Freedom is a community EFFORT

When we became a trans-led organization in 2021 (with the hiring of Executive Director Cole McAfee, who is celebrating four years in the role this month) and shifted our model to values based organizing…our fundraising faced new challenges. By centering and serving the most marginalized and excluded members of our community with the least resources, we saw some of the folks with the most resources abandon our work. And long before corporations abandoned pride spaces, they became increasingly hesitant to give at any work like ours. That’s the nature of digging into liberatory work, unapologetically led-by 2STGNC+, disabled folks. And, while it means that it is not easy to fund our work, we've long been grateful for the ways community has stepped up to support us in resourcing a future where all 2SLGBTQ+ folks have the safety to thrive.

*ID: photo of 3 people standing next to one another smiling and laughing in front of a multicolored paper ring backdrop. Photo by* *Alexandrea Delgado*.

When Chel DMed us about wanting to do a tattoo fundraiser, our team was immediately jazzed. I mean, they’re an incredible artist, and how cool to get to lift up their work in art and space-making, while having him invest in our work? And y'all turned up to support our work (and get really cool tattoos). It was such a gift to share space and hear what these tattoos meant to each of you, and incredible to see just some of the time and talent Chel poured into this effort. This was fundraising that centered our community and our joy. And we're so grateful for each dollar y'all gave to invest in our work, and our goal to mirror that investment back into community.

ID: collage of photos of Chel tattooing at Sacred Soul Collective as part of a flash tattoo fundraiser in support of Freedom Oklahoma with a cutout of Chel tattooing a person in a black outfit with teal hair, seated in a wheelchair.

Busty the Brit reached out about fundraising for our work through a drag show at one of our favorite queer-owned venues, Frankie’s, and we couldn’t think of a better time. And y'all, these world-class drag performers did not disappoint. The costumes, the creativity, we were gagged. It's a joy to share space with y'all, and to see the artistry of drag at its most camp and joyful. The show was INCREDIBLE, the venue fabulous as always, and y'all came together to invest in us and our ability to build the future where drag performers can practice their art without fear of criminalization or censorship.

ID: collage of photos from Cosplay You Stay at Frankie's Bar, featuring OKC area drag performers dressed in various anime and video game cosplay, with co-hosts Busty the Brit and Yakisoba Zay Michaels pictured on the right side of the collage.

When Deanna contacted us about fundraising for our work with mugs they and other local artists made, we were so touched. I mean, these were mugs made by some of our favorite local artists. And, that art was then invested into our work. It means a lot to us when independent artists are generous with their talent and their art to support Freedom Oklahoma. We know that exposure and donations are often the promised compensation to so many artists, especially 2SLGBTQ+ artists and those most marginalized and excluded. So we know it's no small thing to forgo profit on a piece to instead give to the work of Freedom Oklahoma. It was so cool to see y'all get as excited as we did about these mugs, and to see all of the creative ways each of the involved artists (Deanna Wong, CJ Carter, Natalie Lash, Becca West, and Lumen Miramontes) helped show off their cool art.

ID: collage of photos from a Mug Raffle in support of Freedom Oklahoma, organized by artist Deanna Wong (Dwadlings Art), with mugs by CJ Carter, Natalie Lash, Becca West, and Lumen Miramontes. The images of the mugs are featured throughout the graphic, with a photo of the raffle graphic on notebook paper.

Each dollar that came to us through these creatives was rooted in joy and community and the shared beliefs that there’s more than enough when we share, and that we can and should invest in liberatory work. It is a reminder that what drives this work is never about the dollars folks divert to something more palatable, but instead about the people who trust in our collective commitment to liberation and are willing to invest in doing this work together. We know that we live in a time where often the folks who give the most are those with the least resources. And that can build the future of everything for everyone by practicing that resource sharing, and encouraging others to do the same. When you invest in Freedom Oklahoma, you're funding a 2STGNC+ led effort to build that future alongside you, to provide direct financial support to name changes for trans folks, to provide advocacy resources and information in a fast-paced and constantly changing policy environment, to spread love letters in zines, and work to meet the needs of folks on the ground, across the state, by the first dedicated statewide 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy organization in Oklahoma. And it means the world to us.

invest in trans-led work in Oklahoma

With Gratitude and in Solidarity,