Submissions are now open for a new zine series by Bitter Pill Press, a small, Corvallis-based, DIY zine press run by Oregon State University Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) alumnus and multimedia neuroqueer artist Lee Niemi. The title of the series is Trans Art Magazine, a collection of artwork by and for trans people.
Much like Bitter Pill Press’ recent – and first – publication, Volume 1 of Apple a Day, a multimedia zine series depicting how different people’s experiences and relationships with food are impacted by life with disability, chronic illness, mental illness, neurodivergence, eating disorders, etc., the idea for this series stemmed from a personal desire to have more of this kind of content exist in the world. For Niemi, who is himself trans, Trans Art Magazine emerged because he felt that existing collections of creative work by other trans artists were rare or difficult to find.
“A lot of my own work is about transness, and I think art is a really effective way of communicating our experiences,” said Niemi in an email. “But I really don’t want to just publish my own work, because a lot of the beauty of the trans experience lies in how individual it is.”
As such, he hopes that the various mediums and styles of artwork featured in the zine will reflect these experiences, and encourages artists to be as creative as they want with their submissions.
The theme for this first issue is rebirth, though it is meant to serve as an inspiration rather than a strict guideline.
“I chose the theme of ‘rebirth’ because I thought it was a bit ironic as the first issue of a magazine, but also resonates with how my life has felt,” said Niemi. “As anyone who read Apple a Day Vol. 1 will know, I really like tarot. The narrative of the fool’s journey is something I relate a lot to being trans, and I love cards like death or the tower. Many assume their meanings are negative, despite the fact that, at least in tarot, death often marks a new beginning as much as it does an end. When you come out as trans, so many people act as if you’ve literally died. So rebirth represents whatever your transition means to you as a trans person, and how you find joy in new beginnings. A celebration of being not dead, but more alive, on your own terms and with so much ahead of you.”
In alignment with Bitter Pill Press’ goals, Niemi hopes that this series, which will be a long-running project, will help foster more community.
“In Corvallis in particular, I think we could definitely use more community support both for artists and trans people,” said Niemi. “I definitely hope that the magazine can help create connections between people, as well as possibly show ways in which we can better support each other.”
The deadline to submit is Feb. 28. More detailed instructions can be found in the submissions form. Artists – local, national, and international – can submit up to five pieces of any medium, and will each receive a free copy of the finished zine.
Intersection Connection Re-Launch: The Old Mill Center, a Corvallis-based facility that provides programs and services to support the social, educational, mental, emotional, and occupational health needs of children and families, has recently relaunched Intersection Connection, a free safe space and online group for LGBTQIA+ youth in grades 5 – 9. Meeting every week over Zoom from 5 – 6 p.m., the group provides queer youth opportunities to make new friends; discover shared interests; gain confidence in themselves and their identities; learn social, advocacy, and leadership skills; and talk about topics that matter to them.
Having started up a few years ago, Intersection Connection was the brainchild of Christina Marquardt, an Outpatient Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) at The Old Mill Center, and Stacey Doerner, a Skills Trainer.
“Our hope was to fill in some of the gaps and provide support for not just high school-age youth, the way the rest of the urban community seems to do, but for middle school youth,” said Marquardt in an email. “The aim is for it to be able to reach rural communities as well as more populated areas – thus the online format – as I know that kiddos in this population experience more of a struggle with finding others who identify as they do. I hear from LGBTQIA+ youth in this age range all of the time about how they need a group just like this.”
For Marquardt personally, inspiration for creating the group stemmed from witnessing local queer and trans youth not have a space where they could be themselves and connect with their peers.
“Things are improving of course, and there is more available than there was several years ago, but there are still gaps, particularly in rural areas,” she said. “Many schools and after-school programs know the support needs to happen, but they are not sure what to do or how to do it. We are also aware that not all youth are out as they are still coming in, so we can support this process in a confidential manner.”
A variety of resources will be used as group conversation starters, including the Safe Zone curriculum, a free, downloadable course introducing people to core concepts of marginalized genders and sexualities.
“The main focus is, of course, the intersectionality piece – learning about how all of our parts form who we are,” said Marquardt. “Youth will be able to explore, experience, and discuss topics like pronouns and their use, history of the LGBTQIA+ [community], stories of coming in and coming out, and much more. As the group picks up, I am also hoping to potentially have guest speakers to provide a more enriching experience.”
Those who are interested in participating in or learning more about the group can register and/or share questions over email with Marquardt at christina_marquardt@oldmillcenter.org.
Activist Meetings for Oregon Sex Workers, Allies: The Oregon Sex Workers Committee (OSWC) is a community-based activist organization led by and for current and former sex workers from Oregon and around the world. Centering the needs, safety, and rights of sex workers, the OSWC offers public education, resources, community building/networking opportunities, and direct actions to destigmatize and decriminalize (in Oregon and beyond) sex work, a consensual labor that is often conflated with human trafficking – which, under law enforcement, subjects workers to greater violence and surveillance.
The OSWC provides two different meetings for those who want to get involved in direct action to support decriminalization and harm reduction in sex work – one for sex workers, and one for allies. Held over Zoom from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., sex worker-only meetings take place the first and third Tuesdays of each month, and ally meetings take place every second and fourth Tuesday. This month, sex worker meetings will be held on Feb. 7 and Feb. 21, while ally meetings will be held on Feb. 14 and Feb. 28. People of all gender identities are welcome, and participants are expected to respect the confidentiality and safety of all attendees, as well as actively adopt an anti-racist and trans-inclusive approach to solidarity with sex workers.
In a Twitter thread posted before the new year, the OSWC shared a handful of everyday actions people can take to support sex workers and help make the world a safer place for them – including taking greater care to prioritize the perspectives of sex workers “experiencing multiple marginalities.”
“Be an active ally. Come to our biweekly Zoom meetings and get involved in direct action,” reads one of the Tweets. “Value our lives. We shouldn’t have to be your friends, lovers, children, or parents for our lives to count. Sex Workers deserve to live because, just like you, we are human beings. It’s that simple… Whether you are a sex worker or ally, always make space in the conversation for sex workers of color, trans sex workers, and disabled sex workers. Elevate the voices of those who are most often silenced.”
To learn more about different levels of engagement and code of conduct principles for meeting participants, click here. To join these meetings, request accommodations, and/or inquire further about the OSWC, send an email to oregonsexworkers@protonmail.com.
By Emilie Ratcliff
Do you have a story for The Advocate? Email editor@corvallisadvocate.com