DJ Debbie

DJ Debbie (she/her) was born in Trinidad and Tobago and moved to Brooklyn at age 11. DJ Debbie discovered her unique identity early on. With a supportive family that embraced music, she navigated the challenges of coming out as a lesbian during her teenage years. Her DJ journey began at 14 when she filled in for a missing DJ at a family party, eventually opening for icons like Queen Latifah and Salt-N-Pepa. In her mid-20s, DJ Debbie found solace and community at Shades of Lavender and being a part of the “Big Truck” at NYC Pride March, embracing her dual Caribbean identities.

Frustrated by the lack of Caribbean LGBTQ+ representation, she launched "We Ting," a weekly celebration of Caribbean LGBTQ+ people and culture. Her breakthrough came in the late '90s with a performance at “G Spot,” solidifying her presence in the Caribbean and LGBTQ+ communities. She also ventured into artist management with BooLaBap Records.

Returning to Soca music, she released the EP "DJ Debbie: Up Close and Personal" in 2005, blending Soca and reggae. Her contributions to the Caribbean LGBTQ+ liberation movement were celebrated in the Caribbean Equality Project's 2019 exhibition, “Queer Caribbeans of NYC.” Today, DJ Debbie remains an outspoken advocate for Caribbean LGBTQ+ visibility as an openly lesbian Soca artist.