WEDNESDAY 9:58 PM MAY 28, 2025 EAST VILLAGE
There are a few things you can count on when attending a ball hosted by the one and only Qween Jean: drag, death drops, and dismantling corruption. Despite all of her success in theatre, the renowned costume designer has never let the recognition distract from the community that has supported her, so she created the Black Trans Liberation, an organization that moves to end homelessness amongst Black and trans people in New York City. One way it does so is by showcasing unadulterated queer joy. So, on Wednesday night, LGBT New Yorkers gathered at the Ranked Choice Voting Ball to vogue and rank their top mayoral candidates. Deep into the night, Qween Jean took a quick break from her hosting duties to sound off on pick-me queer conservatives and explain why, now more than ever, it’s absolutely vital to vote.
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ARY RUSSELL: Walk me through your look.
QWEEN JEAN: Oh my god. Actually, this is something that I made. I’m a costume designer here in New York City, a proud black trans costume designer all the way from Haiti and truly, I just really wanted to wear something that felt like armor for me, something that empowers me to to know my truth, to stand in my femininity, to stand in my masculinity, to stand in my voice and declare that I’m here to vote. I’m ready for new leadership in the city.
RUSSELL: New York City is in desperate need of it.
QWEEN JEAN: Just for clarity, “masculinity” meaning universal power. Yeah, so to me it’s genderless, but truly it’s about showing up with the courage and the stamina, and then knowing that when we all come together like this, there is no doubt in my mind that we will achieve what we need to make sure that our community has everything that we need to survive. That means making sure that whatever leaders are promising, we’re holding them accountable to ensure that they are fit, that they are not afraid, that they are ready to fight and to advocate to protect the wellness of all people in the city, including trans people, gender nonconforming people, immigrants, our asylum seekers, Black and brown communities, folks that are incarcerated, folks that should not be incarcerated.
RUSSELL: You’ve got veteran experience with these events. What would you say makes a good ball?
QWEEN JEAN: Intentionality. We’re allowing people to shine without barriers and, most importantly, we’re making sure that there is a way for people to express their creativity, right? That we allow room for the divine to happen. We were super intentional about these categories and ensuring that we really want to see the best of New York City, but also we want to see what kind of gifts and magic people have in store as they come down to the polls to cast their ballots. Most importantly, voting is an act of resistance.
RUSSELL: There’s an amazing sense of community here. Even when people are throwing shade at each other, it’s all in love and in jest. I’m curious, you said you’re from Haiti. I’m from DR, so we share an island. What’s the queer community like there?
QWEEN JEAN: I mean, queer people exist everywhere, right? So I think that there’s this myth and misnomer of intolerance, but queer and trans people have existed from the beginning of time, right? When people arrived on the entire continent of Africa, there was love there, right? But then, you know you got these faith leaders who were then demonizing people and wanting to maintain heteronormativity and thus forced our own ancestors out, as if their love was illegitimate. I firmly know and believe that queer people are sacred and trans people are divine.
RUSSELL: I mean, they’re so often the backbone of communities, especially in this city.
QWEEN JEAN: And it’s our time to shine, right? And so for me, that’s what is important about this moment: we are ensuring that our people will not be erased, not now, not ever. There can be no LGBT without the T. As we fight for queer people, we fight for trans people, we fight for Palestinians. We fight for undocumented people here in the city and immigrant people all over this nation. Right before there was Nina Pina and Santa Maria, there were indigenous people living and thriving on this land, right? There were stewardesses, stewards of this land, before colonialism popped up on three ships. So that being said, we’ve existed, we will be here. And we’re not going anywhere.
RUSSELL: I’m gonna get a little messy. What would you say to queer/trans conservatives?
QWEEN JEAN: I don’t think it’s messy. I think it’s timely. I would say that oftentimes, we want to placate and we want to pander for acceptance. And the reality is this, queer and trans people are strong, powerful, benevolent, we’re providers in our own right. We do not have to assimilate and put on a costume of heteronormativity to pass or to be socially acceptable.
RUSSELL: Right, like the conservatives are never going to pick you no matter how hard you try, honey.
QWEEN JEAN: We are acceptable in the skin that we are in. And we will disrupt anyone that is saying otherwise. I invite those conservatives to really reflect. Trans people being free will never make you less free. Period.
Content shared from www.interviewmagazine.com.