Former LeftLion Screen Editor Autumn Parker and local artist & DJ Chan Hyacinth have teamed up to create a dynamic multi-genre trans powered club night collective Trancesexuals. Trancesexuals is a warm and welcoming space to showcase talented trans DJs across the UK, with an emphasis on alluring visuals, authentic vibes and a dynamic range of unique sounds. Their nights take place at trans-inclusive spaces and often hold specific themes to match the transcendental music and mood of the night. We caught up with Chan and Autumn to get more details of their club night, how Trancesexuals affirms the trans community and how the collective initially came together...
Could you tell us a bit more about the origins of Trancesexuals and your fabulous club nights?
Autumn: I remember having this idea in my head of parties that were trans-focused. The only other person I knew in Nottingham at the time who was also trans and interested in the same kind of atmospheric club nights was Chan! We met up around this time last year at Blend...
I think we both saw a bit of a gap in the Queer scene in Nottingham. There’s another great Queer night called Pink Noise, but other than that, there wasn’t much going on in terms of what we’re going for and we both really wanted to create a space that could be safe for trans people to party and be themselves, but to also have a real consideration of what the sound of the night is going to be.
With the trans community needing more safety, unity and support than ever right now, Trancesexuals is such an important and welcoming positive space. How can Nottingham’s local Queer communities, trans+ people and cis allies support Trancesexuals’ mission statement, Halloween bash and future events?
Chan: Book us! Reduce your rates for venue hire, it’s important to make partying accessible for different types of people with different needs. It’s hard to find venues in Nottingham with good physical access, which can ostracise lots of different groups in our communities from experiencing night life. It's important for spaces to keep being loud about their support for trans people and to lend their power where they can. We’ve had lots of great feedback from people who don’t usually feel like they can go on nights out, but they enjoy partying now because they have a space like Trancesexuals to go to. It’s important to put money into marginalised groups for us to continue to do the work that we do.
Autumn: We have a ticketing system where we charge more for cis people, to provide ticket discounts for trans people and it also helps raise more money for our events. We try to make things affordable for everyone, but it’s been an initiative we’ve started since the first event and will continue to do so.
It's important for spaces to keep being loud about their support for trans people and to lend their power where they can. We’ve had lots of great feedback from people who don’t usually feel like they can go on nights out
You’ve created a funding pot for Nottinghamshire’s trans+ community to combat hardship, promote solidarity and help trans people access healthcare. Could you please explain the funding application process for those who wish to apply?
Chan: Shoutout to our friend Franklin who created this for us! It’s a simple online form linked in our bio on Instagram. It has a couple of questions; you fill it in and then basically we get back to you on whether we can support. The fund is for anything any trans person needs. It's not for any specific thing, it’s just to support the community with whatever they want (you can go get your hair done if you want to!). We offer up to £70 per person, and then whatever we make from our events, it goes into that pot, and we give away what we can.
What do you have planned for the big Halloween bash? What can people expect - when and where will the club night take place?
Autumn: It will be a 70s-themed queer New York party! Throughout the 70s and 80s, New York had disco and early-house music in Paradise Garage, as public places weren’t safe for the LGBTQ+ community, so it was a nightlife hub where people could find and express themselves. I think (especially for trans people) there’s a lot to relate to that, with what’s going on in the current climate. We’ve got some great DJs playing! Opening the night, it’s going to be blu.dream, who plays down-tempo-y, psychedelic, house-y sort of music, which is a perfect warm-up...
Chan: blu.dream is an amazing DJ from Nottingham but is currently based in Leeds. It’s an all-Leeds line-up actually! We’ve got this party crew from Leeds called Lick Quid Gold, they’re very leftfield disco, luscious house - a perfect sound and combination for a New York theme! It’s at The Model on Halloween and the ticket link is live on Resident Advisor.
That sounds amazing! Is dress-up encouraged for the Halloween bash (And do you have any costume ideas/recs for party attendees...) ?
Chan: Absolutely! I’ve just made a Pinterest board, so there will be a mood board coming to our Instagram very soon, but I’m going to be in full Grace Jones vibes for this one!
Autumn: If someone showed up without an outfit, we wouldn’t turn them away! But we’re really hoping that everyone comes dressed up. I mean it's Halloween, there will be lots of stuff going on, we’ll probably have some vampires in the mist! Maybe some cats. You can be a spooky, gay New York vampire disco-dancer if you like! It’s a broad theme and I can’t wait to see it. And we might even be having a competition for the best dressed...
It's important for spaces to keep being loud about their support for trans people and to lend their power where they can. We’ve had lots of great feedback from people who don’t usually feel like they can go on nights out.
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