Rising from Miami's Underground, 'Masisi' Group Uplifts Haitian Queer Identity
Miami's Masisi collective aims to uplift queer Haitians via events and platforms celebrating the often-stigmatized community.
Masisi is hosting a stage at the Ill Points Festival on October 17 and 18, marking a "graduation" since Masisi was founded six years ago.
Born from Miami's queer nightlife, Masisi blends art, music, and spirituality to center Black queer Haitians.
III Points Festival
On October 17 and 18, Masisi is hosting its own stage at the III Points Festival, called Halo 88, which showcases local acts in the city's underground electronic music scene.
For Masisi, which debuted in 2019, being in the 12-hour festival expected to draw 50,000 people is a "graduation."
Akia Dorsainvil's Story
Growing up in Lake Worth, Florida, about 60 miles north of Miami, Akia Dorsainvil learned early not to back down nor to hide who he is.
When neighborhood kids tried to pick on him, his mother would "take me right back outside to fight," Dorsainvil now recalls.
Author's summary: Masisi collective uplifts Haitian queer identity through art and music.