Carlyn Cowen (they/them) has been agitating for change their entire life. As someone who is queer, Jewish, and Filipinx, none of the aspects of Carlyn’s identity place them in the white supremacist heteronormative patriarchal privileged paradigm. Carlyn’s official career has been providing social services to marginalized communities in New York City, including the Black community, the LGBTQ community, and the Chinese-American community. Read on to learn more about the amazing work that Carlyn has accomplished!

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2025 - Latasha Palmer, Tacoma, WA City Council At-large position 6

One progressive candidate we are profiling is Latasha Palmer (she/her), is looking to make a difference in her community on the city council in her first-ever election. Latasha, a queer Black millennial woman, is running to expand the political power of labor unions, build a green local economy, protect LGBTQ+ rights, and uplift BIPOC leadership. At one point homeless, Latasha became the first person in her family’s history to graduate from college (Columbia University) and went on to work as a community organizer at the Hilltop Action Coalition and the Aya Community Land Trust. Devoted to the natural environment, this anime fan and devoted mother of three still finds peace in the great outdoors.

More Than Music: How Dolly Doops Uses Art to Heal, Connect, and Empower

In a world where authenticity is often filtered, Dolly Doops is refreshingly real. Based in London by way of the Isle of Wight and New York, the queer indie-pop artist crafts music that’s as emotionally raw as it is sonically infectious. Whether she’s blending synth-driven beats with vulnerable lyrics, or volunteering at a community arts organization for the unhoused, Dolly is constantly exploring how creativity connects us — and how identity shapes the stories we tell. To find out more, read below.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 57.5Angelina DeSalvoSeptember 24, 2025music, empowering, empowering women, queer, authenticity, indie, pop, art, songwritingComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2025 - Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Seattle City Council Position 8

Today we are profiling Alexis Mercedes Rinck (she/her), a queer Latina millennial who was elected councilwoman for Position 8 on the Seattle City Council who is running for re-election on the Democratic ticket. She won a special election last year by running to the left of the appointed councilmember. Born to two teenage gang members, Alexis’s father spent her whole childhood incarcerated and went on to face chronic homelessness and substance abuse disorder, while her mother ended up losing custody in the throes of the juvenile detention system, so Alexis was raised by her grandparents. Alexis is passionate about housing reform, fighting climate change, and protecting immigrant communities from ICE.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 57.3Andrew FAugust 12, 2025latina, latinx, queer, #queer, housing, housing crisis, homelessness, homeless crisis, election, #election, #SeattleComment

Where Visibility Meets Vibrancy: The Queer Art Hub Revolution

Born from an Instagram page resharing queer artists' work during the pandemic, Queer Art Hub has grown into a dynamic, global platform spotlighting LGBTQI+ creatives across 17 countries—and counting. Built on the mission to democratize art sharing and confront the challenges queer artists face on mainstream platforms, it now serves as a digital sanctuary for expression, connection, and visibility. From community classifieds to artist portfolios and collaborations with cultural spaces like St Martins Lane London, this is more than a website—it’s a movement. Curious how a grassroots idea turned into a worldwide art revolution? Read below to discover the full story.

Art, zIssue 57.3Angelina DeSalvoAugust 5, 2025queer, activism, LGBTQ+, artists, art, revolution, nyc, community, show, art show, representation, communication, globalComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2025 - Adele McClure, Virginia House of Delegates District 2

The 2025 election season is now in full swing and primaries are happening now! Today we are profiling Adele McClure (she/her/hers) who recently won her primary for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates. Adele is a queer millennial of Black and Filipino descent who was the first member of her family to attend college. Although a classically trained pianist, she is a My Chemical Romance superfan who loves punk, emo, and alt rock. The issues Adele is most passionate about include mental health, housing, and gun safety.

Courage in Full Color: Krystofer Maison on Art and Activism

Krystofer Maison is an artist who doesn’t play by the usual rules — and that’s precisely what sets him apart. With a sound that blends raw emotion, striking lyrics, and a fearless approach to genre, he’s been steadily building a name for himself as someone who creates music that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. In this interview, Krystofer opens up about his creative process, the stories behind his songs, and what drives him as an artist.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 57.1Kylie MurphyJune 20, 2025#queermusic, queer, singer, songwriter, inspiration, activist, LGBTQ+, mental healthComment

In Living Color: Queer Artists Shaping Pride Through Art

Pride began as a protest — and queer art still carries that fire. These artists aren’t just creating beauty; they’re challenging systems, reclaiming space, and telling stories that demand to be heard. This Pride, Jejune Magazine highlights individuals who utilize their art as a means of creating change, promoting visibility, and fostering liberation.

