Joy of being
celebrating the beauty of LGBTQIA lives
The world we are living in is filled with much unrest as we contend with the hardships that are upon those most vulnerable in our communities. We are in a period of reconnection to our humanity and interdependence on each other that is generative of the glory in who we are despite what may be said against us. To know that our joy cannot be taken and is abundant are radical forms of resistance that converge with the celebrations we throw for ourselves, and every act of that is an ode to our being. —Kristy Moua / JOB Artist
In Progress artist TJ Lor is leading the Joy of Being Initiative of collecting images, audio stories and more with a growing community of LBGTQIA+ artists that are starting t think of In Progress as home. In Progress has been working with artists throughout its history to raise the visibility of misaligned and negatively stereotyped communities, and in 2026 will continue the art of digital storytelling to further this purpose.
Please stay tuned as we begin sharing upcoming events and activities in support of this beautiful initiative, and while you wait check out the incredible stories of acceptance and change shared by participating families at the link below.
For more information about Joy of Being please send an email to info@in-progress.org
portrait of Kristy Moua photographed by TJ Lor of JUAL Visuals
This exhibit activity is supported, in part, by the City of Saint Paul Cultural Sales Tax Revitalization Program, the McKnight Foundation, the Saint Paul and the Minnesota Foundation. This activity was also made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board General Operating Support Program, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Additionally, this activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
