Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Lipsyncki
Tara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It has been a long and hard road to make Mosaics a reality in Provo. Mosaics: Community Bookstore & Venue opened in October 2023, with the mission to provide queer people in Utah County a safe space that was accessible to all-ages and demographics inside the community. Mosaics is the physical resource center for the United Drag Alliance (501c3), which has the mission to provide education, health, and housing resources to queer individuals throughout the Intermountain West. United Drag Alliance, and all aspects of our mission, are the brain child of Tara Lipsyncki, a Utah based transgender advocate who has been the target of multiple attacks from domestic terrorists over the years. Since our opening Mosaics has received bomb threats and threats of violence towards our employees and board of directors.
So to put it bluntly, Mosaics is here out of sheer spite and determination to not let those oppressing us win.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been far from a smooth road to create the safe space of Mosaics. We have had permit issues, bomb threats, threats on our employees (and their families) safety, pushback from the ultra right-wing community surrounding our store, and more than a few negative experiences with local and state law enforcement.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Like I said earlier, Mosaics is the brain child of Tara Lipsyncki and really is the manifestation of their lives work in activism and entertainment. Tara’s struggles with domestic terrorists and threats on their life have been shared all over the globe. The Advocate magazine, Southern Poverty Law Center, NBC News, Local News, and even international news have done features and interviews about why they are fighting so hard for the community here in the Intermountain West. In a recent interview with The Advocate they stated, “I’m not going anywhere. They’re going to have to literally succeed at killing me to stop me.”
That is why we are doing what we are doing here at Mosaics; we are here to be the voice for those that can not use theirs, and we are here to fight for those that do not have the tools and resources to fight for themselves.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Mosaics is 100% pay-what-you-can and pay-it-forward. You can’t afford the copy of The Big Reveal by Sasha Velour, it’s free. You can pay more than our $4 suggested donation for a copy of Becoming by Michelle Obama, you can always pay more and the extra goes directly to our Education fund.
We have thrift, especially gender-affirming clothing, that is also free. Come and be yourself and find the tools to help you be yourself!
Pricing:
- Free
- Pay-What-You-Can
- Donation Based
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Mosaicsutah.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mosaics.utah/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mosaicsutah/
