Bryn Kelly
January 16, 2016 3:10 PM   Subscribe

Bryn Kelly, writer, performance artist, voice behind The Hussy, activist in the transgender and PLW HIV/AIDS communities, hairstylist and Lambda Literary fellow, died on Wednesday.
posted by roomthreeseventeen (41 comments total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
 
I knew her and am shocked to hear of her death. She was a stellar human being.

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posted by LOLAttorney2009 at 3:21 PM on January 16, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by mrjohnmuller at 3:22 PM on January 16, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by and they trembled before her fury at 3:51 PM on January 16, 2016 [1 favorite]


also reminder that this is late capitalism, we all buy our genders, some are just more expensive than others

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posted by GenjiandProust at 3:55 PM on January 16, 2016 [10 favorites]


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posted by yueliang at 4:03 PM on January 16, 2016


I didn't know her but I've seen this week how widespread and profound her influence was to so many people I know.

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posted by babelfish at 4:30 PM on January 16, 2016 [3 favorites]


She wrote so many things that floored me under pseudonyms, and I didn't know they were her until this week. This tumblr blog about public health, being HIV+, and a thousand other topics is absolutely life-changing.
posted by there's no crying in espionage at 4:48 PM on January 16, 2016 [10 favorites]


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posted by blnkfrnk at 5:13 PM on January 16, 2016


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posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:49 PM on January 16, 2016


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posted by spinifex23 at 5:58 PM on January 16, 2016


all the .'s
all the <3's
all the feels.
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:07 PM on January 16, 2016 [3 favorites]


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posted by lilies.lilies at 6:11 PM on January 16, 2016


Katherine Cross on Kelly's death: "As I get older as a trans woman, I am coming to the horrifying realisation that the mile-markers on my path are my sister's gravestones."

Talking to my girlfriend about Bryn
Kelly today, she said "you know, someday I'd like to know a trans woman artist over 40. Or maybe be one."

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posted by ActionPopulated at 6:19 PM on January 16, 2016 [11 favorites]


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posted by rtha at 7:11 PM on January 16, 2016




I knew her pretty well before my move. She was doing so well. I can't even. I just found out via here. She was so bright and kind and good and fierce and beautiful. I fucking can't. This is such bullshit.
posted by corb at 7:42 PM on January 16, 2016 [1 favorite]


Does anyone know why?
posted by corb at 7:51 PM on January 16, 2016


Here's the fundraiser for her memorial.

And here's the Trans Lifeline as a resource for anyone feeling like they're on the edge.
posted by gingerbeer at 7:54 PM on January 16, 2016 [3 favorites]


corb: messaging your privately.
posted by divabat at 9:39 PM on January 16, 2016 [1 favorite]


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That sucks. I admit I had to Google her, but all the pictures of her seemed to be snarkily happy. Suck.

As a survivor of multiple attempts, seriously, if you feel it is that over, look for help. There are lots of organizations out there to help. Don't go it alone. It never works.
posted by Samizdata at 2:18 AM on January 17, 2016 [2 favorites]


I had never heard of Bryn, but the piece by her friend Jac Stringer was really touching and helped me understand how hard it is to live as transgender in our society.
posted by mermayd at 3:01 AM on January 17, 2016


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We all lose so much when this happens. Heartbreaking.
posted by kinnakeet at 3:19 AM on January 17, 2016


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Bryn and I had a lot of mutual friends though we didn't know each other. I considered her part of my community. And fuck, this hurts, because I would really like my friends to stop dying. And the only way for that to happen is to change the world.
posted by (Over) Thinking at 6:32 AM on January 17, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by Gelatin at 8:15 AM on January 17, 2016


there's no crying in espionage, thank you so much for sharing the PartyBottom tumblr. This is one of the best things I have ever read.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:39 AM on January 17, 2016 [1 favorite]


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posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:07 AM on January 17, 2016


ActionPopulated: "

Talking to my girlfriend about Bryn
Kelly today, she said "you know, someday I'd like to know a trans woman artist over 40. Or maybe be one."

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Luckily, I know one. We used to date. And she's getting married next month, according to Facebook. (We're still good friends.)
posted by Samizdata at 12:09 PM on January 17, 2016


Her domestic partner of many years is metafilter's own Suparnova, blasdelf and I's little brother, who is now being well cared for in very good company. The trans community in Brooklyn is amazing and unfortunately has a lot of experience with this.

One big thing I noticed was missing from whats been said about her life here so far is how for a long time she was one of the central people fighting the good fight against trans-misogyny at Michfest with her characteristic loving good nature

She was always kind, and her hair was always perfect.

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posted by Blasdelb at 3:33 PM on January 17, 2016 [9 favorites]


Blasdelb: "Her domestic partner of many years is metafilter's own Suparnova, blasdelf and I's little brother, who is now being well cared for in very good company. The trans community in Brooklyn is amazing and unfortunately has a lot of experience with this.

One big thing I noticed was missing from whats been said about her life here so far is how for a long time she was one of the central people fighting the good fight against trans-misogyny at Michfest with her characteristic loving good nature

She was always kind, and her hair was always perfect.

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"

Well, a bad situation, but some good news. Glad to hear your brother is getting some support right now.
posted by Samizdata at 10:39 PM on January 17, 2016 [1 favorite]


Something else that I suspect would have meant a lot to Bryn is Laverne Cox's eulogy. Bryn was very proud to have auditioned for the same role on Orange is the New Black and had so much respect for Laverne Cox that she was just as proud to have lost it to her. She really was that kind of person, who only really cared about what worked out well for everyone.
posted by Blasdelb at 4:24 AM on January 18, 2016 [2 favorites]


First met her in person in '06, and had been friends online for longer.

crushed.
posted by Theta States at 9:49 AM on January 18, 2016


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posted by dysh at 3:06 PM on January 18, 2016


There'll be a memorial service in New York City the weekend of February 6 & 7, 2016, according to Tom Léger, and you should contact Kelli Dunham if you want to help.
posted by brainwane at 2:02 PM on January 19, 2016 [1 favorite]


The time and place for the memorial service have been finalized: Saturday, February 6, 7:00 PM, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC.

There's also a service tomorrow in her hometown of Huntington, West Virginia, and there's discussion of a Bay Area service in late February as well (per this Facebook page).
posted by brainwane at 5:37 AM on January 21, 2016 [1 favorite]




see you Saturday to say goodbye, Bryn.
posted by Theta States at 6:58 AM on February 2, 2016


For those of you who couldn't make it, Sarah Schulman's eulogy of Bryn was hard to hear but amazing. It was a beautiful service and I'm just so fucking grateful for everyone who has come out and surrounded my brother with so much love and support.
posted by Blasdelb at 5:29 PM on February 7, 2016 [6 favorites]


Blasdelb, my condolences to you and to your brother and friends. I wish I had known Bryn. Thank you for that link to Sarah Schulman's eulogy; when I heard it at the service it seared itself into me.

I'm grateful to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and to the memorial organizers for a moving service, and especially for how thoughtful and respectful it was of the many different belief systems and needs of the mourners attending.
posted by brainwane at 8:11 PM on February 7, 2016 [2 favorites]


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posted by Leucistic Cuttlefish at 7:10 AM on February 8, 2016


still not recovered.
posted by Theta States at 8:46 AM on February 9, 2016 [2 favorites]


...Its so weird now seeing exciting papers about HIV research and not knowing what to do with the impulse to send Bryn a facebook message with it.
posted by Blasdelb at 7:25 AM on February 10, 2016 [2 favorites]


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