In the heart of St. Louis, a new creative force is emerging one that redefines what it means to be a social fraternity. Founded in 2025, BLQK x ΦΛΚ (pronounced “BLQK Phi-Lambda-Kappa”) is not just a collective of friends or a social group. It is an intentional, curated space created by and for Black queer men who are reimagining community, masculinity, and cultural expression.
Co-creator David Hemphill
While its founders draw from the Greek-letter tradition, BLQK x ΦΛΚ is part of a growing network of non-collegiate social fraternities. These groups, often built by artists, spiritual leaders, activists, and marginalized communities, have long existed outside the academic system. They reclaim Greek letters not to mimic exclusivity, but to symbolize pride, identity, and connection.
BLQK x ΦΛΚ, or BLQKΦΛΚ, is an original name carefully chosen to reflect the values and legacy its members are building. While a past organization may have used ΦΛΚ, this collective is entirely distinct in purpose, structure, and vision. By using the full name consistently in public, the group is establishing a clear and documented identity that supports its future claim to trademark.
So what does the name represent?
Each letter is intentional:
- B – Blackness
- L – Liberation
- Q – Queerness
- K – Kingship
- Φ – The love of chosen community and collective care
- Λ – Queer power, unity, and resistance
- Κ – The essence of regal leadership and purpose
Together, these letters tell a story of radical belonging, creativity, and cultural pride.
The group has no interest in gatekeeping. As they put it, “We’re not looking for members, we’re calling in those who align.” That includes those who create, protect, influence, and build. BLQKΦΛΚ isn’t selling identity, it’s curating legacy.
What sets this collective apart isn’t just its symbolism. It’s the duality of its founding members Black queer men who embody both professional excellence and creative power.
Among them:
- Tyler Jay, a model and stylist with a master’s in business, merges fashion, intellect, and entrepreneurial spirit.
- Charles “Eran” Brown, a registered nurse and creative artist, brings holistic healing, poetry, and design into everything he touches.
- David “Day Day” Hemphill, a socialite, photographer, music artist, and widely admired bartender, transforms nightlife into art.
- Maven Lee, a multi-hyphenated producer and social entrepreneur with a degree in nonprofit management, has led everything from festivals to cultural showcases.
- Laron Griffin, a stylist and public health leader, seamlessly bridges fashion, wellness, and community action.
Torezz Laron Griffin. Facebook.
These are just a few of the founding members. Each represents a different shade of what it means to be a Black queer man…masculine, but never toxic. Expressive, but grounded. Educated, artistic, present.
“For members of BLQK x ΦΛΚ, masculinity isn’t about performance or detachment. It’s about presence, balance, and self-definition,” says one organizer. “We’re not performing masculinity. We’re just being ourselves. Black. Queer. Emotional. Creative. Educated.”
The group is not trying to redefine Black queerness for everyone but it is trying to show that other valid and powerful expressions exist. Too often, the media and even the community overlook the range of Black queer masculinity. BLQKΦΛΚ offers an unapologetic alternative.
And they’re not stopping at identity. Their work extends into culture, nightlife, and community care.
From skating parties to artistic fundraisers, nightlife takeovers to lunch-and-learns, their goal is to create alternatives for queer folks, especially Black and Brown queer folks who want to be seen, celebrated, and safe.
Their official debut event, WE OUTSIDE: A Black Queer Party, is already poised to become a local phenomenon. Happening June 26 at HandleBar, it doubles as the official afterparty for the STL Pride Ball at the Missouri History Museum.
With music by DJ PBNJEFFY, a Kansas City-born powerhouse who brings bold energy and style to the turntables, and hosting by the incomparable Sherelle “ArtDoll” Speed, a nationally recognized interdisciplinary artist and businesswoman, the night promises to be an explosion of art, identity, and joy.
BLQK x ΦΛΚ is more than a name. It’s a vision, a movement, and a curated legacy for those who move with purpose.
And this is just the beginning.
Charles Brown. Photo credit: David Hemphill
