Underrated Magazine: Vol 1 Issue 4 - Love Has No Labels

U N D E R R A T E D 

LOVE HAS NO LABELS 

Underrated Magazine I Volume 1, Issue 4

Land Acknowedgement 

We want to acknowledge that the University 

of Toronto Scarborough Campus, is built on 

the territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron- 

Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of 

the Credit Nations. This meeting place is 

still the home to many Indigenous people 

from across Turtle Island and we are 

grateful to have the opportunity to work on 

this land. 

About Us 

Underrated Magazine is a student-run 

magazine based at UTSC showcasing the 

hidden talents of small artists and small 

businesses! We also discuss topics such 

as astrology, beauty, art, movies, mental 

health, and more! You can find us at 

Underrated Magazine on Instagram and 

Facebook

PLEASE 

READ 

Here at Underrated Magazine, we understand that we have a platform 

and with that platform, we must do good at the community. Even though 

this issue is supposed to represent love and acceptance, we understand 

that there are some people who are being discriminated against 

because of who they are. Here are some ways on how you can help the 

LGBTQ+ community and the Indigenous community, as well as some 

hotlines if you need someone to talk to. 

LGBTQ 

https://engage.youth.gov/resources/being-ally-lgbt-people 

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/donate-to-lgbtq-charities/ 

https://pflag.org/hotlines 

The Indigenous community 

https://truenorthaid.ca/how-to-help-first-nations/ 

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/donate-to-indigenous-charities/ 

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/g32917782/best-lgbtqcharities-to-donate/ 

https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/indigenous-crisis-support-where-tofind-help-1.5446575 

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/how-to-supportindigenous-communities-canada/?template=next 

https://www.kairoscanada.org/missing-murdered-indigenous-womengirls/advocacy-action

Letter from the 

Editor-in-Chief 

Welcome back to another issue of Underrated Magazine! In this issue, we focused on pride and 

had the pleasure to grab submissions from those in the LGBTQ+ community (go support some 

LGBTQ+ art and businesses by the way). I also had the pleasure of interviewing one of my good 

friends Nyx, who has taught me to undeniably be myself and love myself. Last but not least, I 

want to thank my team for still sticking with me even though all of our lives have gotten busier. 

I couldn't imagine a better team than this one. 

I’m going to keep this note shorter than my previous notes. In my article, I discussed trying to 

figure yourself out and how hard that journey can be. Accepting yourself isn’t easy at all, so I 

commend those who have accepted themselves already, I commend those who are still trying to 

accept themselves because again, it’s not easy at all. But I also wanted to mention that it’s 2021, 

people can love whomever they want, they can be whomever they want, and express themselves 

however they want, and if you can’t accept that then leave. We don’t need that kind of 

negativity because there is already too much negativity in the world. 

I hope that one day we can all come to terms and accept each other no matter how different we are 

from each other. Until then, reader, I hope that this issue and even the magazine itself can be a safe and 

comfortable space for you. Just know reader, I love and support you and I will always be proud of you. 

Happy reading! 

Tara Hejazi 

Editor-in-chief

Letter from the 

Creative Director 

Hello everyone and welcome back! I hope everyone is having a great and productive summer 

so far. This month's issue is based on pride. We are grateful to showcase submissions from the 

LGBTQ+ community and the work of the writers. 

According to the theme of this magazine, I decided to keep the colours bright and different 

colours throughout the magazine. I stayed away from following the same colour palette as I 

really wanted to showcase the theme of pride. Moreover, I wanted this magazine to look FUN, 

hence, we got the chance to incorporate Emily Rocha's photo as the cover photo. The cover 

photo is fun and expressional which perfectly matches the theme of this magazine. Pride is all 

about being proud of who you are and the cover photo does a great job at representing that. 

I hope you all have a great time reading this magazine and take pride in who you are. Thank 

you to all the writers and individuals that submitted their work for this month's magazine. 

Take care and stay safe! 

