Shirt a Phobia

Sample Page

Qween Jean is a costume designer and LGBT+ rights activist based in New York City.[1] In 2026, she won a Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical for her costume design work in Cats: The Jellicle Ball, becoming the first openly transgender winner of a Tony Award.[2] She was also nominated for her work on Bess Wohl‘s Liberation.[3]

Early life

Jean was born in Haiti before moving with her family to Miami, Florida. Growing up, she struggled with gender dysphoria and read queer stories, including books by James Baldwin, for support. She learned how to sew from her grandmother, who was a dressmaker.[4]

Education

She attended Florida School of the Arts at St. Johns River State College before transferring to University of North Carolina where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Business Communications.[5] In 2016, she graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a master’s degree in Design and went on to have a career as a costume designer.[6]

Activism

Black trans liberation protests

In June 2020, following the murders of Black transgender woman Nina Pop,[7] and Black transgender man Tony McDade,[8] and the lack of coverage of the murders in the media, Jean co-founded the Black trans liberation protests in New York City with Joela-Abiona Rivera.[9][10][11]

Gay City News states the protests’ purpose was to “underscore the importance of trans rights and condemn the ongoing killings of transgender people.” The protests took place every Thursday outside the Stonewall Inn, in Washington Square Park, and through the streets of the city.[6] Them wrote, “As the fight for safety and inclusion continues, Jean utilizes marches as a means of building coalitions, dismantling bigotry, and creating spaces for joy and celebration.”[12] The protests – and Jean – are the subjects of the photo book[13] Revolution Is Love: A Year of Black Trans Liberation.[14][15][16]

Qween Jean is the co-founder of Black Trans Liberation Kitchen, a collective that helps to provide healthy, home-cooked meals to preserve and nourish the vitality of the TGNC community. Ceyenne Doroshow has participated with Qween Jean and the BTLK as a guest chef. Doroshow states that, “Giving young people access to making their own food in the simplest ways is not only sustainable, it’s nutrition. To see a sisterhood and a brotherhood form around food, there’s nothing quite like it.”[17] Black Trans Liberation’s mission is to end homelessness within the trans population by equipping transgender people with resources to succeed.[18][19]

She drew criticism after saying at a pro-Palestinian rally in early 2024 while excoriating Democratic politicians, “We are sick and tired of being told and reminded of the events of October 7.” [20]

Events

On July 9, 2020, Jean spoke at a protest demanding abolition of the police and decriminalization of sex work.[21]

On January 18, 2021, Jean led a trans liberation protest where the crowd was attacked and beaten by the NYPD.[22] Jean said of the event, “The entire march was attacked and beaten by the NYPD. Literally, where trans women were being attacked by the police, their wigs getting ripped off, being dragged on the concrete. There is a parallel to the 1969 liberation fight.”[6]

On June 13, 2021, Jean led the second Brooklyn Liberation March, which focused on the empowerment of transgender youth. The event supported organizations such as, “the Gworls, an organization that raises money to assist Black transgender people with housing; the Black Excellence Collective; Trans Lifeline; and Magic City Acceptance Center, a space for LGBTQ children in Birmingham, Alabama.”[23] On June 24, 2021, Jean’s conversation with Avram Finkelstein, a founding member of the AIDS art collective Gran Fury, was published in Interview.[24] On August 28, 2021, Jean participated in the March On For Voting Rights in Washington D.C.[25] On September 8, 2021, Jean led a rally in support of Abimbola Adelaja, a former Marine, who was attacked for being gay in a Bushwick bodega.[26][27]

On June 26, 2022, Jean and other activists interrupted the New York City Pride Parade in honor of Donnell Rochester, an 18-year-old murdered by police in Baltimore. Jean stated at the event, “Pride was a protest. Stonewall is the history and legacy of injustice. We are reclaiming our time today. We are reclaiming queer space today. We are reclaiming trans bodies today.”[28]

On August 24, 2022, Jean hosted a rally for Marsha P. Johnson’s 77th birthday in Washington Square Park.[29] The same week, Jean co-hosted the third annual Celebration of Black Trans Women Cookout.[30]

On May 31, 2023, Jean was arrested by the NYPD at a protest of anti-trans laws and violence.[31][32] Activist Adam Eli shared footage of Jean’s arrest and stated, “There is no question that the police targeted Qween and that this was their plan for the night. As soon as Qween was arrested the police presence at least halved.”[33][34]

Gay City News reported that Jean was among the leaders of the 2023 Queer Liberation March in New York, an anti-corporate alternative to the NYC Pride March. That day, she stated:

