Phoenix Danger Oral History

Phoenix Danger was active in the successful unionization campaign at Babeland, a NYC sex toy shop. In this interview, they recount their early life in suburban New York as the child of Filipino immigrants, facing social rejection in school and discovering an affirming online queer community. They relate their struggles in an abusive relationship during college, and their journey from estrangement to re-connection with their parents. Phoenix also chronicles the evolution of their non-binary trans identity, influenced by their relationships with various queer and trans communities as well as their own political engagement. They trace the steps of this political development, from their initial exposure to organizing as a college student through their participation in the campaign to establish a union at Babeland in New York City. They describe the worker grievances at Babeland, the process of building support for a union, the personal and community relationships that sustained their organizing, and worker solidarity efforts within the broader labor movement. (Summary by Justine Ambrose.)

Item Actions

View At: https://nyctransoralhistory.org/interview/phoenix-danger/
Citation: Cite

Item Information:

Identifier: 5d86p052v
Collection: Oral Histories with People of Color
Institution: NYC Trans Oral History Project
Creator(s): O'Brien, Michelle Esther
Danger, Phoenix
Contributor(s): Ambrose, Justine
Publisher: New York Public Library
Date Created: Apr. 24, 2017
Dates Covered: 1990 to 2017
Genre: Oral Histories
Subject(s): Babeland
Phoenix Danger
Places: New York
California
Washington, D.C. > Washington County > Washington
Florida > Miami-Dade County > Miami
Texas > Travis County > Austin
Topic(s): Childhood
Clothing
Coming out
Demonstrations
Employment discrimination
Ethnic groups
Families
Gay-straight alliances
Gender diversity
Gender identity
Gender realignment surgery
Harassment
Immigration
Labour
LGBTQ+ relationships
Multiculturalism
Politics
Racism
Substance abuse
Trade unions
Transgender community
Transphobia
Resource Type: Audio
Digital Format: duration 1 hour 43 minutes 20 seconds
Language: English
Rights: Copyright undetermined
For more information on copyright, please read our policies