Our New York City group is wrapping up the year with a vibrant afternoon celebrating queer storytelling, community writing, and literary discussion. We are gathering to talk about Brontez Purnell's "100 Boyfriends"—a humorously raw short story collection that explores identity, resilience, and connection—while also honoring the creative work of our own group members. Designed to pair with our local writing challenge, this meeting provides a supportive space to share original fiction or non-fiction, reflect on queer narratives, and catch up with colleagues across the design, construction, and real estate industry.
Member Writing Challenge
We have launched a writing challenge open to everyone across our community! We invite anyone who wants to write something substantial—fiction or non-fiction, short or long, finished or in-progress—to share their voice with the group. The only rules are that submissions must be non-AI-assisted and uploaded to our Google Drive before our December 1st meeting. The main goal is to have fun creating together, and we plan to publish these stories in a community anthology early next year. Upload your submission directly to our Google Drive folder.
Register To Reserve Your Spot
Book Club is free to attend to anyone interested. We do ask that you register to reserve your spot because space is limited!
What To Expect
Raw & Hilarious Reads :: Unpack Brontez Purnell's fast-paced short stories that capture the humor, chaos, and humanity of modern queer life.
Local Voice Showcase :: Celebrate original stories submitted by our community members for our upcoming collaborative anthology.
Year-End Festive Energy :: Enjoy a party-style atmosphere with fellow readers—feel free to bring your favorite snacks and treats to share (note: alcohol is not permitted at The LGBT Center).
Low-Pressure Participation :: Dip into as many stories as you like or jump straight into the discussion without any rigid reading requirements.
Industry Connections :: Build meaningful relationships with queer and ally professionals who share a passion for literature and creative expression.
About The Book
Transgressive, brutally funny, and deeply human, Brontez Purnell’s 100 Boyfriends offers a revelatory look into the imperfect lives of queer men navigating romantic and substance-fueled misadventures. Moving between dirty warehouses, gentrified Oakland bars, and desolate Alabama farm towns, these fast-paced slice-of-life tales examine characters striving for belonging in a world that often dismisses them. Purnell uses deadpan wit to find genuine humor within dark moments, bringing peerless insight to an unexposed queer underbelly. Structured as a collection of short stories, the book allows readers to easily jump in, read at their own pace, or skip around before our discussion.
About The Author
Brontez Purnell is an iconoclastic storyteller known for his fearless, deadpan wit and unapologetic portrayal of queer experiences. His writing offers an inimitable tour through an unexposed queer underbelly, blending humor and raw insight to capture complex human struggles. Purnell's distinctive voice brings vital visibility to stories of resilience, identity, and belonging across intersecting experiences. His work in 100 Boyfriends serves as the perfect spark for our community writing challenge and end-of-year discussion.
Still have questions?
Reach out to Tommy Guerra at tguerra@buildoutalliance.org with questions or for more information.
About Book Club
The Build Out Alliance book club brings members of our community together, from avid readers to short-story dabblers, around many queer voices captured by the written word. Our meetings include open and honest conversations about each book, where we welcome all critiques and opinions. Many of these books are an opportunity to educate ourselves about queer history and identity, often linked to some of the most pressing issues we face today. Book Club’s range of selections intentionally promotes insight into a wide spectrum of topics, identities, and stories within the queer community.