Wow, what a year it’s been! I always look forward to writing our end-of-year message because I get to pause and reflect on how much our tireless team and our community of fierce supporters have accomplished in the span of just 12 months. To say I’m inspired would be an understatement.

At the beginning of 2013 we launched an aggressive crowdfunding campaign to help release our digital and print magazine as well as compensate our team. Readers from across the globe (we had contributors all the way from China and the U.K.), family, friends, organizations (from the National Black Justice Coalition, Black Lesbians United and GLAAD to LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent, bklyn boihood, and Harlem Pride), media outlets (Black Enterprise, Clay Cane Live, Autostraddle, Ikons, Clutch, and Polinti) and more rallied together and brought ELIXHER closer to becoming a sustainable community resource.

We commemorated our two-year anniversary in Washington, D.C. and had women travel from New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia to celebrate with us. Even our cover girl of the inaugural issue, America’s Next Top Model kick-ass contestant AzMarie, partied with us. And man, did we get down.

We released two stunning issues of our now bi-annual publication and after an overwhelming number of requests, we started offering print copies.

In our first issue, AzMarie opened up in her most intimate interview yet and author Staceyann Chin welcomed us into her Brooklyn home to talk her first year of motherhood. In our fall/winter 2013 edition, artist and activist Red Summer talked legacy, her new documentary, navigating motherhood, and multiple identities. ELIXHER also spotlighted five out black women in Hollywood.

On our website, we continued to feature breaking news stories, empowering profiles, and social commentary. And our community made it easy! It wasn’t hard to find all the inspiring ways black lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer woman are breaking ground.

From author and trans advocate Janet Mock and her upcoming memoir to celebs like Robin Roberts, Raven Symone, Monifah, and Brittney Griner walking in their truth to artists, activists, mothers, wives, and entrepreneurs, we owned 2013 y’all. We OWNED it.

ELIXHER also nabbed an Esteem Award for Outstanding Website, a Women’s Media Center Social Media Award nomination, and recognition from The Fab Femme Awards in the categories of Fab Publication and Fab Blog of the Year. Finally, the G-List Society named ELIXHER a part of their 2013 Black LGBT Power 100.

Just as our community has supported us, we made it a point to give back and reinvest in our community. Throughout the year, we supported events and fundraisers like The Revival’s TESTIMONY benefit concert where we donated a percent of magazine and merch proceeds to their Kickstarter campaign. ELIXHER also served as a sponsor for ELEMENTS Womyn of Color Conference in Atlanta.

And we didn’t stop there. The ELIXHER team was on the ground at numerous events tabling, mingling and repping our black queer woman fierceness. We loved connecting with our readers and family at AfroPunk, Bed-Stuy Pride, the Many Faces. One Dream. LGBT Economic Empowerment Tour for Communities of Color, Atlanta Pride, and D.C.’s OUT on the Hill Black LGBT Leadership Summit.

At OUT on the Hill, ELIXHER had the privilege of presenting the workshop “Your Silence Will Not Protect You: Black Lesbian, Bi, and Trans (In)Visibility” and I was honored to moderate a lively discussion with a dynamic group of women serving as panelists.

We’re currently knee-deep in producing our spring/summer 2014 magazine issue, which we can’t wait to share with you. Our team is continuing to expand and each year we get better at what we do because of you.

My 2014 wish list is pretty simple. I want every black queer girl and woman to have a copy of ELIXHER Magazine in their hands. I believe that deeply in the work and product and the power of this medium. In 2014, I want us to continue to affirm our brilliant and beautiful community. I want you to have so much great content at your fingertips that you won’t know what to do with yourself! And finally, I want us to continue to creates space for women to connect face-to-face and fellowship.

Thank you for your help along the way! Consider making an end-of-year donation or purchasing a print or digital copy of ELIXHER Magazine to keep us going.

In community,