Inside the Revolution Is Love Book Launch Extravaganza
In November, Aperture launched “Revolution Is Love” with a night of celebration centering the shared joy and struggle in trans community and liberation.
Brandon English, Qween Jean, Ruvan Wijesooriya, Caroline Mardok, Cindy Trinh, Deb Fong, Sean Waltrous, Josh Pacheco, and Ramie Ahmed. Photo by Serena Nappa.
On Thursday, November 17, guests gathered at 99 Scott Studio in Bushwick, New York for a book launch extravaganza hosted by B. Hawk Snipes and Qween Jean in honor of Revolution Is Love: A Year of Black Trans Liberation. The night featured DJ sets and dancing from a joyful crowd ready to celebrate the recently released publication and revel in community.
The activist, artist, and organizer behind Revolution Is Love, Qween Jean said of the evening, “To me, tonight is what Revolution Is Love symbolizes: we are beautiful people, we are brave people, we are talented people, and we deserve to live. Tonight, we unleash all of the power, the music, the vibrancy, because we are owed it.”
Photo by Laura Randall.
The publication is a powerful visual record of a contemporary activist movement in New York City, and a moving testament to the enduring power of photography in activism, advocacy, and community. Twenty-four photographers were gathered to share images and words on the contemporary Stonewall Protests started in June 2020. Through photographs, interviews, and text, Revolution Is Love celebrates the power of shared joy and struggle in trans community and liberation. Many of the book’s contributors were in attendance at the November launch event including Ramie Ahmed, Brandon English, Deb Fong, Stas Ginzburg, Chae Kihn, Erica Lansner, Daniel Lehrhaupt, Caroline Mardok, Ryan McGinley, Josh Pacheco, Jarrett Robertson, Cindy Trinh, Sean Waltrous, and Ruvan Wijesooriya.
The night’s guests were treated to performances from Linda La, Mariyea, Basit, Lady Jasmin Van Wales, Vuyo Sotashe, and others. DJ sets from Byrell the Great, Bronz3 Godd3ss, and Rajah Rah energized the party late into the night.
In a moving speech, Qween Jean said, “Revolution Is Love is a love letter to the Queer and Trans folks who are fighting desperately to be seen, to not only have their rights validated, but to have them protected. It is an honor to fight for liberation, it is an honor to show up and fight for Black Trans Women each and every day.”
Photo by Ye Fan.
Keith Scott, Victor Rodrigues, Nick Varaguez, Aziz Osko, Laurent Claquin, Jacob Sparling, and Fataah Dihaan. Photo by Laura Randall.
Cindy Trinh. Photo by Laura Randall.
Dallas Diaz and Lori Ro. Photo by Laura Randall.
Alex Schlecter, Emily Patten, and Taia Kwinter. Photo by Laura Randall.
Max Battle and Alex Galan. Photo by Laura Randall.
Lizzie Soufleris, Scott Semler, Sam Kang, Adrian Ababovic, Emily Patten, and Maggie DiMarco. Photo by Laura Randall.
Keith Scott, Laurent Claquin, Jacob Sparling, and Fataah Diham. Photo by Laura Randall.
Jarrett Key and Jon Key. Photo by Laura Randall.
Nick Haby, Daniel Lehrhaupt, and Andrew DeMio. Photo by Laura Randall.
Antonio Vascual, Bryan Russel Smith, and Fabian Bernal. Photo by Laura Randall.
Book Launch made possible, in part, by Black Trans Liberation, ALL, MAC Cosmetics, J&K’s Soul Food, Trans Equity, Jack’d App, Yola Mezcal, and Perrier.
For a pro-account on Jack’d use promo code “APFDN2022.”
This project was made possible, in part, with generous support from David Dechman and Michel Mercure, in honor of Slobodan Randjelović; Elaine Goldman; and Michael Hoeh.
