The Autonomy Issue: Contributors

Mandy Shunnarah

Mandy (they/them) is a Palestinian-American writer of poetry, essays, fiction, and journalism. Their work has been published in The New York Times, Electric Literature, The Rumpus, and others. Their first book, Midwest Shreds: Skating Through America's Heartland, is forthcoming from Belt Publishing. To see more of their work and pictures of their eight adorable cats, follow them on Twitter (@fixedbaroque), Instagram (@offthebeatenshelf), and check out their website.

Elizabeth Ruth Deyro

Elizabeth (she/her) is a freelance journalist, editor, and marketing specialist from the Philippines. Her work can be found in gal-dem, Rappler, CNN, and Philippine Star, among others. She is interested in topics surrounding women's rights and current affairs, and has earned post-graduate credits in Women's Studies from the University of the Philippines.

Fadairo Tesleem

Fadairo (he/him) is a Nigerian poet and a member of The Poetic Collective. He was shortlisted for the 2022 Spectrum Poetry Contest & Africa Teen Writers' Award (poetry category). His poems are published in The B'K Magazine, Geez Magazine, Dillydoun Review, Protean Poetry, Kreative Diadem, and Afritondo. Fadairo is a recipient of the Olongo Poetry Workshop. You can find him on Twitter (@_olakunle_).

Marta Gómez Hervás

Marta (she/her) is a visual artist and illustrator from Seville, Andalusia. Her work revolves around the visual representation of non-material matters related to human connections and inner worlds. Her style is founded on a distinct aesthetic walking through the border between darkness and light. You can keep track of her work by following her Instagram (@la_hervas) and her Tumblr portfolio.

Oluwaseun Famoofo

Oluwaseun (she/her) is a passionate narrator. A lover of comedy shows and wine, you will mostly see her glued to her laptop revealing one story or the other. Creating her novels and building their characters gives her the utmost satisfaction. 

Hanna Norberg Williams

Hanna (they/them) is a multi-disciplinary illustrator and animator based in Cardiff. They create distinctive bold, textural work with an emphasis on juxtaposed colours and scenarios that often subvert the everyday with the surreal and absurd. Their experience as a queer autistic person with ADHD informs much of this. You can find them on Instagram (@hanorbb) and on their website.

Jaden Tsan

Jaden (she/her) is an illustrator and designer based in Canada. Since graduating from the Fashion Communication programme at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2022, her work has been featured in publications such as smART Magazine, ATA Magazine, Potluck Zine, and THIS Magazine. You can find her on her website.

Vic Saule

Vic (they/them) is an Australia-born freelance writer and researcher based in Manchester. They hold a double degree in International Relations and Journalism from the University of New South Wales. In their spare time, they read extensively on rave cultures and queer/trans theories. They have had articles published on queer joy and queer history in Manchester. They are particularly interested in joy as a form of resistance that antagonises normative stereotypes and hierarchies that continue to govern society, inspired by their love of dancing in clubs and electronic music.

Maria Prieto

Maria (she/her) was born in Manila, Philippines and moved to Southern California when she was twelve. She studied psychology at University of California, San Diego and has a Master’s degree in Education. Her book reflections and recommendations can be found on Instagram (@mpjustreading).

Hana Urban

Hana (they/them) is a queer and disabled writer from Chicago. Their work can be found at In These Times, South Side Weekly, Study Hall, and others. Look for them in cafes, gardens, and local poetry readings, conspiring to dismantle capitalism. Find them on Twitter (@likeplumptastic).

Ariana Hashtrudi

Ariana (she/her) is a freelance journalist from Greater London. She has a BA in Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, and is currently an MA International Journalism student at the University of Leeds. She has written for the South West Londoner, EastLondonLines, and Impakter, covering topics including human rights, social issues, politics, the arts, and the environment. Outside of her work and studies, she enjoys watching sitcoms, trying out different cuisines in restaurants, and woodland walks. You can find her on Twitter @AHashtrudi.

Nia De indias

Andrés Parra (he/him) is a Colombian artist based in Santiago, Chile, works with his drag alter ego Nia De indias (she/they)to explore Queer identity in public spaces. Through the use of recycled and found archives, he subverts traditional artistic canons and expands the boundaries of Drag. His work reflects on migration, masculinity, and the subversion of hegemonic norms. As an LGBTQI+ person in Latin America, he aims to create new references for future generations.

Sophorntavy Vorng

Sophorntavy Vorng (she/her) is a Cambodian-Australian writer. She is the author of A Meeting of Masks: Status, Power and Hierarchy in Bangkok. She loves reading, travelling, and foraging for mushrooms. Learn more about her work on her website.

Stuart Tibaweswa

Stuart (he/him) is a Kampala-based Ugandan documentary photographer. His work often focuses on marginalised communities and their relationship to wider society, and seeks to contribute towards correcting misrepresented narratives. He was nominated for the 2018 Young Achievers Awards in the Film and Photography category, and won first place in the ‘People Category’ of the Uganda Press Photo Awards 2021 as well as second place in the ‘Single Images – Planet Category’ of the 2022 East African Photography Award. Through his aesthetic visual language, Stuart is firmly committed to using photography to raise awareness about these issues, while amplifying the voices of marginalised communities whose human rights are often overlooked. You can find him on his website, Twitter (@stuart_tibs), and Instagram @stuart_tibs.

Rohan Montgomery

Rohan (he/him) is a writer, editor, and fact-checker. Originally from London, he spent the last year reporting on injustice-related issues from the US and Colombia for the BBC, The New Republic, In These Times, and The Nation. You can find him on his website and Twitter (@rohanmontroro).

Te Aho Jordan

Te Aho (they/them, she/her) is an indigenous queer visual storyteller living on the lands of Ngāti Kahungunu. Te Aho belongs to the iwi of Ngāti Porou and is proud of their Sāmoan heritage. Te Aho's photography work aims to elevate the voices of Māori, Pasifika, queer, and youth communities. Te Aho is passionate about youth development and has recently been named a 2023 Young Explorer for the National Geographic Society, and is serving the New Zealand National Commission to UNESCO as a youth leader. You can find them on their website and Instagram (@teahoj).

beyza durmuş

beyza (she/they) is a queer disabled artist based in Türkiye. Her work includes bold colours, textures, and childish lines along with some of her own writings inspired from everyday life, grief, depression, and everything in between. Find more on their website and Instagram (@beyzandurmus).