a word . Tamara Leigh, editor

a word.

Tamara Sanaa Leigh

Blaque/OUT treds very lightly when it comes to holidays I personally love the Christmas season and giving gifts But holidays which lead back to family and partners can be extremely complex for many in our community.

The holidays can be s VERY hard time Unaccepting families, grieving loved ones or relationships, estrangements or just being forced to be around people who refuse to see and accept you as who you are Its hard and it hurts So for me , the most beautiful correlation between anything and family is Ballroom. Black, Queer culture created an answer to the loneliness and lack of community that was so profound in our world Ballroom can be shady, competitive, fashion, fabulousness but above all it was and is House culture that built family structures and support systems for people who had none. It cared for the sick and grieving when HIV/AIDS was ravaging our communities and it provided safe spaces for Black and Brown LGBTQ+ youth who only had each other Ballroom saved and continues to save lives So a Christmas issue for us looks like a love letter to Ballroom.