ACLU’s Freedom to Be Quilt Panel-Making Event at The Brooklyn Museum

TENz teamed up with the ACLU’s Quilt Panel-Making Event at The Brooklyn Museum in support of its Freedom to Be campaign, a national initiative celebrating the voices and stories of trans individuals and those who love us. This project will culminate in a monumental quilt installation in Washington, D.C.

The Brooklyn Museum hosted a event as part of the ACLU’s Freedom To Be campaign, which is dedicated to trans joy and amplifying the voices and experiences of trans individuals in America. This special event invited members of the trans community and allies to come together, share stories, and design quilt panels celebrating individuality, resilience, and the freedom to live authentically. Panels created during the event will form part of a monumental quilt installation to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 30, kicking off Trans Day of Visibility. The quilt will spell out Freedom to Be with contributions from trans individuals and allies across the country responding to the prompt: What does the freedom to be me look like? Event Partners included the Brooklyn Museum, NYCLU, the Gender Liberation Movement, and TENz Magazine.

The Brooklyn Museum hosted a event as part of the ACLU’s Freedom To Be campaign, which is dedicated to trans joy and amplifying the voices and experiences of trans individuals in America. This special event invited members of the trans community and allies to come together, share stories, and design quilt panels celebrating individuality, resilience, and the freedom to live authentically. Panels created during the event will form part of a monumental quilt installation to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 30, kicking off Trans Day of Visibility. The quilt will spell out Freedom to Be with contributions from trans individuals and allies across the country responding to the prompt: What does the freedom to be me look like? Event Partners included the Brooklyn Museum, NYCLU, the Gender Liberation Movement, and TENz Magazine.

The Brooklyn Museum hosted a event as part of the ACLU’s Freedom To Be campaign, which is dedicated to trans joy and amplifying the voices and experiences of trans individuals in America. This special event invited members of the trans community and allies to come together, share stories, and design quilt panels celebrating individuality, resilience, and the freedom to live authentically. Panels created during the event will form part of a monumental quilt installation to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 30, kicking off Trans Day of Visibility. The quilt will spell out Freedom to Be with contributions from trans individuals and allies across the country responding to the prompt: What does the freedom to be me look like? Event Partners included the Brooklyn Museum, NYCLU, the Gender Liberation Movement, and TENz Magazine.

The Brooklyn Museum hosted a event as part of the ACLU’s Freedom To Be campaign, which is dedicated to trans joy and amplifying the voices and experiences of trans individuals in America. This special event invited members of the trans community and allies to come together, share stories, and design quilt panels celebrating individuality, resilience, and the freedom to live authentically. Panels created during the event will form part of a monumental quilt installation to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 30, kicking off Trans Day of Visibility. The quilt will spell out Freedom to Be with contributions from trans individuals and allies across the country responding to the prompt: What does the freedom to be me look like? Event Partners included the Brooklyn Museum, NYCLU, the Gender Liberation Movement, and TENz Magazine.

With a landmark Supreme Court case on the horizon, transgender people and their families speak out about the freedoms at stake. The “Freedom To Be” campaign shows transgender people and their families from across the country finding joy and community, grounded in the basic principle that we all deserve the freedom to control our own families, bodies, and lives.

The ACLU’s Abdool Corlette speaks at the Brooklyn Museum during an event for the ACLU’s Freedom To Be campaign, which is dedicated to trans joy and amplifying the voices and experiences of trans individuals in America. This special event invited members of the trans community and allies to come together, share stories, and design quilt panels celebrating individuality, resilience, and the freedom to live authentically. Panels created during the event will form part of a monumental quilt installation to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 30, kicking off Trans Day of Visibility. The quilt will spell out Freedom to Be with contributions from trans individuals and allies across the country responding to the prompt: What does the freedom to be me look like? Event Partners included the Brooklyn Museum, NYCLU, the Gender Liberation Movement, and TENz Magazine.

Laval Bryant-Quigley [NOTE: this is the name on the run of show, but there may have been a day of change so double check ID with staff] at the Brooklyn Museum during an event for the ACLU’s Freedom To Be campaign, which is dedicated to trans joy and amplifying the voices and experiences of trans individuals in America. This special event invited members of the trans community and allies to come together, share stories, and design quilt panels celebrating individuality, resilience, and the freedom to live authentically. Panels created during the event will form part of a monumental quilt installation to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 30, kicking off Trans Day of Visibility. The quilt will spell out Freedom to Be with contributions from trans individuals and allies across the country responding to the prompt: What does the freedom to be me look like? Event Partners included the Brooklyn Museum, NYCLU, the Gender Liberation Movement, and TENz Magazine.

