Trans Joy Isn’t Declining — It’s Evolving

Posted on October 16, 2025 by Diamond Stylz

Recently, headlines have claimed that fewer young Americans are identifying as transgender or nonbinary — as if transness were a passing fad losing momentum. Conservatives dramatize this shift with triumphalist, alarmist language—words like “fad,” “absolutely craters,” “free fall,” and claims of a “sex-change regime”—and attribute causality to political backlash, detransitioners, and celebrity commentary. To them, we are coming to our senses. We know they are not very intuitive about us or even their own cesspool of bigots. But this narrative misses the truth entirely. Being trans or nonbinary has never been about numbers, trends, or visibility metrics. It’s about authenticity, courage, and the ongoing act of becoming yourself in a world that often demands conformity.

What some interpret as a “decline” in trans identity is, in reality, a reflection of something deeper: the shifting landscape of safety and self-expression. When incompetent leaders target our community by branding us as terrorists , when school boards force the outing of trans youth, when media outlets amplify hate under the guise of “debate,” it’s no wonder some young people feel less safe being visible. But visibility and existence are not the same thing. Fear can quiet voices — it cannot erase them. We always knew that visibility was never the whole story. Yes, visibility has power. It opens doors, challenges, norms, and help us find one another, but it can only go so far we can’t survive on representation alone. True liberation demands more than being seen. It requires systems of care that allow us to live beyond visibility. Off TV and social media. Off the stage in our day to day lives. That means accessible healthcare, stable housing, safe schools, affirming workplace, and community networks that protect the most vulnerable of us. When trans life become politicize survival becomes an act of defiance. Sometimes that means getting quiet and focus on strengthening connections. It is to build conditions where every trans and non-binary person can thrive in public and in private too. It might look like a retreat or even cowardice, but I would say it looks like adapting and evolving. Let us cook. Let us simmer. We knew that having a seat at the table without being allowed to decide what’s being cooked at that table was not power.

A survey might show fewer people identifying openly as trans, but that doesn’t mean there are fewer trans people. It may simply mean that some are choosing self-preservation over disclosure. In many communities, identifying publicly as trans has become riskier, not easier.

Trans and nonbinary identities aren’t new, nor are they Western inventions. Cultures around the world have long celebrated gender diversity — from the Two-Spirit people of Indigenous nations, to the hijra of South Asia, to the fa’afafine in Samoa, to the Lugbara’s trans priests. Our existence predates surveys, politics, and social media. We’ve always been here, and we will continue to be here, even when society looks away. We have the spotlight right now. You are demonizing trans people & immigrants and any minority group bold enough to speak or live in truth. You are attacking our agency over our bodies like the many birthing people before us. And like them, we evolve and find new way to fight and find joy

We recently just lost one of our Trans matriarchs, Miss Major, While it is a devastating blow to see her go, I see the beauty in her transition. A trans women living her life on her own terms until almost 80. She didnt die as a fake martyr at the hand of some hateful sniper or some violent shame-filled lover. She died of natural causes in a beautiful home surrounded by people who loved her. A home that she turned into an oasis for trans people to rest. She died free in an oasis just like Assata Shakur. They were beloved.

Transness isn’t only about struggle — it’s about joy. It’s laughter shared in chosen families, the confidence of seeing your reflection finally match your truth, the art and creativity born from trans imagination. Every time a trans person thrives, loves openly, or simply wakes up and keeps going, that’s a radical act of joy. That act not only inspires other trans people, but it also inspires cisgender people to have the courage to be more of themselves on their own terms just like us.

Even in this difficult political moment, trans creativity is everywhere — in music, fashion, online spaces, and mutual-aid networks. Trans joy isn’t vanishing; it’s evolving. It’s becoming more intentional, more rooted, and more communal. It’s less about public validation and more about collective care, resilience, and quiet authenticity. We live through this trans Renaissance that has happened within the past 10 years; New shows, new representation, new awards, red carpets, booming no profits & conferences. It was a new frontier of celebration and expansion across sectors. Now we are seeing the backlash of those moments of joy, but we will survive these uncertain times just like we did before. Carrying each other through. 

