TATANKA: A New Home for LGBTQIA+ Voices in the Arts
In light of recent policy changes under the current administration that have rolled back protections for LGBTQIA individuals (aclu.org), and more to come (americanprogress.org), TATANKA stands as a beacon of inclusivity and support. We offer a platform and safe/secure haven where marginalized performers can express themselves freely, without fear of discrimination. Our mission is to provide real, tangible options for those who feel excluded or erased, ensuring that the arts remain a sanctuary for all.
“Art is nothing if you don’t reach every segment of the people.”
— Keith Haring
useum.orgKeith Haring, an American Pop artist, emphasized the importance of inclusivity in art, highlighting that its true value lies in connecting with all people, regardless of their background or identity.
TATANKA was built on the foundation of justice, equity, and cultural preservation. In a time when marginalized communities—especially LGBTQIA+ performers—face increasing attacks under reactionary political agendas, we refuse to stand idly by. Our mission is not only to create an ‘Orchestra Americana’ but to ensure that it is a living, breathing reflection of the diverse voices that make America truly rich. The arts should be a sanctuary, not a battleground, and we aim to provide real, tangible options for those who feel excluded, unheard, or erased.
TATANKA is more than just a musical collective—it is a movement. We provide LGBTQIA+ artists with a platform to perform, record, and share their talents without fear of discrimination. Our live streaming, recording sessions, and multimedia productions are designed to highlight voices that have been pushed aside. We offer:
TATANKA is composed of musicians, artists, activists, and community leaders who believe in the power of art as a force for change. Many of our members, including matriarchs within the movement, are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Our leadership reflects our commitment: Indigenous, queer, and diverse voices are at the helm, ensuring that our vision remains true to its roots in inclusion and resistance.
The time is now. LGBTQIA+ performers are under threat, facing bans, censorship, and erasure. But at TATANKA, your art will be seen and heard. Our work is based in the digital sphere and beyond: through live performances, recorded sessions, and international collaborations, but we intend to relocate overseas to provide not just a safe space, but secure, and sustainable, for all stakeholders.
If you are an LGBTQIA+ artist looking for a platform that recognizes and respects your identity, TATANKA is here for you. Let’s connect if what we propose is what YOU seek. The stage is yours, and your voice matters. Join us, amplify your art, and reclaim the space that belongs to you.
Xun Lan had spent her entire life fighting to be seen. As an Asian American transgender woman, she had always lived on the margins, but when she became an adult actress, the world made sure she knew exactly where she stood—beneath them. It wasn’t just the whispers, the sneers, or the slurs. It was the quiet, systemic erasure. Under Project 2025, that erasure became law. Her very existence was a rebellion.
She had already lost count of the closed doors. The bank that denied her a loan. The doctor who refused her care. The landlord who suddenly needed “renovations” when he learned who she was. But it was when she heard that a new law would allow hospitals to turn away trans patients—to let them die—that the breath was knocked from her lungs. America had always been hostile, but now it had declared war on her.
One night, scrolling through the shadows of the internet, she found a whisper of something different. TATANKA. A refuge. A movement. An orchestra. A place where the discarded could thrive. She read the words over and over, not daring to hope. “Orchestra Americana welcomes all LGBTQIA+ artists. Auditions open.”
Xun Lan had always sung in secret. Her voice was the one thing she had kept for herself, something untainted by the industry that consumed her body but ignored her soul. A gift from her grandmother, who used to hum lullabies in a language long forgotten by everyone but ghosts.
With shaking hands, she sent in her audition video—a raw, unfiltered rendition of an old folk song her grandmother used to sing. She didn’t expect a response. She had applied for everything from waitressing jobs to nonprofit work and had only ever received silence. But this time was different.
A week later, an email arrived. “Xun Lan, we see you. We hear you. You’re invited to our live auditions.”
It took every dollar she had left to book a flight overseas, to a country she had never seen but where, for the first time, she was told she could belong. When she stepped off the plane, her breath caught in her throat—a welcome party. Not just any party, but her people. Queer. Trans. Nonbinary. Musicians. Artists. Healers. Fighters. A world that had been denied to her, waiting with open arms.
The audition itself felt surreal. She had sung her whole life in the shadows, but now she stood on a stage bathed in golden light. When her voice soared, she felt it—a breaking, a mending, a becoming. By the time the final note faded, the room was silent. Then came the thunder—applause, cheers, tears.
A woman with silver hair and a voice like velvet took her hands. “Welcome home, Xun Lan.”
For the first time in her life, she collapsed into an embrace that didn’t come with conditions. She didn’t have to explain herself. She didn’t have to prove her worth. She was enough.
In the weeks that followed, she lost herself in the music. She rehearsed with musicians who understood what it meant to be silenced. She recorded in studios where every note was a reclamation. She performed for audiences who wept because they, too, knew what it was to be erased.
But more than anything, she lived.
