“For [&] By The Community”: Junipero Founder Erin Duncan On The Importance Of FLINTA* Spaces

For the uninitiated, Junipero is a monthly FLINTA* party held at Sydney’s Burdekin Hotel, with the night recently celebrating its fourth birthday. 

Junipero has it all: grassroots DJs, burlesque performances, pole dancing, dating, and live musicians.  “As well as safety, connection, community, and a bloody good time,” says the night’s founder, Erin Duncan.

Exclusive spaces for FLINTA* are ‘extremely important’

Originally from Manchester in the UK, Erin felt a massive gap in the Sydney scene for exclusively FLINTA* spaces.

Her mindset when starting Junipero in 2022 was to fill this gap and create a space where FLINTA* (which stands for Female/Frauen (women), Lesbians, Intersex, Non-binary, Transgender, and Agender persons, with the asterisk representing other unlisted gender identities) people could not only come together, but “not feel conscious of kissing on the dance floor, or approaching someone for their number.”

“I do believe it’s extremely important for there to be exclusively FLINTA* or lesbian, queer, and non-binary spaces,” said Erin.

“It’s about balancing the scales… allowing [FLINTA* people] to look around the dance floor and relate to or feel seen by the people around them,” Erin explained to Star Observer.

This is reflected in Junipero’s door policy, where “dykes, dolls, enbys, t boys, lez/femme” are prioritised entry, as explained in a recent Instagram post.

Erin believes it is important to acknowledge that queer spaces are not free from misogyny, and FLINTA* people need spaces for themselves too.

“FLINTA* people are building [Junipero], their music is being played through the speakers, they are being seen on the dancefloor, scanning tickets at the door, and performing on stage.

“Junipero is for the community, by the community.”

Erin’s goal has been extremely successful. Not only has it become a community and a safe space for many people, but a space for education and being able to relive special moments.

This year’s Pride Month saw the event host talks from Penny Gulliver, a 78er, and Lesley Hudson-Moon, a member of Dykes on Bikes.

It also hosts an annual Drag King Takeover, which allows drag kings to speak directly about the history, politics, and culture of lesbian spaces.

In July this year, Junipero hosted Queer Prom that allowed many to relive prom night on their terms – i.e. being allowed to wear what they wanted to, and express themselves how they wished they could have at their own prom.

The queer scene and the future of Junipero

Erin is most excited by the explosion of sapphic and FLINTA* spaces.

“Book clubs, film clubs, run clubs… I could go on. You name it, you can now find it in Sydney and it’s incredible to see,” said Erin.

When asked about the future of Junipero Erin she’d “love to keep doing this forever.”

“I always say, Junipero belongs to the community. Our DMs are always open for feedback, suggestions, theme ideas, [and] performers [you would] like to see,” Erin said.

“I’m excited for what the future holds for Juni and the possibilities… Let’s go, lesbians!”

You can learn more about Junipero on their Instagram account, or sign up for the Junipero Birthday Club (which offers free entry and drink the month of your birthday) by emailing your name, DOB and ID to junipero@handsonentmt.com.