The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969, marked the beginning of a longliberation movement for our LGBTQ+ community—a struggle that continues today amid ongoing threats. The uprising began with a series of police raids and ignitin riots at the Stonewall Inn, a queer bar in New York City, beginning a broader movement for queer rights and visibility. Among the key leaders who emerged were Black and Brown trans women, most notably Marsha P. Johnson. A beloved icon in New York City, Marsha was known for her care, motherly energy, and strong sense of self-determination.  When asked about the "P" in her name, she famously replied, “The ‘P’ stands for ‘Pay it no mind’”—a response that dismissed interrogations about her gender identity and asserted her right to define herself on her own terms.

Pay It No Mind centers themes of body and reclamation, celebrating Trans and Queer artists making a life in the Midwest during Pride History Month. Trans and queers bodies are neither arenas of contention nor battlefields– they are sacred spaces that belong to ourselves. By the power vested in WE, the T and the Q are here, and here indefinitely. 

Co-curated by Adam Ossers and Ck Ledesma Borrero