Writer, Musician, Performer, Activist

Jamez Terry (alias Vermicious Knid) is a zine-writing, fiddle-playing, story-telling, circus-loving performer, historian and radical organizer. In 2004, he co-founded the Tranny Roadshow and has since brought fantastic trans performance art all around North America.  Jamez’ performances blend storytelling, humor, poetry, music, and sometimes circus costumes, drawing audiences into his unique world where laughter, adventure, and revelation abound.

Jamez has published more than 50 zines in the last 12 years with writings that include politics, fiction, poetry, personal stories, and humor. His zines have been featured in exhibits at the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Minneapolis Center for Book Arts, as well as in the Zine Yearbook #8 and many other printed collections. In 2003, Jamez co-founded the Denver Zine Library, which quickly became one of America’s preeminent zine libraries and was featured on NPR’s Weekend Edition.

Having worked in multiple queer activist settings, Jamez has provided trans education at conferences, schools, churches, and nonprofits around the country. In addition to trans 101 and other introductory topics, Jamez has conducted workshops on HIV prevention for trans youth; zines and the trans community; working with trans survivors of sex assault; and addressing trans issues within radical communities.

Jamez is the fiddle player, occasional singer, and pirate romancer for A is for Ampersand.  The band’s debut CD, Lost at Sea, was released in 2009 and their latest single, “Shovel,” is available exclusively on the Trans-Fusions 2 compilation.

In addition to being a traveling performance artist and educator, Jamez is working hard to become the world expert on presidential assassin Charles Guiteau.  He is currently living in Farmington, ME, dreaming of his eventual return to Alaska, and busily planning his next adventure, which will include grad school, a newborn in October, and as much touring as possible.

Links:

Tranny Roadshow
Denver Zine Library
Weekend Edition