Tourmaline: In this moment of Juneteenth and Pride, I think about how important it is to make sure that we know that these are inextricably linked—the self-determination and self-actualization and the power of trans people, and queer people, and gender non-conforming people who are Black is so necessary and urgent. So we can't pretend that we're talking about freedom, unless we're talking about the freedom of Black, trans and gender nonconforming and non-binary people.
T. Lax: Thank you so much for joining us on Tourmaline’s Pleasure Gardening Audio Tour. It's our hope that as you pass by these places today or in the future, you might remember those who came before and those who cared for each other against all odds, perhaps like them, you might find ways to stay close to love and freedom in unfree spaces, to build your own pleasure gardens.
We're so grateful to everyone who lent their voice to this tour, including Cynthia R. Copeland, President of the Institute for the Exploration of Seneca village; Mariame Kaba, Director of Project NIA; Robin D. G. Kelley, Distinguished Professor and Gary B. Nash Endowed Chair in US history at the University of California, Los Angeles; and of course, Tourmaline, my friend and creative partner.
The project was produced by Sara Bodinson, Marc-Auguste Desert II, Arlette Hernandez, Joan Horn, James Morgan, and Prudence Peiffer.
We would also like to thank Sean Anderson, Stuart Comer, Leah Dickerman, Ebony Flowers, Laraaji, Jason Persse, and MoMA’s Steering Committee for the support they provided in realizing this project.
MoMA Audio is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.