Queers and Queens: Tarot Deck Made of LGBT+ Portraits

The Queers and Queens Tarot Deck is a unique project by artist Sam Kahn, designed to celebrate and represent the LGBT+ community through the medium of tarot. The deck is composed entirely of portraits of queer individuals, with a core aim to facilitate community and connection among LGBT+ people. Launched in 2019, the Kickstarter campaign successfully raised $3,798 from 94 backers, demonstrating significant community interest in the concept.

A distinctive aspect of this project was the opportunity for backers to become models for the cards. Individuals identifying as LGBT+ could purchase a reward tier that allowed them to submit their photos and choose a specific card and color for their portrait, directly integrating the community into the deck's creation. This collaborative approach underscores the deck's mission of authentic representation and community building.

While specific details about the card count or traditional tarot system adherence are not explicitly stated in the campaign story, the project is framed as a 'tarot deck,' implying a full 78-card structure. The campaign also offered a special silver-edged edition, indicating attention to production details. A dedicated website was planned to include descriptions of the cards, models, and symbolism, suggesting a comprehensive approach to the deck's interpretive elements.

Based on the campaign description, the artwork consists of portraits of queer individuals. The project emphasized the inclusion of LGBT+ community members as models, allowing them to choose their card and color. This suggests a personalized, perhaps illustrative or painted style, focused on capturing individual likenesses within the tarot framework. Without visual inputs, the specific artistic medium (e.g., digital painting, traditional illustration) and overall aesthetic (e.g., vibrant, muted, realistic, stylized) remain unconfirmed, but the emphasis on 'faces of queer humans' points to a representational, portrait-based approach.

This deck is ideal for LGBT+ individuals and allies seeking a tarot deck that offers direct and meaningful queer representation. It will appeal to collectors interested in unique, community-driven projects and those who value decks with a strong social and identity-focused theme. Readers who prioritize intuitive connection with diverse imagery over strict adherence to traditional RWS visuals may also find this deck particularly resonant.

Sam Kahn initiated the Queers and Queens Tarot Deck project with the explicit goal of fostering community and connection through queer representation. The inspiration stemmed from a desire to create a tarot deck made up of the faces of queer humans, directly involving the LGBT+ community in its creation. This collaborative approach, allowing backers to become models for the cards, was central to Kahn's vision for an inclusive and representative tarot experience.