From The Editor: Twenty-Five Years (and More) of Pride!

Welcome to our 25^th Pride Issue!

Our first commemorative issue was published in 1998 – a few years after we began Lavender Magazine. Not sure about the history of creating such a huge issue every year, but it has become our premier issue every year.

As long as I have been in the Managing Editor’s seat (just two years-plus), we always produced the largest such issue for the LGBTQ+ Pride season. It is a point of pride here at this magazine.

Keep in mind that I’ve written for this magazine going back to 2008. Since 2012, I’ve been asked to write more than enough articles to fill the vast number of pages we produce every start of June (or end of May, in this year’s case).

It is a lot of work. There’s a lot of moving parts. Lots of e-mails, phone calls, conversations, scheduling, negotiations, and so forth – all turning into what you’re about to read in the forthcoming pages.

I wish I could summarize this issue. It’s impossible to do. While it is my job to know what’s coming after this column, I could only invite you to read the entire issue to discover the stories we’re ready to tell in this year’s Pride issue.

Considering all of the work that went into this issue, I wish to express my greatest gratitude to everyone at Lavender Magazine for their hard work in putting this issue together. That includes the team of contributing writers who have worked hard to produce the stories ahead.

Please enjoy our 2024 Pride Edition. And, happy LGBTQ+ Pride Month!