If you’re trans or nonbinary, know this: your existence is not up for debate. You are not a data point to be measured or minimized. You are part of a lineage of people who have always known how to survive, how to transform pain into pride, and how to dream of and CREATE better futures.

There is power in being visible — but also power in simply existing safely and authentically, in whatever way you can. I know I am here as a result of tactically lowkey Black people waiting for the right time to move, strategically silent women waiting for the right time to speak, and trans ancestors working from the shadows waiting for the right time to come into the light…. all to get me here. Whatever way you choose to show up alive be proud of that. Pride doesn’t always look like a parade; sometimes it looks like choosing to keep living, loving, and imagining. Trans joy doesn’t decline. It shifts, adapts, and continues — just like we do. The headlines might try to define us by numbers, but we define ourselves by love, solidarity, and the simple, stubborn act of being real.

We are still here. Still becoming. Still building the future, one act of courage at a time. And that’s something no statistic can ever measure.

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What A Year

Posted on December 21, 2023 by Diamond Stylz

This year has been fiscally challenging for me due to sooooo many exploitive community practices, low paying job opportunities and the recession hitting hard. After a week of no’s and closing doors, I was feeling pretty defeated all week. I woke up today feeling a lil better because last night I got to interview the amazing Isis King for Marsha’s Plate Podcast. She was so sweet, open, and just inspiring. I cant wait till ya’ll hear it. She was reflecting on her show getting cancelled and being underpaid for almost all of the 15 years she has been in the limelight. She was acknowledging the truth of that reality while recognizing the moment & people who DID respect her talent. She was trying to hold on to that instead of being bitter, giving up on your dreams, and derailing her purpose. That spoke to me.

Scripps Howard Award Winner

Anyway, I get up and there’s a knock on the door. “Ooooo A Package!” says the brain of an impulsive online shopper trained like a dog in a Pavlov experiment to respond to the thud of a box dropped by some buff armed parcel carrier. I open the door just to get a glimpse of his bubbly cakes walking away. “Thank you” I throw at him. “You’re Welcome” he turns and throws back with a flirty smile. We flirt often since I get packages often. It feels good. In the way that only a 20 something complimenting you as a 40 something can. Auntie loves to know that she still go it. I look down and there is this huge white box. I pick it up and bring it in. Immediately started opening it. I can never wait to open a package. I have to open it up and try it on immediately to see how it fits. That feeling of a well fitting garment is just like no other. Instant confidence booster and just make your day better even if I don’t have anywhere to go in it. In this box wasn’t a garment. It was big heavy long black ….*salivates*…excuse me… obelisk that reads “Scripps Howard Awards” with my name on it: Diamond Stylz.

Its was my award from the Scripps Howard Foundation for my work with with Insider Inc: Death In The Family A passion project that uncovers some much needed truths about trans homicides in the U.S. and their outcomes all wrapped up in a comprehensive database. Our work not only educated but lead to some indictments and the reopening of cold cases. I was proud to be on the team. As a non conventional journalist, it is so affirming to win such an award. I often have to balance my real-world activism with the professional customs of journalism. There is also a theory of how I want to be politically in relationship to my community, but the praxis of that theory can clash with the customs of the field. Objectivity can only take you so far before it becomes the crux of your integrity and obligation to your community. So to be acknowledge by some journalistic peers with this award(and a nice check to contribute to my survival), the content of THIS package fits well.

In October, I had the privilege of giving a keynote at the Southern Grandeur Gala in my hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana. I hadn’t been back home since my mother passed away in late 2020. So I was excited to visit but not so excited to be cold. Houston’s weather has spoiled me because its usually beautiful and warm if you ignore the occassional hurricanes or flood…or the time Greg Abbott and them tried to kill us with these ghetto azz grid that couldnt handle the infamous Great Texas Freeze of Febuary 2021. Imagine no power for a week and 2 days at 25 degrees with NO HEAT while grieving ya mother’s death. I survive on canned goods & Bath and Body Work candles(thanks to years of working there as a store manager) and community support. Other than that Houston weather is usually amazing.