The ACLU’s Chase Strangio speaks at the Brooklyn Museum during an event for the ACLU’s Freedom To Be campaign, which is dedicated to trans joy and amplifying the voices and experiences of trans individuals in America. This special event invited members of the trans community and allies to come together, share stories, and design quilt panels celebrating individuality, resilience, and the freedom to live authentically. Panels created during the event will form part of a monumental quilt installation to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 30, kicking off Trans Day of Visibility. The quilt will spell out Freedom to Be with contributions from trans individuals and allies across the country responding to the prompt: What does the freedom to be me look like? Event Partners included the Brooklyn Museum, NYCLU, the Gender Liberation Movement, and TENz Magazine.

Sailey Williams emcees at the Brooklyn Museum during an event for the ACLU’s Freedom To Be campaign, which is dedicated to trans joy and amplifying the voices and experiences of trans individuals in America. This special event invited members of the trans community and allies to come together, share stories, and design quilt panels celebrating individuality, resilience, and the freedom to live authentically. Panels created during the event will form part of a monumental quilt installation to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 30, kicking off Trans Day of Visibility. The quilt will spell out Freedom to Be with contributions from trans individuals and allies across the country responding to the prompt: What does the freedom to be me look like? Event Partners included the Brooklyn Museum, NYCLU, the Gender Liberation Movement, and TENz Magazine.

Raquel Willis of the Gender Liberation Movement speaks at the Brooklyn Museum during an event for the ACLU’s Freedom To Be campaign, which is dedicated to trans joy and amplifying the voices and experiences of trans individuals in America. This special event invited members of the trans community and allies to come together, share stories, and design quilt panels celebrating individuality, resilience, and the freedom to live authentically. Panels created during the event will form part of a monumental quilt installation to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 30, kicking off Trans Day of Visibility. The quilt will spell out Freedom to Be with contributions from trans individuals and allies across the country responding to the prompt: What does the freedom to be me look like? Event Partners included the Brooklyn Museum, NYCLU, the Gender Liberation Movement, and TENz Magazine.

In the last three years, politicians across the country have put themselves between transgender people, our families, and our doctors. This fall, the Supreme Court will hear from families and doctors challenging a state law banning hormone therapy for trans adolescents. For many trans youth, this medical care gives them the freedom to be who they really are.

The freedom to be loved, to be safe, to be trusted with decisions about our own health care. That’s what we are fighting for. Learn more below about our storytellers, their families, and how they are advocating for their freedom to be.

Beaujangles performs at the Brooklyn Museum during an event for the ACLU’s Freedom To Be campaign, which is dedicated to trans joy and amplifying the voices and experiences of trans individuals in America. This special event invited members of the trans community and allies to come together, share stories, and design quilt panels celebrating individuality, resilience, and the freedom to live authentically. Panels created during the event will form part of a monumental quilt installation to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 30, kicking off Trans Day of Visibility. The quilt will spell out Freedom to Be with contributions from trans individuals and allies across the country responding to the prompt: What does the freedom to be me look like? Event Partners included the Brooklyn Museum, NYCLU, the Gender Liberation Movement, and TENz Magazine.

The Brooklyn Museum hosted a event as part of the ACLU’s Freedom To Be campaign, which is dedicated to trans joy and amplifying the voices and experiences of trans individuals in America. This special event invited members of the trans community and allies to come together, share stories, and design quilt panels celebrating individuality, resilience, and the freedom to live authentically. Panels created during the event will form part of a monumental quilt installation to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 30, kicking off Trans Day of Visibility. The quilt will spell out Freedom to Be with contributions from trans individuals and allies across the country responding to the prompt: What does the freedom to be me look like? Event Partners included the Brooklyn Museum, NYCLU, the Gender Liberation Movement, and TENz Magazine.

DJ ARRA spins at the Brooklyn Museum during an event for the ACLU’s Freedom To Be campaign, which is dedicated to trans joy and amplifying the voices and experiences of trans individuals in America. This special event invited members of the trans community and allies to come together, share stories, and design quilt panels celebrating individuality, resilience, and the freedom to live authentically. Panels created during the event will form part of a monumental quilt installation to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 30, kicking off Trans Day of Visibility. The quilt will spell out Freedom to Be with contributions from trans individuals and allies across the country responding to the prompt: What does the freedom to be me look like? Event Partners included the Brooklyn Museum, NYCLU, the Gender Liberation Movement, and TENz Magazine.

Mo’Riah performs at the Brooklyn Museum during an event for the ACLU’s Freedom To Be campaign, which is dedicated to trans joy and amplifying the voices and experiences of trans individuals in America. This special event invited members of the trans community and allies to come together, share stories, and design quilt panels celebrating individuality, resilience, and the freedom to live authentically. Panels created during the event will form part of a monumental quilt installation to be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 30, kicking off Trans Day of Visibility. The quilt will spell out Freedom to Be with contributions from trans individuals and allies across the country responding to the prompt: What does the freedom to be me look like? Event Partners included the Brooklyn Museum, NYCLU, the Gender Liberation Movement, and TENz Magazine.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate trans joy and support, we had over 110 guests and 23 panels created. Stay tuned for more details on the launch of the Freedom to Be Monument Quilt later this spring! For more information about the Freedom To Be campaign, visit aclu.org/ftb