Queer Keys
BY MAGGIE OLIVE KLEIN
KONKLIFE STAFF WRITER AND EDITOR
Here in Key West, our slogan is “One Human Family”. Our community strives to encourage and establish inclusivity and togetherness, but with that comes the need for LGBTQ+ education and action. Janiece Rodriguez and Chris McNulty are actively working to practice what Key West’s philosophy preaches, and have created an organization that aims to support, encourage, provide for, and aid the LGBTQ+ community. They call themselves the Queer Keys! The two kickstarted their idea with a youth group, holding weekly meetings throughout the school year.
The youth group program, which began on September 16, 2021, consisted of participants between the ages of 12 and 18. They had weekly meetings throughout the school year, every Thursday from 6:00-7:30 p.m. To Rodriguez and McNulty’s pleasant surprise, as the weeks passed, the kids were begging for more time together. The meetings took place at the Old Stone Coffee House behind the United Methodist Church at 600 Eaton Street. And, don’t worry about the past tense to which its being referred… the group is taking time off for summer break, but will regroup for the school year!
The youth group gained traction since forming back in September. McNulty says, “For the first meeting we were prepared for 50 kids to show up, and we had three kids in attendance. All three of them have been coming all year long, though, and were able to watch the group grow with us. They have become leaders in a way, and were able to observe the formation of something beautiful.” The group is activity-based, and has done a lot over the year, including karaoke, tie dye, a Halloween dance, and the kids absolutely love it. McNulty also notes that they have been receiving calls from people from other parts of The Keys who ask if there are similar programs in their town!
Rodriguez and McNulty formed Queer Keys out of necessity. Rodriguez came to Key West on her own from Miami, without having any connections, and quickly realized that as a trans woman there weren’t enough resources for her, and knew she had to do something. McNulty, while living in Cleveland, formerly served as the community engagement coordinator of the city’s LGBTQ+ community center, and assumed that once he relocated to Key West, he would do similar work. However, much like Rodriguez, he was taken aback by the lack of services and programming. When asked about his drive to do the work he does, McNulty says, “I’ve always been interested in helping people. A big part of my upbringing is service, and its always been a part of me to strive to make the world a better place. Part of my interest in betterment resides in working in the queer community, because that’s where I experience my own relationship to oppression.”
The two knew that there needed to be a change within the community, and joined forces to create Queer Keys. Their plan is to turn the organization into more than just a youth group — something bigger and more versatile for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. When asked about the future of Queer Keys, Rodriguez says, “We want people to be able to walk into this place and learn about the community and everything that comes with it. We also want to provide testing, education, hormones, and just a safe space that people can really be themselves.” The two are spending the summer networking and planning to find the space necessary for their vision to take off and become a beautiful and accessible place.
To end Pride month, the group is having a “Coming Out Party” fundraiser on June 26th at the Key West Theater, where they will introduce themselves as a group for the first time to the public! We are excited about the positive, informative and inclusive work that Rodriguez and McNulty are doing for the good of the community, and can’t wait to see what’s next.
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