Lina Bradford, Iconic NYC DJ, Celebrates 30 Years Behind the Decks

The trailblazing trans woman DJ reflects on her career, the evolution of New York nightlife, and how she's maintained relevance for three decades.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:53pm

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An extreme close-up of shattered disco ball fragments reflecting bright, colorful lights, capturing the energy and glamour of the New York nightclub scene.Lina Bradford's three decades as a pioneering DJ have made her an icon of New York's vibrant queer nightlife scene.NYC Today

Lina Bradford, a fixture of New York's queer club scene, is celebrating 30 years as a DJ. Bradford, who is a trans woman, got her start in 1996 after a dare from house music legend Frankie Knuckles. Over the past three decades, she has become an icon, DJing all over the city and the world, and maintaining a long-running Friday night residency. In an interview, Bradford discusses her career, the changes she's seen in New York nightlife, and how her identity as a trans woman of color has shaped her experience.

Why it matters

Bradford's story highlights the challenges and triumphs of LGBTQ+ artists, especially trans women, in the male-dominated world of DJing. Her longevity and influence in New York's nightlife scene also reflect broader shifts in the city's culture, from the gritty underground of the 1990s to the more corporate and homogenized nightlife of the 2000s and beyond.

The details

Bradford began her DJ career in 1996 after a dare from house music pioneer Frankie Knuckles, whom she considers a mentor. Despite having little prior experience, Bradford quickly established herself, weaving soulful house music with eclectic remixes. Over the years, she has DJed all over New York and the world, and has a long-running Friday night residency. Bradford says the city's nightlife scene changed dramatically in the late 1990s and 2000s, with the crackdown under Mayor Giuliani and the rise of bottle service culture. She feels the city has become less safe and more corporate, though she's optimistic about the current mayor. As a trans woman of color, Bradford has faced challenges but has also been a trailblazer, bringing more diversity to traditionally white, cis-male-dominated spaces like Fire Island.

  • Bradford began her DJ career in 1996 after a dare from Frankie Knuckles.
  • She started a long-running Friday night residency in New York.
  • Bradford DJed on Fire Island for 10 years, starting in the late 1990s.
  • She returned to Fire Island to DJ the venue's 70th anniversary three years ago.
  • Bradford is celebrating her 30th anniversary as a DJ in 2026.

The players

Lina Bradford

A trailblazing trans woman DJ who has been a fixture of New York's queer club scene for 30 years.

Frankie Knuckles

The godfather of house music, who dared Bradford to start DJing in 1996 and served as her mentor.

Rudy Giuliani

The former mayor of New York City, whose crackdown on nightlife in the late 1990s is credited with changing the city's club scene.

Zohran Mamdani

The current mayor of New York City, whom Bradford praises for improving the city's nightlife and sense of safety.

Angel Melendez

A nightlife figure who was murdered in 1996, an event that Bradford says was emblematic of the gritty, edgy nature of New York nightlife at the time.

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What they’re saying

“I am a woman of trans experience, yes, but I'm Lina before anything. I'm not gonna wear a label. I'm not a label.”

— Lina Bradford, DJ

“When [Mayor Rudy] Giuliani came onto the scene, he really cracked down on New York. Then, when the early 2000s came, it was about bottle service, which took away all the essence of what underground New York used to be about.”

— Lina Bradford, DJ

“I think that anything that I do is a protest. And it's funny, because I've never thought of it to be that way until other people made it known to me that we have to be that way as women with a trans experience.”

— Lina Bradford, DJ

What’s next

Bradford plans to continue DJing and celebrating her 30-year milestone, though she has not announced any specific future events or plans.

The takeaway

Lina Bradford's three-decade career as a pioneering trans woman DJ in New York's queer nightlife scene is a testament to her resilience, talent, and ability to adapt to the changing landscape of the city's club culture. Her story highlights the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ artists, especially trans women, in male-dominated industries, as well as the broader shifts in New York's identity from the gritty underground of the 1990s to the more corporate and homogenized nightlife of the 2000s and beyond.