(Albany, New York) - On March 19th, the New York State Legislature honored the tradition of Black Journalism and Media with Black Press Day at the Capitol. Every year, March 16th is celebrated as “Black Press Day” to honor the 1st Black newspaper ever published in 1827. This year, five Black-Owned publications, started in New York State were recognized on the Assembly floor with a Proclamation Reading, Press Conference and Panel Discussion. Hon. Stefani Zinerman presented The New Amsterdam News of Harlem published since 1909, the Buffalo Criterian Newspaper first published in 1925, the Harlem Community Newspaper started in 1995 represented by Our Town Newspaper out of Brooklyn and Blaque/OUT Magazine started in 2020.

Lobby Days at the Florida capitol have begun, bringing countless special interest groups to Tallahassee to meet with electeds to encourage the representatives to vote with them in mind. This week, Equality Florida hosted a contingent of 400+ LGBTQ+ community members and allies to bring attention and humanity to the plight of Queer and especially Trans Floridians. The country is reeling under the current federal administration seeing everything from DEI and Civil Rights Protections stripped away to the ability for those of the Trans experience to serve in the military. Sadly, this is a familiar fight in Florida as many of the current federal policies were seemingly “tested out” on the state of Florida.

(February 21, 2025) - Blaque/OUT Magazine is sad to report that the missing 25yr old in North Carolina, Ervianna "Baydee" Johnson, was located on Wednesday on Bermuda Bay Lane by family members that had been searching for her since her disappearance in the early morning hours of February 13th.

The gruesome way that Sam Nordquist died has made international news this week. A few internet pictures have circulated widely that you can imagine he never intended for millions to see, the mug shot of the five monsters accused of taking his precious life away and images of his heartbroken family huddled on a motel room bed overcome with grief after an unexpected pilgrimage to upstate New York to reclaim their beloved Sam. These images and the horrific details of the torture he endured will be the lasting memories most associated with Sam Nordquist for the millions of strangers that only learned his name this week.

Rochester, NY (the city nearest to where Sam was found) is our Editor, Tamara Leigh’s hometown so Blaque/OUT Magazine began covering Sam’s disappearance and the devastating conclusion earlier than most media outlets, but it was our intention to stop continued coverage until the trial verdict to avoid being a part of the sensationalized coverage that will undoubtably follow a news story of this magnitude. It’s always our goal to tell OUR stories but not to exploit them. However, we came across a short, sweet post made by Face To Face Academy in St. Paul, MN where Sam graduated in 2020 that felt too important not to share with our readers.

You often hear of families who have abandoned their Trans family member, even their GOFUNDMEs often misgender them which can be incredibly dehumanizing and painful for the friends and chosen family who knew them in life. To honor who someone is, is to respect who they authentically were both in life and death. In the interviews with both Tahiry and Sam’s family, they stood by their loved ones and used correct pronouns and names through immense heartbreak and grief. There was a vigil for Tahiry on Valentine’s Day and there wilI be one held in Canandaigua on February 17th.

Both family’s have created GOFUNDME’s to raise money for their travel and funeral expenses which will be significant as both will be bringing their children home from another state to lay them to rest. If you are in the position to give, at this moment, Sam’s GOFUNDME has raised $12,764 and Tahiry’s GOFUNDME has only raised $105.

Since Day 1 of the Trump Administration, the Trans community has been hit over and over again with vicious Executive Orders that challenge everything from their right to serve in the military, to ability to receive life-saving care, to questioning their very existence. While organizations and Attorney Generals from across the nation bring the legality and constitutionality of these actions to Federal Justices for intervention, the consequences of the hateful rhetoric spewing from our highest offices is parroted by the masses and puts the lives of every single Trans community member in more and more danger every day. This week alone, the murders of both Tahiry Broom and Sam Nordquist hit the news and an already hurting community.

In 2022, Blaque/OUT Magazine told you the story of 20 year old Jimmie “Jay” Lee, a missing University of Mississippi student. He was a popular LGBTQ student pursuing his Masters degree at the University. He was well-known, out and popular. On July 8, 2022, he disappeared. His social media posts stopped, his bank transactions stopped and his family hadn’t heard from him. Lee’s mother reported him missing, a search ensued but Jay Lee was never heard from again. Over the weekend we learned that Jay Lee may have finally been found.

A young, white nursing student is murdered on a trail in Athens, GA near the University of Georgia campus and there is an international media frenzy. An undocumented immigrant is arrested, tried and convicted. Months later, Santonio Coleman was murdered on a trail in Athens, GA near the University of Georgia campus and there is no press, no arrest and no justice for Santonio.

Watching the emotional video posted by Lavelle Dunn on his @thelavelleshow TikTok channel you can’t help but wonder if like most things, the potential ban of the social media platform giant, TikTok, will disproportionately effect the Black and Queer like nearly every societal issue has. Although there have always been complaints that the algorithm favors white influencers, BIPOC creators and specially Black, Queer creators have found life changing success and popularity on the platform. Where do they go and what do they do now?

Social media certainly comes with it’s danger and societal ills but it has also become the great equalizer that makes every one a reporter. Recorded videos of police brutality, footage of missing people and broadcasted bad behavior of racists in public have arguably brought more justice to the Black community than any law enforcement agency ever has. The compounded levels of persecution that come with Intersectionality mean that members of the Black LGBTQ community face all of the prejudice and lack of opportunity of Blackness coupled with the homophobia and Transphobia that comes with Queerness. That means fewer opportunities by far, less access to self-promotion whether you are a brand, musician, creator or personality as well as the loss of community that is statically invaluable and life saving for members of marginalized communities. It may sound crazy, but not only may the TikTok ban end people’s careers, it may be the catalyst to some people in crisis, taking their own lives.

