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It’s November, fashion week is over and now people all over the world are looking at there style differently in order to reinvent it. This is such a great time of year because there is need for more fabric and layers than ever before. In this issue we wanted to share some of our favorite looks and must haves for the winter season. We included 8 of our most loved fashion forces, the fashion directors that do more than just style celebrity clients but move fashion in our culture and community forward. Visit page 9 for our list of he dopest fashion icons of 2015. Instead of simply listing the 5 things we love in our culture this season, we decided to list 5 fashion must haves that you need to get through the winter. The read of the season are 3 books that we are very excited about, authored by great visionaries in our community. Please visit page 6. We talk filmmaker Seven King about the importance of trans health and wellness, he shares with us his interesting perspective about his beloved community and his beliefs. Last but never least, I share what I’ve come to know and in a nut shell, its not only important to reinvent your style and drench ourselves in labels, which for someone of us is an unconscious way to upgrade our value ––It is equally important to reinvent your life, to love yourself fiercely and become your own come up.
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Roque Caston is a writer, editor, and journalist. He’s a college student majoring in Writing & Literature. His writings have been featured to various digital and print publications such as True Fashionista Now, MUSED Magazine, Floss, Swerv, and The G-List Society.
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DBQ Magazine is a nationally distributed bimonthly lifestyle publication. Published and printed in Indianapolis, Indiana. For more information on advertisement, circulation, or articles please visit us at www.DBQMAG.com Or call 908.656.6218.
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FRONT ROW
7KING
A native New Yorker, the actor, producer, director, and visionary always knew he had various stories to tell. From personal experiences to observations on day to day life, rising filmmaker Seven King has managed to compile these stories, and turn them into a meaningful body of work.
TRANS WELLNESS By Roque Caston
Last year, he created Rebirth of Paris, a documentary about the ballroom community in modern day. The documentary detailed the good and the ugly on ballroom culture within in the LGBTQ community He recently created Eden’s Garden, released in 2015. The first scripted web series that tells the stories about trans men of color, Seven King created the series to address the lack of trans, racial, and ethnic diversity in both mainstream and LGBTQ media.
DBQ Magazine recently spoke with “Eden’s Garden” creator Seven King to give readers an insight of his own regarding health & wellness in the transgender community. In this interview, he brings social awareness and gives advice on what the community should do to take care of themselves.
How important is health & wellness in the transgender community? Health & wellness is important for every human walking this earth or just living life. We all know the time we are born but we do not know the time we will die. In between the time-line of life to death, taking care of ourselves, our health and well being is the only control we have. Proper health & wellness care can lead to a more comfortable living experience; practicing substantial lifestyle habits that will elevate the body, spirit, soul, emotions and mind. Transgender people should be even more conscious over their health and well being then anybody. When you have society that likes to fetishize the transgender individual, when you have
perspectives that look at transgender people not as human, when you have transgender people not knowing their worth and causing unhealthy lifestyles, when you have a high rate of murders, suicides and more amongst the transgender community, when you have an oppressive system that has caused allot of trauma mentally, emotionally and more amongst the trans-male and trans-female community, when they’re are transphobic situations an people in the world… Logically, the health and well being can not be in the best shape possible for transgender people. It’s a must for the transgender individual to hold their own life in their hands and take care of themselves by any means necessary. The choice to transition is self-liberating. The care of your health and wellness shows the self-love for self.
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Transitioning is a beautiful experience, but it’s also a health risk. The risk that comes in regards to hormone therapy, surgeries, family and friends, the whole nine. It’s a risk to live life everyday at the same time. The liver cleanses our body. The liver also filters the hormones that may be injected in our bodies, if one chooses to partake in hormone therapy. Proper eating habits as well as sleeping and dieting are important. Being mindful of the health risk also means we will have to be more conscious of our choices in relationship to health & wellness. In addition to safe sex and taking care of our bodies! 2. What do you think is one of the biggest things that transgender people are doing to harm their health?
