Grace Grace Grace Grace Grace Grace Grace Grace Grace Grace Grace Grace Grace Grace Grace Grace ISSUE 001
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august 2018
In this issue…
Letter from the editor
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Artist pick of the month
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A word to the marginalized
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Lgbtqia+ spotlight
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Our cover interview: Pose and its effect – A mother’s pov
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Credits
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from the editor Welcome to the very first issue of Grace Galore Magazine. I’ll be honest, I am very nervous about this entire thing. It’s hard enough working by yourself but this magazine came from mania and now that it is dying down my brain has begun to overthink and unravel the original idea that this can work and become something.
I am fighting it. So, thank you for reading this. Thank you for giving this magazine a chance.
In this first issue, I wanted to give a little taste of what this magazine will be like.
[Continued on page 3]
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This issue was completed very quickly but the work you are reading now is completely new and fresh while also being edited and worked on two days before the release. The first couple of drafts didn’t read as what I wanted this magazine to be but rather the falsified version that is acceptable and easy for everyone to swallow. That makes it sound like I am doing something completely revolutionary here – but really, I am just trying to be myself… who ever that person is and learn every second I can. So, back to the point, some things you will find that will be in every issue of Grace Galore Magazine are the LGBTQIA+ spotlight and Artist Pick of the Month. In this particular issue, you will also enjoy some verge-of-the-moment poetry and a cover interview with my beloved mother, where we talk Pose on FX. I guess the unofficial theme of this issue is “learning” – whether it is you (the reader), my mother learning more about LGBT+ communities after Pose, and me learning how to do this and feel good about it. I really hope you enjoy.
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ARTIST PICK OF THE MONTH
This is Nao, a UK based singer-songwriter known for her soulful vocals over electronic, a beautiful mixture. Nao is working on her second album but recently released a single titled “Another Lifetime” One of the lyrics is “Everybody makes mistakes. Do we live and learn to brave them?” which speaks testaments to a moment of growth and healing. The song is about love but can be applied to these feelings of “failure” and reflection. If you love compelling vocals and want something new and exciting to listen to, Nao is here and she isn’t going anywhere.
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we will find our way, we always do.
we always do what others cannot, a strength so powerful that sometimes we must take a break take a break, connect back to nature. try putting your bare feet into mother’s soil and let her soak up energy you can no longer hold no longer hold on to what does not move you, excite you, or support you. surround yourself with good energy good energy is found in the oddest of places…a book, a laugh, a cup of tea…don’t always search for the good in things that physically exist – that move and breathe
breathe into the morning, breathe into the night. reminisce about your achievements and let them lead you to your dreams. we deserve to finish the day proudly in love with ourselves, don’t we?
we will find our way, we always do
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LGBTQIA+ SPOTLIGHT
“I defy any doctor in the world to prove that I am not a woman. I have lived, dressed, acted just what I am, a woman.” (1886 – 1954)
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In the LGBTQIA+ spotlight, we highlight a person, dead or alive, and their achievements and work. These leaders, artists, space-makers, etc. have been here and been doing the work. The least we can do is learn from them and honor the plights they have taken.
LUCY HICKS ANDERSON Lucy Hicks Anderson isn’t someone we hear about in history books (we all know why) but her story is important. Lucy Hicks Anderson was the first transwoman [first Black transwoman, as well] to defend her identity and right of marriage equality in court.
She was well-adored as a nanny and cook– so much so there would be competitions for her time. With the money she made, she started to run her own speakeasy and brothel. Even when she was arrested with charges of selling liquor (this was the Prohibition era), she barely faced charges due to her connections and popularly. When a venereal disease was traced back to Lucy’s brothel and with the laws against sex workers, everyone was subject to a medical evaluation – even Lucy. The doctor had stated that Lucy was not a woman. Lucy and her husband were charged with perjury and impersonation. In the courts, they mis-gendered her and nullified her marriage because it was against the law (under the belief that Lucy was not a woman). This sparked Lucy’s famous quote, “I defy any doctor in the world to prove that I am not a woman. I have lived, dressed, acted just what I am, a woman”. Even though she stood up for herself, the jury convicted Lucy and her husband and they both served 10 years probation. Lucy, charged with impersonation, was not allowed to wear women’s clothing but men’s instead. She relocated with her husband and lived quietly until her death. Her strength and fight to defending her identity and womanhood hasn’t gone unnoticed as many other trans folks fight for their own rights and identity the same way. Thank you Lucy, for your example of bravery.
