Trans artist Jamie Diaz spent decades in a men’s prison: his story

Gabriel Joffee received hundreds of letters from LGBTQ prisoners across the United States while volunteering at an advocacy organization in 2013. But this is one letter featuring illustrations by Jamie Diaz, a trans artist self-taught incarcerated in a men’s prison in Texas, who stood out.

“I just thought it was amazing that an artist created this little masterpiece and just sent it in the mail without knowing if it would be thrown away or collected,” Joffee, 33, told PEOPLE. “I wrote a personal response. I just wanted to return that love to Jamie and I responded, and that’s how it all started.

From there, a friendship developed between Diaz, 66, and Joffee, both trans — and that connection is the subject of a short documentary, Love, Jamie, directed by Karla Murthy. Its recent premiere on PBS’ American masters also coincided with Diaz’s recent release after serving a life sentence for robbery.

“I was really blown away by the quality of his art, by the colors and the details,” says Murthy. “It was incredible to see what she produced under these circumstances, and her art was so joyful. You wouldn’t necessarily know that it was someone who was incarcerated. »

“She was so honest and compassionate in the way she talked about her art and her process,” adds Murthy. “I really thought, ‘Oh, maybe, yeah, it could be a short film.’ ”

Over time, the couple’s friendship blossomed through letters and phone conversations — and the documentary includes Diaz’s written words as well as audio recordings of her voice.

“I think it was really important for us to include in the film,” Murthy says, “that the relationship between Gabriel and Jamie wasn’t a one-sided relationship… It was very mutual, and we We really wanted to show that in the film that there was this give and take between the two of them.”

Joffee created a website to display Diaz’s works, which is how New York art gallery owner Daniel Cooney first discovered them. Cooney later exhibited Diaz’s art in an exhibition in 2022.

“I look at a lot of art and talk to a lot of different artists,” Cooney says. “My questions are often: ‘How authentic is this? How true is this for the person? How honest is it about the person it came from?” When I saw Jamie’s work, it was really all of those things… you can really feel who Jamie is looking at his work.

“I feel like Jamie is the truest artist I know,” Cooney adds, “Because if she can sit on the floor of her cell and do her work every day, what’s the point? than another artist? That alone is so impressive to me and miraculous.

Diaz was eligible for parole after 30 years in prison. In January of this year, Diaz had a stroke that affected his ability to communicate and move; she was ultimately granted parole due to several health factors. When Diaz was released on May 31, she met Joffee and one of the first things they did was go to a salon to do Diaz’s makeup and hair. Afterward, they later attended a Pride celebration in Dallas, which was Diaz’s first.

“My freedom is incredible. I’m ready to get into more art…oil painting,” Diaz said in a statement. “For Pride, I want young trans people to feel encouraged, that things are going to get better.”

According to Joffee, Diaz is living in a group home in accordance with his parole requirements. As his health improves, Diaz hopes to have his parole transferred to Colorado, where Joffee resides, and also hopes to return to painting.

“It’s a period of adjustment,” Joffee says. “I think every day has its ups and downs. But she is free. It’s beautiful.”

In the meantime, Love, Jamiewhich was already screened at film festivals last year, can now be seen on the American Masters‘ website. “For me, this film is about dignity,” Murthy says, “about that desire for connection and understanding, to have someone to talk to. I think everyone can relate to this feeling of wanting acceptance and love. And so ultimately, I think I want people to see this beautiful relationship too. As Jamie herself says in the film, she wants people to know that “we’re good people” and that’s what I want them to leave with them.

Getting to know Diaz as he put together the 2022 gallery show, Cooney was impressed by his resilience.

“She was writing me letters from isolation…talking communally about the LGBTQ community,” Cooney says. “It’s like her spirit has never been beaten, even though she’s been in this situation for 29 years.”

“She’s now released and she’s a lovely, happy person. She has so much to share with people,” adds Cooney.

For Joffee, their friendship with Diaz was life-changing.

“She’s part of my family,” they say. “I’m lucky to have adult figures who support me, and it’s so beautiful to have a trans adult figure in my life. It’s very rare… I learned so much from her.