The Queer Luminaries

At this ongoing live interview series, gonzo gay journalist David Goldberg sits down for candid conversations with the brightest stars of NYC’s queer artistic community. Drag artists, comedians, actors, writers and activists join the former Time Out editor and The Luminaries podcast host to discuss their inspirations, their fears and their careers.

This month, Goldberg will be joined by Amanda Duarte and Isaac Oliver to explore photographer and director Gregory Kramer’s DOWNTOWN, a tabloid newspaper documenting New York City’s downtown scene.

Amanda Duarte is the creator and host of the “Absolute Best Reading Series in NYC” Dead Darlings, in which artists present work they’ve had to cut or abandon, at Judson Memorial Church in New York City. She is an outspoken feminazi cunt on social media and the co-creatrix of the meme and movement #PussyGrabsBack. As a writer, she has contributed to The New York Times, The New Yorker, Time Out New York, Town and Country, NewNowNext, Marie Claire, BuzzFeed, High Times and, yes, Scruff. She appears regularly on comedy and storytelling stages throughout the city, and plays a taint in the itinerant “It’s That Time Of The Month Show with Snatch Adams” co-starring Becca Blackwell. She is seeking to financially dominate a nice person of any or no gender.

Gregory Kramer is a New York City photographer and director. He has published two monograms: 2019’s DOWNTOWN, a tabloid newspaper documenting New York City’s downtown scene, and the acclaimed 2017 book DRAGS, a photo series documenting the drag queens and kings of New York City. His fresh, expressive style has made him a highly sought-after photographer by clients such as Bloomingdale’s, Club Monaco, Macy’s, Saks and Target, and TV commercials for Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and GMHC. He has directed music videos for downtown superstar Bridget Everett, and created original video content for Macy’s, Paper Magazine, Samuelsohn, and 10TV. Gregory got started in the industry as studio manager for renowned photographer and filmmaker Douglas Keeve. He served as first assistant director on Unzipped, Keeve’s celebrated documentary about Isaac Mizrahi.

Isaac Oliver is an award-winning playwright, author, and performer. His debut collection of essays, Intimacy Idiot, was named one of NPR’s Best Books of 2015, and has been released in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audiobook. He is an artist in residence at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, where he performs evenings of sit-down comedy. Additionally, he’s a regular contributor to The New York Times, and writes on HBO’s “High Maintenance” and Netflix’s “GLOW.”