Story and Soil Coffee Is Raising Funds for the Trans Community

Join the Connecticut-based coffee shop this International Transgender Day of Visibility to raise funds for the trans and gender-expansive community.

BY EMILY JOY MENESES
ONLINE EDITOR

Featured photo by Karollyne Videira Hubert

International Transgender Day of Visibility will take place on March 31, serving as a global call to celebrate transgender and gender-expansive people, as well as advocate for their rights and empowerment in the face of discrimination. To celebrate, Connecticut-based café Story and Soil Coffee is hosting a “Support Trans Baristas” fundraiser, through which they will be raising funds for PeerPride: a Connecticut organization dedicated to supporting the surrounding trans community through third spaces, services, and programming.

On March 29-30, Story and Soil will be donating a percentage of their sales to PeerPride, as well as taking direct donations and selling T-shirts and raffle tickets for prizes from local businesses and organizations. The coffee shop will also be hosting a benefit concert on March 29 with local indie label Funny Bone Records.

A Year-Round Cause

Michael Acosta (he/him), co-owner of Story and Soil, shares why the cause is important not just on Transgender Day of Visibility, but year-round. “In this political climate, it is critical that we double down on our support of trans and queer people and coffee professionals,” he says. “They are the most vital members of our community and team, and we need everyone to know that we look and take care of our people. … We love coffee shop culture, and supporting our community any way we can has always been part of that culture to us.”

Alice Ryan (they/she), store lead at Story and Soil’s Middletown location, echoes Michael’s sentiments, elaborating on how the coffee world has, historically, served as a much-needed space where queer people can feel affirmed and celebrated.

“A little more than a year ago, I very publicly transitioned while working at Story and Soil. To me, the coffee industry has always been one of the most queer-affirming industries. In my mind, queer baristas occupy a near religious significance,” Alice says. “There are very few places (where queer people)—especially visibly trans people—can work where they are able to wield the power and authority they can when working in coffee. … (And) for many of my customers, coming into my shop might be one of the few instances in their day where they interact with queer people.”

“Like coffee, the trans community is bold, fearless, diverse, and magnetic, (with the power of) bringing people together through the power of authenticity,” says Erin Godfrey (they/she), a barista at Story and Soil.

Choosing an Organization: Why PeerPride

The team at Story and Soil shares why they chose PeerPride as the organization to donate to. “PeerPride is a small, grassroots mutual aid organization. The money donated to our fundraiser will go directly into the pockets of trans people who need it, paying for things such as gender-affirming clothing equipment, or things like voice training,” Alice says.

“Support Trans Baristas is an effort to celebrate the trans members of our community, raise awareness of those working for trans rights, and raise money for organizations like PeerPride that directly benefit trans people in Connecticut,” Michael elaborates.

Get Involved

Story and Soil’s Support Trans Baristas fundraiser takes place on March 29-March 30. Those who wish to support the cause can visit any Story and Soil location to make a purchase, pre-order a fundraiser T-shirt, or buy a raffle ticket. You can also make direct donations directly to PeerPride here.

Story and Soil barista Chris Rosario (they/them) shares their intentions to support the trans community beyond financial contributions. ”My hopes for this fundraiser is to not only raise money for the local trans community, but to also humanize trans people to our customers,” Chris says. “I want our customers to know that us trans people exist all around them and are nothing to be feared. We’re your librarians, engineers, teachers, (and) baristas, and all we want is to live happy, safe lives just like you.”

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