Desmond Briggs has adored baking from the time he was a child growing up in Memphis, Tennessee. There he spent countless weekends baking with his grandmother in her kitchen, whipping up delicious desserts and absorbing her love for the hobby. Now, as the owner of the Houston-based bakery Suga In Your Tank, Briggs is fulfilling his baking dreams while positively impacting the daily lives of others. “It’s something that I am passionate about,” Briggs says. “I am so overwhelmed with…
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Make This Go Viral: Black Queerness on Tik Tok
Posted on June 25, 2020From vlogging, to making viral memes, to using social media to promote their art, the creativity of Millennials and Gen Z is undeniable. And now, as we’re all “bored in the house, and in the house bored,” these two generations have turned to a new social platform to creatively express themselves—Tik Tok.…
Reflections on Racism: Surviving as a Black, Non-binary Person
Posted on June 18, 2020I was at a week-long Girl Scout sleepaway camp the first time I remember experiencing racism. It was right after the counselors had called for “lights out” in the bunk. There was some problem in the cabin and, to get my attention, one of the other campers called out to me—“Hey, Black girl.” She knew my real name. She’d known for days. Yet, she chose to address me as “Black girl” instead. I don’t remember what she said after that,…
All Black Lives Matter: The Erasure of Black Trans Lives from the BLM Movement
Posted on June 16, 2020The Black Lives Matter movement was founded on July 13, 2013, by Opal Tometi, Alicia Garza, and Patrisse Cullors, in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter has since developed into an international human rights organization that aims to end systemic racism. Garza (who identifies as queer) initially helped to bring an intersectional lens to the movement—intentionally addressing how race, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity impact oppression. Yet, as Black Lives Matter has grown into…
Episode 37: Black Fathers Raising Black Children
Posted on June 11, 2020In light of the murder of George Floyd, amidst nationwide Black Lives Matter protests, and ahead of Father's Day, Veer Queer interviewer Kevin Anderson connects with guests Roderick Coleman, Paul Guillory, George Williams, and Jay Tillman to ask the question: What does it look like to be a Black, same-gender-loving father raising Black children in America right now?…
The Realities of Being a Queer Black Mother Raising Black Sons in America
Posted on June 9, 2020As a Black, queer, single mother of two young Black boys, I am struggling to have faith in society, our justice system, and humanity. When I was a young girl, I had a knack for sniffing out injustice. I had an innate fire in my belly that drove me to stand against anything I considered to be inequitable or wrong. I would relentlessly debate my mother and grandfather on issues of racial injustice, always seeking to understand why things were the…
The Spirits of New Orleans: On Voodoo and Black Queerness
Posted on February 21, 2020Turn to any Hollywood film or television portrayal of Voodoo and you’re most often faced with the same, sensationalized representation—an evil, devil-worshipping religion practiced amongst impoverished Black communities in Louisiana. While the religion may be romanticized in some cases, it is still largely seen as violent, graphic, and wicked. These misconceptions directly stem from the very real racism and misogynoir that exists in Hollywood and society at large.…
Let’s Stop HIV Together: Reflections on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Posted on February 7, 2020I’ve had the great fortune of spending most of my life doing work in community. But my passion didn’t originally stem from wanting to change the world; it came from the desire to save myself. At age 20, I was introduced to the idea of sex work, a line of work I would ultimately participate in for years to come. When I entered the industry, and therefore began having numerous sexual partners, my mentors and friends stressed to me the…
Be The Woman You’ve Always Needed: Standing Tall in My Truth as a Black Trans Woman
Posted on July 16, 2019I live my life by two mottos: “Be an unapologetic, bad bitch,” and “Be the woman and person you’ve always needed in life.” I am a strong, confident, and bold Black trans woman who is not afraid to embrace the intersectionality of her identity; one who is unafraid to take the road less traveled and to be a trailblazer.…
HeART & Soul: 10 Years of Arts Merging and Hearts Emerging
Posted on March 28, 2019Imagine an artistic experience that instantly evokes a feeling of community. Imagine a stage on which no subject is too taboo, where no performer hides behind insecurities. Imagine an event that encourages true genuineness—free of shame, judgement, or expectation. Imagine a space where there are no demands to conform artistically, socially, or sexually; performers are fully allowed to own their individual truths. Yet, this space is not a figment of our imagination—it existed for 10 years as a monthly performance…