The biggest things that can be harmful are lack of self-love or understanding the value of self even to the human body. When the value of your body is lower then the price of physical cash, your decisions will be based off gaining material money then personal well-being and health. Health risk can take place due to the need to survive, day to day life. We live in a capitalist world, where the value of money gives people status and a delusional temporary definition of their self worth. Majority of America is not born with a gold spoon in they mouth, I wasn’t. Some of those health-risk actions may be escorting. Escorting which is an old-profession or hustle that does not just take place just with the trans women, but also trans-males. Statistics says 90% of transgender individuals are living under $10,000 annually. That statistic is what causes the behavior to survive. How people survive is on them, but when the body is involved to survive it’s a risk with harming your well being, whether it’s physical, mentally, emotionally and spiritually or putting your body at risk to STD’s or HIV. I believe transgender people are to be more responsibility for their health, specially with the stigma that comes with being trans. Transgender people can be looked at like fetishes, not respected as human and observed as sexual fantasies…with that comes responsibility for self. The declaration of individuality to be respected as a human and treat your body as a temple is up to the individual. We all pass through these bodies, life is for a moment, how we take care of ourselves can sustain this life or help expire it. 3. We hear a few stories, whether in the news or from our peers, that when a person is going through transitions, they go find drugs like testosterone as an example on the streets than in your local clinic. Are there any particular dangers from getting street drugs than clinic drugs? There’s always a risk when dealing with the streets. There’s a risk to getting hormones on the streets rather then a clinic. The thing about the clinic, they are held responsible by the government, insurance companies watching them and the paper work to prove responsibility of service. In the streets, you don’t get that, everything in the streets you held accountable for what comes after
that choice to do business in the streets. The streets are full of people focus on one thing, getting money. Whether people burn people in the process, lie or steal, is the risk that comes with doing business on the streets. There have been stories of people selling bleach as hormones or just vindictive acts to hurt someone’s physical transition out of personal inner issues like jealousy and envy. I will suggest the clinical route, but sometimes insurance companies give people a hard time, forcing their hand to make these choices. Everyone has a story and a reason behind what they do. I can’t answer for everyone. I also understand body dysphoria and how deep that can get to choosing street market hormones by any means to set your body free to the look you see inwardly to happen instantly outwardly. 4. Do you have any personal regimes that you do to take care of yourself? I know I’m not perfect, but I strive for perfection. The thought of me loving myself to want to elevate myself in all levels, makes me smile. I smile because I think about the younger me to what I have evolved too today. Evolving takes allot of self-responsibility, looking at the good and bad and deciding what direction your life will be based on your own choice and action. Physically, I try to eat the best foods. I stay away from fried food and pork (I don’t eat the pig or swine lol). Living in New York City, I think we have the unhealthiest food available to us, especially in the neighborhoods that we live in. I try to get proper rest and drink allot of water, especially with taking hormones or other vitamins. Mentally, I’m always reading and challenging myself to learn more and compete against myself, with my last level. Spiritually, I meditate and pray allot. Medically, I make sure I take my hormones on time and follow up on my health and body consistently at the doctor. Emotionally, I make sure the people around me reflect who I am and what I believe; never to carry baggage and to understand the power of alchemy. I turn every negative into a positive. 5. Give me an example on some of the medical care that should be provided for transgender people today? Transgender people should be able to receive care regardless of what state they live in. The north east states are more trans-friendly and provide more care for people who may be transgender care from surgeries or hormone therapy. The south needs allot of adjustments and education with the health care in regards to transgender people. I believe knowledge is power and knowledge of the human that is trans- needs to go across this country and a mandatory course in education and health-care. I believe that transgender people should be able to get hormones for free, which will help the street market risk. I believe the health aspect is a small percentage of the real problems that need to be addressed and fixed. To talk about the problems with no action behind it all, is just problematic by itself.
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“Ladies Who Lunch & Love” by Nathan Hale Williams Film/television producer, reality personality, entertainment attorney, and former Essence magazine columnist Nathan Hale Williams has stepped into the field of publishing with the release of his debut novel Ladies Who Lunch & Love. It tells the story of four New York society women navigating life and love through the course of a year, and it’s all told through the perspective of their gay male best friend. This novel will introduce you to women who are down-to-earth and relatable women who know how to have a great time even when confronting life’s challenges. At the same time, you get the chance to read how their one gay best friend perceives everything.
