Jordyn’s Story

In this first of three films, Jordyn Jay shares what led her to create an artistic organization during a time of social reckoning in the United States. That organization, Black Trans Femmes in the Arts, is now an international organization. But its roots are deeply local and deeply personal to Jordyn. As she gets ready for a groundbreaking event at the Brooklyn Museum, Jordyn reflects on the emotional journey led her to create space for hundreds of Black trans femme artists around the world.

Artistic Legacies explores the power of the Black Trans Femmes in the Arts (BTFA) collective, through the stories of Founder Jordyn Jay, musician and songwriter Iman Hill, and ballroom legend Kimiyah Prescott. This three-part docuseries shows how these members use artistic expression to change themselves and the world around them, bringing hope to the most of the marginalized at a time of unprecedented violence and political attack. Artistic Legacies points to how we can create brighter futures by using what’s already inside each of us. The 200-strong BTFA demonstrates how to manifest these possibilities.

About Jordyn: Originally from Jacksonville, FL, Jordyn Jay (she/her) is a storyteller, arts advocate, and producer based in Brooklyn, NY. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Black Trans Femmes in the Arts, Inc. (BTFA). Before founding BTFA, Jordyn received her Master’s degree in Art Politics from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Jordyn is a firm believer in the power of art to inspire radical sociopolitical change and is dedicated to using that power for Black trans liberation.