Meet Grayson Michael Harper | Transsexual Creative & Radical Poet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Grayson Michael Harper and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Grayson Michael, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
When I first started writing, it was a coping method. I was a strong reader as a kid, but I also knew that I was different and struggled often with what I now know is depersonalization. These two things kind of culminated in me turning to writing as an escape, and later as a passion that I kept going at for years. As I came to terms with my transsexual identity, writing was (again) a way for me to cope. Writing let me express myself, liberate myself, and find beauty in my own self-creation, even when it confused me. I found that the writing of other radical trans creatives was what inspired me the most to truly be proud of my identity, and finding that sense of pride/community was one of the most important shifts that I have ever made in my life. I decided to start selling my work because I want my art to find the people who need it most. Trans art is a language of its own, a sort of thread that can connect all of us in a way that is intimate, vital, and unapologetic. Through self-publishing my work, I don’t need to censor myself as a transsexual artist, and I can also keep control of my prices and trading in order to keep art accessible.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Starting to self-publish was really hard, because I doubted myself a lot. I saw my writing as inferior to my peers’ visual art, interviews, collages, etc. It was hard for me to imagine that something as “simple” as my poetry/prose could really spark much interest. Regardless, my friends supported me so much and made me feel a little more confident in my work, and I also realized that there wasn’t much to lose; all the resources from my print shop job were right there. It took a while, but I realized that my writing is worth just as much as any other form of art. I put my everything into my work, especially my new collection, “Stitch & Strap: A Collection of T4T Poetry.” Writing for me is a generally consistent process: I write everything down. Snippets of conversations I overhear, what I see when I people watch, groups of words that come to me while I’m about to sleep, things like that. From there, I just write off of them and see where they take me. This past summer, I got my license, read a lot of queer theory, and began to truly analyze the intention of care within every facet of my relationships with other trans people. This led to a sort of creative surge surrounding trans intimacy in all its forms, and I just wrote and wrote. Some pieces started with an image or sensation, like the feeling of hot wood underneath my feet when I sat on the porch with my lover. Others started with a connection, like my religious upbringing and how I redefine worship for myself through a queer lens. I think the way that I write is what makes me love people, love myself, love places, love every minute and second of every day. There is so much beauty to be seen everywhere, and writing is how I immortalize it for myself and others. My writing is confessional, personal, and intimate by nature. I write for myself, and I write for others like me. Trans art is what connects us, and I will never stop creating those bridges.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I was born and raised here in Houston, and I know that there’s no other place like it. If I had to show someone around, I’d start with the Orange Show Monument for sure. I’ve attended events there, I took my senior portraits there, I’ve performed there, and I vended my first Zine Fest at the Center for Visionary Art. It’s a place that’s tremendously close to my heart, and is important to Houston as a whole. After that, we’d probably go to EZ-7 Skatepark. Lee and Joe Jamail is a good one too, but EZ7 is an important place to me and holds lots of good memories. We’d also go to a few shows, no matter the venue (although I do have some favorites). Going to shows with my friends is one of my all-time favorite things to do, and the scene here is so alive. The next stop would be Donovan Park, because it was my favorite place as a kid. As for places to eat, I go to school downtown, and one of my favorite places to go after school with my friends is Frank’s Pizza (but Phoenicia has also been a landmark for me during high school, and they have an amazing selection there). We also obviously have some amazing museums, and the highlight of my week is taking my friend to their shift at the Contemporary Arts Museum after school every Tuesday. That’s just a few, if I’m being honest. Houston is full of life, art, good food, and interesting people. It’s been eighteen years, and I’m still experiencing it like I just touched down at Hobby yesterday.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe so much to two of my best friends, Tyler Trevino (Temp Tats Magazine) and Tobi Carr (Sista Grrrl Zine). They got me so immersed in the idea of self-publishing through their own work, and I’m so grateful for all the inspiration they’ve given me artistically and the support they offer me as fellow creatives every single day. They’re both insanely talented, and I’m beyond happy to call them my friends (or more accurately, my family). I’d also like to thank my boyfriend Miles for helping so much with my new collection, being there for me every step of the way, and showing me such gentleness that I had no choice but to write said collection about it. He has redefined love in every describable way, and is so important to my story.

Website: graysonmichael.bigcartel.com

Instagram: gmhriot (art/zine account), thislonestar (personal)

Image Credits
Miles St. John for all portrait images.