Marj Kleinman

Proceeds from sales will be donated to The Stonewall Protests

Qween Jean on the Stonewall Stoop
36 x 24
Digital photograph

Qween Jean is a West Village icon. The co-founder of weekly Black trans liberation protests at the Stonewall Inn, she rallies for trans rights and condemns the ongoing killings of transgender people. Jean leads with “radical love” — a protesting style in the spirit of Marsha P. Johnson, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and James Baldwin — and incorporates themes into the protests to create “artivism.” I was honored to photograph and interview Qween Jean for my NYC documentary storytelling project — Stoop Stories. Our mission is to connect, support, and celebrate our NYC neighbors, especially those hardest hit by COVID and systemic inequities. The pandemic has pushed us to the brink, especially marginalized groups, creatives and small businesses owners. Many New Yorkers do not feel truly seen; it’s as if their stories don’t matter. New Yorkers are rising up and demanding change—in leadership, resources, and infrastructure—and Stoop Stories is right there with them. We are showcasing the power of the BLM movement in NYC, and how New Yorkers are living with the effects of COVID and the loneliness of lockdown. We are spotlighting the stories that matter most to New Yorkers and celebrating silver linings and moments of joy.