I believe in Black trans liberation. I believe in Black trans power…When trans people unite, whenever we gather, it has no chance but to be magical, because as we can look around and see, our community has come out today. They not only look glorious, they look so divine. This is how we show up in our full armor.[35]

Artistry

Jean’s early costume design work for regional, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway theater included Our Dear Dead Drug Lord (2019), One in Two (2020), and Siblings Play (2020).[36][37]

In 2020, Jean was honored in Black Women on Broadway’s Inaugural Awards Ceremony for her costume designs.[38][39] The same year, she designed costumes for Shakespeare Theatre Company’s The Amen Corner.[4] In 2021, she designed costumes for What to Send Up When It Goes Down at Playwrights Horizons.[40]

In 2021, Jean was named an Artist-in-Residence at Museum of Modern Art PS1 and curated the exhibit Black Trans Liberation: Memoriam and Deliverance.[41][5] Later that year, a portrait of Jean taken by photographer, Christian Thane, was featured in the Queens Museum exhibit, Live Pridefully: Love and Resilience within Pandemics.[5] In 2022, another portrait, taken by Camila Falquez, was featured in the exhibit, Gods That Walk Among Us, at the Hannah Traore Gallery in NYC.[42][43][44] Jean was on the cover of Cero Magazine and featured in Logo for their “30 Changemakers” series.[45][46]

In 2022, Jean designed the costumes for Theatre for a New Audience‘s production, Wedding Band: A Love/Hate Story in Black and White, and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design of a Play.[47][48] On June 25, 2022, Jean co-hosted The Big Mix – LGBTQIA+ Pride with Idina Menzel.[49] Jean had a cameo on And Just Like That…[50]

In 2023, she designed the costumes for The New Group‘s production, The Seagull/Woodstock, NY.[51] Jean was honored at the 2023 Obie Awards for her costume design.[52]; CLAGS José Muñoz Award (2026).[53][54][55] That same year, Jean joined Theatre Communications Group‘s board of directors.[56]

In 2024, Jean designed costumes for the off-Broadway production of Amy Berryman’s sci-fi play Walden. [57] Her costume work was featured in the off-Broadway premiere of Cats: The Jellicle Ball at the Perelman Performing Arts Center.[58]

In 2025, Jean designed the costumes for Damon Cardasis‘s Saturday Church, staged at the New York Theatre Workshop.[59] For her work on Saturday Church, she won the 2026 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Costume Design.[60]

In 2026, Jean’s costume design work was nominated for two Tony Awards, for Liberation and Cats: The Jellicle Ball.[61] Her win for her work on Cats: The Jellicle Ball made Jean the first openly transgender person to win a Tony Award.[2] She also won the 2026 Dorian Award for LGBTQ Theater Artist of the Season.[62]

In June 2026, Jean’s costume work will be featured in the off-Broadway musical The Potluck at Playwrights Horizons.[63]

Stage credits

Year Title Venue Ref.
2021 The Fever Off-Broadway, The New Group [64]
What to Send Up When It Goes Down Off-Broadway, Playwrights Horizons
Semblance Filmed, New York Theatre Workshop
2022 Black No More Off-Broadway, Pershing Square Signature Center
On Sugarland Off-Broadway, New York Theatre Workshop
Hound Dog Off-Broadway, Greenwich House
Corsicana Off-Broadway, Playwrights Horizons
soft Off-Broadway, MCC Theater
Wedding Band Off-Broadway, Theatre for a New Audience
2023 The Seagull/Woodstock, NY Off-Broadway, Pershing Square Signature Center
2024 Jordans Off-Broadway, The Public Theater
Cats: The Jellicle Ball Off-Broadway, Perelman Performing Arts Center
2025 Angry Alan Off-Broadway, Second Stage Theatre
Saturday Church Off-Broadway, New York Theatre Workshop
Oh Happy Day! Off-Broadway, The Public Theater
Liberation Broadway, James Earl Jones Theatre
2026 Cats: The Jellicle Ball Broadway, Broadhurst Theatre
The Whoopi Monologues Off-Broadway, Lincoln Center Theatre

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2023 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design of a Play Wedding Band Nominated
Obie Awards Special Citation Won
Obie Award Special Citation Corsicana, soft, Wedding Band, Black No More, The Fever, What To Send Up When it Goes Down, Semblance Honored
2025 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical Cats: The Jellicle Ball Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Costume Design Nominated
2026 New York Drama Critics Circle Special Citation Won
Tony Award Best Costume Design of a Play Liberation Nominated
Best Costume Design of a Musical Cats: The Jellicle Ball Won
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical Won
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Costume Design Saturday Church Won
Dorian Award[65] LGBTQ Theater Artist of the Season Won

