Photos by Morgan Davis
Senaj’e McCoy
Philly-Based Cultural Activator
Pronouns: they/them
Born and raised in Philly, Senaj’e is a cultural activator and a pansexual, non-binary fem. Their community-centered work ranges from helping school-aged children with ELA to being a kind face and connector in the local Black queer community in Philadelphia. No matter the avenue, cultivating a sense of belonging and feeling seen are central to who Senaj’e is.
M: So, I’d love for you to introduce yourself!
S: My name is Senaj’e. I do a lot of work within my community, especially for schools and children. I go in and help them with ELA and social-emotional well-being. Within the LGBTQ+ community, especially the creative community in Philadelphia, I'm kind of the person who, if anyone's going to be there, I'm going to be there, you know what I mean? I come, I show face, I greet everyone. You know, it's going to be a real good time when I'm around. I dress down to the nines. I go there, I get the party started. I see new faces. I see old faces. It's kind of, you know, if anyone's going to be there, I'm going to be there.
M: Essentially, it sounds like from a cultural activator standpoint – especially when talking about the queer community — you're helping contribute to the energy of the space. And making sure that people feel welcome.
S: Yes.
M: When we're talking about, especially Black queer spaces — my knowledge is definitely more focused on the DMV, but my assumption also with Philly too is there are so few sapphic and lesbian spaces comparatively to the rest of the community. So, I think it’s so important to have people who make you feel like you're at home, who make you feel like you're welcome — because there are such a smaller number of spaces for us.
S: I won't lie; that's literally my job. I go there, I mingle, I meet with people. I come in and make sure no one's crossing boundaries.
People feel comfortable around me. People understand that if I'm around, there's going to be a good time, very positive energy. I do my best to make sure that everyone's included. I put the spotlight on other people. I enjoy it, but at the same time, it's a joy for me to be in these spaces where other people are shining — where other people are showcasing their talents and trying to bring people together, not necessarily for a cause all the time, but just to exist. You know what I mean?
Whenever I come to these spaces, people know that I'm coming to ensure that we really are a community instead of an echo chamber.
I'm also very big on calling people out for things. I'm very big on let's not pass around the same baton. Let's talk about the real issues. Let's make sure we're pushing people out of these spaces who should not be here, who are not safe, who should not be protected. I try to make it very clear that if you’ve got anything going on — you're an abuser, you've done things, you have allegations — I'm not here to support you.
I'm not safe for you. I would never defend you. I'm very loud about it too. I just try my best to uphold not only my own values, but what I want out of my community.
If someone's having trouble here, someone has equipment here, can we crowd-fund for these people? Can we make sure X, Y, and Z have a place to sleep tonight? I want to always be at the heart of that. I believe that community comes at a cost sometimes. And I think that's a good sacrifice to make.
M: I always like to ask this of those who sit in community care-focused roles, whether it’s in the classroom or within the queer social scene — as you make sure that everyone else is cared for, how do you pour that into you?
S: I try to pick and choose where I bring my presence to. I want to protect not only myself, but also my integrity. Sometimes, I don't want to go out. So, I don't. And I don't put that pressure on myself to go to show face.
I also really appreciate the time that I spend with myself — doing activities that I like to do. I really take the time to just recharge because even though I do these things and I can outwardly seem very social, very extroverted, I get drained fast. And during that time, I'll typically only hang with people I feel do not drain my battery — kind of like a charging pad.
I try to recharge when I can. I also make sure I'm not losing sight of my passions. There are things I do outside of what people see me do on social media or outside of the Internet. I keep myself busy with hobbies that I genuinely love.
I'm always in a gallery somewhere. I just try to pour into myself in even the small ways. Sometimes I just sit on the porch. Sometimes I just go for a little walk in my neighborhood. I just really try to listen to my mind and to my body.
M: On that note, when it comes to Black queer events, spaces, things of that nature in Philly — what are some of your go-to places that you stand by?