(December 20, 2024) - CBS42 in Alabama reports that an 18yr old young Black Trans woman was found murdered on the 600 block of East 35th Avenue in Tuscaloosa, Alabama by the Tuscaloosa County Violent Crimes Unit on December 16th.

The victim, Cameron Thompson, who went by “Cam” was believed to have been shot just after midnight early Monday morning. She left her home late the night before but her mother contacted police the next day after returning from her night shift and discovering Cam’s purse and other items were still in her room. The family was unable to reach her by phone and became concerned. Upon contacting police, Cam’s mother was informed about the deceased person that had been discovered in a yard near the street with a GSW and her mother identified her.

The family is supportive and

[Photograph by Mamadi Doumbouya 2021]

(December 9, 2024) - Born Yolanda Cornelia Giovanni, Jr., on June 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tenn., Nikki Giovanni’s mastery of language, narration of a movement and sheer brilliance will forever carve her place in history. Battling her third bout of cancer, Giovanni passed on December 9, 2024. Giovanni leaves a lifetime of art and words that unapologetically describe the struggle, intersectionality, longing, race and revolution. She was above all else and before it was en vogue, authentic, raw and unapologetically Black. Nikki famously said in an interview with Rachel Martin that she didn’t care about her legacy but there were moments that made her proud,

Blaque/OUT Editor, Tamara Leigh sat down for an exclusive interview with Activist and Advocate, Hope Giselle to talk about her bold Washington, DC Bathroom Installation in response to Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) recent bathroom and facility ban affecting Trans and nonbinary people on Capitol Hill.

The policy, which Johnson announced in November to block Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.) from using women's restrooms, saw demonstrations on the days of and following Gender-Affirming Care being argued before the Nation’s highest court. The protests included Hope Giselle’s now viral “Meeting in the Ladies Room” dance video and 13 protesters being arrested the following day for “violating the Washington, D.C., code against crowding, obstructing or incommoding,” while sitting-in and chanting in a Capitol Hill restroom and hallway. Arrests included Chelsea Manning and Raquel Willis.

Hope organized a small group of TGNC community members who danced through a Capitol bathroom that these policies have blocked them out of. Met with both cheers and criticism from inside and outside of Queer spaces.

Hope says her goal was, “to go into these same restrooms that we were told our kind, our community, would not be welcomed into and simply create a space where people understood and recognized and realized that it ain’t that serious...Trans folks are not in the restroom to harm people. If anything, we are in there to have a dance party. That is likely the most outrageous thing a Trans person is going to be doing in a restroom”

To those that criticize her for seeming to “make light” of such a serious issue, Hope says, “people are used to us yelling and screaming and getting arrested and being pepper sprayed and they’re used to seeing the parts of our activations that come with the trauma. They are not used to seeing us activate in ways that also center our joy.”

Watch the full interview on Blaque/OUT Mag TV on YouTube.

(December 5, 2024) - Today, equality org, Gender Liberation Movement (GLM) led dozens of social justice activists and allies in a “Bathroom Sit-In” at a congressional bathroom. The bathroom was positioned very closely to Speaker Mike Johnson’s office who is implementing Rep. Nancy Mace's policy banning Trans people from using restrooms in government buildings. Protestors with banners that read, “FLUSH BATHROOM BIGOTRY” and chanted from inside the Women’s restroom and down the halls were arrested by Capital police. Chelsea Manning, GLM co-founder Raquel Willis, abortion liberation activist Renee Bracey Sherman, and other social justice leaders were among the individuals that were removed and detained by police.

The fear is that the proposal to expand bill H. RES. 1579 would ban bathroom access for Trans people in all federal buildings and could extend to educational institutions, museums, and other public landmarks. Opponents of the bill insist this move will not only compromise the safety of Trans women but put everyone including cis-gender women at risk.

Watch the full interview with Javannah Davis on Blaque/OUT Mag TV on Youtube

Photos by Alexa B Wilkinson

(December 5, 2024) - News broke this week that Syracuse Justice, Felicia Pitts Davis refused to marry a lesbian couple in a civil ceremony in the Central New York city in mid-November. Shawntay Davis, 33, and Niccora Davis, 29 watched an opposite sex couple before them be married by Judge Pitts-Davis without issue but when it was their turn to step forward, the judge walked out with what one of the brides called, “a disgusted look” not to return. A second judge came out and took over leaving the couple confused and disheartened. They tried to enjoy their special day but thoughts of what happened and it’s implications lingered. The couple says they aren’t looking to punish the Judge but do hope this doesn’t happen to another couple. The Post-Standard cited two unnamed sources who said Pitts Davis told Doherty (the judge who stepped in) that she didn't want to marry the two women due to her "religious beliefs."

Pitts Davis was referred to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct while Gov. Kathy Hochul,

(December 4, 2024) - Chase Strangio, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, made history today as the 1st Transgender lawyer to argue In front of Supreme Court. Strangio is representing 3 Trans teens and a doctor challenging the constitutionality of the state of Tennessee’s ban on medical intervention for Trans affirming care. As the country anxiously awaits the Supreme Court decision, the looming take-over of Trump's cabinet brings the likelihood that the AG he approves will ban medical transition on a Federal level to very closely resemble the Tennessee ban thats being argued. Over 100 people waited