The Outlaw Project is a housing and advocacy organization based in Arizona that offers temporary housing services to Black transgender individuals involved in the sex industry. ¹

Background

The Outlaw Project was founded in 2016 by transgender activist and sex-industry worker Monica Jones. In June 2021, the organization was registered as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Phoenix, Arizona. ^{2 3 4 5}

The organization is named for Sharmus Outlaw, a Black transgender sex-industry worker who died just prior to the organization’s founding on July 7, 2016. ⁶

Activities

Though Jones initially conceived of creating housing out of shipping containers, when the state restricted such buildings, the organization shifted its aim to the rehabilitation of a residence in Tucson, Arizona as well as the construction of buildings using timber frames and adobe straw. ⁷

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization used its funding to pay for hotels and apartments for Black transgender women. ⁸

In the late spring of 2021, the Outlaw Project purchased a residence in Tucson, Arizona with the aim to rehabilitate the property and build two additional units. In October of that year, the organization hired TC Tolbert, a transgender activist and builder, to serve as the organization’s “project princess.” ⁹

In November 2021, Jones, the organization’s founder and executive director, took up residence on the Outlaw Project property. ¹⁰

Policy

In addition to its housing activity, the Outlaw Project also supports the decriminalization of prostitution and other forms of commercial sexual activity. ¹¹

Funding

In 2018, the Outlaw Project was the recipient of a one-year grant from the Sex Worker Giving Circle at Third Wave Fund, a fund led and financially supported by individuals engaged in commercial sexual activity. ¹²

On April 23, 2020, the Outlaw Project created a fundraiser with Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs acting as fiscal-sponsor through the GoFundMe platform to fund the development of the organization’s housing project in Tucson, Arizona, particularly the construction of “tiny homes.” As of May 2024, the organization had raised $30,464 from 296 donations. ¹³

Leadership

Monica Jones is the founder and executive director of the Outlaw Project as well as a sex worker. Prior to founding the organization, Jones was the subject of news coverage relating to her May 17, 2013 arrest for “manifesting the intent to commit or solicit prostitution” in Phoenix, Arizona. Following the arrest, Jones was represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the charges against her were dismissed. ^{14 15 16}

TC Tolbert is the “project princess” of the Outlaw Project. Previously, Tolbert led wilderness trips for Outward Bound, served as Tucson’s Poet Laureate from 2017 to 2019, and co-founded Made for Flight, a transgender youth educational and networking organization based in Arizona. ^{17 18}

1. Morales, Bianca. “Tiny homes for trans women of color focus of Tucson’s Outlaw Project.” Tuscon Sentinel. May 11, 2023. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/051123_outlaw_project_homes/tiny-homes-trans-women-color-focus-tucsons-outlaw-project/
2. Morales, Bianca. “Tiny homes for trans women of color focus of Tucson’s Outlaw Project.” Tuscon Sentinel. May 11, 2023. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/051123_outlaw_project_homes/tiny-homes-trans-women-color-focus-tucsons-outlaw-project/
3. “Outlaw Project.” ProPublica. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/862369593
4. “About.” The Outlaw Project. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.theoutlawproject.org/about/
5. Harjai, Kavish. “Monica Jones and the Problem of “Walking While Trans.” Innocence Project. June 20, 2016. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://innocenceproject.org/monica-jones-walking-while-trans/
6. “About.” The Outlaw Project. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.theoutlawproject.org/about/
7. Morales, Bianca. “Tiny homes for trans women of color focus of Tucson’s Outlaw Project.” Tuscon Sentinel. May 11, 2023. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/051123_outlaw_project_homes/tiny-homes-trans-women-color-focus-tucsons-outlaw-project/
8. Morales, Bianca. “Tiny homes for trans women of color focus of Tucson’s Outlaw Project.” Tuscon Sentinel. May 11, 2023. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/051123_outlaw_project_homes/tiny-homes-trans-women-color-focus-tucsons-outlaw-project/
9. “About.” The Outlaw Project. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.theoutlawproject.org/about/
10. “About.” The Outlaw Project. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.theoutlawproject.org/about/
11. “About.” The Outlaw Project. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.theoutlawproject.org/about/
12.  Abadsidsis, Savas. “These Trans Sex Workers Won Grants To Help Prevent HIV.” Plus. December 13, 2018. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.hivplusmag.com/activism/2018/12/13/meet-trans-sex-workers-who-won-grants-prevent-hiv
13. “Help build a tiny home community for TWOC in AZ.” GoFundMe. April 23, 2020. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.gofundme.com/f/TWOC-housing
14. Schwenk, Katya. “A sexy outfit can get you arrested in Phoenix — especially if you’re Black or trans.” Pheonix New Times. July 14, 2023. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/a-sexy-outfit-can-get-you-arrested-in-phoenix-especially-if-youre-black-16634887
15. Morales, Bianca. “Tiny homes for trans women of color focus of Tucson’s Outlaw Project.” Tuscon Sentinel. May 11, 2023. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/051123_outlaw_project_homes/tiny-homes-trans-women-color-focus-tucsons-outlaw-project/
16. Harjai, Kavish. “Monica Jones and the Problem of “Walking While Trans.” Innocence Project. June 20, 2016. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://innocenceproject.org/monica-jones-walking-while-trans/
17. “About.” TC Tolbert. Accessed May 13, 2024. http://www.tctolbert.com/about.html
18. “About.” The Outlaw Project. Accessed May 13, 2024. https://www.theoutlawproject.org/about/