BlaqueOUT columnists

Javannah J Davis (she/her) resides in Rochester, NY where she has worked in healthcare for 19 years, is a self-published author, Founder/President of W A V E Women Inc & CEO/Owner of Linjé Enterprises LLC Javannah is passionate about healing, self-love, self actualization & helping others to live the best of their lives in a healthy way.

E L Winston of Fayetteville, NC (He,Him, His) Trans Community Advocate, Co-Founder of Lambda Gamma Omega Nu Fraternity Just your everyday introspective old man and 1 half of Team Winston

Benjamin Griffin III; (he/ him/his) Enjoys bringing laughter to those he encounters and a major collector of Diecast School Bus models In addition, he has a heart for education & children! Lastly, he is 1 half of "A Moment w/ The Griffins"

Lade Breez (He/Her/Them) is an award winning 3x published author, publisher, philanthropist, humanitarian, motivational speaker, life coach, event host, youth tutor, artist developer & spoken word artist Owner & founder of Express Me Poetry Business Services & Events, & Educated Blessyns LLC, improving this world one stage at a time ExpressMePoetry com

Roni Winston aka The Mrs. aka Pastor Roni (She/Her/Hers) Fayettevlle, NC

Minister, educator, entrepreneur, couples' coach, writer, mom, and grandma Half of Team Winston.

Mel Howard (he/him) Resides in Newport News, Virginia where he worked in finance industry for over 5years, is a columnists for BlaqueOUT Magazine and Founder/President of THRIVING TRANSMEN OF COLOR Mel is passionate about community, self acceptance and forgiveness

David Maurice Griffin (He,

Providing the gift of massage is what he does, but spreading awareness of HIV/AIDS is who he is 1 half of "A Moment w/ The Griffins"

Immani Love, (she/her) A Lesbian Erotic Poet, Author, Ordained Minister, Freelance Writer, Real Estate Agent, and overall witty, seductress with the voice of a Siren An educated Vixen in sunny St Pete, Florida

Courtney L (she/her) designer, developer, business owner, who loves to travel. When she is not doing that she loves to write poetry, a bit of a nerd, spend time with family and friends and help people learn technology She lives in Los Angeles, with her dog

The last week or so has been rough. A B-List comedian managed to spark a controversy centering around the use of the term cis- that extremely unnecessarily became a topic of the week on every social media, chatroom and conversation. After tons of thinking and arguing with the interweb, I really believe the reason so many Black cis-women chose to jump on that conversation Is because It allowed them to express their latent or not so latent trans and homophobia. It was In their minds, an acceptable way to express what they always felt. It's the reason you see Black women "sis" and "yesssss" and "slay"-ing a gay Black man to death and then catch them laugh reacting or affirming an Anti-LGBTQ post three days later. This week they did to the Trans community what white women have for generations done to them. Dismissed their experiences, questioned their humanity and used dog whistle rhetoric to affirm their own superiority. Sad thing Is, many people who may not have been doing that were so misinformed and undereducated that they didn't even know that that was what they were doing. Saddest thing for me Is most of them were Black just like us and understand how that hurts and many were also Queer. I live a life dating women, Transmen or whomever I may fall In love with and will defend my right to do so always. So how can I possibly not fight as hard for everyone else to live as authentically as I'm fighting to. I'm also a Black woman. So how can I ever supress the humanity of anyone when we fight to be acknowledged with equity every single day?

But I don't want to give that conversation anymore life than It's had for days on end.

I'd rather talk to you, our reader, about you heart. The consequence of conversations like this that happen all too often these days and a bi-product of living

In the US In 2023 Is constantly hear people questioning your right to exist. No matter HOW strong you are, It takes a toll. Please make sure you are logging off, practicing selfcare, surrounding yourself with love and feeding your soul In any way you can. Drown out the noise! We love you and you aren't alone.