Live Your Best Life: On Owning It and Being Visibly You

April 25, 2013 | ELIXHER

Rather than cowering to past fears, trans activist Ja’briel Walthour realized the importance of owning her identity and using her voice to help pave the way for sisters yet to come.Read More

Getting to Know the Black Lesbian Traveler

April 24, 2013 | ELIXHER 5

Who is the Black lesbian traveler? And why don’t we know more about her?Read More

My Family! Providing Children’s Books For The LGBT Market

April 22, 2013 | ELIXHER 4

When married power couple and business partners Monica and Cheril Bey-Clarke were seeking to become licensed foster parents in New Jersey, they were frustrated by the lack of materials and books available for the children of GLBT parents. Here’s how they filled that void. Read More

Queering the Faith: Why the Church is—and Always Has Been—Our Home Too

April 1, 2013 | ELIXHER 2

Frequently, Black womyn’s unique relationship with the Church becomes a divisive factor in the big, white-dominated queer community that insists that if the Church isn’t playing nice, we simply should not go. For a number of queer Black womyn, in spite of the religiously grounded homophobia, it is not so easy to cut off ties from our sacred spaces. Read More

Love is All You Need | OUT Magazine

February 7, 2013 | ELIXHER

In their Love issue, nine couples join OUT Magazine in their annual paean to love, in all its glorious forms. One particular couple caught our attention. Meet Chwanda and Kacey.Read More

Inside the Life Of A Single, Lesbian New Mom

October 26, 2012 | ELIXHER

Jamaican poet Staceyann Chin opens up about motherhood as a single, lesbian parent. Read More

Our Family: Telle and Kelly

July 24, 2012 | ELIXHER 3

Our Family is a series that celebrates two-mommy families and delves into some of the challenges they face. The goal of the series is to depict same-sex parent families in a way that’s authentic and dispels myths associated with same-sex childrearing. This week we chat with Telle, 31, and Kelly, 45, about their blended family, newborn daughter, Zoey, and their decision to co-parent with Zoey’s biological mother, Ane, 30.

ELIXHER: How do you define “family”?
TELLE: Any group of people in a social structure that live together, grow together, and love together whether they are near or far, no matter what the circumstance. There are so many ways to define a family, but the way I define it is complete and unconditional love for my immediate family members and anyone that has taken on the role of a very close friend and confidant. Biology isn’t all there is to a family, and I’ve had friends who have felt more at home with my family than with their own. Family is my greatest source of love and strength.
KELLY: I define family as my close relatives; my partner and my partner’s close relatives. Zoey is the newest member of our ever-expanding family.

ELIXHER: Tell us a bit about your family.
KELLY: I have two grown boys, ages 27 and 28, three grandchildren, ages 6, 4 and 2. I identify as a “femme,” and I happen to be bubbly with a welcome and open spirit. I have a live-in-the-moment type personality. We live on the north side of Chicago. My oldest son, John, lives one floor below us in the same building.
TELLE: My immediate family consists of my girlfriend, my 4-month-old daughter, Zoey, and my daughter’s biological mom, Ane. I also have a dog named Voldermort. I have no biological children of my own, however, I consider Zoey to be related by a bond that is just as powerful; love. I’m a soft-stud lesbian who prescribes to an old school train of thought as it relates to my family and romantic relationships. I’m very big on chivalry — opening doors, pulling out seats, wining and dining, and treating my lady like a queen.

Although there is often criticism directed at lesbians who tend to “adopt heterosexual roles” in relationships, I must say that I’m proud of the butch-femme history and everything it represents. It has served the GLBTQ community well throughout the decades. It’s natural to want to mimic our parents healthy relationships, which is traditionally at the heart of the matter. A large source of my pride is derived not only from my connection to and my sense of family and culture, but also the community of butch women before me who pioneered a path that allows people like me to be whoever we want to be; without fear of rejection, disregard, or disrespect for who we are, and how we identify.

My girlfriend is a high-spirited woman. Her heart is as kind as her soul. With that said, we love a healthy debate every now and then, but I’m the highly competitive one in the family, and everyone knows it. My daughter’s personality is still developing, but she has a beautiful spirit that shines through more every day. She’s full of smiles, laughter, and surprises and every time I look into her pretty little face, I can’t help but think of how lucky I am. She’s a very happy baby. Zoey and her mommy split their time, 50/50, between grandma’s place and mine.

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Live Your Best Life: Finding the Faith and Courage to Start Over

July 9, 2012 | ELIXHER

Need a pick-me-up or some spiritual nourishment? Written by transgender advocate and warrior woman Ja’briel Walthour, “Live Your Best Life” is ELIXHER’s new inspirational column.Read More

Our Family: Ira and Malinka Hardy

April 5, 2012 | ELIXHER 9

Our Family is a series that celebrates two-mommy families and delves into some of the challenges they face. The goal of the series is to depict same-sex parent families in a way that’s authentic and dispels myths.Read More

Our Families: Featuring African American Families

October 20, 2011 | ELIXHER

In this video from “Our Families,” African American families share their personal stories with Basic Rights Oregon.Read More