TIM'M T. WEST
Tim’m T. West serves the community as an educator, poet, youth advocate, hip-hop artist, and author of several books. West likes to be identified by he/they pronouns and has spent decades traveling the nation speaking about issues at the intersection of race, gender, sexuality and social justice. In 2022, he was named the executive director of the LGBTQ Institute based in Atlanta. “The South is under attack most often when it comes to anti-LGBTQ legislation, my familial roots include Appalachia and rural Arkansas. I’m excited to ensure LGBTQ rights are preserved in our most vulnerable communities, focusing in the South,” West said during the announcement of his hiring. The former rapper and co-Founder and Board Chair of Cincinnati Black Pride knows a thing or two about moving the crowd and uplifting the community. —K.M.