“The Metamorphosis Of A Heart: The Butterfly Effect” by Greg Wilson Author Greg Wilson introduces the reader to a dark, harsh, and raw side to Southern California’s L.A. in his novel Metamorphosis of a Heart. It’s the story about a young African-American man’s journey and transition through his teenage years to adult hood while living in the County streets of southern Los Angeles. The book covers homelessness, love, homosexuality, and relationships. This powerful novel accompanied by poetry will take the reader through a wild ride as they continue flipping the pages.
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“Gucci and Gold” by Shod Santiago Radio personality Shod Santiago makes a literary debut as well with his novel Gucci & Gold. The novel is about the main character Na'Jae, a teenager who was accustomed to the glitz and glam of life due to growing up in a wealthy family. Rebellious by nature while also being ruthless and promiscuous, Na’Jae finds herself homeless with three fatherless children. But after a spiral of fallacious events, she finally sees the light in her darkest hour, and becomes the star she always wanted to be. She also managed to settle down and find love in the process. But is love really what she wants or will her newfound fame encourage her old habits?
FASHION FORCES
2015
They are the creative genius that inspires the style of many of the pop culture celebrities we follow on a daily bases. These 8 are bringing their best game and they are chic and dope and moving fashion forward. Here are our selection of the 8 powerful fashion gurus to follow closely. Diandre Tristan is the youngest black gay stylist making noticeable moves in the fashion industry, which is why he is always booked. He has worked with an array of performing artists, celebrities, magazine editors and clothing designers to showcase his exceptional flair for style and design. One of his best known clients is Robin Roberts.
DBQMAG.COM | @DBQMAG | Page 9
FASHION FORCES
2015 Jason Bolden began his career working in retail stories for luxury ready-to-wear houses Chloe, Oscar de la Renta and Gucci. These aspirations allowed him to move to New York City and open his own vintage store in Soho called The Garment Room. As a fashion stylist, he dresses celebrities for appearances and other soirees ranging from Taraji P. Henson to Gabrielle Union.
Best known for his collaborations with Lady Gaga, Brandon Maxwell has certainly made a name for himself as a designer and stylist. He currently holds the position Fashion Director at the Haus of Gaga. He created Gaga’s wardrobe for her Cheek to Cheek tour with Tony Bennett. The white dress he made Gaga wear at the 2015 Grammys was one of the most talked about outfits that year, rivaling Pharrell William’s notorious hat. While not creating, he can be found out and about all across the social scenes.
A fashion stylist to the stars, Eric Archibald has made a name for himself in many fields of fashion. His work has been featured in media ranging from music videos and tours to television, commercials, and editorials such as Harpers Bazaar, People, GQ, Glamour etc. His celebrity cliental has included Usher, R. Kelly, Faith Evans, Kirstie Alley, Tyra Banks, Toni Braxton, P. Diddy, Jennifer Hudson, to name a few.
FASHION FORCES
2015
Ty hunter has become a significant part of the fashion world, and can be found significantly in the center of pop culture. He is the exclusive and personal stylist to pop artist Beyonce Knowles. He has also styled and contributed to the cover of various international magazines, and well respected ad campaigns. He is also the co-founder and creative director of a new company he’s launching soon called “Passion Projects.”.
"Atiba Newsome is a fashion stylist, songwriter, photographer continues to be a house hold name, even after 15 years in the business. Ranging to styling celebrity clients to styling photo shoots and covers for various publications, Atiba’s motto is to always stay up to date with fashion, while also studying your clients inside and out, in order to know what they like and don’t like. With a stylist portfolio that contains a list of well known names from Diddy to Prince, Kelly Rowland, Ryan Leslie, to name a few, Atiba continues to show that he is here and continues to style for the best."
FASHION FORCES
2015
"Through his website Bryonjavar.com, wardrobe & celebrity stylist Byron Javar sells a multiple variety of diverse products from leather hats to unisex clothing. Through his designs, you get a touch of modern day with a twist. His unisex clothing puts a taste on 21st century fashion, but it is spontaneous due to extra flavor of a out of the blue theme added to it."
Zerina Akers is a stylist and entrepreneur who’s worked indulges her many profiles with a wonderful wardrobe full of thrift store gems, limited edition luxury goods and one-of-a-kind pieces from young Black designers.
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For five years now, I've written this column attempting to share the things that I’ve come to know. More times than not, I really had no idea what I've really come to know and perhaps the space and openness of not knowing has made it possible to learn so much about myself over the years.
