We had the good fortune of connecting with Tamara Leigh and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Tamara, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was running a LGBTQ Resource Center in upstate New York and part of my job was being the editor of their publication which had been in existence for almost 50yrs. I learned the ins and outs of the process and worked extremely hard to diversify its contents, covers, subjects and writers. It needed, as the agency needed, to reflect the entire LGBTQIA+ community. It was a difficult but important process. After the agency shuttered early 2020, the need was still there and I was encouraged by community members to start my own magazine. And so we did. That was how Blaque/OUT Magazine was born. So my life became consulting work to help other agencies and entities turn those corners and producing the magazine.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Blaque/OUT has two dimensions. We are a monthly, digital magazine that centers Black & Brown, Queer and Trans culture. For us, by us. I am also a consultant that goes into businesses, orgs, universities etc, to teach and facilitate diversity, equity and inclusion with a BIPOC and Queer lens, centering Intersectionality. I don’t think anything is easy. And most of my life hasn’t been. I’ve raised two sons, mostly on my own, I’ve bought a house, I went back to school to get a degree, I moved across the country to a place that couldn’t have been more different than the city I spent most of my life in. I’ve had zero successful adult relationships lol, I lost my dad, my brother, many friends. I have faced and made it through a lot. But I do believe this life is a journey and the twisty, turny journey I’ve traveled has prepared me in every way for the life I live today. It may not have made sense along the way, but everything fits into place now. My first business was in public relations and there is SO much PR work that supports my DEI work. If you are helping to create a new culture in an organization, you have to know how to introduce that both publicly and internally. I worked for a municipality and it helped me to better understand how city governments works and so how to assist them in turning these corners. I had a very difficult job working with the LGBTQ community but it informed my work so much, it taught me the ins and outs of magazine production and how racism, homophobia and transphobia intersect. In my personal life, I had to learn to navigate my own intersectionality, great loss and all of those things taught me how to help others with similar challenges. And I think I get to exercise all of those muscles now in my work. Writing was my very first love. I dreamed to write a column in a newspaper. Now I get to be the editor of a whole magazine! I was always fascinated with culture and the stories of people and now that is a huge part of my work. I have been an advocate, educator and activist and that is part of the mission and vision of both the magazine and consulting. I love media and PR work and I get the opportunity to do that too. All of the roads and all of my chapters have led me to here.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love the Pier, Ybor, the weather is amazing. There are a million shops and cafes and restaurants to visit. It’s a great place to entertain out of town company.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve had personal relationships that I’ve leaned on for support and encouragement over the years- definitely! My children’s father was the first one to tell me I could do this thing and make me believe it. But in terms of these days, I definitely have to say my team of writers that create Blaque/OUT Magazine and truly give it life are my #1 support system. Anyone who starts a business or works for themselves will tell you how exhausting it is. It is so incredibly meaningful, but you face nearly constant failures, disappointments, and discouragement. Blaque/OUT is made up of a team of Black & Brown, Queer & Trans writers, photographers, activists, creatives and influencers from around the country. They have become some of my best friends and by far my biggest supports. They are always ready, excited and willing to jump in and lend a hand, dry my tears and be my biggest cheerleaders. Roni & E.L. Winston, Immani Love and Javannah Davis specifically have truly gone above and beyond to keep the magazine AND me going and I am endlessly grateful. They truly believe in Blaque/OUT and it gives me the strength and energy to keep going.
Website: https://blaqueout,com
Instagram: @blaqueoutmagazine
Linkedin: Tamara Leigh
Facebook: @blaqueoutmag & @blaqueoutconsulting
Youtube: @blaqueoutmagtv
Other: TikTok: Blaque OUT Magazine