Nevertheless I flew into Indianapolis with jackets and fall fashion ready. The Southern Grandeur Gala is a yearly fundraiser thrown by Trans Solutions Research and Resource Center where they bring some of the nation’s top drag entertainers and give out awards to community leaders all around the country. I was surprised with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

This comes at a special time because its almost the 25 years anniversary of me winning my 1999 First Amendment lawsuit against Indianapolis Public school. I tell the story on my Youtube channel in a video called Pisces Season in my Love Beneath series. That event marked the beginning of my formal activism and life long fire to fight for my dignity and stand up to bullies & shady policies. The bully at that time was my principal Jaqueline Greenwood.

She made it her mission to force me to go to prom in a tuxedo and then later to wear a black graduation gown “like the rest of the boys” at graduation. After taunting me like a child from any of my elementary schools, she claimed that I was going to embarrass myself and lose if I took them to court. I actually won and embarrassed her. This was just the beginning of her embarrassments because after years of being the darling of the Indianapolis Public School System, she was named in a lawsuit and her contract discontinued because her nepo baby son became a teacher that got convicted of sexually assaulting high schoolers and she allegedly knew about it and still promoted and protected him. So correct me if I’m wrong but sounds like she should have been more concerned about raising her boys so they wouldn’t be lifting up young girls’ dresses instead of worrying about me wearing mine to the prom. Anyway this was a wonderful award to recieve from my hometown after so long. It feel amazing to be recognized by the city that raised you.

I have also had the amazing privilege in being in the first documentary endeavor of the National Museum of African-American History and Culture called gOD-Talk. The featured length film explores the lives of seven Black Millennials—Atheist, Buddhist, Christians, Muslim, Ifa, and Spiritualist—and the challenges and discoveries with faith and spirituality. gOD-Talk is the culmination project of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture Center for the Study of African American Religious Life, in association with the Pew Research Center, five-year study of Black Millennials. Teddy Reeves and Kim Moir came to record me a few years ago and I had such a great experience with them. We premiered the film at the end of October, and I was able to fly to DC and watch the film with a live audience and chat with them after with the most of the cast and crew. It was a spectacular experience. Here is the record of that discussion

GodTalk Premiere Panel

This year during Trans Empowerment Week (remember we got the Mayor Sylvester Turner to proclamate it and make it official), I was inducted to an amazing sisterhood of Houston trans women as the 2023 Woman of the Year by Mahogany Project and Save Our Sister United lead by Verniss McFarland and Atlantis Narcisse. To be acknowledge by my Houston family means so much to me. I came here homeless with $57 with no support. My boyfriend at the time was a down low man hiding me from his family so I couldn’t stay with him. The Star of Hope shelter wouldn’t let me stay there because I wasn’t cisgender and I was a liability to them. The LGBT shelter, Covington House, wouldn’t let me stay there because I wasn’t HIV positive and that was the demographic that they helped. There were no other options. So none of the resources made available through tax payer dollar to wayward people in need of housing was accessible to me. I met a 19 year old trans sexworker by the name of Braelyn “Honey” Chavez(RIP) in a BlackPlanet chatroom and she told me I could stay with her in exchange for a Mexico connection to silicone. She let me hustle & sleep on her coach for a month in her 1 bedroom apartment with 2 other people. This was the help I needed to get on my feet and make Houston my home.

The community here is strong and open so I fit right in. They have shown me love from day 1. In my life, I became a girl in Indianapolis, but I became a woman here in Houston.

So while I am still not where I want to be financially, I am walking in my purpose and being acknowledge for my work by my community. As I go into the next year I hope to get Marsha’s Plate Podcast underwriting or sponsor by some amazing org or person with aligning values….(become a patron if you want to support) I also hope to continue to do the work that I am proud and passionate about and get paid equitable for it. See ya next year.

The Myth of The Traditional Man

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Cynthia Erivo and Misty Copeland: Artistic Collaboration Unveiled

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Diamond Stylz

I just watched Cynthia Erivo and Misty Copeland’s collaborative video, a stripped-down, haunting rendition of “No Good Deed” from Wicked: For Good, is an absolute triumph of artistic fusion. Erivo’s raw, powerful vocals are accompanied only by a violin and cello, drawing the listener deep into Elphaba’s emotional turmoil with an intimate intensity that differs from the usual sweeping orchestration. I LOVE the simpler arrangement. Simultaneously, the recently retired Misty Copeland channels the song’s energy through exquisite, visceral, and expressive choreography, a seamless, cinematic conversation between voice and movement that showcases her incredible grace and strength as one of the world’s most luminous dancers. She is a Black American ICON. Of course, I love the color palette of the fashion. Still plan on the Glinda and Elphaba imagery but softer with the perfectly draped sage green and sheer sandy blush gowns. The result is a breathtaking display of two artistic titans in perfect, soul-stirring sync. Them together has got me thinking about Cynthia’s success here in America over the past 10 years.

