LGBT Magazine Launches In El Paso

A new magazine written for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community is in the process of cranking out its second issue in the Sun City.

Editor in chief Rosio Laura de Leon said that the goal is to spread a positive message at a time when gay issues, such as the ongoing debate over health benefits for gay couples and a brutal beating outside a gay nightclub, have taken spotlight in the city.

“We saw things in the female gay community that we hoped we could change,” de Leon said. “We hope it will help create a better appreciation of the LGBT community and respect for us.”

The magazine launched this month. Articles range from personal coming out stories to calls for volunteerism. The message is for women to strive to be “gentlewomen” — defined by kindness, respect and responsibility.

“We want to break stereotypes,” said Francisco Covarrubias, who heads the entertainment part of the magazine.

Most of the team told ABC-7 they felt the magazine’s timing was especially significant.

“We’re bringing the magazine out when there’s a bunch of sticky situations that have just been going on,” said de Leon. Those situations, de Leon said, include the ongoing legal fight originally brought on over whether the health benefits of gay and unmarried city employees should be taken away and the beating in May of a man outside the Old Plantation nightclub, which is considered a hotspot for the LGBT community in El Paso.

“(The OP incident) puts fear in any gay person in El Paso,” head writer Thelma Patricia Payne said.

The magazine has not delved too deeply into those issues — yet.

“We just want to go ahead and get out there the chivalrous values and the etiquette and the actual purpose of the magazine,” co-founder Maria Angelica Salazar said. “Once we have a good amount of branding and identity established in the community, I think people will be more open to the local issues”

To check out Lady Gent Code’s October issue, click here.