October was a month of vision and remembrance for The Knights & Orchids Society. Along with ACLU Alabama, we hosted the inaugural Black Queer Visionaries Summit (BQVS), a groundbreaking space for Southern Black LGBTQ+ leaders, artists, and advocates to gather, dream, and define what a liberated future looks like for our communities. Over 60 Black queer and trans Southerners were selected for the all-expenses-paid summit, where the first challenge from facilitators was to redefine home — not as a fixed place, but as the people, spaces, and possibilities we build for ourselves.

This month also brought deep reflection with the passing of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, an elder and freedom fighter whose presence and love profoundly shaped the work of trans-led organizations in Alabama and beyond. TKO and ACLU Alabama were honored to share space with Miss Major during the 2024 Black Trans Futures Convening, where she poured wisdom into a new generation of Southern trans leaders. Her spirit continues to guide our mission, reminding us that every gathering, every act of care, and every bold vision for the South carries the same fire she sparked decades ago.