By Charles Baran

One of the major reasons I like working for OutClique Magazine is the way creative ideas about new articles, fun features, and possible cover stories are welcomed. Dr. Steven Evans, our fearless Publisher and Editor in Chief, always tells us in our weekly meeting, “If there’s something you want to write about, let me know. We’ll make it happen.”

So, a few months ago, I brought to the table an idea that had been brewing in my mind for some time—a weekly social media post on our OutClique Instagram that highlights, celebrates and honors members of our fabulous community. And by “members”, I didn’t mean the beloved and well-known leaders of our art scene, political scene, nonprofit scene and nightlife scene, who, while extremely important in making our community “tick” get a fair amount of coverage in the local LGBTQ publications. (You know who you are and we are grateful for the service you bring to our community.)  

No, no, no. I mean the hard working, creative folks, that wait on us in restaurants, clip our dog’s nails, mix our cocktails, sweep the hair off the floor in our salons, sell us our morning coffee, entertain us on stage and ring up the pair of gently used jeans we just found on a back rack at Out of the Closet. These unsung heroes deserve to be honored and…gosh darn it, I wanted to honor them.

Needless to say, my idea went over like “gangbusters” when I brought it up, so I ran with it. Welcome to a roundup of the first 10 OutClique Instagram “People of the Week.” Each and every one a superstar!