When Brooklyn Was Queer: Panel Discussion
This event has been cancelled.
Join us for a special panel to kick-off the Bushwick Library monthly book discussion, with author of When Brooklyn Was Queer, Hugh Ryan and owners of local dyke bar The Bush, Nikke Alleyne and Justine LaViolette! The conversation will explore what it means to build queer spaces in Brooklyn now and how we remember Brooklyn's queer past, followed by a Q&A.
HUGH RYAN is a writer and curator, and most recently, the author of The Women's House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison, which won the American Library Association’s Stonewall Book Award for Nonfiction and the W.A. Percy Foundation’s William Johansson Award, and was called by New York Magazine one of the best books of 2022. His first book, When Brooklyn Was Queer, won a New York City Book Award, was a New York Times Editors' Choice, and was a finalist for the Randy Shilts and Lambda Literary Awards. He has been honored with the Allan Bérubé Prize from the American Historical Association, multiple grants from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Duberman Fellowship at the New York Public Library, and residencies at Yaddo and Watermill. He teaches in the MFA Program at Bennington College.
JENILLE NIKKE ALLEYNE (co-owner of The Bush) is a black queer immigrant woman. Her 9-5 is working under the Marketing umbrella for a large luxury retailer. Jenille brings extensive experience in inventory management, buying and large scale financial planning. When Jenille is not busy at work managing her team she can be found in Jersey City with her partner. Jenille’s favorite drink is a Dirty Gin Martini.
JUSTINE LAVIOLETTE (co-owner of The Bush) Justine LaViolette is a queer person living in Brooklyn. Justine is a filmmaker working in production by day, and running Dyke bar, The Bush, with co- owner Jenille Alleyne at night. Justine’s favorite drink is a Mezcal Negroni.
