By Seyi Adebanjo

As a Queer Gender Non Conforming Nigerian who uses art as activism I take it one breath at a time, and one day at a time. Love is a revolutionary act during these trying times in the world, in our hearts and minds.

Who I am and what I envision for the world are build upon many pillars in this global conversation about Human rights, Queerness, Blackness, and Africanness. It is outside the prescribed category of gender and race, mainstream Queer media/ and heteronormative, transphobic xenophobic white supremacist/ privilege Queer movements

One of those pillars is:

Bridging spirituality and social justice. Honoring and reclaiming indigenous ways of healing, practicing spirituality and organizing. Ensuring these practices, which are viewed, as private and personal spiritual conversations/practices are visible and pillars in our politics is important. We need to ensure that conversations about religion aren’t just about institutions, that they are political conversation about spirituality. Our ancestors and present day healers/ spiritual leaders were/ are being killed, persecuted for these technologies. When we gathered for ritual/ honoring the divine/ mother earth/ our murdered community members, we organized our communities; we liberated ourselves and strengthened our inner selves for the fight.

Sharon Bridgforth states “The Spirituals invite us to know that multiple things can be true at the same time: That we can stand fully in our brokenness and hope. That we can fully express our sorrow and fight. That even when our dreams are shattered and there is no evidence of Grace, we are never alone.”

Trans Lives Matter! Justice for Islan Nettles is a powerful and intensely moving document of a community vigil/ spiritual for Islan Nettles a transgender Womyn of Color, concerning her spirit and life. Islan was a vibrant 21-year-old woman of Color growing up in Harlem, who loved hanging out with her transgender sisters of color. Islan used her creative and positive energy along with her anti-violence values in her previous work at the Harlem Children’s Zone as an assistant photographer and fashion instructor. She was working as an intern assistant designer at Ay’ Medici in Harlem. Islan’s murder was a shocking hate crime because she was beat to death in front of a Harlem police precinct on W. 148^th St & Frederick Douglas Boulevard.

I was inspired to create the exhibition at the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art with Queer/Art/ Mentorship because we can mourn & celebrate life, we can love, liberate each other and not oppress ourselves. Because the personal is political! Because the brutal and increasing attacks on Trans Womyn of Color are outrageous, and their victimization causes outrage. Because the murders of Queer Trans/Gender Non

Conforming People of Color is the second wave of lynching’s. Because healing and action tighten our fists and boom our voices.

Actively showcasing Queer Trans/Gender Non Conforming People Of Color is imperative and urgent because if people continue to think the divine doesn’t love them, how will people get strength to fight, love, live and worship?

For any of us to do this work on an individual/ community/ institutional level, we need to know we matter and see ourselves reflected. One of the ways we are visible is within our gender expression. Gender is a dangerous conversation because it makes people uncomfortable and moves them to violence. Supporting others in being visible, overcoming personal and institutional trauma’s are rooted in my politics of using love to liberate. Which means taking risk, speaking up when I see injustice and am afraid. Being courageous to live and supporting community to live everyday and creating as much love, fulfillment, success and joy we feel we are worthy. Trans Lives, Queer Lives, African Lives and My Life Matter! Courage and love are necessities to live our lives fully and liberate our communities.