What is This Project?

Qhariwarmikuna is a multilingual anthology dedicated to empowering 2-Spirit, Queer, travesti, and trans folks (especially, but not limited to, tribes South of the border) through multimedia art, uplifting our voices, and gathering together, both in the homelands
and in the diaspora.

Qhariwarmi (also spelled Qariwarmi) is a Quechua gender identity with roots in the Andean traditions of the Pre-Columbian Inca Empire. It was used by Indigenous societies to describe people whose gender expressions didn’t match their assigned sex at birth, or those who served in both masculine and feminine gender roles. It has since expanded to encompass many queer identities in the Andes & the diaspora. “Qhariwarmikuna” is the plural form of the word!

Qhariwarmikuna began a few years ago, when our project head got the idea of a recurring art and writing publication dedicated to uplifting the voices of Queer & Trans Indigenous voices in their community. They recruited editor associate Katty to assist with workflow, communications, and submissions. With backgrounds in business, editorial writing, and zine-making, the two set out to make this dream a reality.
  

Submissions are currently closed for our first issue, with the theme of  Identity, Home, and History, debuting in Winter of 2025. More info on the submission process can be found on the SUBMIT page. 

Image by @emberislands on Instagram