Color Outside the Lines: Creative Queer Businesses to Support

With Pride Month in full force, there’s no better time to celebrate the vision and unapologetic creativity of LGBTQIA+ owned brands. These bold, boundary-breaking businesses aren't just serving looks and products—they’re serving purpose. From powerful messages of love and identity to meaningful support for vital causes, these brands are making waves and rewriting the rules. Jejune Magazine is here to cheer them on and highlight the trailblazers making the world more inclusive, one idea at a time.

Is Leaving America Worth It?

With the recent election results putting Trump into office once again, the fear of his second term bringing even worse consequences this time around is widely shared. Many Americans have been heavily considering leaving the country to try and counteract the effect his presidency will have on them.

Though, with every big decision comes its positives and negatives. Here are a few pros and cons to leaving America that you should consider before making your decision.

Regina Sayles - Helping Voices Be Heard

Regina Sayles is a queer biracial singer-songwriter who advocates for more representation within the music industry. Her latest single’s music video, One Big Lie, released on International Women’s Day and aims to create more visibility for women like her. Often donating to the Looking Out Foundation, she hopes to help other’s voices be heard. Beyond the music, Sayles is an educator and a mentor, working hard to uplift others and help them believe in themselves. With more new music along the way, we are surely in for a treat! Read on to learn more about Regina Sayles’ new music and what representation means to her.

COVER - XO Sasha Bhasin

Like Praveena from XO Kitty, Sasha Bhasin is a strong fierce woman who knows what she wants. From a young age, she knew she wanted to be an actress and wasn’t going to take a no from her parents or anyone else. She has come a long way from dragging her mom to casting calls to being a love interest in one of the top Netflix shows! Just like we hope to see more of Praveena in season three of XO Kitty, I have full confidence that we will be seeing a lot more of Sasha Bhasin on our screens as she tackles every role she gets her hands on. It is important to note that Sasha is also a singer, recently coming out with a new song, and a passionate advocate for the environment and pugs! Please read on to learn more about the charming Sasha Bhasin.

Samy Nemir Olivares - Bringing Fashion Sense to Activism

Samy Nemir Olivares (they/them) has the perfect life experience to be a natural activist. Born in rural Puerto Rico to a single mother, they grew up in a financially insecure household, relying on government programs to make ends meet. After college, they moved to New York City with only a suitcase and a dream, to create a more just, equitable world. Today, they are the founder and director of Cuir Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in communications and strategy for the Latinx, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC communities. Samy is also the the author of the recently released book, CuirDoRican. Read on to learn more about Samy Nemir Olivares and the roles they have played over the past several years!

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2025 - Ali Muldrow, Metropolitan School District Board of Education, Seat 4, Madison, Wisconsin

One such individual is Ali Muldrow (she/her/hers), a millennial bisexual Black woman who just won her seat on the Board of Education in Madison, Wisconsin. Currently working at the Women’s Medical Fund, she was previously the co-Executive Director of GSAFE, an advocacy organization that creates safe schools for LGBTQ+ youth in Wisconsin by developing LGBTQ+ youth leaders; deepening racial, gender, trans, and social justice; and working towards a world free of oppression based on gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, and other identities. Ali began her work in education as a spoken word poetry instructor in her former high school. This poet, essayist, and doula is passionate about consent, freedom, learning, human rights, social justice, and uplifting marginalized communities.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 56Andrew FApril 10, 2025school, election, #election, LGBTQ, LGBTQ youth, LGBTQ+, lgbtq, LGBTQ+ kidsComment

KiKi Holli - Pulling Songs into the World

KiKi’s career has been a thrilling journey, from performing in Japan to co-writing and leading the cast of Forever Dusty: The Dusty Springfield Musical. Now focused on her music career, she continues to blend her rich theatrical roots with indie-pop. Her latest single, "WIN U OVER," displays this evolution. Beyond the music, KiKi’s commitment to philanthropy and advocacy is a cornerstone of her identity. Her support for LGBTQ+ initiatives through The Village and food security efforts with Project Angel Food reflects her belief that art and empathy are deeply interconnected, using her platform to uplift and inspire marginalized communities. To learn more about KiKi Holli and her upcoming projects, please read on.

