Interview Of Phoenix Danger

NYC Trans Oral History Project

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.