helper of the masses (Patreon)

One of the things I love about photographing people is meeting fascinating, amazing people, like Danielle Boachie, also known as Miss Velvet. Yesterday, I learned that Danielle died by suicide last year, on the day before my birthday. 

Danielle was a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, sex workers' rights, and a vocal ally for victims of domestic violence. As Miss Velvet, she was a professional dominatrix who made her clients read literature on black feminist theory.

I'd been trying to reach her for a while -- I loved working with her and wanted to see how she was faring. I'm heartbroken. I hope her partner, Andy, is healing. 

If you or someone you know needs help in crisis, dial 9-8-8.

These causes were critically important to Danielle's work:

• To support the Sex Workers Outreach Project, visit:
  https://swopusa.org/
  
• To support the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network, visit:
  https://the-network.org/
  
• If you are the victim of sexual violence, call the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network at:
  1-800-656-4673 or visit:
  https://www.rainn.org/resources

To celebrate Danielle's life and light, I've posted this public set to my Patreon.