Jzl Jmz (pronounced juh-zell jaym-s) fka [jayy dodd]] is a Black Los Angelena & award-winning Transsexual based in Portland, OR. Her early professional career included positions at The Huffington Post and The Offing. She’s been featured in the LA Times, Poetry Magazine, Oprah Magazine, Ms. Magazine, PEN America, Willamette Weekly, The New York Public Library, and several anthologies. She’s the author of 3 full-length poetry collections: Mannish Tongues (Platypus Press 2017), The 2021 Poetry Center Book Prize-winning The Black Condition ft. Narcissus (Nightboat Books 2019), and Local Woman (Nightboat Books 2025). Her film and performance work has been taught and toured nationwide. She has been a Lambda Literary Fellow and Precipice Art Grant Recipient through Portland’s Institute of Contemporary Art. Her first sculpture exhibition ROOMinnate debuted at Ori Gallery (Aug-Oct 2024). She’s an occasional rapper and the founder of Tournament Haus Mutual Aid Fund. Find her talking slick or in another dimension.
Image Description: Jzl Jmz, a Black woman, sits with her legs crossed in front of a grey background. She wears a black-and-white leather jacket off her shoulders, a black-and-white checkered skirt, a silver septum nosering, and several rings. Jzl's hair is styled in long waves with bangs. Several tattoos are visible on her arms, hands, and thigh. Jzl poses with one hand at her cheek and the other on the side of her neck.
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