New York City’s annual Transgender Day of Visibility has traditionally been focused on advocacy, empowerment, solidarity with the LGBTI+ community and our allies as a whole, and of course… celebration! Actor, singer, producer, and LGBTQ+ community activist Tym Moss has known the importance of this for a very long time. Moss and fellow artist/activist Cheryl Paley have created and co-produced a truly unique art experience called Project TRANSCEND. The project celebrated its Opening Night at the famous Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Community Center in New York City on, appropriately enough, New York City’s Transgender Day of Visibility: Tuesday, March 31, 2026. What is Project TRANSCEND? Paley and Moss assembled six self-styled artists, all of whom identify as trans, non-binary, and/or gender nonconforming, for a 12-week process called body mapping. Each artist would lay on a full-sized canvas and their body would be traced. Then, they created their stories within the confines of their body’s frame. As Moss declared, “The results were incredible!” For those who could not attend the Opening Night, the series will be on display for free at The Center until Sunday, May 24.

As one of the busiest men in showbiz today, Tym Moss took the time to speak to Lavender After Dark’s Jed Ryan about Project TRANSCEND, putting the “unity” in “community”, and the importance of being kind!

JR: Hi, Tym!  Thank you so much for speaking with me!  What was your inspiration to embark upon this project?

TM: It was actually the director, Cheryl Paley.  She had presented the idea over a year ago.  She asked if I would help her with it, because she knows that I am an LGBTQ+ activist and that I know a lot of people in the community. When she explained it to be, I said, “Absolutely! I am totally on board with this.”  It just sounded like such a unique and rare creative endeavor for these artists.

JR: Wow!  So, let’s talk about opening night!  It was jam packed, right?

TM: Yes.  It was packed.  Mayor Zohran Mamdani came and spoke, which was huge.  Jamaane Williams, New York City Public Advocate, was there, and he spoke as well.  Kim Watson-Benjamin from his office spoke also.  They gave honors to each of the artists in Project TRANSCEND, which was wonderful.  That was very cool of him to do. 

JR: That’s great! So, I had heard a little about the Project from people who were there on Opening Night.  It was very unique way for the artists to express themselves.  Can you tell me a little more about it?

TM: We assembled six artists.  Each of them are really incredible artists in their own right.  It was a 12-week process.  Over the course of these twelve weeks, each of these artists would lay down on a full-sized canvas.  Their body would be traced.  They would create their story within the confines of their body outline.  So, they are very large, full-sized pieces.  Each one is completely different, because each one of these artists has their own interpretation.  It was just amazing to just watch each one develop.  It was a remarkable journey to witness that. 

JR: Now, you did not know these artists before this project. What was the most rewarding part of the whole experience for you?

TM: All of these artists are either trans or gender non-conforming.  Honestly, for me, I think that it was bringing six like-minded people all together in one common space– especially under this current political climate– and just watching the friendships sprout… as well as watching their trust and their love for each other.  It was wonderful to observe.  It truly was!

JR: What were some of the reactions that you got from Opening Night?  What was some of the feedback that you received?

TM: I got all kinds of adjectives and adverbs, and they were all positive– from “spectacular” to “incredible” to “mind-blowing”… They were wonderful acknowledgements. March 31 was our Opening Reception, and that was at The LGBT Community Center on 13th Street.  They had agreed to exhibit all six pieces on their second floor hallway. The artwork will be there until May 31st.  It was a spectacular, amazing night.  It was more than what any of us were expecting.  

JR: That’s a real privilege!  So many artists would love to have their work on display at The Center.  So many people walk in and out of those doors throughout the day, 365 days a year!

TM: We were thrilled!  Trans artists overall are underrepresented, particularly trans artists of color.  So I was grateful to be just a small part of this project, and helping it to end up on the walls of The Center.

JR: Most of these artists were on the younger side, true?

TM: Yes.  I don’t know their ages specifically, but I’d say that they were from their mid-20’s to mid-30’s.  

JR: That’s great, because it allows viewers from the older generations–like us (!)– to see the creative sides of a younger  generation whom we may not know much about!  So… Opening Night took place on Transgender Day of Remembrance.  What does that particular day meant you?

TM: This political climate has been absolutely horrendous for the transgender community.  Just devastating.  You and I come from a different time and place.  Back when we were first discovering our sexuality, the L, the G, the B, and the T were all one unit.  We were all supportive of each other.  I marched arm-in-arm with my trans brothers and sisters for decades in parades and marches, trying to get our rights.  The one thing that really hurts my heart with this generation is the separation within our community.  As I’ve told many different groups in the LGBTQ+ community, I understand that some of YOU may not feel that I am part of your community, but YOU have always been, and always will be, part of MY community.  We used to be one family, and we called each other “family”: We would be like: “Oh, do you know so-and-so?”  “Oh yeah, they’re FAMILY!”  That was the terminology that we used.  It breaks my heart seeing separation within our community, because now more than ever, we really need to unify and to become one family again.

JR: Yes, I agree.  There’s a lot of “LGB without the T” nonsense going on, both here and reportedly in places like the UK.  And I don’t understand that, because if you look at some of the challenges faced by the trans community– people saying stupid shit like “It’s just a phase!”, or “What about the children?” or “Why can’t they just be ‘this way’ or ‘that way’?– it’s almost identical to what the LGB community had gone through for decades.  It’s seems like everyone forgot about that.  And I’m just like, “Wait a minute!  That wasn’t THAT LONG ago!” There is still a LOT of prejudice against our entire community: The L, the G, the B, and the T together.

TM: My personal evolution in this community is that there is no LGBT without the T.  We are all the same in my book. Last year. when they tried to take the T out of LGBT at Stonewall, I was down there that day to protest.  I always try to attend Transgender Day of Remembrance and Transgender Day of Visibility.  Those are important days to me.  That’s just how I see things.  We are all one.  I guess I’m old school! (Laughs)

JR: (Laughs) So am I, and proud to be so!   Anything else you’d like to tell the masses?

TM: Right now, I just recommend that you reach out to your trans brothers and sisters.  Ask if they need any help, and if there’s anything you can do to help them.  Again, just be good, be kind, and love each other.  That falls true across the spectrum!  

JR: Oh, that’s so true!  The answer is so simple that it escapes most people: Start out by treating people with respect and kindness when you first meet them.  If you start out that way, the rest of it is easy!  

TM: And… COMMUNICATE!  I’m big about that: Let’s talk!

JR: Well, speaking of talking, thank you for talking to me today!  Congratulations again, and best of luck with the rest of the exhibit!

Project TRANSCEND is created and directed by Cheryl Paley with additional direction by Tym Moss. The project photographer is Kim Hernandez. For more information, visit https://gaycenter.org/art/.