Letter from the Editor: Tamara Leigh

Dear Reader,

Its holiday season, obviously, and although most of us celebrate something, you will notice that we went light with typical holiday stuff. We recognize that so many people from our community have lost our birth families because we have chosen to be our authentic selves or for the opportunity to love who we love and it can sometimes make holidays extremely difficult. With that being said, we do want to recognize an incredible, uniquely Queer tradition that doesn’t always get the attention and celebration that it deserve. For many of us, it saved our lives. We have a beautiful chosen family tradition in our world that makes all the difference. For all of those chosen families that have provided love, guidance, community and home for so many- we honor you this month. For those of you spending the holiday alone we send you love and you always have family with us. For those of you who are going to be amongst family that don’t understand you, that don’t honor your pronouns, that disrespect the essence of who you are- we first say the sorry that you may never get and always deserve. Hold on to whatever peace you can find through the season and make your way DIRECTLY to people who love you and honor you as fast as you can- whenever we are able. We love YOU and YOU are enough, you are worthy, you are beautiful and you are perfect. Don’t you allow yourself to believe anything different. Not ever!

And to those of you who will be alone due to following COVID precautions- thank you. We don’t shame anyone here. People do what they have to do for their own survival in many ways and that can look very different for different people. But we thank you for making the sacrifice to stay at home and be safe out of the love of others. It’s a bravery many of us just can’t rise to. We thank you and hope you find creative ways to still spend time with the people you love!!! Thank you to our frontline workers that are away from their families to serve others which has turned what was always an act of sacrifice into an act of bravery this year! To you we say thank you.

Blaque/Out was also born this year. A suggestion, to a dream, to a reality. We thank every single person that contributed to making this possible. We are so grateful. Thank you to the readers, the writers and the advertisers. We hope you’re with us for the rest of this ride. The best is yet to come!!

This month we celebrate the Power of Femme. All the beauty, strength, and magic in it. Thank you to my friend, Adrian Elim, our featured photographer of the month for sharing their gift for the spread. Thank you so much Damita Bonnemere, Chanel Hines and Samson Tequir for allowing us a peak into their lives, their trauma and their triumph. We wish you light, love, healing and justice. And I personally thank you with all of my heart for trusting me with your stories.

Ase’