Cynthia Erivo’s explosive success on the American stage and screen, contrasting sharply with the “glass ceiling” many Black British talents bump their heads against in the UK, underscores the profound foundational work of Black American artists. The US, particularly Broadway, offered Erivo a transformative platform she likely wouldn’t have found in Britain, where sources suggest a continued blind spot and less nurturing environment for Black and ethnic talent. Erivo’s breakthrough, starring as Celie in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple, is crucial. This role, rooted in a distinctly Black-American literary and musical tradition, gave her a career-defining opportunity. This, and similar productions exploring the Black experience in America, exist because generations of Black American actors, playwrights, musicians, and artists fought to create spaces and narratives within the US entertainment industry—from the Harlem Renaissance to the civil rights era and beyond.

Now we are NOT in post racial America, but the end roads Black Americans have carved is the legacy we have to revere and protect. This legacy established a dynamic, supportive “community of people that are wanting to welcome you” in the US, as Erivo herself noted, which she found absent in the UK’s more “colder” and competitive scene. Black American artists created the infrastructure, the demand, and the welcoming environment that allowed Erivo’s talent—honed in British schools like RADA—to fully flourish on a global scale, leading to her Tony, Grammy, and Oscar nominations. Her EGOT-likely journey is a testament to both her undeniable skill and the opportunities built by Black Americans dedicated to cultural excellence that Misty exemplifies.

Here is a great video discussing how her success is indicative if the failure of British entertainment to properly recognized Black talent.

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Another GLAAD Award WIN

Posted on March 28, 2025 by Diamond Stylz

We won🎉✨️🎊

This is my second GLAAD AWARD winning project Ive been involved in and im so proud of this work

Shout out to Sammy Lisel and @newlevant for all the hard work in bringing this to life.

@awaveblueworld

This was such a dream project….full circle moment…..and oh so timely.

*sings Greatest Love of All*

Writing children’s books that celebrate trans identity isn’t just about representation—it’s about building a legacy. Stories have always been a way to uplift, empower, and light the way forward. By adding these voices to the pages of history, we’re not just telling kids they belong; we’re showing them a world where they thrive. This is more than literature—it’s love, it’s power, and it’s a beacon for every generation to come

Thanks to all my folks who picked up a copy and shared …yall the MVP🥺😍

Pick up a copy here

https://bookshop.org/a/101446/9781949518269

#glaad#protecttranskids

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Calling Out Toxic Masculinity: A Path to Freedom, Not Erasure

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Diamond Stylz

Discussions about toxic masculinity often trigger defensiveness, with some believing that calling it out equates to attacking masculinity itself. Recently, actor Anthony Mackie claimed on the Pivot podcast that society is contributing to the “death of the American male.” This kind of reaction misses the point. The goal isn’t to erase masculinity—it’s to free men from the rigid, harmful expectations of patriarchy that limit their emotional and personal growth.

Toxic masculinity isn’t about being a man; it’s about the destructive behaviors and norms that tell men they must suppress vulnerability, reject emotional intelligence, and assert dominance to be “real men.” It forces men into a narrow definition of masculinity that often leads to emotional repression, unhealthy relationships, and even violence. By challenging these outdated expectations, we’re not trying to kill masculinity—we’re making space for men to be fully human.

A world without toxic masculinity allows men to express a full range of emotions, seek help when they need it, and build relationships based on mutual respect rather than control. It means redefining strength—not as aggression or stoicism, but as the courage to be authentic, compassionate, and self-aware. This isn’t weakness; it’s liberation.
The legacy of slavery and racial discrimination has profoundly impacted the construction of Black masculinity, leading to stereotypes and societal expectations that Black men must overcome. 

