BGSQD
BGSQD
Join us to celebrate the publication of DOPAMINE Books’ latest release, Bargain Witch: Essays in Self-Initiation, the debut collection from trans scholar and self-initiated witch Brooke Palmieri. In Bargain Witch, occult history, the eternal now and our magickal queer futures align. Palmieri takes us into his stories, from working at London’s oldest occult shop to bonding with his scrappy familiar to saluting the queer witches whose shoulders we stand on, in a work Susan Stryker asserts is ‘Magic, through and through.’
Brooke will be joined in conversation by Claywoman.
To reserve a copy of Bargain Witch (Dopamine/Semiotext(e), October 7, 2025, paperback, $17.95) please write to us at contact@bgsqd.com with “please reserve Bargain Witch for October 24 event” in the subject line.
Thank you for supporting the Bureau by purchasing books from us!
You can also purchase Bargain Witch (click on title below) on our online shop at bookshop.com/shop/bgsqd:
This event will take place in person at the Bureau of General Services—Queer Division, on the second floor (room 210) of The LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St., NYC, 10011.
Registration is not required. Seating is first come, first served.
Also live-streaming on the Bureau’s YouTube channel:
The Bureau will solicit donations at the beginning of the event—we especially encourage donations from those who do not plan to purchase any books.
All are welcome to attend, with or without a donation.
We will pass a bag for donations at the start of the event, but we can also take credit card donations at the register or on Venmo @BGSQD
Even better: sign up to make a monthly tax-deductible donation to the Bureau!
Thank you for committing to sustaining this vital project!
Brooke Palmieri is a writer and artist living in Joshua Tree, California and working at the intersection of memory, history, and transsexual alternate realities. He will be in conversation with Claywoman, is a 500 million year old extra terrestrial from the Mirillion Galaxy. She comes to Earth from time to time to chat with Earthlings. She loves Earth and all its inhabitants, who she finds incredibly fascinating, giving lectures at various events and engaging in public conversation with prominent Earthling artists and intellectuals.
Claywoman is the conception of actor/writer and performer Michael Cavadias, BFA from NYU Experimental Theater Wing. Film and TV credits include Wonder Boys, All We Had, I Remember Nothing, Girls, and Difficult People. Theatre credits include Ahohni’s “She Who Saw Beautiful Things” at The Kitchen and “Star Odessey – The Pilot” at MoMA PS1. Michael’s character Claywoman was originally created at Blackips Performance Cult in the 90s and developed at Mabou Mines. “The Mystery of Claywoman” (directed by Rob Roth) was presented at The New Museum, The Wild Project, Town Hall, Abrons Art Center and Howl Festival. “Conversations with Claywoman” was featured at The Meltdown Festival in London and continues regularly at Pangea in New York City. Claywoman recently performed at The Yaga Gathering in Lithuania. Michael’s newest projects include “Cancellation Island”, a fictional podcast co-written by John Cameron Mitchell, and a Claywoman video/film series to come.