Our Background
We aim to strengthen powerful & fruitful communities by providing a spectrum of resources for the health, well-being, and thriving of Black Trans & Queer artists in Mississippi.
Our Mission
Our Priorities
We use participatory and community leadership provide resources so that Black Queer and Trans people in Mississippi can co-create celebratory programming and lead such priorities as:
Creative expression & aliveness of Black Trans & LGBQIA+ people
Health & Living + care for Black & Indigenous artists, families, and communities across the gender spectrum
Stronger Black & Indigenous information, media, and communications in Mississippi
Rest, healing, & creative redirection of Black artists & entrepreneurs
Queer & Trans centered education for community care, intentionality, enlightenment, & change
Our Founders
TSMF was founded in 2020 by Jazmine Walker & D. Floyd, two Black Trans & Queer artists from Mississippi. In 2022, we became the first and only mutual aid fund for Black Trans & Queer artists founded and led by Black Trans & Queer artists in Mississippi. This is our home and we deeply believe in stewarding spaces and programs dedicated to a just, vibrant arts, and nourishing culture for Black Queer & Trans people in Mississippi.
What We Witnessed
To put it plainly: We are an affirmation for each other. In the State of Mississippi, it is currently legal to: 1) discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people based on religion; 2) ban the "promotion of homosexuality" in schools especially in sex education which passed in response to the AIDS crisis in the 90s (and the preface to "don't say gay" bills of today; 3) prevent transgender students from participating in sports activities consistent with their gender identity; 4) deny health care treatments for gender dysphoria for transgender youth, prohibiting doctors from providing such care and stripping parents of the right to guide medical decisions for their children. Additionally, in Winter 2022, a Ridgeland, MS mayor attempted to ban all books with Gay & Trans subject matter in public libraries by withholding funding until the library purged them. This systemic and religious violence perpetuates a culture of silence and marginalizes the lives and aliveness of Trans & Queer People that carries stigma & trauma into adulthood. And with the ongoing racial and gender discrimination history there in MS, there are minimal spaces and resources dedicated to Black Queer & Trans People simply contributing beauty and sublime existence in a world so cruel.
When Southern Black LGBTQIA people are out in a position to constantly fight for the bare minimum of humane treatment it perpetuates a lack of safe spaces, career opportunities, as well as protection from legal discriminatory laws and practices. With oppressive laws such as No Promo Homo which prohibits the promotion of gay sex in sex education in schools. In other words, don’t say gay. We hear so often this misleading concern that homosexuality and trans people adversely impact children, when the reality is that homophobia and transphobia harms everyone.
While we do not attempt or have plans to debate our right to exist, we are adamant about embodying a kind of joy that transcends present circumstances into a future where our existence is inevitable. We cannot wait for anyone’s approval or permission to take care of one another. So, we won’t.
Creating Culture Shift in Mississippi
So(u)lDay
Initially conceived in 2021 as a place to grieve and elevate Black Trans & Queer people who were violently &/or systemically taken in Mississippi. In 2022, it also became a space to uplift & celebrate the lives & creativity of Black Trans & Queer people still here. We provide grants to Black TGNCQ & LGB artists in Mississippi with mediums that include but are not limited to visual, performance, food, film, visual arts, dance, etc. So(u)lday Sunday is the annual event where grantees will showcase their talents in an exhibition hosted at The Mississippi Museum of Art in April 2024. TSMF has a mission to provide opportunities for Black Queer, Trans, Gender Non-Conforming, Lesbian, Gay, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and Bisexual artists opportunities to further their artistic development to advance an inclusive and vibrant arts community as well as cultural shift in Mississippi.
Artist Living Assistance Fund (forthcoming)
The intersections of systemic neglect also dwell in our healthcare system. There is an overwhelming void in documentation in our actual existence in Mississippi. Without data, there is no need allocate resources in a eugenics based society. So, we desire to create a world where these disparities do not interfere with creativity and exploration of our artists. We also respect the privacy of our community, and their many identities. We just care that we have everything we want and need to thrive & we encourage our peers to strive for the same.
