1.) One word to describe BaBEC?⁠ DD: Revolutionary⁠ ⁠ 2.) Why that word?⁠ DD: The cause in itself. There aren’t a lot of nonprofits that I’ve heard of that are connecting queer and Black joy to a place like Fire Island that has increasing barriers to access. Especially as it relates to race, class and economic factors. I think that the island is somewhere that every queer person should experience in their lives. BaBEC helps make that a reality.⁠ ⁠ 3.) How long have you been coming to Fire Island?⁠ DD: Since 2020⁠ ⁠ 4.) What changes, if any, have you seen on the island that you attribute to BaBEC?⁠ DD: When I first started coming to the island it was in the wake of the worldwide BLM movement. Queer ppl are intersectionally intertwined and to see something happening in a place I didn’t expect to see anything happen, was amazing. The way BaBEC made Juneteenth a holiday weekend that people want to experience on the island in the same way that they come for the Memorial Day, the Invasion and other holiday’s is very impressive. I’m excited to watch how that grows.⁠ ⁠ 5.) What do you think is BaBEC's biggest challenge?⁠ DD: Racism is always going to present in our world and won’t be going away anytime soon. I feel like there is still a lot of bias on the island that needs to be overcome in general. There are also competing interest on the island over what Juneteenth should look like. To me it makes sense to follow the lead of the group that is Black and Trans led.⁠ ⁠ 6.) What do you think is BaBEC's biggest accomplishment?⁠ DD: 2022’s Mx. Juneteenth Fire Island pageant left BaBEC’s mark on Cherry Grove and the island. From the way all of the contestants were Black trans femmes or non-binary, to their stories, to their looks, to their talents. It was a serve! Full stop.⁠ ⁠ 7.) What do you want to see BaBEC do next?⁠ DD: I love how the mission is about expanding access to these seminal queer spaces. I would love to see how that can grow. Specifically around finding more ways to fund transportation and housing.⁠ ⁠ ----⁠ Please consider BaBEC in your year-end giving. Donate via our #linkinbio.⁠ ⁠ Photo by @victorjeffreysii