Raquel Willis

@raquelwillis.com

29583 Followers 700 Following

✦ co-founder, @genderlib.com ✦ author, THE RISK IT TAKES TO BLOOM ✦ host, AFTERLIVES + QUEER CHRONICLES ✦ activist ✦ media strategist ✦ georgia peach RaquelWillis.com

Flyer for Raquel Willis and C.Flyer for Raquel Willis and C. Riley Snorton in conversation at the Schomburg Centennial Festival, celebrating the paperback release of The Risk It Takes to Bloom. June 13 at 12:30pm, Schomburg Center, 515 Malcolm X Blvd, NYC. Free RSVP at RaquelWillis.com/Bloom.
Meme screenshot of Sandy Cheeks, the squirrel character from SpongeBob SquarePants, leaning out over a wall with a tired, unimpressed expression. The white caption text at the bottom says, “NO, YOU AIN’T.”
September 2024 in Washington, D.C. I’m standing beside the legend, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, at the Gender Liberation March under a white tent. Both of us are wearing flowing white outfits and warm smiles, holding hands in a moment of tenderness and strength.
I’m a Black woman lounging in a chair wearing a sparkling red fringe jumpsuit and matching glittery red boots. I’m posing with one arm raised and tilting a rhinestone-studded cowboy hat. My expression is playful and powerful. The setting is a stylish indoor space with lush green plants and warm lighting.
A flyer for the Gender Liberation Movement’s “Mass Call” event on Monday, March 17, at 7 PM EST. The flyer features bold black and purple text and a link to join the call (bit.ly/GLMCALL2). The background includes a triangular design with two transgender women of color passionately speaking into microphones, overlaid with a vibrant purple hue. A rainbow flag is visible in the lower left corner. The bottom right corner contains the phrase “Consider this your call to action” in bold black and purple text.
A screenshot of a Financial Times opinion piece by Peter Thiel titled ‘A time for truth and reconciliation.’ The subtitle reads, ‘Trump’s return to the White House augurs the ‘apokálypsis’ of the ancien regime’s secrets.’ TL;DR: Some rich boy BS!
A screenshot of an article from “Them” with the headline: “Pornhub Is Now Inaccessible in Almost the Entire U.S. South” by James Factora. The image above the headline shows a person holding a smartphone with the Pornhub logo displayed on the screen, against a dark background. The photo is credited to Getty Images.
A screenshot of a tweet from Hasan Piker’s twitter account saying, “Its lib january 6! time to do gender in the capitol!!”
A black-and-white photograph of me posing confidently in a stylish setting. I’m wearing a leather jacket and a sparkly, sheer skirt, with their hair styled in loose waves a la Cher from the “If I Could Turn Back Time” music video. The background includes a lively crowd. The photo is framed by a border of colorful flowers.
A screenshot of a Twitter exchange involving J.K. Rowling. Her tweet includes a picture of her and her husband celebrating their 23rd wedding anniversary. The tweet reads: “Married 23 years today ❤️.” A reply to this tweet from a user named Lando (@orlandoenlcine) states: “I hope he leaves you for a trans woman 😏.” Rowling’s quote retweet above it says: “I just read this to Neil and he said something that made me laugh so hard I nearly coughed up a kidney 🤣😆🤣😆.” The photo shows a hater ass novelist in a colorful patterned top and sunglasses perched on her head, sitting close to her bearded husband, who is wearing sunglasses and a green T-shirt.
A video showcasing an immaculate set of white stiletto-shaped nail with a silver fringe and silver jewels.
A glorious bottle of Sir Davis surrounded by flowers and miscellaneous clutter 🤣
The three members of girl group, TLC - Left-Eye, Chilli, and T-Boz n in futuristic silver outfits stand together in the sleek, white, sci-fi-inspired setting of the “No Scrubs” music video.
VP Kamala Harris seated on a grey chair, wears a purple suit and her signature smile while holding a microphone. Behind her, the blurred words ‘TRUST WOMEN’ are visible on a blue background. A clear glass of water sits on the table in front of her. The accompanying text reads, ‘Every woman in every state must have the freedom to make decisions about her own body.’ Notably, she could never acknowledge the men and nonbinary folks impacted by abortion bans nor how trans folks deserved access to gender-affirming care as well.”
A white square with black text reading, “I remember in a recent interview you spoke about your support of the trans community, because you said: "I see that transgender youngsters are the ones who are helping to take planet Earth into the galaxy because we're going to run into other life forms that our gender does not matter." Can you speak about that a bit? I think the transgender kids are the bravest kids right now that we see; they're as brave as my generation was in breaking down segregation. They're breaking down —I don't have the word for it right now-but it's gender prejudice, and [the idea that] somebody has decided that they can tell you who you are, what your name should be, and how you should look.”
“I don’t watch reality tv so all I can tell you is this photo shows three women engaged in a conversation at a gathering, with one woman wearing a blue off-shoulder dress and large earrings as the focal point. The background shows a lively dining area with people and floral decorations.”
“Close-up of Beyoncé giving “Me, Myself, and I” energy with long, wavy, blond hair wearing a metallic outfit, captured in a dynamic pose during a high-energy performance, with a vibrant red background.”
Activist Raquel Willis, a Black trans woman, is wearing a white shirt that says “Gender Liberation Movement” in black letters , black leather coat, and black pants. She is being escorted by a police officer in uniform. The scene takes place outdoors, with a red pickup truck and several other police officers visible in the background. She appears composed while being led away.
