Miguel Domingues

I first met Jay at Kanaal40, a bar located in the heart of Amsterdam's Warmoesstraat. I worked behind the bar, Jay worked as a security guard at the door.

 

Through their bold remarks and warm, personal approach, Jay gradually cultivated a close-knit community in the smoking area while I watched from behind the bar. At the threshold of the club, Jay found a sense of security: a space to express themselves and explore who they want to be. Even after the bar closed its doors, the experience continued to shape Jay’s life in deeply personal ways.

 

In this dreamy animated short, Jay takes me on a drive through The Hague, reflecting on their job and what it means to be seen, to belong, and to live in a body that is often perceived in ways that don’t reflect how they see themselves.