WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN is a collection of poetry for trans gods and intersex angels on Earth and beyond. This is our collective baptism and the home we have in the presence of each other. We work in as solidarity with each other against Doctors who have played God with our bodies. We work in solidarity against those who weaponize religion to make us believe that we weren’t born with divinity in our spirits. We have always existed and have everlasting life. We are mountains, disco balls, waterfalls, Lone stars, Supernovas, and fountains of faith. When the Saints go marching in, they are going to look like us.”

Mariah Ayscue (he/king) is a Black, Trans, Artist, Activist, and mental health advocate from Montclair NJ. He also identifies as a Christian Witch, Disco Ball Dyke, Pansexual pancake, and a Demisexual dream that is expressed through his poetry. Mariah worked with the organization Girl Be Heard as a Directing Fellow and Company member under the instruction of Ianne Fields Stuart (founder of The Okra Project). This led to working with V (formerly Eve) Ensler known for The Vagina Monologues and Tony Porter ( founder of A Call to Men) on creating the YouthACT council. Mariah runs the TRANStory sanctuary program and T4T BRICKHOUSE with Out Montclair which allows for free workshops and poetry features for transgender, NB/ENBY, and gender nonconforming people in New Jersey. He has also worked with The Nuyorican Poets Cafe community, Ameerah Shabazz-Bilal (artistic director of When Women Speak), Rescue Poetix (poet laureate of Jersey City), Talena Lachelle Queen (poet laureate of Paterson) to create safe spaces where poetry can help us express our many intersections and learn from each other. Mariah wants to reclaim the narratives, education, and healing of the QTBIPOC community. It is the work he wants to do for the rest of his life.