See also

References

  1. ^ “QWEEN JEAN”. GAYLETTER. 2021-09-08. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  2. ^ a b Evans, Greg (June 7, 2026). “‘Cats: Jellicle Ball’ Costume Designer Qween Jean Becomes First Openly Trans Tony Award Winner”. Deadline. Archived from the original on June 8, 2026. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  3. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 5, 2026). “Tony Nominations 2026, Read the Complete List; The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! Lead”. Playbill. Archived from the original on June 4, 2026. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  4. ^ a b Folliard, Patrick (2020-10-01). “‘This is the time when artists go to work’“. Washington Blade. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  5. ^ a b c “Live Pridefully Qween Jean”. Caribbean Equality Project. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  6. ^ a b c Bellamy-Walker, Tat (2021-02-17). “Qween Jean Brings “Artivism” to Stonewall Protests”. Gay City News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  7. ^ Tracy, Matt (2020-05-07). “Black Transgender Woman Murdered in Missouri”. Gay City News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  8. ^ Tracy, Matt (2020-05-29). “Police Kill Black Transgender Man in Florida”. Gay City News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  9. ^ “Home of the Brave”. Harper’s BAZAAR. 2022-05-25. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  10. ^ Barna, Ben (2021-06-18). “Ryan McGinley and Qween Jean Take You Inside the Brooklyn Liberation Protest”. Interview Magazine. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  11. ^ Tracy, Matt (2020-07-26). “Vibrant Trans Liberation March Follows Powerful Speeches”. Gay City News. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  12. ^ “Qween Jean Is the Electrifying Activist Fighting for Black Trans Liberation”. Them. 2021-06-30. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  13. ^ Lee, Denny (2022-11-27). “What Ziwe and LaQuan Smith Wore to Club Moda”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  14. ^ Jean, Qween; Rivera, Joela; Street, Mikelle; Willis, Raquel; Ahmed, Ramie; Baptiste, Lucy; Budi, eds. (2022). Revolution is love: a year of black trans liberation (1st ed.). New York, NY: Aperture. ISBN 978-1-59711-530-8.
  15. ^ “A New Photo Book Captures the Power of Black Trans Liberation”. Them. 2022-12-09. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  16. ^ Dazed (2022-10-24). “The story behind 2020’s revolutionary Stonewall Protests”. Dazed. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  17. ^ Michael, Michael Love (2023-06-23). “The Life-Saving, Spirit-Raising Work of New York’s Black Trans Liberation Kitchen”. Vogue. Archived from the original on 2025-06-08. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  18. ^ Floyd-Carroll, Iman (2021-05-12). “Black Trans Liberation: An Evening at the Stonewall Protests in New York City”. Peninsula Press. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  19. ^ “11 Organizations and Fundraisers to Support Right Now”. Them. 2022-12-23. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  20. ^ Cramer, Philissa (2026-06-08). “John Lithgow wins Tony Award for portraying Roald Dahl in ‘Giant,’ about Dahl’s antisemitism”. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on 2026-06-08. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  21. ^ Tracy, Matt (2020-07-13). “Sex Workers Rally Against Police Brutality at Stonewall – Gay City News”. gaycitynews.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  22. ^ Tracy, Matt (2021-01-19). “NYPD Goes After Protesters on MLK Day”. gaycitynews.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  23. ^ Tracy, Matt (2021-06-14). “Brooklyn Liberation March Brings Attention to Trans Youth”. gaycitynews.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  24. ^ Gillen, Nancy (2021-06-24). “Avram Finkelstein and Qween Jean Look Back on a Lifetime of Organizing”. Interview Magazine. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  25. ^ “Perspective | Black trans women face a unique threat rooted in centuries of history”. Washington Post. 2022-03-19. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  26. ^ Brendlen, Kirstyn (2021-09-10). “Bushwick rallies against hate after anti-gay attack”. Brooklyn Paper. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  27. ^ “Protestors March Against Anti-LGBTQ Hate Crimes in Brooklyn”. Paper. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14.
  28. ^ Moses, Dean (2022-06-26). “Protesters rain on the NYC Pride Parade in memory of Donnell Rochester | amNewYork”. www.amny.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  29. ^ Messino, Gaby. “A Black Trans Liberation Rally Honors the Life of Marsha P. Johnson”. www.otdowntown.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  30. ^ “Black Trans Women Deserve to Be at the Cookout, Too”. Them. 2022-09-01. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  31. ^ Holtermann, Gabriele (2023-06-01). “Prominent transgender activist Qween Jean arrested in Greenwich Village during ‘Trans Revolution’ march | amNewYork”. www.amny.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  32. ^ “The NYPD Kicked Off Pride Month By Arresting a Black Trans Activist”. Them. 2023-06-01. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  33. ^ Villarreal, Daniel (2023-06-10). “The NYPD’s Pride-themed vehicle may feature an anti-cop slogan”. LGBTQ Nation. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  34. ^ “March for Trans Rights in NYC”. New York Daily News. 2023-06-01. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  35. ^ Tracy, Matt (2023-06-26). “Trans and queer rights take center stage at intersectional Queer Liberation March”. gaycitynews.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-26. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
