Tavaria is the founder of Be the Change, the first openly LGBTQ+ community in the Tennessee prison system. As a teenager she was sentenced to 225 years in prison, which has since been reduced to 50 years. She maintains her innocence, and is working on securing an attorney to reopen her case. You can support the #FreeVaria campaign online and the BTC community through JPay, and send letters by USPS.
Tavaria Merritt #485997
South Central Correctional Facility
PO Box 279
Clifton, TN 38425-0279
I grew up in the Pentecostal Church. Ever since age 7 when I was baptized, the church was my life.…
My name is Tavaria, but people call me Varia, T, Mama T or Queen. Ten years ago, I founded Be…