Name Change.
While was on my break this summer, I was sent a very thoughtfully written email explaining how my former business name (Quiltkween) was appropriated from the Black trans and LBGTQ community. I had no idea. It was never my intention to appropriate the term kween and had I known I was appropriating the word I would have never branded my business with that name in the first place.
When I went to look up the word back in 2016, back when I was officially working to brand my business, I originally heard it from the show broad city, but I wanted to make sure I was correctly using it if it was going to be my official name. I saw it online defined as being an empowered badass woman. However, had I spent more time digging deeper and researching, I would have realized the term kween was originally used in Black queer/trans ballroom slang and culture. The same Black queer/trans women who started the Stonewall Uprising, which initiated the modern LGBTQ rights movement.
Being that its not my place to use the word kween, I am working on shifting my business name over to QuiltQueen Studios. Starting digitally and then phasing out all of the physical branding once I can afford to order more. I am deeply sorry to anyone that I may have offended. I , like many others, am continuing to learn and grow. In addition to changing my business name, I will be donating over the next few months to The Transgender Law Center
“Transgender Law Center changes law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression.”
Thank you all so much for continuing to follow along and for your patience as I work on growing as a person and as a maker