For over a decade, Outwords magazine has been the go-to resource for Winnipeg’s queer community.

Debuting in 1994 under the name Swerve, the monthly publication mostly focused on what current editor Rachel Morgan describes as “the same-sex marriage battle.”

Sipping coffee in a cozy Wolseley coffee shop, Morgan described the periodical’s eclectic journey to present day.

“[Outwords] has moved over time in so many different directions depending on who is working here,” she said. “It has struggled to stay afloat and find its own voice while also being the voice of a community.”

Being volunteer-driven and relying solely on advertising dollars has resulted in the publication constantly evolving to reflect the current goals and interests of those willing to donate their time and efforts. Some things have remained the same from the start, though.

“It’s always been done by people who have a strong sense of responsibility to the queer community,” Morgan noted. Its mandate has also been retained: to tell the stories of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, as well as taking mainstream issues and tackling them from a queer perspective.

“It is important for any community to see itself reflected some way in the media,” Morgan said. “[A] community needs to be able to tell its stories. Every community needs a way of talking to each other.”

“ It is important for any community to see itself reflected some way in the media. [A] community needs to be able to tell its stories.

Rachel Morgan, Outwords editor

Outwords mixes politics with pleasure, ensuring there are many lifestyle features about art, fashion, food, local events and even horoscopes. Every article is brimming with colour thanks to their switch to glossy pages this past December, a move Morgan said allows the magazine to look more mainstream and accessible. The recent inclusion of fashion photo shoots and style-conscious layouts can be attributed to savvy new art director Braden Alexander.

His inclusion underscores the importance of bringing skills together in a volunteer-driven environment. However, the range of tastes has at times been difficult. Morgan admitted that the magazine has had trouble catering to such a diverse audience.

“Lesbians complain it’s a gay magazine, gay men complain that it’s a lesbian magazine, trans[gendered people] complain there’s not enough for them,” she said.

Still, her outlook remains positive.

“When you look at the queer community, it is a little bit different because it is spread out. There isn’t one focal point; we’re everywhere. Outwords acts as that focal point, as a forum.”

Now that same-sex marriage has been legalized in Manitoba, some might question the role of Outwords, but there are still many remaining issues to be tackled.

“Any rights that can be given can be taken away,” Morgan cautioned.

Also, LGBT people in places within Canada and around the world do not have the same rights as in Manitoba. Even in the province, unfortunate language and stereotypes about the queer community still permeate some realms of collective consciousness.

Still, Outwords continues to be a shining example of people coming together to create something, as Morgan put it, “as classy as we possibly can.”

Published in Volume 63, Number 21 of The Uniter (February 26, 2009)