Trans Icon Honey Dijon Serves Up a Delicious Mix for SHADE's Pride Rave

Thanks to a former Olympic hero and her viral glamor shot, it's safe to say that trans culture is finally breaking through America's mainstream awareness. Of course, the momentum has been building for a while, with the celebration of transgender icon Laverne Cox in Orange is the New Black, and (often less enthusiastic) conversations around Bradley Manning's evolution into Chelsea. But trans women and men have long found acceptance in one particular social circle: the underground polysexual party circuit.

The supremely chic DJ Honey Dijon (you can call her "Miss Honey") orbits around Berlin and New York's fashion and nightlife scenes. As he rNew York Times profile put it, "The fact that Honey Dijon is transgender has caused barely a shrug in the widening circles that have embraced her."This month, she'll take the decks at the Gay Pride edition of SHADE, Ladyfag and Seva Granik's unabashedly queer warehouse party.

"SHADE is really bringing back the underground rave culture reminiscent of a time in New York before gentrification and bottle service sanitized the city," Honey says about the party series. "It's young, sexy, carnal, and most of all, fun. Lots of people letting their freak flag fly! The Dijon loves that shit!"

To whet your appetites for the big (breakfast?) blowout, Honey Dijon's serving up a special mix of "dark, moody, carnal, banging, yet sensual" (in her own words) house and techno—check it out above.

SHADE-O'S is going down June 20 in New York City. Get your tickets here.

Michelle Lhooq will be getting shady AF at SHADE. Follow her on Twitter