SWAC: Influencer, zissue 54.4Chelsea ChanDecember 5, 2024singer song writer, music artist, musical, LGBTQ, food insecurity, empowerment, SingleComment

Sophia Warren - Songs of Resilience and Raw Emotion

For Sophia Warren, music has always been more than just a melody — it’s been a lifeline. Today Sophia Warren is bringing raw vulnerability to audiences through her latest release, Bloodstone, the first in an ambitious three-part EP series. Beyond the music, this artist is just as dedicated to her role as an LGBTQ+ advocate and an animal rescuer. Growing up surrounded by pets, she developed a passion for animal welfare early on, eventually founding the Animal Defenders Alliance with her mother. With plans to release the second EP in the Bloodstone trilogy and dreams of taking her music around the world, Sophia is driven by the power of connection. Read on to learn more about Sophia Warren.

SWAC: Influencer, zissue 54.4Chelsea ChanNovember 14, 2024music artist, music, female artists, animal rescue, animal rights, LGBTQ, LGBTQ Support, LGBTQ rightsComment

Mourn, Feel, and Get Ready

What is done is done. I, like many others, don’t understand how this happened. I know we are tired, completely exhausted! We can, and should, mourn. We can, and should, be angry. But we will not roll over dead, we will use this anger, and we will come back stronger and more focused. We can have our own Project 202X. We can have our own plan. We are smart. And as women, we should take from this that no one, and I really mean men, will never come to our rescue. We are on our own, we can no longer fight among ourselves. We need to be a F*CKING PINK WAVE of Fury.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Kerene Moore, Michigan 15th District Court

Kerene Moore (she/her) is a queer social justice attorney with over 15 years of legal and public service experience. She is currently the Director of Conviction Integrity at the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office. She previously served as a juvenile referee and judicial attorney in the Washtenaw County Circuit Court, and as an administrative law examiner with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. She started her career at Legal Services of South Central Michigan where she provided free representation to over 1,000 under resourced clients. In 2014, she also founded Outreach, a pro bono LGBTQ+ advocacy project with University of Michigan law students. Throughout her career, she has served on the committees and boards of several organizations including the Jim Toy Community Center, Equality Michigan, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission. She has also served as co-chair of the LGBTQ+ Law Section of the Washtenaw County Bar Association and is the incoming chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s LGBTQ+ Law Section. Kerene is passionate about increasing access to justice to people from all walks of life, supporting treatment courts, ensuring that crime victims are receiving support, and actively reducing systemic bias in our courts.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Ailina Carona, Tennessee House of Representatives District 57

Ailina Carona (she/her) is a queer Latina millennial who is a makeup artist in the greater Nashville area. As the mother of a special needs daughter, she has been an advocate for more inclusive education policies and has raised money for school lunches. Ailina has also raised money for women’s shelters and advocates for reproductive freedom for women and stricter gun laws. Ailina lives with her husband and three daughters outside of Nashville.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Dominique Johnson, Connecticut House of Representatives District 143

One thing that we at Jejune are pleased to see is the number of LGBTQ+ candidates who are running this year, and we have profiled quite a few of them! This week we are highlighting Dominique Johnson (she/they), who is the incumbent representative in District 143 in the Connecticut House of Representatives. Dominique is a genderqueer millennial who has gone from humble political beginnings as a community organizer to Assistant Majority Leader. A former professor and punk rock bassist, they are a published author with work appearing in works ranging from Teen Vogue to The Nation. Dominique is passionate advocate for educational equity, the health and well-being of youth, women and LGBTQ+ people, and sustainability.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Katie Causey, Palo Alto, CA City Council

Katie Causey (she/her/hers) is a bisexual millennial community and tenant organizer and political activist who is a lifelong resident of Palo Alto, California currently running for city council. Among other issues in her platform, Katie believes in expanding housing access and protecting tenant rights, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting LGBTQ+ rights in Palo Alto. As someone who is passionate about expanding and promoting public transportation, and reducing car traffic, Katie herself does not own a car, and walks, bikes, and takes public transport to get where she needs to be. Katie also owns over 35 houseplants!

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 54, zissue 54.3Andrew FSeptember 20, 2024lgbt+, LGBTQ Support, LGBTQ, lgbt, LGBTQ rights, LGBTQ+, lgbtq, LGBTQ youth, california, bisexual, election 2024Comment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Liz Sheehan, Lexington, KY Urban County Council District 5

Three months ago, we profiled a candidate running at the local level to be a city councilmember in Louisville, Kentucky (the largest city in the state). Today, we are profiling another candidate running at the local level, who is an incumbent on the city council of Lexington, Kentucky (the second-largest city in the state). Dr. Liz Sheehan (she/her), is a professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky and is the first openly bisexual individual to hold elected office in the state. Having served two terms on the city council, Liz is passionate about creating policy solutions to tackle problems associated with housing and homelessness, environmental sustainability, LGBTQ rights, pedestrian and biker safety, and mental health. Liz lives in Lexington with her husband Dan and daughter Ash.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Analise Ortiz, Arizona State Senate District 24

