARE TAKING PARENTING ENERGY WHETHER OR NOT IT IS WANTED (THINK ABOUT HOW CIS/HET WIVES STEREOTYPICALLY HOVER AND 'NAG').
AS A NONBINARY PERSON I FEEL LIKE I CAN SOMETIMES REPLICATE CISHETERONORMATIVE RELATIONSHIPS FROM ALL ANGLES. I FEEL LIKE ANY POSITIVE MODELING CAME FROM CIS/ HET COUPLES THAT SHARE ALL KINDS OF WORK TOGETHER WITH MUCH LESS OF A GENDER SCRIPT FOR HOW THEY NEGOTIATE AND INHABIT THOSE SPACES.
BOTH THESE GENDERED SCRIPTS CARRY THE BAGGAGE OF 'KNOWING AND DOING BETTER' THAN YOUR SPOUSE WHICH ALWAYS FEELS GROSS TO BE REPLICATING EVEN WHEN IT IS INTENTIONAL. I GUESS THERE IS JUST SO MUCH PATRIARCHY BAKED IN TO CISHETERONORMATIVE RELATIONSHIPS OF ALL KINDS, ANY TIME I AM INHABITING SOME LIKENESS OF THAT I FEEL THE DISTORTED IMPLICATIONS THAT ARE THERE.
CHRISTIAN VILLANUEVA
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR WAKING HOURS DO YOU SPEND IN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP TIME ? VERY LITTLE. IT'S NOT CURRENTLY A DAILY THING AT ALL
IN CORONATIMES, LIVING IN A STUDIO APARTMENT WITH MY WIFE... MOST OF THEM! A TINY FRACTION, ABOUT 8 HOURS A WEEK, WHICH STILL FEELS LIKE TOO MUCH
HMMM? "INTIMATE" CAN MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. MY PARTNER AND I SEE "INTIMATE TIME" DIFFERENTLY. SO FOR ME I'D SAY ZERO HOURS. SHE MIGHT SAY 2-3 HOURS. LIZ WILLIAMS
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I’M INTERESTED IN HOW QUEER PEOPLE CREATE NEW KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS OR CREATE NEW KINDS OF ANYTHING WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE THOSE THINGS MODELED FOR YOU OR REFLECTED BACK TO YOU BY SOCIETY.
CHRISTIAN VILLANUEVA
IN SOME WAYS IT'S ACTUALLY AN ADVANTAGE TO HAVE NO MODELS BECAUSE IT FORCES YOU TO ASK YOURSELF WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR PARTNERS (ETC). THERE ARE NO 'RULES' PER SE. THIS HAS LED US TO FORM A PROCESS OF CHECKING IN WITH EACH OTHER. WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DATING WE WOULD CHECK IN WITH EACH OTHER, ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP, ONCE A MONTH ABOUT. NOW IT IS LESS OFTEN, BUT WE STILL HAVE THOSE TALKS. THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEVER SAW IN STRAIGHT RELATIONSHIPS. NO CHECKING IN PROCESS OR ACCOUNTABILITY GOING ON. WE ARE HAPPY WE FOUND THIS TECHNIQUE FOR OURSELVES. I THINK TO CREATE NEW KINDS OF ANYTHING IT'S CRITICAL TO EXPLORE, ASK QUESTIONS AND COMMUNICATE THROUGH IT TO HONE IN ON WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND WHAT ARE THE CORE VALUES GUIDING AND GROUNDING THIS RELATIONSHIP. AND ALSO, HOW IS EVERY BODY DOING...ARE WE ON THE SAME PAGE?? ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE THINGS IS THE NUANCE AND FLUIDITY OF RELATIONSHIPS SUPPORTED BY MY QUEER COMMUNITY. I LOVE THE FOCUS ON COMMUNICATION TO UNDERSTAND A RELATIONSHIP THAT IS JUST EXISTS BETWEEN PEOPLE, RATHER THAN NEEDING TO FIT RELATIONSHIPS INTO "TYPE" BOXES.
I DON'T KNOW, I SUCK AT THIS. IT WAS EASY TO MEET NON CISHET MEN IN COLLEGE BUT NOW I'M AT A LOSS
Many pockets of society model general things like questioning the status quo, listening to your gut, and getting to know what you like and loving that even when it makes you different...
