By John Hayden
Dr. Steven O. Evans specializes in shining the spotlight on others and staying out of it himself. But the spotlight found him on June 1, 2024. Dr. Evans was honored at Take PRIDE! A 100 Year Retrospective of LGBTQ+ Milestones, presented by History Fort Lauderdale.
He was one of ten business and community leaders who have made, and continue to make, an impact on South Florida’s LGBTQIA+ community.
Dr. Evans’ path to being a publisher was anything but direct. While he is best known here as the founder of OutClique magazine, he has a very diverse professional background. He got his PhD in Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation from the University of Kentucky after getting his bachelor’s degree from Asbury College in Secondary Mathematics Education and his masters in counseling psychology from Asbury Theological Seminary.
Yet, none of those spoke to his passion. You may be thinking that, obviously, being a publisher is his passion. It may be a passion, but it’s not the passion. His true passion is music. Dr. Evans is a gifted musician who has spent many Sundays in church, but he’s not sitting in the pews. You’d find him behind the organ, or the piano, or ringing handbells. The Spirit musically moves him.
But it is in publishing that has helped him make his biggest impression on the LGBTQIA+ community. Dr. Evans saw that local publications weren’t spotlighting the arts and the arts community. It is in that space he created OutClique.
In the moment, as he looked out at his peers from the stage, Dr. Evans was overwhelmed with emotion
“I was truly honored to be recognized with this award. Even with our struggles, our South Florida LGBTQ community feels like a family, and I am proud to call myself a part of it. It’s a privilege to work with such passionate and dedicated individuals. The entire night reflected the pride my team and I feel in our work. Seeing the positive impact of our efforts in promoting and uplifting various groups within the LGBTQIA+ community helped reinforce the reasons I started OutClique Magazine.”
OutClique quickly became a community staple, highlighting not just shows on local stages, but local artists who perform in our bars and queens who rule any runway in sight. He also spotlights lifestyle evolutions. Maybe it’s reviewing a restaurant and guest house in Key West or a spa in Broward, but it all comes back to community.
“We all celebrated the support I enjoy from friends, family, and colleagues,” Dr. Evans said. “Their belief in me, my team, and the shared mission of OutClique Magazine makes these achievements possible.”
Family isn’t just a word tossed around loosely. Dr. Evans creates a family atmosphere literally and figuratively. His mom, Ms. Connie, proofreads every article of every issue. Dr. Evans takes the staff out every few weeks for a get-together lunch or dinner. Yes, there is the natural ‘shop talk,’ but most conversation is catching up with others we often only work with on video chat or email.
Take Pride! and History Fort Lauderdale see in Dr. Evans what many of us have for years, a man quietly going about his work and making the community better along the way.
