Editors — BRUNCH CLUB

How Issue 03 was born

C: I literally haven’t seen you in person since February 2020, when we first met, right before shit hit the fan. Honestly we’ve talked about how horrible last year was so many times, let’s move on! What are you looking forward to most this year?

V: Last year was a lot of reflecting, this year is going to be about direct action and holding ourselves accountable to continue doing “the work”. I am looking forward to holding everyone accountable to holding this administration accountable to deliver on our demands.

C: Ok! I said I didn’t want to talk about the pandemic, but this question is v important. I’ve been wearing my favorite hoodie by HOMOCO a lot recently. I literally can’t even go a couple days without wearing it, it’s so comfy! What has been your go-to item of clothing during the pandemic?

V: Ironically, my piece of clothing has also been my favorite hoodie from Everybody.World. It is so comfortable, I’ve had it for years and since wearing it every day in quarantine, it is now falling apart. I just secured all the tears with safety pins so now it’s a Pandemic Punk hoodie. Though, one of the many cool things about the brand is that they will repair any of their products free of charge!

C: I’m so excited for this next chapter of BRUNCH CLUB, and so happy you’re sitting at the table with me. What are you most excited about now that you’re my #1?

V: I am super grateful to be working alongside you. I am most excited to use this platform to uplift trans folks and to be unapologetic about changing queer media to center new voices that need our support. We work really well with each other because we build the world we want to see, I think there is nothing more queer than reclaiming your own space and sharing it with others.

Just working with you this past year has shown me how much work it takes to build a magazine platform, let alone a single print issue. Now I want to ask you why you wanted to bring someone else on to help after you ran BRUNCH CLUB so successfully on your own for 2 years.

C: Honestly I’ve just always viewed BRUNCH CLUB as a team/community project, I’ve never wanted it to be something I did alone. I also feel like the mission of BRUNCH CLUB can go further if I share it, and allow for different perspectives. I’ve felt a connection with you since we met, and there’s no one else I’d rather have at the table next to me. I mentioned different perspectives, is there anyone in the community making waves right now that I should know about?

V: There is one person who I am continuously excited to hear and learn from. She is a young, Black, queer anthropologist named Gabrielle who creates education on racial justice, unapologetically confronting white supremacy in every form. I have learned so much from the resources she’s created through her deep research and lived experiences. Listening and learning from a Black radical perspective has been transformational. Every non-Black person needs to make it a priority to educate themselves. She makes it accessible and informative for all. Follow her IG at @GFxPrints and pay her for her incredible work by subscribing to her Patreon for as low as $5 a month. You’ll be glad you did.

Who is someone in the community you currently have your eye on?

C: I’ve been really into Laquann Dawson’s work lately… which reminds me, I need to pick up a photograph that I ordered from them. Their art is very inspiring, and there is something that’s just like magical about their work. Seeing images of Black people in ways I didn’t see when I was a child is very healing to me. BRUNCH CLUB is all about more exposure for community members to be seen and heard. Speaking of… who is your dream BRUNCH CLUB cover queer? Go!

V: I have two answers. If we are talking about someone who is maybe harder to access because they are high profile, I would want none other than trans beauty and icon Dominique Jackson. She has put in so much work into the community and her career besides just Pose, and I would love to have a conversation with her about community. To learn more about her, watch this short documentary profiling her.

If it is someone who we could launch into stardom by being a cover star, it would be Adam Emilio Reyes, a trans masc community organizer and trailblazing advocate here in LA. That cover would be hot! And not just because I have a crush on them… 🦦

Who are some of your dream cover stars? Give me a high-profile person, and someone who is on that upward trajectory.

C: I really think Lil Nas X would be fun. I’m a sucker for stories like his- creating a huge career from nothing, and coming out in an industry that is known for being notoriously homophobic. I often wonder how different my life would be if I had someone like him to look up to when I was younger.

I also love using BRUNCH CLUB to spotlight the queer community here in Brooklyn, I’d definitely love to have Magenta on a future cover.

Visibility really matters, but protections are even more crucial. We officially have a new administration running the country...thankfully. What’s one thing you’d like to see Biden/Harris accomplish for the queer community within the next 4 years?

V: I would like to see them speak more directly to queer people. I would like them to make it a priority to acknowledge the experience of queer and trans folks in America, to normalize their existence. When someone with that much influence speaks about something, it has a profound effect.

We saw the last clown in office use their Presidency as a tool to harm. I would like to see this administration use their power to be enthusiastically supportive. I would like to see them acknowledge, denounce and provide solutions for the murder of Black trans women happening at an alarming rate. I would like to see them extend protections, but more so give access to material means specifically for trans folks - like housing, healthcare, job training, financial assistance and property assets. We cannot advance by waiting for legislative protections, we also need the tools to be able to survive.

What would you say your hopes are for this administration?

C: I definitely have some of the same hopes as you. As a Black queer person, I want to feel seen by these people in office who say they represent me. Stop simply talking about systemic racism and actually make moves to correct it. I did see that the President signed an executive order to advance racial equity and support for underserved communities. That’s a good start.

V: Regardless of what happens with our elected officials, BC will continue to rally the community. I am so thrilled to be a part of BRUNCH CLUB and help build a community of support for queer and trans BIPOC. How have you found community now that we have to look outside of physical spaces during quarantine?

C: Honestly, in the beginning it was very hard. I think there’s a sense of community, within the queer community here in New York that’s unlike any other place. I’ve spent most of my twenties coming into myself and my queerness, so not having the community that has shown me the way has been tough. I have a few close friends that I’ve been able to become closer with these past few months. Having friends who understand me down to my core, and who live close by, has been so helpful.

V: Community has shifted online, yet I have found it difficult navigating technology and the internet/social media during this time. It can make me feel self-conscious and so I have looked for queer community a lot off of the grid by discovering and immersing myself into new and past queer artists through research. Here at BRUNCH CLUB, we love featuring queer art.

My eye is on printmaker Ryan Carrington of Stamp&Repeat, who creates beautiful images of Black and brown bodies through block printing techniques. His process is incredible, you really feel what you’re seeing when you look at his work. I am also really into the work of Luis Almejo who makes mesmerizing line drawings. I could watch their time-lapse process videos all day.

Who are some of your favorite queer artists right now that are making work you want to see more of this year?

C: If we’re talking music, I’ve been really into Kehlani lately. I need more songs from her this year to get me through to summer! I’m also constantly inspired by my friend Marcus Branch, I’m looking forward to seeing his new project this year.

V: We are planning to release a print issue this year… but what else do you wish to do with BRUNCH CLUB? The community wants to know what they can expect from us!

C: Well girl, you know I can’t spill the secrets. But I do really miss in person events. A celebration will definitely be needed once we can all be together again.

In Conversation with the Editors

How Issue 03 was born