WE OUTSIDE: Where Black Queer Joy Takes the Lead

The music is already being cued up, and the energy? You can feel it building. WE OUTSIDE isn’t just a party it’s a declaration. A love letter. A beginning.

On Thursday, June 26 at 10:30 PM, the doors at HandleBar will open wide for the first event from BLQKΦΛΚ™, a new Black queer social fraternity and creative collective making its official entrance into the world. And they’re doing it the only way that makes sense: loud, beautiful, and on their own terms.

Both the indoor bar and outdoor patio will be open, pulsing with a mix of hip-hop, R&B, soul, house, and Afro fusion. The crowd will be as mixed and vibrant as the sound…just how they like it. Because community, when done right, should always be expansive. But make no mistake, the center of gravity here is Black queer joy.

Behind the booth will be DJ PBNJEFFY, Kansas City-born, St. Louis-based, and widely considered one of the most soulful, electrifying DJs in the scene. He’s not a member of the fraternity, but he’s family. A connector. A pulse. His sets don’t just hit, they heal.

Mic in hand (and sometimes not), The Artdoll will move through the night in the way only she can. She’s a queer woman, yes, but that’s just the start. A fine artist, a tattooer, a business owner, and a cultural anchor, she’s one of the most successful Black entrepreneurs of her generation in St. Louis. Her presence is proof of what happens when creativity meets power and refuses to ask permission.

S.A.Y. will share one of their latest songs, a lyrical moment steeped in clarity and storytelling. And Kira Phoenix is set to give a performance inspired by the late ’80s and early ’90s, drawing from that era’s high femme power and polished presence. Expect full expression, no labels needed, just pure vibe and performance heat.

But the real story isn’t just the lineup. It’s the intention. And the people behind it.

Some of the founders of BLQKΦΛΚ™ include Charles Brown, David Hemphill, Torezz Griffin, Trent Ramsey, and Tyler Jay, a collection of Black queer men from different walks of life. Between them are bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and associate degrees. They’re models, musicians, poets, bartenders, club hosts, entrepreneurs, and fashionistas. Together, they form something greater than the sum of their parts: a vision of what it looks like when Black queer brilliance comes together with purpose.

Photo credit : Nylus Photography 

BLQKΦΛΚ™ isn’t here to recreate what already exists. They’re carving something new. A sovereign space. A curated legacy. Something rooted. Something liberatory. Something that can hold joy and resistance at the same time.

Their definition of “queer” isn’t about who you love or how you identify. It’s about energy. About creation. About refusing to shrink.

WE OUTSIDE is just the first page. There will be more parties. More art. More moments. Day parties, paint nights, Soul Sessions, Mic Toss & Mimosas, R&B skate takeovers, fundraisers, and whatever else they dream into being.

This isn’t just a party. It’s the start of something that was always meant to exist.

BLQKΦΛΚ™ is here.