tenets

  • barriers to access continues to be one of the main ways care and autonomy are inhibited for marginalized peoples and those of varying ability.

    we are committed to identifying any unintentional barriers to access we might be erecting; ensuring – among other things – that a lack of representation, voice, perspective, accommodation, or analysis is addressed.

  • the funeral and death care industry is far from infallible, and often does more harm than good, even if it is not the intent of its actors.

    if you feel that your loved one is not receiving adequate death or funerary care, we will advocate on your behalf to reduce harm.

  • impact always outweighs intent. our words and actions deserve particular care to make sure they are in alignment, knowing that sometimes they will not be.

    we work to specifically take the time and put in the thought as to how we move, speak, and act. we prioritize accountability and commit to restorative justice practices to address and rectify mistakes and repair harm.

  • queers are often silenced or overlooked in life and death, particularly upon lines of intersection.

    we seek to speak up and out for the queer experience and to create a space with that voice to gather and uplift our community.

  • we actively engage in the decolonization of mind, body, spirit, and community, recognizing the pervasive impact of colonization worldwide. our stance is anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, and anti-racist, advocating for LAND BACK and indigenous sovereignty. we are committed to dismantling oppressive systems rooted in colonialism, ableism, and white supremacy, working towards a more just and inclusive society that rejects violence and marginalization against communities of color.

  • the privileged, straight, and traditional are the center of most spaces, narratives, and perspectives.

    we intentionally center queer, 2S, trans, non-binary, gnc, bisexual, asexual, lesbian, gay, and all those along such spectrums, with specific space held for intersections and those of different ability and neurodiversity.

  • personal autonomy and informed consent are often lacking in death care for marginalized populations. many queers face having their wishes overruled by family or a culture that dismisses us. this is often due to the particulars of death care being obscured or omitted to promote a normative narrative around death. to address this, we prioritize explicit consent and respect for individual privacy and autonomy, particularly in areas that society tends to stigmatize, such as abortion, drug use, differing abilities, and the handling of remains or death rituals.

  • from life to death.

    at our core, we not only believe that all bodies deserve safe and inclusive death care, but that advocacy extends beyond death, fostering care within our communities throughout life. We do this by engaging on a variety of fronts; from pushing for change in how trans folks are treated in the death care industry, to creating community death care solutions over corporate ones. We strive to dismantle the obligatory need for a funeral industrial complex.

  • our communities are particularly harmed by police, the prison industrial complex, and carceral systems and thought.

    ACAB in all senses; from police to prisons, to agents of the government to carceral systems; all ideals of carceral logic. we envision new systems of community care and thought, emphasizing non-carceral, community-based solutions. these solutions are particularly important for those disproportionately affected by police violence, as well as for our community and society as a whole.