Gurkiran Singh 

Creative Director

T E A M 

Editor-in-chief: Tara Hejazi 

Creative Director: Gurkiran Singh 

Social Media Manager: Jasmine Saini 

Music Critic and Playlist Manager: 

Victoria Veroni 

Beauty Expert: Sarah-Mei Chen 

Film Critic: Maidah Afzal 

Game Reviewer: Dina Hejazi 

Astrologist: Hailey Munroe 

Mental Health Writer: Sarah Scott 

Mental Health Writer: Isabella 

Lombardo

Art 

Yhasmin Wilder 

Yao Xiao 

Bianca Mori- 

Maurelli 

Music 

Lemon Lord 

C O N T R I B U T O R S 

Twitch/Youtube 

Zachariah Highgate 

Fashion Design 

Jeongwon (Justin) 

Chweh 

Photography 

Emily Rocha 

Small 

Businesses 

Bianca’s Design 

Shop 

Oh Golly! 

Echo 

Sofftpunk 

Cheers to the 

Queers 

Jo’s Little Art Shop 

Proud Soaps 

Colorushh 

Jenilee Jasmine

3 HOW EXOTIC (BIANCA MORI-MAURELLI) 

7 PROUD SOAPS 

18 OH GOLLY! 

21 DRAG MAKEUP 

26 THERE'S A WHOLE LOT TO LOVE 

32 INTERVIEW WITH NYX SAGE 

39 JULY CRYSTALS 

43 HOROSCOPES 

50 DISCO IS NOT DEAD 

55 JO'S LITTLE ART SHOP 

60 ECHO 

63 ASK ANON

Underrated 

Coming Around to 

Coming Out 

B Y S A R A H S C O T T 

Coming Out. This monumental 

event that will transform your life and 

identity as soon as you say those 

simple words: “Hey *insert random 

figure in your life*, I have something 

to tell you.. I am *insert your 

identity*”. Then boom your life is 

changed. Coming out is a huge step to 

accepting your identity and truth, 

although it may not have as drastic 

transformation as what I have 

described. Every coming out story is 

different and any emotions associated 

with your coming out and acceptance 

of your identity are valid and okay. It 

is a difficult process but it requires so 

much strength to do. Another thing 

about coming out is it’s not one 

conversation- it is a lifelong process. 

Coming out can be as simple as 

answering “yes” to the question “do 

you listen to Girl in Red?” or through 

a deep conversation about identity. 

When I was 16, I was staying with my extended 

family for a few weeks during the summer. Everyone 

else was asleep but my thoughts about my sexuality 

were keeping me awake. I remember feeling this 

physical pain in my chest, so I went to the bathroom 

and said aloud to the mirror “I’m gay.” (I’m actually 

bisexual, but that’s beside the point) Saying those 

words out loud didn’t cause me any relief, which hurt 

me even more, and it took me around 5 more years to 

be completely comfortable with my sexuality and out. 

After dealing with my own internalized homophobia 

and speaking about my feelings with friends in 

university, I can truly say I am so proud of my 

sexuality and I come out with pride to the people 

around me. 

1

Volume 1, Issue 4 

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As someone who cared too much about other people’s opinions and judgments of me and stayed 

in the closet longer than I should have, I have a lot of different thoughts about the process of 

coming out. In terms of other people’s judgments, people are going to judge you no matter what 

you do, so you might as well be who you are. Also, the discomfort or anxiety that you feel about 

sharing your identity with others will go away over time. I would only tell my closest friends when I 

was under the influence that I didn’t think I was straight but now I’m telling whoever is reading this 

article. 

In addition, when you feel safe and want to come out, do it for yourself. Some people might have 

great and supportive reactions and that’s amazing, but some people might not have the best 

reaction. This hurts a lot and those people do not deserve to know the amazing person that you are. 