S: I’m about to blow up the spot. Number one, top number one, because they always have really good events. I won't lie, it's Dahlak on Baltimore Ave. That's my shit, okay?
They have everything from comedy shows to DJ sets. It's lit. The kitchen is open. The drinks are strong. It's a little spot in the back where the old heads kick it if the young h**** are getting too lit on the inside.
It's a cute little one, two. You know what I mean?
Okay, second, now, this isn't specifically for Black gays, but I'm trying to take it over. I love a Franky Bradley's moment. It's so lit. It's so gay.
I always meet the nicest people there. It's a good time. I'm talking, like, you go outside, you need a cigarette, and the most gorgeous fucking anybody — non-binary, a trans man, trans woman, drag queen, etc. is out there smoking and they're like, “You want one?”. And yes, I do need a drunk cigarette. Thank you.
Love Franky Bradley's. Always a great time. There's probably not one time I've been there and I was like, “Oh, this is kind of a**. Let's leave”. If you really came to dance somewhere, that's where you want to be.
Okay. Number three.
I love Val’s; it’s our only lesbian bar.
M: Okay. I've heard about that place.
S: Val’s, I won't lie. Sometimes it's a little hit or miss. But it's a cute little one, two. I love a good lesbian bar.
I went there this year during Pride. It was lit. It was tea. It was a great time. Even if you just want to go in there for a cute little drink, it's nice for that, too. I also don't think everything needs to be jumping all the time.
M: So what are you looking forward to for the rest of this year? Whether that's a trip or maybe a new hobby you've started.
S: What I'm really, really looking forward to currently…I’m not going to lie, I'm going to fall into gay statistics; I really want to get into DJing.
M: [Laughs] I figured it was either going to be DJing, plants, or crocheting or something.
S: [Laughs] I already crochet and have plants. Do you know me or something? What the freak?
I really want to DJ just for the vibes. I'm not trying to get famous or make a career out of it. A lot of things I do are just simply to have the experience. After getting my spark back, I just want to do a bunch of s***, okay? I feel like it'd be really fun and cute to make a couple of little mixes.
Also, I really would love to reopen my tattoo business. I had lost some of my passions due to something that happened to me. I ended up working so incredibly hard. I got a job to fund my business, and I started working so hard at that job that I literally had no time to even tattoo.
I was like, “Whoa, I don't want to be that person”. I don't want to look up, and I can't change jobs because I've been at it for 15 years. I want to really take time to enjoy the fruits of my labor now. They're ripe right now. I don't want to have fermented fruit. I don't always want to have wine.
So, I want to get back to my passions, like tattooing. I’ve also been getting back into my art. I got to start diving back into my digital art as well as starting to learn how to animate. I really just want to make progress in those things as well as expand my reach within my community.
The reason why I even have the job I have now is that I think it’ll help me bridge the gap in understanding how to function within a non-profit organization. I want to put my best foot forward, really put time and effort into it — whether it’s throwing events or curating some type of space for people.
M: What type of events do you want to do?
S: Definitely, I think, surrounding art. I love poetry. That's another thing I do; I write. I've been in many events where I've gotten to read my poems and things. People can connect really well over art. Even if it's not really your style, I feel like art just opens up a conversation. And once you start branching out from that one conversation, it can lead to wherever you want to take it. Also, art is political. I very much believe that.
M: So lastly, when you think of the phrase “To Be Determined”, what comes to mind?
S: I think when I hear the words to be determined, I'm not going to lie, a lot of the time I shift away from social norms — especially as a Black queer person, as we’re already not within the “norms” of things.
I'm constantly changing. I'm multifaceted. I'm doing this, this, and that. I'm taking up space.
I don't think I ever want to be determined; I don't want you to set me in a box. I don't want you to label me as one or the other thing. I think to be determined, well, the opposite of being determined is to be like a wildfire: be that passion, that drive, that something that can't be held down.