If we truly care about men’s well-being, we must acknowledge that patriarchy doesn’t just harm women—it cages men, too. The fight against toxic masculinity isn’t about destroying masculinity; it’s about expanding it, making room for men to live fully, freely, and without fear of judgment. Let’s retire the idea that masculinity is under attack and recognize that, in truth, it’s finally being given the space to evolve.

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Marsha’s Plate: Shadawn McCants

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Diamond Stylz

Shadawn McCants is a dedicated HIV activist committed to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and advocating for the rights of individuals living with HIV. Through her work, she empowers communities with education, resources, and support, striving to create a more informed and compassionate society. With a passion for health equity and social justice, Shadawn uses her platform to challenge misconceptions and promote policies that improve the lives of those affected by HIV. Her advocacy efforts focus on destigmatization, prevention, and ensuring access to quality healthcare for all.

The fight against HIV has seen significant advancements over the years, yet Black women—both cisgender and transgender—continue to face disproportionate challenges. Understanding the nuances between these groups and addressing systemic disparities in research and advocacy are crucial steps toward ending new HIV cases.

HIV Among Black Cisgender Women

Black cisgender women are disproportionately affected by HIV. Despite representing a smaller fraction of the U.S. population, they account for a significant percentage of new HIV diagnoses among women. Structural inequalities, limited healthcare access, and socio-economic disparities contribute to this heightened risk. Additionally, stigma and misinformation surrounding HIV often discourage testing and treatment.

HIV Among Black Transgender Women

Black transgender women face an even higher burden of HIV. Studies show that Black transgender women experience the highest rates of HIV infection compared to any other demographic. Factors such as systemic discrimination, economic marginalization, and limited access to culturally competent healthcare contribute to this crisis. Higher rates of unemployment, homelessness, and violence also increase vulnerability to HIV, making targeted interventions a necessity.

Similarities and Differences in Challenges

Both Black cisgender and transgender women encounter overlapping challenges, including socio-economic disparities, stigma, and inadequate healthcare access. However, transgender women often face additional hurdles, such as gender-based violence, employment discrimination, and limited transgender-inclusive healthcare. These compounded challenges necessitate tailored interventions that address the unique needs of each group.

The Dominance of Cisgender Gay Men in HIV Advocacy

Historically, HIV research and advocacy have been predominantly led by cisgender gay men, particularly white individuals. While their contributions have been invaluable, this dominance has led to the marginalization of other affected groups, notably Black cisgender women. The underrepresentation of women in medical research has resulted in gaps in understanding and addressing the specific needs of women living with HIV. There needs to be a shift in funding priorities and leadership to ensure that Black cisgender and transgender women have a seat at the table when it comes to policy and research.

The Importance of Cis and Trans Women as Allies in the Fight Against HIV

To truly combat HIV in our communities, Black cisgender and transgender women must stand together as allies. While our experiences are not identical, our struggles are interconnected, and solidarity can amplify our voices in advocacy, research, and community health initiatives. Allyship means:

  • Creating Inclusive Spaces: Ensuring that HIV awareness programs and healthcare services recognize and cater to the specific needs of both cis and trans Black women.
  • Sharing Resources and Knowledge: Both groups can learn from one another’s experiences with the healthcare system, stigma, and advocacy strategies.
  • Fighting Stigma Together: Challenging harmful narratives about who contracts HIV and why, and pushing for accurate representation of all Black women in the fight against HIV.
  • Advocating for Policy Change: Working collectively to demand increased research, funding, and HIV prevention programs that address the unique challenges of both cis and trans women.

By fostering understanding and support between Black cisgender and transgender women, we can build a stronger, more unified front in the battle against HIV. Together, we can push for greater representation, better healthcare, and ultimately, an end to new HIV cases in our communities.

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Sam Nordquist Case

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Diamond Stylz

In February 2025, the tragic death of 24-year-old transgender man Sam Nordquist shocked communities nationwide. Originally from Minnesota, Sam traveled to New York in September 2024 to meet an online girlfriend, intending to return home after two weeks. He decide to stay,

However, his family lost contact with him on January 1, 2025. He family not hearing from him in over a month prompting them to report him missing on February 9. Investigations revealed that Sam endured over a month of severe physical and psychological abuse at a motel in Canandaigua, New York. The abuse, described by authorities as “beyond depraved,” occurred from December 2024 until his death in February 2025. On February 13, his body was discovered in a field in Yates County, approximately 50 miles southeast of Rochester.