I THINK THOSE ARE A FEW BUILDING BLOCKS FOR QUEERNESS THAT ARE JUST VERY HUMAN AND CIS/HET SOCIETY CAN'T HELP BUT PROVIDE THAT MODELING TO A CERTAIN EXTENT FOR THAT
I also think that since gender roles, patriarchy, etc. is all a construct, that 'creating queerness' (to a certain extent) is just the natural result of noticing and unpacking these false narratives.
I am currently LOOKING for new ways. I have the dream in my head but in reality, it doesn't look anything like what I want.
TO WHAT DEGREE DO YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE QUEER COMMUNITY AFFIRM OR ALTER YOUR FEELINGS OF SELF-REPRESENTATION (IE “QUEER ENOUGH”)? I AM CURRENTLY IN A RELATIONSHIP W A BI CIS MAN AND SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I'M IN A SPACE OF INTERSECTION BC WE DO TALK ABT BEING QUEER BUT IT'S ALSO INTERESTING BC I THINK WE PRESENT AS A HETERONORMATIVE COUPLE, ALSO I OFTEN THINK ABOUT NOT BEING QUEER ENOUGH BEING IN THIS SEEMINGLY HETERO RELATIONSHIP AND ALSO NEVER BEEN IN A QUEER RELATIONSHIP MYSELF OPENLY. NOT BEING OUT TO EVERYONE I FEEL IMPACT HOW QUEER I FEEL PRETTY REGULARLY.
On a collective level, it often translates to pressure for me. Hitting that familiar 'how to be accepted' trigger, which can feel compounded by this reverberating sense of anxiety exuded by so many queers in my local community at 'queer events.' Almost anytime I have the pleasure of engaging with *individuals* in queer community, on a personal and more intimate level, I tend to feel af irmed. Often the getting to know one another interactions are centered around af irming one another's experiences, particularly the ways we differ from the perceived norm. I get the sense that the kind of fears and anxieties experienced in a lot of queer individuals contributes to a subset of our community experience which feels very guarded, prickly, and judgmental. But as I have moved through the proverbial gauntlet, painfully inding those places where I desire to be seen and approved of, I become more comfortable in my self, and ind myself surrounded by more and more people with whom I don't feel a need to prove anything
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OH SO MUCH! THE TIMES I HAVE BEEN BRAVE ENOUGH TO CHANGE MY APPEARANCE TO LOOK OR BE PERCEIVED MORE ONLINE WITH WHO I AM, IT HAS BEEN BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY MADE ME FEEL SAFE.
TO WHAT DEGREE DO YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE QUEER COMMUNITY AFFIRM OR ALTER YOUR FEELINGS OF SELFREPRESENTATION (IE “QUEER ENOUGH”) ? (CONTINUED) GENERALLY IT IS AFFIRMATION. IT HAS OPENED MY MIND TO NEW CONCEPTS OR THINGS I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THEY WERE SO REPRESSED FROM PAST EXPERIENCES. THERE IS SOME DEGREE OF FRICTION ENCOUNTERED WITH QUEERNESS...THE IDEA OF 'QUEER IDENTITY' AND SOMETIMES NOT FEELING QUEER ENOUGH BECAUSE MAYBE A SPACE IS TRANS-DOMINATED. PEOPLE ASK IF I USE SHE/HER PRONOUNS AND IDENTIFY WITH FEMALE. I SKEPTICALLY SAY YES, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THOSE ARE THE WORDS THAT FIT ME MOST I WOULD NOT SAY THAT THEY ARE MY 'IDENTITY' PER SE. I LEAN TOWARDS THE REALM OF SPECTRUM WHERE DEFINITIONS JUST DON'T DO ANYONE'S SPIRIT JUSTICE. HOWEVER I DO SEE THE VALUE IN LANGUAGE AND ITS CONNECTION TO CULTURE AND UNDERSTAND HOW THAT FRICTION IS CREATED IN THE PROCESS. AT THIS POINT I HAVE FORTUNATELY HEARD THE MESSAGE OF "QUEER ENOUGH" IN SO MUCH ART AND FROM SO MANY AWESOME QUEER PEOPLE THAT IT HAS HELPED ME START TAKING THAT UP AS A MANTRA FOR WHENEVER I NEED TO HEAR THAT FROM MYSELF.