Analise Ortiz (she/her/hers) is the current state representative for her district, but after one term in the Arizona House of Representatives, she has decided to run for the Arizona State Senate. Analise is a Latina millennial civil rights activist who worked for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on issues like criminal justice reform and federal immigration reform, before running for the Arizona House in 2022, where she is the first openly pansexual member of the Arizona legislature. In the House, she is a leader in the Democratic caucus on criminal justice reform, protecting and expanding reproductive rights, and advocating for affordable housing for Arizonans. Analise is passionate about combatting exclusionary zoning practices through meaningful and equitable zoning reforms.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 54, zissue 54.2Andrew FJune 19, 2024queer, latina, latinx, bisexual, #queer, lgbt, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+, lgbtq, #lgbti, Latin, liberal, journalism, JournalistComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Kyra deGruy Kennedy, Colorado House of Representatives, District 30

Today we are profiling Kyra deGruy Kennedy (she/hers), a bisexual millennial community organizer, running for the Colorado House of Representatives. Kyra currently works as a business and political consultant, advising a wide range of organizations. As a former healthcare worker, Kyra has influenced a number of legislative efforts in Colorado pertaining to healthcare, and is most passionate about enacting single-payer healthcare, ensuring that healthcare be treated as a basic human right and not a system that profits off the ill health of patients, including mental health, reproductive health (including legalized abortion), and lower prescription drug costs. Kyra also supports transitioning away from fossil fuels (including in vehicles), reducing access to firearms, and protecting labor, worker, immigrant, tenant, and democratic rights.

Kayden Koshelev - Giving Representation To The Younger Generations

Kayden Koshelev might just be 14 years old, but he is wiser than most adults I know. This very smart and fun loving kid is already gracing theaters singing and dancing his way into people’s hearts with drag queens and taking on non-binary character roles on Disney+. If he is our future, I’m here for it! Please read on to learn more about Kayden, his acting, and his advocacy!

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 54, zissue 54.1Kira BuccaMay 13, 2024Kids, kids, kid artist, Actor, LGBTQ, LGBTQ rights, LGBTQ youth, LGBTQ+ kids, singer, dancerComment

Emma Jayne - Your Church

Most queer kids and adults inevitably have to go through being rejected by someone because of religion. This might be a family member, a loved one, or a close friend. The feeling of knowing that no matter your history, this person can no longer be in your life anymore because their religion believes you are a sin is heartbreaking. Emma Jayne’s new song Your Church perfectly captures this situation and the emotions that come with it. We encourage you to listen to it if you are unfamiliar with this experience to help you understand, and to listen to it if you are so that you know you are not alone. Not only does Emma write beautiful music, but she also works with the Future Perfect Project. An amazing organization that helps young queer artists shine! Please read on to learn more about Emma.

Art, zIssue 54, zissue 54.1Kira BuccaMay 3, 2024LGBTQ Support, LGBTQ, LGBTQ rights, LGBTQ youth, music artist, music, artist, religion, acceptanceComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Mandi Remington, Board of Supervisors for Johnson County, Iowa

Mandi Remington (she/her) is a queer millennial political activist running for a position on the County Board of Supervisors in Johnson County, Iowa. A single mother of three, including a trans child, Mandi is a lower middle-income wage earner. She is most passionate about advancing platforms that prioritize equity for disadvantaged socioeconomic groups. Mandi recently lost an election in 2023 for a position on the Iowa City Council but is running again on a platform of abortion rights, as well as affordable housing, childcare, food, and transportation.

This Time with Anwen O’Driscoll and Jennifer Gibson

The new queer film “This Time” is in many ways the more serious current version of “But I’m a Cheerleader” as a young girl runs away from her family who is trying to send her to a conversion camp, to go on a world wind adventure searching for the secrets of her recently deceased elusive father. You will celebrate and cry with Grace as she comes to understand and accept herself and make real friends a long the way. Please read on to learn more about the film, our star Anwen O’Driscoll (Grace), and Jennifer Gibson (Producer and Anne) as they walk us through the importance of “This Time”.

Art, Editor's Pick, zIssue 54, zissue 54.1Kira BuccaMarch 29, 2024film, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+, LGBTQ youth, LGBTQ rights, actress, ArtComment