I thought I wouldn't have made it through the past six months of my life. I thought I would lose my life and in some ways I did. It felt like what could be called a midlife crisis although 28 isn't close to the middle of my life. The crisis was that my boyfriend broke my heart and left me ––simply put. I never felt so alone. I was beyond depressed and the sorrow was something I had never experienced before. I had suicidal thoughts, but what was left of my ego wouldn’t let it be said that I ended my life over a boy I loved and public humiliation. I was mortified. I felt so powerless, because I couldn’t tell anyone what was going on or what had happened to me. And really, who would care?
I didn’t recognize myself. I had never been so out of touch with myself. I couldn’t for the life of me get a grip, I couldn’t get ahold of my mind. I really had lost it. I was afraid because I had never been so low; so low that I could taste dust from the floor I couldn’t bring myself to get up from. I couldn’t let him or it go. So I canceled my life, I couldn’t show up for a meeting, let alone bring myself to shower.
I can remember laying on the floor of my best friends apartment in Brooklyn and literally crying for hours, which turned into days and weeks. I can remember knowing that after days of not eating, I needed to eat something but having no desire anywhere to taste food. No one knew what I was going through because I told myself people would look down on me and consider me weak because this was all over a boy. And others would just think I was being over dramatic. The truth was I was in crisis. I had believed so many lies about myself to the point that I was lying to myself and everyone around me about everything.
Each day, I faced the truth that this wasn’t the end, it was the beginning of a real love that would awaken all that died within me.
Many times we become addicted to other peoples love to the point we agree with the false notion that we don’t need to love ourselves. We believe that we no longer need to shine our light on ourselves, this is the most dangerous lie we could ever celebrate.
What I’ve come to know is that the truth will always set us free. The lie that millions of us fight for and defend with our very lives, is that someone else can be our everything, that someone else can complete us. This theory that once we find that person we are whole.
I wish I could tell you that there was a magical moment that changed me. There wasn’t. I was a mess and I laid on the floor, and as time passed, I thought it was the end because I had no vision for my future. It wasn’t over and time still went on. There wasn’t a single moment of truth. Truth was in every single moment, it surrounded me day and night. I could get through this because I was going through it. I couldn’t say I couldn’t make it or go on any longer because I could and I was, every moment. I was still alive. The towers of stability and innocence within me had been struck and had clasped on my spirit; I could feel the death of everything I loved dear, but It did not kill me. Simple thoughts filled my blood red eyes with tears of pain. The truth that I didn’t have the courage to accept was that every second that went by proved that I can deal with it, because it didn’t kill me. I could take my own life but the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual wounds I had received as a result of the situation did not take me out. I was still breathing. I was still here. This truth set me free, slowly but surely.
The real crisis had nothing to do with my ex boyfriend. it had everything to do with me. I had forgotten who I really was and left my own self for dead. I had abandoned the truth of myself. It takes some of us years to unlearn the lies we’ve been taught, the ones we chosen to believe but unlearn them we must.
I share these truths with you all because it is the only thing that should be said. If I can not tell you the truth of my life, then I shouldn’t be writing anything, let alone publishing this magazine.
Millions of us are looking for a come up. We seek it in someone to love us, we search for it in someone or something we can love. Many of us fein for a connection that will justify our existence and make life more lovely. We lie to ourselves everyday about it because the idea of this belief is in direct violation of how we are organically wired. We don’t need a come up, we were always meant to be our own come up and until we connect with our own love and allow ourselves to be the rightful benefactors of our affection and energy first and foremost, we will spend our lives draining our souls to near death ––running from person to person looking for value. Buying thing after thing while defending the lie that it will fulfill us and make us lovable. We are all we need, we are love incarnate; everything else is icing on the cake. What I’ve come to know is that until this truth lives wildly within us, we will never truly know true love from or with anyone else on this earth.
I was lying to myself and made someone else the bad guy. I was angry at myself. I couldn’t forgive myself. I pinched myself off from the God within me. I brainwashed myself to believe that something outside of me could fill me up. I made someone else the center of my universe. I loved someone more than myself and before myself for so long that when he left I told myself I had nothing. That poison galloped through my veins. '
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