Monica Helms - Creator of the Trans Pride Flag & Co-Founder of Transgender Americans Veterans Association (TAVA)
Monica Helms is pictured in her home workshop in Marietta.
PhotographeD BY Robin Rayne (@robin.rayne)
This episode features Monica Helms, a transgender activist, veteran, and creator of the trans pride flag. Monica served as a nuclear submarine Machinist Mate in the U.S. Navy, and later helped found the Transgender Americans Veterans Association (TAVA). In 2004, she was selected as Georgia’s first transgender delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
Monica created the trans flag in 1999. Her simple, powerful design has become a worldwide symbol of belonging for millions of trans people. The original flag is in the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum.
Out Down South is brought to you by the Atlanta LGBTQ+ History Project and part of the WUSSY Podcast Network.
Hosted by Rachel Garbus (@goodgraciousrachel) and Sam Landis (@iam_samlandis).
Produced by Sam Landis, Rachel Garbus, and Jon Dean (@jondeanphoto)
Edited by Jonathan Thomas Maiocco (@jonathanthomasmaiocco) , who also created the podcast’s new thematic music.
Podcast graphics created by Sam Landis.
Photographer: Robin Rayne (@robin.rayne).
Monica Helms is pictured in her home workshop in Marietta.
Project graphic design & social support: Amanda Killian
Project interns: Alyssa Zhang, Alex Campo, Hunter Buchheit, Kaleb Branch, and Oli Turner.
The podcast is funded by a Georgia Humanities grant and individual gifts from LGBTQ+ history-lovers like you. If you would like to support the project, you can by visiting: atlantalgbtqhistoryproject.org/donate
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About the Project:
The Atlanta LGBTQ+ History Project is a multimedia initiative to gather, share, and preserve the history and life stories of LGBTQ+ communities in Georgia and across the Southeast. Through oral history, photography, and archival materials, we bring the voices and stories of LGBTQ+ Atlantans to life.
Explore the project through museum exhibitions, the Out Down South podcast, live and virtual panel series, and online materials. All project materials are archived at Georgia State University Library’s Special Collection & Archives.
Learn more by visiting: atlantalgbtqhistoryproject.org
We are grateful for the partners of the podcast and project: Wussy Mag, Out Front Theatre Company, and the special collections and archives at Georgia State University Library where all of the oral histories from this project will be archived.
You can find the full show notes and the podcast transcription at atlantalgbtqhistoryproject.org/out-down-south-episodes/monica-helms