Queer Writers of Color Relief Fund

After almost 10 months of fundraising and relief efforts, we are sad to say we have exhausted all of our funds for this iteration of relief funding. This is not to say we will won't do more relief funding in the future, but as of today, we are closing the fund. Thank you to everyone who donated and shared this fund. It is beyond appreciated and I know this fund would not be what it was today without the love and support of my community. Again, thank you! 

With this fund, we donated about $45.5k to 175 writers. That is truly, truly amazing! Again, thank you to everyone who donated and shared. 

Over the next several months, Shade Literary Arts will be focusing on our literary journal, The Shade Journal, as well as begin planning for readings, panels, and workshops. If you want to donate to Shade Literary Arts to continue doing the work to support queer writers of color, please email us using the email below. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please email us.

Thanks again!

With peace,

Luther Hughes, Founder

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If it wasn't for the support, whether financial, mental, emotional, or even with a simple retweet of my work, I have always felt supported by the community of queer writers of color. Many of us, queer writers of color, and supporters of our community, know how important it is to have support, especially financial. 

Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, many countries and cities have cancelled major events, and in light of this, many people, presses, journals, etc. have cancelled book tours and readings, which directly support writers; honestly, it puts money directly in their pockets, money that is needed for bills, medicine, food, transportation, creation, and more! Likewise, universities across USA have switched to online only and have closed their campuses, forcing students to go home, but a lot of students, especially black and brown students, especially queer black and brown students don't have this opportunity, and are in desperate need of funds. The closures of universities also effect teachers who rely on these classes to get paid. 

This impact has major affects on the literature community as a whole and puts queer writers of color in stressful situations, causing more widespread panic, and while I tip my hat to presses and publishers who have created bundled packages and discounted many of their books, those who aren't affiliated with them are still in need. Even those affiliated with said presses and publishers are in need. 

I was very inspired by the efforts of Ijeoma Oluo, who helped create the Seattle Artist Relief Fund . I want to help, too. I need to help.

This fund is to help at least 100 queer writers of color who have been financially impacted by the current COVID-19. Priority will be given to queer trans women of color and queer disabled writers of color, but I hope this relief fund will help many queer writers of color it can. 

Donors gifting $10 or more will receive a free .pdf copy of A HISTORY OF FLAMBOYANCE by Justin Phillip Reed and DREAM WITH A GLASS CHAMBER by Aricka Foreman, both from YesYes Books.

If you want to help with this fundraiser, please email us.

With peace,

Luther Hughes, Founder of Shade Literary Arts