Pride Spoken Through Customization: LGBTQ+ Voices from the Q Youth Foundation Talk Queer Liberation

Earlier this month, we spotlighted Levi’s® Tailor Rodrigo Bunton Navarrete (he/him/his) and learned about how his dreams for Queer liberation inspire his craft. To continue uplifting LGBTQ+ voices, we partnered with the Q Youth Foundation–an organization that builds meaningful partnerships for marginalized LGBTQ+ communities in Los Angeles–and invited three of their standout members to share their stories while customizing their denim with Rodrigo. We chatted with Mojo Carter (she/they), Sedusa Richman (they/she), and Nathan Sierra (he/she/they) about their individual journeys towards self-discovery and how they hope to impact the LGBTQ+ community.

Stand out and be who you are. It is all about being seen, heard, and creating a platform to inspire. It only takes one person to make change and I strive to create that space every day.

I am from North Jersey and would make my way into NYC to the club scene in my younger years. I wanted to see people who look like me and gave me the confidence to be my authentic-self like Drag superstar Aja. Make-up was also a component of being inspired to do drag–it created a canvas of self-expression and helped launch my confidence. I still do make-up and am fortunate to have turned it into a career in addition to drag.

There needs to be more room for Queer disabled people. By creating more accessibility and opportunity for this part of the community, we will get closer to a truly inclusive Queer safe space.

Having a sense of empathy and being able to engage with the Queer community.It is amazing to see how many allies have come together to support the Quuer community, and that’s just the beginning–the fight is not over.

Being yourself authentically and not altering any part of you to make someone else feel comfortable.

When I was 3 or 4 years old I said, “This cat is so cute” and my dad immediately said, “Guys don’t say that or act like that.” That is my first memory of being human and the start of society policing me in the way I present myself. My family dynamics and relationships were never easy, so I found support where it mattered. My dad recently passed away and the silver lining was that it actually brought my family closer together in a time of sadness. I am lucky that my sisters are my rock and have strengthened our bond. If I could give advice to people of the Queer community stuggling with relationships, it would be to work on those relationships by educating and/or finding a chosen family to support you in your Queerness. Part of being with Q Youth Foundation, I am able to connect and inspire people to be their true Queer authentic-selves.

My first memory of celebrating Pride was watching the Pride parades on the news with my mom. But to physically go out to the Pride events in LA, my first time was this year. After celebrating with my friends and family, I realized there is so much opportunity to educate allies and fellow Queers that June can’t be the only time we come together. Pride should be an always-on mentality to create forever change.

My mom is my biggest ally and has supported me in my self-discovery. I see my mom as my best-friend because I can tell her anything. I realize how lucky I am to have such great support and pull that forward to supporting other people in the community. One of the main reasons I partner with Q Youth Foundation is the ability to make an impact in the community, all while living my truth and cascading that to the world.