Lali Safavi saw a gap in South Florida’s queer media scene and filled it with a new publication known as SkirtSoFLo that is focused on arts and culture for LGBTQ women. She is from DC and was inspired by their community publications such as the Washington Blade. Another inspiration was Curve Magazine, a lesbian publication founded in 1990.
“I grew up with Curve Magazine, like so many celebrities and stuff, it was the first lesbian magazine, first national lesbian magazine,” Safavi said. “It was shiny and glossy, and it had celebrities and stuff on it, and it was, I mean, a lot of celebrities came out in that magazine, a lot of women. It was something that was very important for us growing up.”
Safavi reflects on what being “Out and Proud” means to her as a lesbian.
“Having to face adversity together as a community naturally brings us together, whether or not we agree with one another internally or not, it has just created an incredible, incredibly strong LGBTQ+ community,” Safavi said. “I'm very proud to be part of the community, and I feel ‘Out and Proud.’ I'm comfortable with who I am personally, how I represent, how I identify. I'm very comfortable with that, and I'm very comfortable with my community, and I love my community. I absolutely embrace it with all the good and the bad.”
Homepage: OUT & PROUD 2024
