Charly Writes and Delightful Writes (CWDW) is a blog by writer and health coach Charly Evon Simpson. CWDW recently chatted with ELIXHER creator Kimberley McLeod.

CWDW: Do you mind telling us a little bit about how you became a media strategist, LGBT advocate, editor, writer…?

Kimberley: I first fell in love with the craft of writing and the power of words in fifth grade. I had an incredible teacher that really pushed me to write and reflect religiously. It just so happened that my neighborhood junior high school specialized in law and journalism. That was my introduction to the field. So from a very young age, I was editing, reporting, writing and laying out publications.

The art of storytelling and giving a voice to the voiceless soon became a passion. I went on to be the editor of school newspapers in high school and college, as well as, hone my skills through courses and incredible internships at some of the nation’s top magazines.

When I graduated college, I worked full time at various women’s publications. But I soon grew tired of the lack of diversity (in regards to race, gender, gender expression and sexual orientation) in the magazine content and on the magazine mastheads. I ended up quitting my job at a flourishing fashion magazine and made the move to media advocacy.

I then became a media strategist and worked from the outside to pressure, persuade and train journalists to cover more inclusive stories.

Would you mind telling us more about the website, Elixher? Why did you start it? How has it grown since the beginning? What is your perspective on the intersection between race and gender in the LGBT community?

ELIXHER is an award-winning online magazine geared towards Black lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer women. It features uplifting, engaging, empowering and intelligent content (everything from news to commentary to profiles to entertainment). It caters to our multiple dimensions as Black queer women. When I was learning to embrace my own identity as a lesbian, I didn’t see myself or my story out there. I felt invisible. I knew I couldn’t be the only one out there that felt like this. I decided to do something about it.

ELIXHER started out a simple and free WordPress blog. I was the only writer and I updated it three times a week. Now we have a growing team of over ten contributors, thousands of weekly readers and host events. I get emails from readers all across the country. It keeps me going to know how much the publication means to the community. I’m looking forward to an even bigger and better 2013.

When I think about the intersections of race and gender, I think about this quote by my shero Audre Lorde: “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” Racism and sexism are linked to homophobia and transphobia. The policing of our bodies, our identities, the spaces and positions of power we occupy are intrinsically linked to the way we as a society at large challenge or reinforce hegemonic notions of race, class, masculinity, femininity – any culturally normative ideal. If we’re not simultaneously and proactively challenging all these “isms,” we’re perpetuating them. We all have some kind of privilege (often multiple kinds) that we must constantly confront and check.

What role do you see writing and the media playing in the ongoing fight for equal rights for the LGBT community?

The media is an extremely powerful tool. It can either dispel myths or perpetuate them. By telling the stories of the LGBT community, more and more people realize our common humanity. They realize that LGBT people want the same things as everyone else—to be able to earn a living, take care of the people that we love and be safe doing just that. Nothing more. Nothing less. It’s also crucial that LGBT people (especially young people) feel affirmed and know that they are beautiful just the way they are.

Continue reading on CWDW.

Category: Feature