I THINK THE HARDER THING IS THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH I VALIDATE "QUEER ENOUGH" IN MYSELF, OR IN MY RELATIONSHIPS
ANDREW SNAVELY
DO YOU FEEL PRESSURED TO FIT INTO WHAT HAS BECOME A (QUEER) CULTURAL NORM AROUND RELATIONSHIP STRUCTURES? No. we are not sure what the norm is or would be anyway. We have never felt like queer folx try to push any norms because nearly all of us I would imagine understand how hurtful rigidity, expectations, rules, etc can be.
Only with sexuality. I feel like the queer cultural norm is that we are all about having satisfying and liberated sex lives and in real relationship structures there are still many of the same barriers to long-term queer couples that exist for any long-term couple. We all still work under the stress of capitalism and have been brought up in a sex-negative society. There can also be additional barriers to navigate around body/gender dysphoria and survivor experiences (since trans/queer folks experience more sexual violence in our society...) I also think that since gender roles, patriarchy, etc. is all a construct, that 'creating queerness' (to a certain extent) is just the natural result of noticing and unpacking these false narratives.
So having baggage/blockages/lulls in manifesting your ideal sex life and acknowledging that it can be unglamorous work to build and sustain physical intimacy feels like it is more normalized in cis/het spaces
DO YOU FEEL PRESSURED TO FIT INTO WHAT HAS BECOME A (QUEER) CULTURAL NORM AROUND RELATIONSHIP STRUCTURES?
At this point I have fortunately heard the message of "queer enough" in so much art and from so many awesome queer people that it has helped me start taking that up as a mantra for whenever I need to hear that from myself.
I think the harder thing is that no matter how much I validate "queer enough" in myself, or in my relationships with other queer folks, that "queer enough" still has a ixed impact on how I am treated in di erent cis/het spaces. For that reason, I feel like I have to keep an unhealthy radar going that monitors whether I am showing up "too queer" or "not queer enough" to socially signal an approximation of the treatment I want from cis/het folks that just aren't going to see/understand me either way.
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When I am in my "lesbian" communities, I feel very af irmed. If I were to talk about being "pansexual" I'm not sure I'd be as supported where I am. When I am in queer communities in general, I feel more
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO YOUR YOUNGER QUEER SELF? 1. CAMP IS COOL. 2. LOVE IS POWERFUL. SHAME IS WEAKNESS. 3. YOU WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG. 4. YOU’LL FIND YOUR PEOPLE.
6. IT IS OK TO BE THE WEIRDO. 7. NEVER STOP DRESSING UP. 8. DON’T DIM YOURSELF. 9. YOU SHOULD BE TREATED WELL 10. STAY CONNECTED TO THE GOOD PEOPLE YOU MEET ALONG THE WAY. 11. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
12. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN HIGH SCHOOL TRYING TO FIGURE THEMSELF OUT TOO.
13. DON’T DILUTE YOURSELF FOR YOUR PARENTS.
18. YOUR SEXUALITY IS ALWAYS CHANGING AND GENDER IS A CONSTRUCT.
14. NOT EVERYONE WILL LIKE YOU AND THAT IS OK.
19. DON’T FOLLOW GENDER ROLES.
15. YOUR FAMILY WILL STILL LOVE YOU AND IF THEY DON’T, YOUR CHOSEN FAMILY WILL.
20. YOU’RE DEFINITELY QUEER AND THAT IS AWESOME. 21. YOU DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE.
16. YOU WON’T KNOW EVERYTHING AT ONCE. YOU’LL FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU NEED TO AT THE RIGHT TIME.
22. YOUR BODY IS YOURS ALONE.
17. YOU CAN’T CONTROL PEOPLE’S NARRATIVE OF YOU. THEIR STORY OF YOU IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM.
24. I LOVE YOU!
5. LISTEN TO YOUR LGBTQ ELDERS’ STORIES.
LIST#1
23. IT REALLY DOES GET BETTER.
25. WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU SAY?
WHAT DOES PRIDE AND RESILIENCE LOOK LIKE TO YOU?