Five individuals—Precious Arzuaga, Jennifer A. Quijano, Kyle Sage, Patrick A. Goodwin, and Emily Motyka—have been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Sam’s death. Authorities have stated there is no evidence to classify the incident as a hate crime, noting that both the victim and suspects identified as LGBTQ+. Sam’s family and the LGBTQ+ community have been deeply affected by this tragedy. Vigils have been held in his memory, emphasizing the urgent need to address violence against transgender individuals. As the investigation continues, advocates call for justice and increased protections for vulnerable communities.

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We Had A Great Year

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Diamond Stylz

So we expanded our archive of interview of trans thought leaders this year. Here are the new additions. Click each pics to go to that episode.

Isis King….Trans actress, model and reality TV Pioneer 

Raquel Willis …..Trans journalist and author

Tiq milan…. Trans Activist

TD Banks …. Trans Disability Justice Activist

Victoria Blaque …..Trans Adult Entertainer and Activist

Jaila Simms….  Trans Grammy Nominated Music Artist and Reality TV Pioneer

Ciora Thomas …. Executive Director and Activist

Atlantis Narcisse ….Houston Community Leader

Sir Diamond…..Young Trans Activist and Tiktok personality

Stacey Monroe….. Dallas based Activist

We also reach across the pond again this year

Naimah Janse,,,,, Plus Size Model and emerging ballroom girlie from the Netherlands 

Kelet Ali ….Trans Activist and star of the award winning documentary Kelet from Finland

Check out our full list of guests over the years here

I wanted to do a Marsha P Johnson Tribute.. a visual remake of the iconic photo Marsha P Johnson at a protest. I worked with the amazing Michael G. Starhill . We had work before for an anti police brutality piece we did for VOX media with my little brother. So I knew he would deliver what I needed. I love them

I was commissioned to make a song for the the Monument to Mother Podcast. An amazing 6 part series created by Molly Gichman that explore motherhood, art, and history is such a beautiful nuanced way. I was guest and wrote a song for it. Check it out

Voice From The Outside song for Monument to Mother. A musical celebration of motherhood

LGBTQ TEXAS Hero Play Cards ….a playing deck of card that feature illustration of activist here in Texas 

godTalk Documentary Premiere …the first film for the Smithsonian African American Museum of History and Culture  that discuss millennial Black Spirituality

Yall know i want to be an adjuct professor at somebody’s university. I was was about to do a Trans History lecture at Central New Mexico Community College …a lecture that examine trans history and impact 

Becoming Who You Are Book Release. A children’s book that feature coming of age stories of multiple queer activists. To be a part of a project that boldy shares our stories in the midst of book bans and harmful anti trans propaganda, this makes me so proud. It was a dream come true. You can click the pic to purchase it.

Event Partnerships 

Tea with Queen and J to examine Beyonce Renaissance Film 

Creating Change Conference 2024

Black Trans Advocacy Conference 2024

Vancouver Queer Film Festival

Lucy Hick Anderson Reproductive Justice Conference

Screaming Queens Exhibition at the Tenderloin Museum in San Francisco 

They Aint Coming To Save Us  Film Premiere

Cornel West Community Event

Community Building Events or Committees  

Harris County LGBTQ Commission

Strategic Planning with the Transgender District and Transgender Law Center as a board member 

CDC Black Women HIV & Tech Convening in ATL

Fellowship for Liberated Futures environmental Justice cohort in Arizona and New Orleans 

TLC Building Trans Power Convening  in Chicago

Pauli Murray Anthology Convening in St.Louis 

House of GiGi Retreat with Miss Major in Little Rock

Redress Exhibit & We Ride For Her Documentary premiere at SXSW 

Awards

The Violet Bagneris Awardee

Harrison Guy Award for Arts and Culture Awardee

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U.S. v. Skrmetti Listening Party

Posted on December 6, 2024 by Diamond Stylz

Understanding U.S. v. Skrmetti and Its Impact on Transgender Rights

The Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in U.S. v. Skrmetti, a case challenging Tennessee’s SB1, a law banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth. The case has become a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ rights, with the central issue being whether this law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Tennessee’s SB1 prohibits healthcare providers from offering treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy to transgender minors while allowing similar treatments for other conditions in cisgender youth. Advocates argue this is a form of sex-based discrimination, requiring the Supreme Court to apply heightened judicial scrutiny. The Sixth Circuit Court previously upheld the law under rational basis review, sparking the current appeal.