  36. ^ “Theatre — Qween Jean COSTUME DESIGN”. Qween Jean COSTUME DESIGN. Archived from the original on 2026-06-11. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  37. ^ Reid, Danae (2020-06-26). “A Millennial Voice: Time with Andy Jean – The journey to forward movement”. The Philadelphia Sunday Sun. Archived from the original on 2026-06-11. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  38. ^ Jackson, Angelique (2022-06-01). “Black Women on Broadway Announces Inaugural Awards Ceremony (EXCLUSIVE)”. Variety. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  39. ^ MaGee, Ny (2022-06-03). “Black Women on Broadway Announce Inaugural Awards Ceremony on June 6 in NYC”. EURweb. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  40. ^ “What to Send Up When It Goes Down”. Playwrights Horizons. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  41. ^ “June 12–August 16, 2021 Black Trans Liberation: Memoriam and Deliverance”. The Museum of Modern Art. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  42. ^ “Photographer Camila Falquez creates new paradigms of beauty, power & liberation”. i-d.vice.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  43. ^ Waddoups, Ryan (2022-06-12). “The Queer Community Comes Together to Celebrate Camila Falquez”. SURFACE. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  44. ^ “Photographer Camila Falquez Captures the Gods That Walk Among Us”. ELLE. 2022-06-15. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  45. ^ “CERO01 — Joela Rivera and Qween Jean”. Cero Magazine. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  46. ^ “Meet the LOGO30: Qween Jean “It Is My Right to Hold Space,” Says the Stonewall Protests Organizer”. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14.
  47. ^ Putnam, Leah (2022). “Reviews: What Did Critics Think of TFANA’s Wedding Band?”. Playbill. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13.
  48. ^ “Drama Desk And Outer Critics Circle Awards Nominations Announced”. Live Design. 27 April 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13.
  49. ^ “Little Island Announces Complete Cast For The Big Mix”. City Life Org. 2022-06-10. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  50. ^ “Sara Ramírez on ‘And Just Like That’ and TV’s buzziest queer character”. NBC News. 2022-06-01. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  51. ^ “Enter the Rehearsal Room for The Seagull/Woodstock, NY With New Photos”. Playbill. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13.
  52. ^ Weiss, Ian (2023-02-23). “66th Obies Winners Announced”. Obie Awards. Archived from the original on 2026-03-25. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  53. ^ “Annual José Muñoz Award: Honoring Qween Jean”. www.gc.cuny.edu. Archived from the original on 2026-03-26. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  54. ^ “2023 OBIE Awards on the Red Carpet — Photo Journal”. www.theatrely.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  55. ^ “Congratulations to Design Alumni OBIE Winners!”. tisch.nyu.edu. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  56. ^ “TCG Announces New Board Trustees and Structure”. AMERICAN THEATRE. 2023-02-21. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  57. ^ Gans, Andrew (2024-10-16). “Walden, Starring Motell Foster, Emmy Rossum, Zoë Winters, Begins Previews Off-Broadway October 16”. Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-11-17. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  58. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (2024-09-08). “Cats: ‘The Jellicle Ball’ Walks Final Runway September 8”. Playbill. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  59. ^ Ramírez, Juan A. (2025-09-23). “Qween Jean on Creating the Costumes—or ‘the Armor’—for ‘Saturday Church’“. Vogue. Archived from the original on 2025-12-13. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  60. ^ “2026 Nominees”. Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  61. ^ Rosky, Nicole (1970-01-01). “2026 Tony Nominations: THE LOST BOYS and SCHMIGADOON! Lead with 12 Each”. BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
  62. ^ Mandell, Jonathan (June 1, 2026). “2026 Dorian Theater Award winners: Schmigadoon. Prince Faggot. Ragtime: Joshua. Junior. Quincy. Qween”. New York Theater. Archived from the original on June 1, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  63. ^ “The Potluck”. Soho Rep. Archived from the original on 2026-06-11. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  64. ^ “Qween Jean”. BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  65. ^ Mandell, Jonathan (June 1, 2026). “2026 Dorian Theater Award winners: Schmigadoon. Prince Faggot. Ragtime: Joshua. Junior. Quincy. Qween”. New York Theater. Archived from the original on June 1, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.