by Fred Palmer
(Fred Palmer is the publisher of Outword, based in Sacramento, Calif. The following editorial appeared in the newspaper’s August 22, 2024, issue and is reprinted here with permission.)

After reflecting on the last 29 years of printed issues of Outword to write this, I had moments of extreme happiness and some of sadness too. Outword has printed every two weeks for 29 years, so I had a lot of past issues to page through as I laughed and cried at many of the articles we printed. The headlines over the years sparked memories of celebrations as well as fears as we advanced in our march forward toward equality. I especially love looking at all the supportive businesses that advertise asking for our hard earned dollar, many that are still current advertisers.

The first issue of Outword 29 years ago celebrated Rainbow Festival, included a story of a new movie with two gay leads called “Jeffrey,” we also featured a transgender activist and staff member of Outword in that very first issue. After all these years reporting the news, it certainly seems like we are still fighting for the same damn rights 29 years later.

As always, our community continues to be attacked as conservative folks seem to think that Drag is the new target as well as Transgender health needs. Marriage is also on the ballet again here in California as Prop 3 affirming gay marriage in the state constitution is on our November ballot because language voters passed in 2008 as part of Prop 8 remains on the books. Please educate yourself, your neighbors and friends on Prop 3 so that it can be successful just in case we need that statewide protection.

LGBTQ images and news are in the media almost every single day with positive stories, characters and images in TV shows and commercials. That movie “Jefferey” we featured back in 1995 really was groundbreaking at the time. The Paris Olympics just broke a record by having 193 openly LGBTQ+ athletes competing, according to Outsports, a website compiling a database of openly queer Olympians. (And the opening ceremony was epic, and so French!)

It really does seem that we are re-fighting for our rights in the current political situation, not to mention fighting for democracy, but recently we have been given new hope, with the Harris/Walz ticket. Our democracy is fragile and every vote will count this coming November. This election cycle is certainly not the one you want to sit out.

I ask you now, as I always have, to donate your time and hard earned money to the organization of your choice, but please do something. It is far too easy to sit at your desk or on your phone on social media complaining and sharing stories but we all need to be a part of the solution and not the problem.

Over several decades in business, we have seen many struggles for our community and our industry. When we first started Outword, there were many more LGBTQ newspapers in the country and most of them survived on local advertisers and local professionals like dentists, real estate agents, lawyers, insurance agents and we still do. Many of the LGBTQ newspapers as well as other weekly alternative free-press have shut down due to a variety of factors in recent years.

I know I sound like a broken record, but please support the businesses that support us and spend your money with the organizations that ask for our money and not just the ones that have a shiny rainbow during June on their webpage.

Twenty-nine years ago, I had no idea what I was about to embark upon. I was eager to make a difference and continue to be an activist. My mission was then and still is today to inform, entertain and inspire all of us. Over the years I have learned a lot, mostly from the people around me in the community.

We have had many staff persons that assisted along the way writing for us, delivering, selling ads and other duties. We enjoy many community folks that love writing about news, politics, entertainment, cooking and all the fun things that Outword brings to our readers.

If you enjoy Outword please not only support our advertisers, our only source of revenue, but also consider being a part of our Reader Support Rainbow Fund. If you are able to, please make a contribution to help allow us to bring you Outword Magazine for more years to come. Visit: https://outwordrainbowfund.com.

TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES
Volume 26
Issue 8