Numerous groups, including medical associations, civil rights organizations, and LGBTQ+ advocates, have filed briefs supporting the plaintiffs. They emphasize the law’s inconsistency with medical consensus and its harmful impact on the mental health of transgender adolescents. The federal government has also intervened, underscoring the law’s constitutional implications for equality and medical access.

This case arrives at a pivotal time for transgender rights, potentially shaping future legal protections for the LGBTQ+ community in the United States. With the Court’s decision anticipated in the coming months, its outcome will have a profound impact on civil rights jurisprudence and healthcare laws.

Chase Strangio, the first openly transgender lawyer to argue before the Supreme Court

Watch Party Alert: Join Diamond Stylz for a Live Discussion

For an in-depth look at the oral arguments and their implications, tune in to Diamond Stylz’s YouTube channel for her engaging watch party and live commentary. Known for her insightful analysis and commitment to amplifying marginalized voices, Diamond offers a space for community discussion and understanding of this critical case. Don’t miss it—head over to YouTube and join the conversation below!

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HamsterWheel of Community Love

Posted on February 18, 2024 by Diamond Stylz

So anyone who knows me knows that I’m writing a book about love

Just different variations of love and how it shows up in the life of a queer young person(I use to be one of those☺️) I’m currently working on a chapter about community love and I wanted to share some thoughts.

I think the progressive Renaissance that we have been living through in the 2010s is on the decline. I really think it peaked in 2020 during the pandemic. Especially for trans people, we are really good at helping our community survive because we have had tons of practices. Genuine community care at the core of our strategy helps when we have to helping each other…. So of course, when a cutural awakening and global pandemic happens, we rise to the top…. The racial awakening that happens with Trayvon Martin, Alton Sterling, Sandra Bland, Orlando Castille, Layleen Palonco George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade(the list goes on and on) sadly sets the stage. We saw this rise in investment in Black people so anyone with a trans inclusive politics would then invest in black trans leadership.. We saw growth in visibility, programming, access. We saw growth in the nonprofit sectors. Hollywood….shit….even my own podcast and Youtube channel grew. Don’t forget some of us even got some reparations in Evanston, Illinois. Just a peak of a cultural shift. So of course, there’s gonna be a decline. There’s gonna be a response….I am seeing it, A backlash against trans visibility and particularly trans leadership. We saw in 2020, companies open up remote work just to survive which open up doors for disabled people to get more work that they have been qualified for for years. Those same companies who fight against the rise of minimum wage put on a veneer of communty care to smile and convince us to come back to work for that same bullshit wage. leadership.

  The love that we have for our community is the mechanism that moves us from being the needy to caretaker to movement organizer to rebel. BUT it is also that tool that the exploiters relies on to stabilize, and in some sense, reproduce itself.

Think about it , we are always in situations where we are not getting adequate help and resources from the state or traditional institutions. So we are forced to produce a network of informal economies and harm reducing strategies in order to survive….we build that strategy from scratch with very little help within the confines of a system( like the nonprofit industrial complex…or the ghetto..tomato tamato🤣) These imperfect strategies we create do not produce a different world free of exploitation, where our community integrates through shared hope and care. Rather, the effect of these survival strategies is that it keep laboring activists infighting, distracted, and alive so that the real oppressor can avoid having an accountability to solve the real issue like pay us a living wage, making affordable housing accessible and abolished the carceral state.

This effect is illustrated by the endless individual mutual aid requests that plague our newletters, social media inboxes, and care circles. requests that are often for rent, shelter, food, medical care.This money is coming from our own community a lot of time cause we care and actually love each other… duh. The impulse to love each other by way of these individualized acts of care are ultimately mechanisms that keep us available for exploitation. It doesn’t mean that loving our community is wrong or bad. That’s actually the thing that deserves our efforts. Our community absolutely deserves our fight, our care & our energy. I’m just pointing out the cycle of exploitation.

