MJ Clark

During Black Pride Weekend 2025, Washington, DC-born, New Orleans-living MJ Clark attended a party with friends that was billed as “for all LGBTQ” but turned out to be primarily for gay men. “The girls and I still enjoyed ourselves, but definitely felt as if we weren’t in the right space, shoes being stepped on and all!” she recalls. Clark wondered: “Where do the femmes actually frolic?” Nobody seemed to know. Inspiration began brewing, and within months, Clark founded Where the Femmes Frolick—a sapphic lifestyle club rooted in mental health, physical wellness, and global exploration. It quickly became a growing hub for community in New Orleans, hosting regular events and launching the Fye Femme Decadence Festival, the first all-women-centered fest during Southern Decadence, NOLA’s Labor Day Weekend LGBTQ+ celebration. Clark also serves as a leader within Black Pride New Orleans, having joined the event committee in 2024 and being named Youth Empowerment Chair in 2026. Through mentorship, wellness programming, and intentional community building, this visionary continues to uplift and inspire the next generation while expanding visibility and opportunity for queer women in the South. “The most rewarding aspect of my work has been seeing how the spaces I’ve curated have impacted other women in a safe, fun, and healthy way,” Clark says. “Seeing other queer women living their best life is why I do this.” –MH