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Pose on fx and its effect – A mother’s point of view How knowledgeable were you about the gay/trans community growing up? I wasn’t, unfortunately...But you gave me knowledge and helped me understand. What have you learned now? There is so much to it. It is bigger than what I thought I knew. To the language, to the different groups within the community. [ the ballroom community?] No – to being gay. Growing up, gay was gay [men and women] but there are so many different orientations. Because I don’t understand fully, please don’t take my words wrong but knowing that there’s—hmm I don’t know the word. The group who just loves, they love whoever loves them.
Pansexual? There we go. And then there’s the group [and I don’t want to call them a group] – but the ones where you say they/them/theirs. Like different pronouns? things like that? Right, so knowing all this and wondering, “does it apply to everyone?” You never know, so it’s so much to learn. It’s like having a book. After watching Pose, I learned from that one episode [Episode 2] that it is different, when you are transgender, the gay guys don’t like you or you aren’t in the group. So, there are like little groups within the group. [more on page 10]
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“It makes it inviting. It stimulates the brain to say “oh my gosh” and not just that – I want to vogue and I want to pose”
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So, how do you think this will benefit other parents or other people like you, who didn’t know? You know what, I can only speak for me because not everyone is open-minded. So, you have to be openminded and know that people are people, no matter what gender or what they identify as– you just gotta roll with it or not roll with it at all. Who are your favorite characters?
Blanca. Just because she is a mother compared to [Elektra]. Blanca is the helper, the real nurturer who wants to make sure everyone is good and where they want to be compared to Elektra, who just used everyone as a stepping stone. But that is real life. What has been your favorite moment of season one? I want to say – and this will probably be a weird one but when they went to get tested and Pray Tell had to go through his emotions of saying he was negative when he was positive. He saw the younger boys were excited about being negative and this is my interpretation--he didn’t want to rain on their parade {Episode 4]. Then in the last episode, for him to take a chance and say, “Hey I need to tell you something – I'm positive”. And the guy saying, “You aren’t the first guy I’ve been with that tested positive” so it was still a light for him because he begun to shut down [Episode 8]. I think I want to add him in there as my favorite character as well. What do you like about the show as a whole?
The ballroom categories because I would never be able to come up with an idea of what – how to dress for a category. It’s a whole different language within in itself and I think that’s what make the show great because for someone like me, who has little knowledge, it makes it inviting. It stimulates the brain to say “oh my gosh” and not just that – I want to vogue and I want to pose. Pose! Pose! Pose! I want to add that into my everyday dance steps because it’s cool.
Pose on FX recently wrapped up its first season. Pose highlights the ballroom scene in the 1980’s and features moving stories from trans women and gays in New York City.
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Grace galore mag ISSUE 001
AUG 2018
Grace Galore Magazine is a multifaceted digital magazine that makes space where space isn’t preferred! The magazine is run by a Black, queer creative artist and I want my magazine to grow alongside as I personally find my way through visuals, art, poetry and other writing. The team: Creator/Editor-in-Chief/Writer – BASICALLY like a 12 in 1 men’s shower product: Nod’Keya’ Grace
Stock image use: Page 5, picture by photographer, Eberhard Grossgasteiger [If you’d like to submit work or be apart of this current one-person team and/or showcase your talents in design, writing, etc. please send an email to gracegaloremagazine@gmail.com]
Keep up with grace galore mag: Instagram: @gracegaloremag Twitter: @gracegaloremag Website: www.nodkeya.com/gracegaloremagazine Special thanks to: My mother for being candid and being the cover of my first issue. You are always there rooting for me and now I continue rooting for you, COVER GIRL! <3
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