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Our Story

The South has always been home to queer people.

We've built families here, fallen in love here, created art, started businesses, organized communities, and found ways to make this place our own.

But too often, the stories told about LGBTQ+ life in the South focus on what it means to leave, what it means to struggle, or what it means to survive.

Those experiences matter. But they're not the whole story.

Oi Am Queer exists to help tell the rest of it.

Beginning in Northwest Arkansas, we're creating a space for Southern queer people to share their experiences in their own voices. From artists and organizers to neighbors, workers, and everyday people, we believe our communities deserve to see themselves represented in all their complexity.

The joy. The mess. The creativity. The relationships. The challenges. The ordinary moments that make a life.

Because queer Southern life isn't one story. It's thousands of them.

Our Mission

Document

Our mission is to document, celebrate, and amplify queer Southern life through accessible, community-centered storytelling.

The South

Starting in Northwest Arkansas, Oi Am Queer is building a platform where LGBTQ+ people can share their experiences, connect with their communities, and see their lives reflected with honesty and dignity.

Our commitment is simple

We believe stories should be told with people, not simply about them.

Authentic stories, responsible storytelling, and a community where more of us can see ourselves.

Our team

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Founder

Hey, I'm Lex. They/Them.

I'm Southern, queer, nonbinary, disabled, and someone who believes the stories we tell about where we're from matter.

I grew up with osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic bone condition often shortened to OI. It's part of my experience, just as being queer and Southern are parts of who I am.

And yes, that's where the name comes from.

Oi Am Queer. A little wordplay, a little personal history, and a whole lot of pride.

After spending time living outside Arkansas, I returned to Northwest Arkansas with a deeper appreciation for the people who choose to build their lives here.

I wanted to create something that celebrates those people. Something that recognizes the South isn't just a place queer people leave. It's also a place we call home, build community, and shape our futures.

Oi Am Queer started with my own experiences, but the goal has never been to make this platform about me.

It's about making room for more of us to be heard.

And we're just getting started.