This past weekend I came out to 200 people (most of whom I didn’t know) while pitching the idea to create a website called Artdentify that allows people to identify and connect with others through art. The pitch was for a Startup Weekend Gainesville event, which involves bringing a business to life within 54 hours. Nearly the first words out of my mouth were:
“Three years ago I came out and began transitioning from female to male. What helped me survive that experience was identifying with other trans stories online.”
I couldn’t have imagined doing that a couple of years ago.
The response was so warm and supportive that I fell in love with my hometown again. The startup community embraced the idea and wants to support it with guidance and expertise going forward.
However, I’m still a team of one at this point while learning code as fast as I can and searching for a talented programming partner who cares about the community. Thanks to all of you who took the survey, I have a much better idea of which questions to ask next and how to design the site. One could describe the model as a combination of deviantART, tumblr, and LiveJournal, with the goals of giving users space to explore their identities and communities safely while offering artists a better way to reach their target audiences, promote and sell their work.
If you would like to keep up on how Artdentify develops or you feel like you have something to contribute, please email me at morgan.boecher@gmail.com
So… try something bold yourself this week!
<3 Morgan
PS- I’m doing a comic reading this Friday at Queer the Fest! I’m going on at 7:30pm at Display in good ol’ Gainesville, FL.
The website sounds like a great idea! Good luck!
What? Gainesville? Nah, you should like, totally come down to Miami.
Yeah.
Totally.
8D
I totally would! Do you know any places down there that might be good for a comic reading or signing event? Such as awesome, queer-friendly bookstores or community centers? Lemme know :D
I wish I could have been there to see that. It must have been incredibly validating. Congratulations Morgan, you’re an amazing guy.
I taught myself basic code in high school, but I don’t do high end programing as I’m putting my focus more into writing. Nonetheless, if there’s any way I can support you I’ve been waiting for a project like this to come together. :)
Cheers, mate.
Thank you, Wynden! I have the utmost respect for fine writers, so please continue your craft with vigor. Once I get a basic beta site together, I will want to have writers and artists at the ready to test it. Please consider being one of those initial users to offer valuable feedback!
Best wishes,
Morgan
Still bummed I missed you last week. It’s awesome you are learning to program, I think you will find there is a really supportive community in open source that loves teaching newcomers. Let me know if you need any help finding resources, I’d be glad to send you some stuff! Ps. you had the best hair in highschool. :)
It was so great meeting you this weekend! Hopefully, you’ve been able to grab some much-needed Zs after that whorlwind.
I love your comic >_< I'd like my own hardcopy. Are there any available?
And why, why, why did you have to do a reading on the day I'm going out of town? Wish I could be there. Guess I'll just have to send good vibes your way ;)
It was excellent getting to know you too, April! Thanks so much for enjoying the comic. I’ll be more than happy to get you a copy, as soon as you invite me out to play catch :) And no worries about missing the reading since there will likely be others soon. Have a great time out of town and I can’t wait to hang out again!
Yay successful coming out to strangers! :D I hope the website startup is successful.
That site sounds like an awesome idea! I’ll definitely be sending an email to keep up with how that goes. ^_^
I miss Gainesville, it was a very nice place for the two years I lived there when I was younger. =D