Photography by Natalie Shao
Founded in 2017, the Queer Art and Fashion Show (QAFS) is an annual event that offers a safe space for queer and trans creatives to not only build community but also freely express and empower themselves through the arts. The QAFS team is currently searching for project coordinators to help plan the third annual show. The application deadline is Wednesday, October 3rd, 11:59 pm. Applications can be found at tinyurl.com/QAFSProjectCoordApp
Before QAFS founded “There was nothing for queer/trans folks in terms of art and fashion that was a collective, coherent space.”
“There aren’t a lot of opportunities for queer and trans people to have the work showcased, to have their performances showcased, to have their bodies showcased. We can provide that opportunity for queer and trans people to get the recognition and love they deserve for everything they want to bring into this world.”
Katie Ly (she/they), Director and Founder
Meili Wang, Project Coordinator
The goal is for folks to feel comfortable, to feel empowered, to feel like they’re having a good time in a safe community
Greg Fernandez (he/him), dancer
It’s an opportunity to be yourself without having to feel judged.
It allows me to be able to explore my truer self and know myself more
Ariel Orejola (she/her), dancer
It’s definitely nice to just express yourself and feel welcome in a community that will take you for who you are and not judge you.
Everyone’s accepting, and you can express yourself, and no one will judge you.
Astrid Liu (she/her), model director
It’s nice to have a community event that’s just about fun. All of the political, all of the revolutionary, but we also just need time to actually just live and feel emotions.
It’s both being able to show off what you’ve done and elevate others to take confidence in their own work.
Tatiana Su (she/her), model
It’s really important to have this space to celebrate us as queer people, especially when a lot of the time the world doesn’t celebrate us, our families don’t celebrate us, so we have to celebrate us.
Having a platform to share our artistic expression and our stories really lifts my spirits.
