“I can see the look in someone’s eyes when they say, ‘Yes, pick me!”
“I can see the look in someone’s eyes when they say, ‘Yes, pick me!”
The Queer Joy of being unapologetically you“Good afternoon Provincetown, it is 12:34 and this is your moment of Queer Joy!”
Michelle Axelson, the owner of Womencrafts.
October 2, 2025
By Ilu Wloch “Good afternoon Provincetown, it is 12:34 and this is your moment of Queer Joy!”
Every day since Memorial Day, on the front steps of this bookstore a ray of joy warms the passersby. With Michelle Axelson at the helm, Womencrafts, a lesbian owned bookstore in Provincetown, Massachusetts promotes the work of female artisans, authors, musicians, and much more. The bookstore’s uniqueness was recently recognized through the Jamie Lee Curtis Award for gusto, enthusiasm, and individuality. Provincetown, an LGBTQ+ mecca for decades, is lovingly referred to as Ptown. This famous tourist destination at the very tip of Cape Cod is also known for its expansive beaches and thriving art scene. The idea for Queer Joy was born after the most recent US presidential inauguration. Michelle recognized that Ptown could “hold a container of ‘queer joy’, a place where people might feel most included and most loved,” she explains. As an activist, because she knew she would be speaking against many things given the current political climate, she wanted to speak for something. “The use of the word ‘joy’ and ‘queer’ is a form of resistance,” she says. This is how it works
Shortly before 12:34pm, Michelle - or whoever works on that day - will ask if anyone has a Queer Joy story to share in front of the store. It is the fun moment of the day. “I can see the look in someone’s eyes when they say, ‘Yes, pick me!’” She shares.
The other day, a woman offered to speak. It turned out to be her wife’s birthday and she wanted to share the joy of that day. Others talked of wedding or engagement announcements. Someone said they were running for office as the first queer, out person. There were moms proud of their trans kids and others simply thrilled to be in Ptown. (Watch videos) “My most favorite is when other people tell me their story,” Michelle says. But if no one comes forth, there is a back up plan. Every morning, she scans the media for LGBTQ+ related good news explaining that this small, daily routine can uplift how she feels for the rest of that day. Stories range from love, resilience and justice from around the world, to the creativity and resistance in the US. “Sometimes, when our rights are being taken,” Michelle reflects, “the most joyful thing is the resistance around it.”
Why 12:34?“When I first started dating my wife she said 1234 is her lucky number,” Michele recalls. “With numerology there isn’t that much written about it. Other than that it creates change.”
Originally until Labor Day, there is now no end set for this joyful uplift. Perhaps Womencrafts' Queer Joy is casting into motion a powerful new sequence: the amplified care, resilience, and courage of women who love other women. 1 2 3 4..... Take action Consider supporting Womencrafts through their online shop. |
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