In the communal homes where artists gathered late into the night, she laughed so hard she thought she might shatter. She learned new languages, not just of words but of rhythm, of touch, of belonging. She wasn’t just tolerated—she was celebrated.
One evening, as she watched the sunset paint the sky in hues of fire and promise, she realized something profound. America had tried to make her disappear. But here, on the other side of the world, she had become something more than she ever dreamed possible.
She wasn’t a survivor.
She was a symphony.
Xun Lan’s story is a testament to resilience, to the power of art, and to the sanctuaries we create when the world refuses to give us one. TATANKA’s Orchestra Americana is more than just music—it is a lifeline. A space where the marginalized are not just heard, but uplifted, where voices that were silenced become anthems for the future.
For every Xun Lan in the world, let this story serve as a beacon: No system, no government, no force of hatred can erase a song that demands to be sung.
TATANKA is a new artistic collective created to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices in the arts. It seeks to provide a safe and inclusive space for marginalized performers facing increasing political challenges. TATANKA offers platforms for performance, recording, and collaboration, emphasizing authenticity and cultural preservation. They provide creative spaces, employment, artistic grants, and advocacy, aiming to counteract discrimination and erasure. Their organization is led by diverse members, including Indigenous and queer individuals, who focus on digital platforms, live performances, and international collaborations. They also invite LGBTQIA+ artists to join them in amplifying their art.
Subject: Overview of TATANKA’s mission, offerings, and goals as a platform for LGBTQIA+ artists.
Executive Summary:
TATANKA is presented as a newly established organization (as of February 2025, based on publication date) dedicated to providing a safe and supportive platform for LGBTQIA+ artists. It positions itself as a direct response to perceived rollbacks in LGBTQIA+ protections and aims to combat erasure and discrimination within the arts. The organization offers various resources, including creative spaces, collaborative opportunities, employment & artistic grants, and advocacy & visibility initiatives. TATANKA emphasizes inclusivity, intersectionality, and the power of art as a force for social change. They also have a focus on international collaboration and relocation overseas to provide sustainable resources for their stakeholders.
Key Themes and Ideas:
Important Facts/Details:
Potential Questions/Considerations:
Censorship: The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.
LGBTQIA+: An acronym encompassing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other identities related to sexual orientation and gender identity.
Inclusivity: The practice or policy of including people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized.
Marginalized: To treat a person, group, or concept as insignificant or peripheral.
Equity: The quality of being fair and impartial. In this context, it refers to providing resources and opportunities based on individual needs to ensure fair outcomes.
Cultural Preservation: Efforts to protect and maintain cultural heritage, including artistic traditions, languages, and historical sites.
Reactionary: Opposing political or social reform; advocating a return to traditional policies or practices.
Orchestra Americana: In this context, likely refers to a diverse and inclusive musical collective representing the varied cultural influences within America.
BIPOC: An acronym that stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
Google’s Deep Dive Podcast: The AI Revolution in Music – Portugal’s Role in Shaping the…
"A saudade não está na distância das coisas, mas numa súbita fractura de nós, num…
Google’s Deep Dive Podcast: Ethical Cultural Collaboration & Global South Leadership https://youtu.be/k5t-gGIQkFI How Portugal Can…
Google’s Deep Dive Podcast: Bridging the Lusophone World Through Culture and Innovation https://youtu.be/hgSD4IFKXe0 Bridging Portugal,…
A Tale for a Post-Truth World Mara Mischief, Bringer of Shadows – Full Album (1:37:23)…
From Fado to the Future: How TATANKA’s Cross-Cultural Movement Reinvents Portugal’s Musical Identity Google's Deep…
View Comments
🎶 TATANKA: A Sanctuary for the Silenced 🎶
http://www.TATANKA.site/lgbtqia
In a world where marginalized voices are often suppressed, TATANKA stands as a beacon for LGBTQIA performers. We offer a platform where art meets advocacy, ensuring every voice is heard and celebrated. Join us in embracing diversity and championing artistic freedom.
#LGBTQIA #Inclusion #ArtisticFreedom #TATANKA #MarginalizedVoices #LoveIsLove #Equality #Pride #QueerArt #SocialJustice #Diversity #AmplifyVoices #UnityInDiversity #StandTogether #CreativeResistance #LGBTQIA
#QueerArtists
#Pride
#DiversityAndInclusion
#LoveIsLove
#TransRightsAreHumanRights
#Artivism
#RepresentationMatters
#IndigenousVoices
#MusicForChange
#LGBTQMusic
#QueerCreatives
#InclusiveArt
#IndieArtists
#LGBTQActivism
#MatriarchyRising
#JusticeThroughArt
#ArtisticFreedom
#SafeCreativeSpaces
#OrchestraAmericana
#TATANKAMovement
#SanctuaryForTheSilenced
#LGBTQIAOrchestra
#TatankaVoices
#BeyondErasure
#AmplifyQueerVoices
#CreativeResistance
#ArtIsRebellion
#BIPOCArtistsUnite
#IndigenousQueerPower