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CRADLED BY A SOFT DOWNY MOUSTACHE MOUSTACHES LIKE THAT ARE WORTHY OF A WHOLE DISSERTATION IN AND OF THEMSELVES MOUSTACHES LIKE FRIDA, LIKE ANIS AL-DOLEH, LIKE MY FRIEND GRACE I GREW SICK OF LAYING IN MY MOTHER’S LAP AS SHE PLUCKS THE SOFT DARK HAIRS OUT FOR ME BECAUSE I ALWAYS DO IT WRONG, LEAVING SOME TRACE STRAGGLERS BEHIND MY MOUSTACHE IS AS GOOD AS ANY RELIGION LIKE THAT POEM ABOUT DESIRE ON YELLOWING PAPER FRAMED IN THE BATHROOM “YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE, NO LESS THAN THE TREES AND STARS; YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HERE.” MY MOUSTACHE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO BE HERE IT’S AS MIRACULOUS AS ALL THE BEAUTIFUL PURPLE WEEDS IN MY GRANDMOTHER’S GARDEN THAT I ALWAYS THOUGHT WERE PRETTIER THAN THE TULIPS
-KACEY THIGPEN
BEX LANGSTAFF
PLUMP LIPS, STICKY WITH RED GLOSS
ALIAH LAVONNE TIGH
KACEY THIGPEN
WHAT DOES THE THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY NEED VS. PRODUCTS FROM RAINBOW CAPITALISM
ANTI-TRANS BILL BLACK OUT POETRY
BEX LANGSTAFF
LIZ WILLIAMS
ANTI-TRANS BILL BLACK OUT POETRY
BEX LANGSTAFF
CAROLA GUTIEREZ
CHRISTIAN VILLANUEVA
WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW WHEN YOU STARTED WORKING AS A CREATIVE 1. YOU’RE AN ARTIST. 2. GIVE SPACE TO BE AN ARTIST 3. PLEASE PLAY & EXPERIMENT WITH ART
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4. TAKE A DEEP BREATH 5. FOLLOW INTUITION 6. MAKING ART FOR YOURSELF IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL 7. YOU DETERMINE SUCCESS AND FAILURE. 8. GIRLY ART IS JUST AS VALID AS ANY OTHER FORM OF ART. 9. BUYING ART SUPPLIES AND USING ART SUPPLIES ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.
10. YOU’LL SPEND ALL OF YOUR SURPLUS IN THERAPY FOR NOT MAJORING IN ART, SO JUST MAJOR IN IT IF YOU WANT TO.
LIST#2
WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW WHEN YOU STARTED WORKING AS A CREATIVE
1. JUST DO IT: MAKE SOMETHING COOL! 2. INTRODUCE YOUR IDEAS AND TRY TO GET A HUNDRED NO’S BEFORE YOU GIVE UP. 3. STRIVE TO MAKE ART THAT CELEBRATES THE END OF THE PATRIARCHY 4. YOU DON’T HAVE TO FOLLOW A CAPITALISTIC FORMULA 5. REMOVE THE AUDIENCE FROM YOUR WORK
ROSA FRIEDRICHS
LIST#2 CONTD.
WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW WHEN YOU STARTED WORKING AS A CREATIVE 6. DON’T SELF SABOTAGE BY FITTING INTO SOMETHING “NORMAL”. 7. “THE BIG ART IS LIFE.”-MC RICHARDS 8. SOME OF THE BEST ARTISTS HAVE NEVER BEEN SHOWN 9. YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL TO BE A GREAT ARTIST. 10. DON’T SILO YOUR INTERESTS
KACEY THIGPEN
LIST#2 CONTD.
AMANDA TRADER: I drew this during one of the QAM Zooms this summer. It’s titled "Rise" because I was inspired by the resilience and perseverance of the group members.
AMANDA TRADER
FINN DIGMANN
BEX LANGSTAFF
You are free
FINN DIGMANN
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ALIAH LAVONNE TIGH
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This is my path of least resistanc Flowing like water across hard stone lling each crack with rivulet Wet tentacles reach and drip onto the mos I glide smooth and silen But all the while As I yield to the stone Its turns and ruts and bumps and aw As I yield to the ston it yields to m See the canyon I will for See ribbons of dew become rapids of di To rise above or sing i No one can hear you cry to the heaven No one can hear you screa You are utterly alon In this whipping white wate You are utterly alon for a tim
MARS LUREN
MAXX FEIST
WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW BEFORE 2020 1. THERE IS SO MUCH TO UNLEARN AND DO IN ORDER TO HEAL. 2.DON’T WAIT FOR THINGS TO GET BAD TO GET RADICAL. 3. YOUR INFLUENCE REACHES FURTHER THAN YOU KNOW. 4. IF YOU CAN AVOID IT, SELLING YOURSELF SHORT FOR A JOB IS NOT WORTH IT. YOU ARE YOUR OWN BOSS AND CAPTAIN.