Think about hoes on the hoe stroll …like in the amazing docu-series The Stroll and Last Call on HBO Max. They both do a brilliant job in describe how the street sex workers and community organizers create systems of protection for each other. In the Stroll, the sex workers, even while being in direct competition for resource, they still care enough to create a signal to protect the hoes from cops and warn each other about dangerous abusive cheap weirdo Johns. Then in the Last Call, the community organizers were making systems for bar patrons to literally stay alive and safe from a serial killer plaguing NYC because the cops were doing a piss poor nonchalant job at finding the kill and neglecting evidence and leads about the cases because they we Queer victims. The systems deserve out intent. The impact is undeniable but what happen after? We stay safe and alive just to get old from stress and naking ends meet….the grind slowly chipped away at our minds and bodies by the same circumstances of neglect that lead us to sex work or community organizing in the first place.

Then the snakes and wolves of community start to each us from the inside out with there back stabbing and tokenism chasing. We attack and gossip about each other out of need, insecurity, loneliness, and scarcity…giving fake hug & performative tears in public like we have a community based politic. We use calling each other out to boost our ego whether wrong or right….The clicks and views boost our image to get the next gig/platform/check…all to survive….to be exploited or exploit again. Social justice hamster wheel in a cage of capitalism we cant escape.

I nor anybody else has full proof solutions on how to stop this cycle of exploitation, but I’m just pointing it out in the hope that we can make better, harm reducing, less exploitative decisions. If that is at the forefront of our mind…maybe we can shift a lil more toward the world we want to be instead of the world we are.

Thanks to Dr Joy James for her theory of Captive Maternal

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New Commissioner

Posted on December 30, 2023 by Diamond Stylz

I have some great news. Harris County Commissioner Court has appointed me to its LGBTQIA+ commission in one of its at-large positions.

Earlier this year, this commission was created to develop goals and coordinate research to recommend planning, programming, & action related to the queer community and protections of our rights here in Harris county.

https://lgbtqia.harriscountytx.gov/

Stacey Monroe, Diamond Stylz, Monica Roberts

The leaders on this commission have been selected because of their connection and fierce dedication to the community. We believe that inclusion makes us stronger….The strength of our community with its unique vantage point brings value to the table that should be considered. Personally, I have been a respected trans leader in the Houston community for 15 years. For 25 years, I have led community initiatives to combat discrimination, homelessness, domestic violence, and cultural incompetence. 

One of the best ways for residents to be involved and help shape our community’s future is through service on a public board such as this one

I’ve dedicated my career to creating safe spaces for all people through sociopolitical engagement and education. This is a new opportunity for me to continue that work by pushing our county to a higher standard of community care.

By putting strong leaders in advisory positions, we display a commitment to supporting this demographic of unique constituents with a powerful strategic point of view. This ensures LGBTQIA+ voices are heard and represented in decision making. On a practical level, if we advise leaders in one direction and they do something totally different, that’s a clear indication that they don’t value our contribution or our votes.

I want to do my part in guiding our city to reach its full potential as a world-class cosmopolitan city that is safe for LGBTQIA+ people. We are a city with a long history of multicultural diversity with a unique Southern charm. I want our healthcare infrastructure and city ordinances to reflect our compassion and ideals to be a welcoming city for all residents and visitors regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. 

In our current political climate, the agency over our bodies and life choices are under attack. This creates legitimate concerns about rollbacks of rights and protections for our community…. We saw this in 2022 with the egregious overturning of Roe vs Wade. Lawrence vs Texas could easily be next. Staying vigilant ensures that progress made towards equality and body autonomy is not underdone, and that the rights and dignity of all individuals are upheld.

I’m a Black trans woman in the South. Hope is the foundation of all I do in community work. I don’t exist without my ancestors’ hope. My Pride doesn’t exist without the Queer pioneers’ hope. Hope is sometimes the only string of solace I have to hold and look forward to. Hope is how I survive. I hope that this commission will be effective in its goals, and I hope that my inclusion is an intricate part of its success.

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