The Hearts
The suit of Hearts historically represents the Church and accomplishments garnered through inner work. In this deck the Hearts represent not just clergy, but the many folks who work with love and compassion to improve our Borderland LGBTQIA+ community.


Brenda Risch, PhD, LCSW
Ace of Hearts
Queer activist, scholar, social worker; LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapist; Founder, Borderland Rainbow Center

James Magee/ Annabel Livermore
Four of Hearts
James (sculptor and poet) and Annabel (painter and philanthropist) are twin souls in one body

Diamond Stylz
Seven of Hearts
Transgender activist and advocate, ED of Black Trans Women, Inc and creator of Marsha’s Plate podcast

Dee Woo
Ten of Hearts
LGBTQ+ community activist; advocates for gender and merit-based equity in broadcasting and journalism

Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Jack of Hearts
Internationally-acclaimed gay Border novelist and poet, winner of Lambda Literary and Pen Faulker awards

Susan Cottrell
Two of Hearts
A voice for LGBTQ+ acceptance in faith communities; author, public theologian; founder of FreedHearts

Gabriel Sanchez
Five of Hearts
Non-binary LGBTQ+ activist, historian, and filmmaker in RGV; co-creator of documentary, Pansy Pachanga

Mayra Fierro
Eight of Hearts
Dallas activist; LGBTQ youth advocate; Texas Appleseed community organizer; founder, Cereal and Civil Rights

Kirk Myers
King of Hearts
Community activist for HIV+ and LGBTQ black folks; founder and CEO of Abounding Prosperity in south Dallas

José P. Montoya
Three of Hearts
Fronterizo/x queer artist whose work emotes queerness, powerful femininity and ancestral/cultural knowledge

Veronica Cardenas
Six of Hearts
Non-binary documentary photographer & video journalist in RGV; International Women’s Media Foundation Fellow

Shane Whalley
Nine of Hearts
Genderqueer activist for social justice; educator and facilitator; owner of Daring Dialogues Consulting

Monica Roberts
Queen of Hearts
Openly trans woman of color; advocate for rights and dignity of trans community; creator of Trans Griot blog