We have written this headline or some version of it before. Trans lives are headline news in 2025. The Executive Orders, in Sports, in Schools, in Medicine and in passports. You can scarcely turn on the news or TikTok or go to the supermarket without debates raging about Trans lives. But Transmisia wasn’t born in January of 2025, nor did it ride in on a MAGA caravan, Trans folks have been being mistreated, neglected and murdered in this country for as long as they have existed- forever. As these debates and stances perched high upon moral high grounds rage on, Trans people, specially Black Trans people continue to die.

On the Blaque/OUT website the TRAII system lists, records and remembers each and every known murder of a Trans, Non-Binary or Gender Non-Conforming person since 2018. The pictures are haunting, the stories are heartbreaking and the stats are infuriating. The list continues to grow. Say the names and read the stories of the folks we’ve lost in just May, June and July of this year alone. Because if we don’t- who will?

On February 23, 1991 Paris Is Burning was released and changed the world. There will forever be mixed reviews as to whether Jennie Livingston hurt or helped the culture but it undeniably exposed wider society to the world of Black and Brown, Queer NYC and Ballroom. Although Transness has existed in different forms always, Paris Is Burning peeked behind the current in ways mainstream hadn’t seen before. It introduced them to names and faces that will be forever etched in Black and Brown Queer and Trans history. One of those was the soft-spoken, petite blond with personality that filled the room, Venus Xtravaganza. 

In her 2024 film just released on Netflix, I’m Your Venus, Kimberly Reed explores the Pellagattis brothers (Venus’ biological siblings) experience as they meet with House of Xtravaganze members and team up to reopen the case surrounding Venus’ 1988 murder. Paris Is Burning was released in early 1991 but Venus Xtravaganza never got to see herself become an icon. Her body was discovered in a hotel room in NYC in 1988. 

The documentary follows John, Joe and Louie Pellagattis as they tell stories about their sisters life and death, visit the Jersey City neighborhood they grew up in, meet with the current Mother of Xtravaganza, Gisele Xtravaganza and the team of lawyers they are working with to compel the NYPD to reexamine the case and release existing details the family says they were never provided. 

Being from community and watching this type of project you can’t help but tune in with both great appreciation that the story is being told as well as deep cynicism about how it will be told. The brothers lovingly talk about their sister and troubled childhood but you wonder if that’s the only version you’ll hear. Through the 85 minutes, the film manages to deconstruct that being the only POV and you watch Venus’ friends and chosen family tell their experience of her, not just in confessionals to the camera but directly to the Pellagattis’.

0:05: Sam Nordquist

1:05 Trans Passport Ban Reversal

2:34 Tennessee Gender-Affirming Care SCOTUS decision

Trans Military Ban 05.08.25

According to a proposed budget document obtained by the Washington Post, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is planning to eliminate the national LGBTQ youth 988 crisis lifeline at the end of September.

The economy is doing what it always does—shifting, shaking, and making life harder for folks already struggling. If you’ve been feeling like your paycheck isn’t stretching as far as it used to, you’re not alone. The cost of everything—from rent to groceries to gas—is rising, and that’s inflation at work. When the economy slows down too much, businesses stop hiring, people lose jobs, and that’s what we call a recession. If things get real bad, worse than the Great Recession of 2008, we could be looking at something even more devastating—another Great Depression. And let’s be clear: when America catches a cold, Black folks catch pneumonia. And for Black LGBTQ+ folks? The risks are even greater.

Join Javannah Davis and Blaque/OUT Magazine as she witnessed the opening of the Ts Madison Starter House in Atlanta, GA on March 31st.

Make sure you pour into BlaqueOUTMagTV on Youtube and the next issue of Blaque/OUT Magazine in May for a tour of the house and the full interviews with some of the amazing people who worked to open the Starter House, were present to see the ribbon cut and even the Ts herself! Congratulations Madi!

For more information about the Ts Madison Starter House, visit: https://naesminc.org/ts-madison-starter-house/

 Your boy went to the Deeper than Visibility Summit in Atlanta earlier this week for Trans Day Of Visibility.  It was a beautiful space, but that feels like an understatement.  With the Summit being held at Atlanta City Hall, it was really dope to see the city acknowledging and supporting the community. The community that I live in, in North Carolina, that just isn't a thing. It’s funny how you forget or don't even think about what is possible in a community when where you live doesn't have that type of access or support. It saddens me and motivates me all at the same time. 

(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.

In a powerful and enlightening interview, I had the privilege of sitting down with the creative team behind Nina Simone: Four Women, currently being performed at Geva Theatre, as well as a delightful opportunity to host a live talkback at the theatre as well.

Victoria Von Blaque embodies more than just a name within the Transgender and sex worker rights movements, she’s a force of change, compassion, and perseverance. With over twenty years of experience, she has established herself as an advocate, consultant, and performer. Most importantly, she is dedicated to honoring the impactful legacy of her late mentor, Cecilia Gentili.

Cecilia Gentili was a groundbreaking activist who significantly advanced the rights of the transgender and sex work communities, particularly through her efforts to abolish the "Walking While Trans" law in New York City. Her untimely passing created a profound gap, but Victoria, who viewed Cecilia as a mentor, big sister, and dear friend, has committed herself to carry on Cecilia's vital work, envisioning a future where transgender individuals and sex workers can thrive without the threat of discrimination or criminalization.

(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.