On Friday night, partygoers in search of a feminist friendly dance party flocked to Cattivo where the first installment of YASS QUEEN debuted at the popular Lawrenceville club, featuring DJs Erin Oh, Cyphe, and Arie Cole. By 10:30, a lively crowd filled the checkerboard floors while music by artists such as M.I.A., Missy Elliot, and Mariah Carey blasted across the stage speakers.

The idea for the feminist dance party series began with Pittsburgh local Ron Coleman, also known as DJ Arie Cole. “I started to notice that I would get into a rhythm where I would play 5 or 6 songs in a row that did not feature women,” he said. “I wanted to change that so I thought a party where women were the focal point [of the evening] would be fun.” Cole felt it was important that he worked with DJs Cyphe and Erin Oh, and to celebrate the talents of femme artists by “observing the contributions that women have made in music.”

Erin Oh, co-founder of the Pittsburgh Feminist Zine Fair, added that the dance party was successful because the people who attended seemed “woman-positive”, which sharply contrasted with previous experiences in which she or women around her were met with sexual harassment. This led her to “want more queer, woman, and trans positive dance spaces”.

Oh’s sentiment was reflected by many who attended the dance party, including Emma Thompson-Green, who knew that it was “important that there is a space for female artists and a safe space for people to enjoy [their music]”. Miguel Moisés, an up-and-coming drag queen who has lived in the city for more than two years, also enjoyed attending the event because they felt that it was friendly to queer and non-binary people, especially those “discovering new scenes in the city’s nightlife”. From DJs to partygoers alike, many were happy to find out YASS QUEEN provided just that.