Hi! My name is Calvin and I am a trans man who was born and raised here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I am also the creator of T4T Mag.

For those who don’t know, T4T is commonly an abbreviation used by trans people who are seeking connections, romantic, familial, or otherwise, with other trans people. I created the zine in 2022 to highlight trans experiences that are not mainstream. My hope is that the zine empowers trans folks and builds community by including works from folks of all ages and from all over the US. The first two issues exist in digital format only, furthering their ease of distribution and accessibility.

At the end of January 2025, I was approached by a representative of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and invited to apply for their community gallery space known as the Gallery at Main. They explained the library's vision for space, to have visual art that touches on community themes and create access to art for members who otherwise might not have the opportunity to explore creative outlets. They have always done a Pride display in the space, and if I felt inclined, my project would most likely be a welcome addition.

So, I went through the entire process: application submission, gathering appropriate pieces that matched their guidelines, getting permissions from the artists, and even going through CLP's collective jury process. They ultimately decided T4T Mag was an amazing fit for their vision of the Gallery at Main. Everything was going according to plan until the end of last week. The library informed us that they cannot provide the money or resources to print the pieces I submitted.

The exhibit was set to go up in June, and now with only about 3 weeks until the install date, I am expected to pay approximately $500* for printing costs to be shown in their space or to pull the exhibit completely. This project has always been run by myself in Pittsburgh, PA. The expenses for this project come from my own income. I unfortunately do not have the means to produce that much money in less than a month. Most of these artists have moved on from Pittsburgh or have always lived in other parts of the country. It is a collective, after all. Expecting original pieces to be shipped now would be impossible and unfair.

*This number was gathered through averaging different estimates provided by Staples, FedEx, Office Depot, and PGH Print Ship. If there are any funds leftover after printing, we will be donating the money to a local LGBTQ+ non-profit.

I have been active in LGBTQ+ spaces since high school. The Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh played a crucial role when it came to finding my community at a young age. They’ve always been a space where I felt I could truly be myself. It would be an honor and a privilege to be able to share art from trans artists in the hopes that maybe someone attends the gallery and feels seen and safe, just as I did.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and if we are able to make this happen, I invite you to come to CLP Main and experience the incredible art these individuals have put together--art based on their own lives as trans creatives navigating the world. For updates, more information, and to see the first two issues, please visit the zine’s instagram page, @t4t.mag. The cover photo for this GoFundMe is created by one of T4T’s artists, Jess Malenfant (Instagram: @jaxxcreates).