MARS LUREN
LIST#3
WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW BEFORE 2020 5. DON’T SUBSCRIBE TO BURNOUT CULTURE. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. 6.IMAGINE YOU ARE A ROOM: DON’T CHECK OUT OF YOURSELF. STAY ON TOP OF YOUR PROGRESS AND BARRIERS. 7. THERE IS NO WAY TO PLEASE EVERYONE AND THAT IS FINE. 8. GO OUTSIDE MORE AND PICK UP LITTER. 9. YOU CAN STILL BE HOT OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT. 10.CONNECT WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY MORE.
JAE HOUSE
LIST#3 CONTD.
VIDEO:
TUTORIALS
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VIDEO:
TUTORIALS
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BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE MUSEUM VIDEO:
KATE ARRANTS
VIDEO:
ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM WEBSITE
lydia see
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WEBSITE
JUNETEENTH SES + NOIR COLLECTIVE VIDEO:
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PERSPECTIVES: SOUTHERN EQUALITY STUDIOS VIDEO:
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BIOS ALIAH LAVONNE TIGH is the author of Weren’t We Natural Swimmers, a forthcoming 2021 chapbook with Tram Editions, and her poems have appeared in Guernica, The Texas Review, Matter Monthly, The Rupture, and others. She holds poetry and philosophy degrees from the University of Houston and an MFA from Antioch Los Angeles. Tigh lives in Houston, Texas. @alovetigh JAE HOUSE is a Black Queer artist hailing from rural Bristol, FL. House pulls inspiration from anthropology, symbolism, spirituality and fashion. Jae highlights BIPOC, because representation is imperative to them. They marry personal experiences with societal changes to tell the stories of BIPOC and QTPOC. They tell stories through ethereal scenery that serve as a catalyst for a change in perspective or a remembrance to hold cultural memories.@jaehouse MARS is a local creative who is - at the time of the creation of this project - learning how to use oils and apply color theory, working at understanding more intuitively the earth’s movement through space, and is watching a lot of woodworking videos on youtube. May you learn something interesting today.@marsontheinternet CHRISTIAN LEE is a comic who draws comics. Whether it be on the stage or the page, they draw from sub-cultures, grief, and the mundane, as well as their experiences as a Puerto Rican nonbinary artist. Their illustrative work ranges between sci i, horror, and fantasy; all really about people. @pixelateforwork MAXX FEIST is a comic who draws comics. Whether it be on the stage or the page, they draw from sub-cultures, grief, and the mundane, as well as their experiences as a Puerto Rican nonbinary artist. Their illustrative work ranges between sci i, horror, and fantasy; all really about people.@maxx_feist
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FINN DIGMAN is a multimedia artist and architecture graduate student at ISU. His art expresses the turbulent emotions arising from the intersection of queer joy and the systemic oppression of queer people. Finn is currently living in Iowa and working to establish LGTBQIA2+ community meetups at local libraries. He enjoys looking at cool stu in nature, hiking with his dog, dancing, reading, tea, and taekwondo. @ inndigmanart
CONTRIBUTORS AMANDA TRADER -@amandatraderart BEX LANGSTAFF -@bex_creates & @wolf.moon.creature ROSA FRIEDRICHS -@rosafriedrichs1230 lydia see -@engagingcollections & @lydiasee.studio KATE AVERETT -@bmcmuseum LIAM SAWYER -@fruitboots_printmaking ARIANA SELLERS -@kitsch_pleaseMessage KACEY THIGPEN -@_kitsch_witch_ ANNA HELGESON -@craft_consciousedu LAUREN WORDSWORTH WATTERSON -@hoofandhornfarm
SOUTHERN EQUALITY STUDIOS-@southernequalitystudios LIZ WILLIAMS -@makemesomeart AL MURRAY-@steeltoesunshine Southern Equality Studios is a project of Campaign for Southern Equality, that explores how the arts can be a catalyst and force in achieving lived and legal LGBTQ equality across the South.
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Since the launch of CSE in 2011, we’ve worked at the intersections of personal narrative and political organizing, working with LGBTQ people and families to share the stories of their lives, whether through the written word, ilm, or photography. We’ve seen the power that storytelling has had on changing hearts and minds here in the South and nationwide, and it’s a vital tool as we continue our work to build a South where all are free and a irmed to live as their authentic selves. Art and storytelling have long played a powerful and central role in movements for social justice, and we’re honored to be a part of that long legacy in our region.