A cropped screenshot showing part of a webpage. At the top, a partial headline reads: “LGBTQ Activists to Bus Protestors” in bold text.
The image shows a headline from Far-right outlet, Daily Signal. The headline reads: “Child Sex-Change Advocates to Bus Protesters to SCOTUS Hearing on ‘Gender Affirming Care’.” Below the headline is the byline, which credits Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell as the author and lists the publication date as December 02, 2024. Beneath the text is an image of the United States Supreme Court building, with a caption crediting Ron Watts/Getty Images. The building is illuminated with golden light, likely from the sun, against a clear blue sky.
A GIF of Augusta, Georgia rap royalty, Pastor Troy, dressed in a military-style green jacket with decorative patches and a beret, energetically dancing with muddy terrain in the background.
The cover of The Risk It Takes to Bloom by Raquel Willis features warm, earthy tones. A bold portrait of me, Raquel, dominates the cover, showcasing a confident expression and natural brown hair with honey blonde highlights styled in a crown-like manner. The background is textured and layered, blending shades of orange, brown, and gold, evoking a sense of growth and transformation. The title, The Risk It Takes to Bloom, is prominently displayed in elegant, bold typography, while my name appears below in a complementary font.
A flyer for an event organized by the Gender Liberation Movement (GLM). The background features a purple-tinted photo of a protest with people holding signs, some of which read “Solutions Not Punishment.” The text overlaid on the image reads: “JOIN GLM IN D.C. 12/4 OUTSIDE SCOTUS FOR SKIRMETTI HEARING.” The words “FREE BUSES!” are highlighted in bold white, and below it, the text states, “SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT FOR OUR HEALTHCARE!” At the top is the Gender Liberation Movement logo in white. The website “GENDERLIB.COM” is located at the bottom right corner. A crescent-like logo appears in the bottom left corner.
A digital flyer for a rally supporting transgender youth. The headline at the top reads, “RALLY FOR TRANS YOUTH!” in bold black letters. Below it says, “Support our rights to our healthcare and our bodies in front of the Supreme Court.” The main image shows a group of people holding colorful signs at a protest. Signs include “TRANS YOUTH ARE THE FUTURE” and “A world without trans people never existed.” One protester is wearing a trans pride flag as a cape. At the bottom of the poster, the details are listed: “Wednesday, Dec 4, 10AM,” with the “Gender Liberation Movement” logo and the website “GENDERLIB.COM.” The background colors are bright, transitioning between turquoise and neon green.
A vibrant header image with a close-up of pink and yellow flowers surrounded by green leaves. In the foreground, a profile section features my profile picture, which shows me wearing white attire and blonde-ish braids against a blue sky. The text reads: “Spillin’ & chillin’” Raquel Willis @raquel (she/her/hers) Joined Jul 2023 BK via GA activist + writer + media strategist raquelwillis.com
“Headline reading ‘Transgender Activists Question the Movement’s Confrontational Approach.’ Subheading states, ‘Facing diminishing public support, some activists say all-or-nothing tactics are not working. “We have to make it OK for someone to change their minds.”
Raquel, with curly honey blonde hair styled in two sections at the top, poses outdoors on a sunny day. She’s wearing a shimmery black off-the-shoulder top and gold accessories, including dangling earrings and a delicate necklace. Behind her, is a wooden fence, trees with autumn foliage, and scattered sunlight casting shadows on the ground.
A close-up screengrab of an older Toni Morisson with gray locs styled back in an interview. The greatest American novelist is wearing a leopard-print scarf and a concerned expression. The background is solid black.
Black and white photo of a man sitting and leaning forward with his head down and hands clasped near his face. He wears glasses resting on his nose and a dark jacket. Text over the image reads: “‘I love Mr. Trump. Of course he could send me back at any moment, but if he did, I would still love him.’ An undocumented immigrant in Luzerne County.” The image is from the New York Times Magazine Instagram.
A selfie of two women standing side by side indoors. The woman on the left has dark curly hair pulled back, is smiling warmly, and is wearing a green jacket over a light blue top. The woman on the right has shoulder-length brown hair, partially covering her face, and is wearing a patterned, colorful top. She has a neutral expression, looking straight at the camera. The background features a framed poster on the wall.
Alt text: Raquel (a Black trans woman in long, blonde, twists) stands outdoors against a clear blue sky, looking confidently at the camera. She’s wearing a white outfit with large, delicate flower boa on the shoulders. The sunlight illuminates her face, highlighting a warm skin tone, subtle makeup, and a gentle expression. In the blurred background, part of a building and festival tents can be seen. The photo was taken at the Gender Liberation March in Sept. 2024.
Four Black trans women of various ages are gathered in the NYC streets at night with a backdrop of buildings and lights. In the center, Miss Major, an elder with curly gray hair sits in a mobility scooter, wearing a fluffy gray coat. To her left, Victoria stands with long braided hair leans down, wearing a black jacket and jeans. To Miss Major’s right stands Ceyenne in a bright pink outfit with wavy hair and Raquel in a black coat over a red and pink dress with her hair pulled back. The group is smiling.