Art, Editor's Pick, zIssue 57.1Kylie MurphyJune 13, 2025pride month, gay artists, queer, Art, Artists, activists, Fun, paintings, printsComment

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.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2025 - Amy Mathieu, Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County, PA

Today we are profiling Amy Mathieu (she/her), a gender-nonconforming queer attorney who is running to be a judge on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After the election of Donald Trump in November, Amy was motivated to run for this elected judgeship. As the country slides into a fascist corporatocracy, Amy wants to to join the court to become an activist judge who will help lead the anti-fascist resistance and to uniformly and consistently protect citizens from patriarchal, white supremacist and capitalist interests. She hopes to protect the civil rights of marginalized communities from discriminatory executive orders. Using this position of power, Amy will promote DEI and trans rights while our current regime seeks to erase diversity, equity, and inclusion, and trans people from American society.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 56Andrew FMarch 20, 2025genderfluid, lesbian, queer, #queer, election, #electionComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2025 - Gina Ortiz Jones, Mayor of San Antonio, TX

Gina Ortiz Jones (she/her) is a lesbian Filipina-American with a long career of public service. An Air Force officer during the early days of the Iraq War, Gina would later rise through the ranks of government to become the Under Secretary of the Air Force (the USAF’s #2 civilian position) in 2021. Along the way, Gina ran for Texas’ 23rd district in the US House of Representatives in 2018, winning the Democratic Primary but losing in the general election by less than a thousand votes. In her race to be San Antonio’s next mayor, Gina is running on a platform of universal Pre-K, housing affordability, and increasing high-speed Internet access to people of all incomes. The San Antonio mayoral election is on May 3, 2025.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 56Andrew FMarch 13, 2025lesbian, mayoral, queer, #queerphotography, #queer, Military MadeComment

Odessa Kelly - A Force To Be Reckoned With

When most people think of Nashville, they think of country music, the Grand Ole Opry, and hot chicken. But hopefully in the near future, they will also think of Odessa Kelly. Odessa (she/her) is a working-class, openly gay Black woman and mom of 2 who devotes her time, energy, and resources to the social justice non-profit she founded and now leads, Stand Up Nashville! This former Division I women’s basketball player went into public service after graduation but soon discovered that even a full-time government job is no longer enough to make ends meet. This experience of living hand-to-mouth motivated Odessa to start her social justice work advocating for the working class, housing justice, and racial equity in her home city. Read on to learn more about the force of nature that is Odessa Kelly!

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Jessica Jackson, County Clerk of Berrien County, Michigan

This election season we have had the great opportunity to highlight so many candidates who are running at the local level! Today we are profiling one such candidate, Jessica Jackson (she/her/hers), a queer mental health therapist and mother of two who also raises chickens and ducks on her property. She has worked hard to prioritize education, going from a GED to a master’s degree in social work. Jessica writes all of her own stump speeches, and she is passionate about reproductive rights, gender affirming care for trans individuals, the environment, and rural communities.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 54, zissue 54.4Andrew FNovember 1, 2024queer, #queer, mothers, farm animals, farmer, election 2024Comment

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 - Sade Elhawary, California State Assembly District 57

Sade Elhawary (she/her) is a millennial activist and high school history teacher. A graduate of UCLA and Harvard, Sade served as a prominent member of Karen Bass’s successful election campaign to be mayor of Los Angeles. At age 28, she traveled the world, visiting 28 countries - one for each year of her age. As a Black and Latina community activist, Sade is most passionate about unifying Black and Brown people to combat white supremacy, and fight for racial equity and economic justice. As a proud member of the LGBTQ community, she promotes the queer community's resilience and political struggle for liberation. Sade is promoting healthcare for all (including reproductive and mental health), providing educational and employment opportunities for young people, and criminal justice reform in her campaign.

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 - Farrah Chaichi, Oregon House of Representatives District 35

As we count down the final weeks of this election season, we are ramping up our profiles of progressive candidates. This week we are profiling Farrah Chaichi (she/her/hers), a democratic socialist representative in Oregon running for reelection. This queer millennial of color and Iron Maiden superfan has a history of activism, fighting for causes such as labor rights, Black Lives Matter, and human rights. Farrah is passionate about delivering access to health care, addiction services, education, and clean water to her constituents in her hometown of Beaverton, which is a mix of working class and middle class neighborhoods.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Greta Neubauer, Wisconsin State Assembly, District 66

Greta Neubauer (she/her/hers), is a millennial representative in the Wisconsin State Assembly, where she currently serves as the youngest minority leader in Wisconsin legislative history, a role she has served in since January 2022. Greta is also the first openly queer caucus leader. She is passionate about LGBTQ+ rights, addressing climate change, protecting democracy, and creating a state where everyone can thrive!

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