Western students launch first queer arts magazine

It might seem like a throwback in 2019a magazine filled with poetry, art, stories and pictures, printed on glossy paper. But this one isaimed at gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgenderstudents.

And it's a hole that's needed filling for far too long, said Emily Hayward, a fourth-year Western University student.

Hayward is one of the editors of Prism, Western's first ever queer arts magazine.

"We wanted to create a space for queer art at Western, because there is no space for that," Hayward said. "Prism just sort of came about."

"There are a few clubs on campus that are for queer students or LGBTQ students ... But they are on their own. There's not one place that people can congregate. It's about time to get a magazine."

Some of the submissions deal with stigma and discrimination, and some of the material is published anonymously.

"All of the submissions are from queer Western students," Hayward said. "Some people still aren't comfortable with the word queer. It used to be a slur, and the community has taken it back, but it's not always the easiest. We wanted to make this by queer people, for queer people."