In 2010, FIERCE celebrated ten years of LGBTQ youth of color organizing. This occasion for honoring a decade of critical thinking and organizing around issues of police brutality, access to public space and leadership development offered an opportunity to reflect on FIERCE’s work in the context of a longer history of liberation struggles. FIERCE not only recognizes the leaders and changes that our organization has made, but the people, places and communities that emerged from movements for gay liberation, civil rights and Black and Latino radicalism.

The artists collaborations of the Queer Pier, 40 Years project provided a critical space for members to learn about queer history through the arts, build their skills and foster their creativity as LGBTQ youth organizers and media-makers.  Through interactive workshops, members developed skills in filmmaking, graphic design, writing and screen printing, while deepening their political analysis and understanding of queer history, culture and movement work.  These workshops helped to build bridges, strengthen connections and envision new ways to bring art production into FIERCE’s work.

To date, FIERCE has had the opportunity to work with powerful artists who are creating space for change, healing, and celebration through libratory art making, including Randal Wilcox from the Alvin Baltrop Trust, Parallel Lines, Ginger Brooks Takahashi, Victor Tobar and Kay Ulanday Barrett.