Their reaction is a reflection of them, not a reflection of you. Your identity and sexuality make you 

powerful. When planning to come out, personalize your experience based on who you are. If you 

are a more type A person, then try writing about different things you want to say. But always make 

sure you are in a safe environment before coming out to someone. Unfortunately, there still is a 

stigma attached to the LGBTQA+ community, but please know there is strength in numbers and 

there is so much support within the community (and even with allies!). Accepting your identity with 

those closest to you is an amazing thing and you should be so proud of yourself for having the 

strength to do so! Happy Pride Month!


HOW EXOTIC 

Bianca Mori-Maurelli 

@bianca_maurelli and @morimaurelli 

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Description of the piece 

Title: “How exotic” 

Medium: oil on wood panel 

With this self-portrait, I want to bring attention to the 

exoticization of mixed women. As a mixed woman, growing 

up I have been called “exotic” countless times as if it were a 

compliment when in reality it made me feel like an objectified 

animal. Through the use of red paint, signifying the passion 

and anger behind the meek-looking subject, and the use of 

imitation gold leaf, as the colour of an object of desire, I 

wanted to make a very personal piece that could speak to 

many who are like me. 

My name is Bianca. I am a 

half Japanese, half Uruguayan 

architecture student at UofT. 

I have recently gotten back 

into painting and have been 

experimenting with concepts 

related to being mixed race 

and growing up as an Asian 

and Latina in 8 different 

countries. 

@bianca_maurelli and @morimaurelli 

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5


Lemon Lord 

Lemon Lord is a pop music artist based in Los 

Angeles. She released her first album "Be 

Blonde" in late 2020 and it has since been 

added to numerous playlists on Spotify 

including "Gaga Daily," "Women of SynthPop" 

and "Own Your Voice," curated by Madame 

Gandhi. Her singing in the galactic anthem 

"Superpower" was compared to Madonna by 

Bloom Magazine UK. Her slogan, "To Infinity and 

Be Blonde," is a reminder to us all that we can 

do anything we dream of and we can be any 

version of ourselves that we choose along the 

way. Lemon Lord wrote all lyrics, melodies and 

arrangements on her album and hopes to 

release more music in 2021. Stream Lemon Lord 

music anywhere and follow her on Instagram 

@iamlemonlord 

Shop for merchandise on shoplemonlord.com 

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R E U B E N D A V I D S O N ( H E / H I M ) 

I’m Reuben Davidson (he/him) and I 

Proud 

live 

Soaps 

in 

Brighton, England. My shop is called Proud 

Soaps and I mostly make artisanal soap from 

scratch using the traditional cold-process 

method. I also make intensely moisturizing body 

butter to own our own tried-and-tested recipe 

using natural ingredients. All of our products are 

palm-free, SLS-free, cruelty-free and vegan! 

I started Proud Soaps after spending six months 

learning (getting obsessed!) with the craft and 

then wanting to share my creations with other 

people. There’s only so much soap one person 

can use so selling them started as a way of 

finding the bars a new home and recouping the 

cost of materials. 

Proud soaps is now an established sidehustle 

after lockdown meant that I had the 

time and space in my brain to get the ball 

rolling. I found that thinking of the bars as 

‘functional art’ really helped me tap into my 

creative side, so as well as LGBTQ+ pride flag 

designs, I also try to think outside of the box 

and surprise people. Currently, I’m working 

on a landscape series which I’m super excited 

about! 

I’m mostly a one-man band but I’m very lucky 

to have a partner who has a background in 

perfumery, and she helps us greatly with the 

fragrance side and other aspects of running 

the business. 

It’s so amazing to have gotten past the nervewracking 

‘what if no one likes what I’ve 

made?’ stage and feel more self-confident in 

my abilities. I have managed to find a bit of a 

niche- there is no one in the UK doing what I 

do and I hope to continue building on the 

foundation that’s been laid! 

@proudsoaps 

@ProudSoaps 

7


8


Painting the LGBTQ2S+ 

Community in Céline Sciamma's 

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) 

By Maidah Afzal 

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019), or in 

French as it was originally released, 

Portrait de la jeune fille en feu, is a 

historical-romance directed by Céline 

Sciamma. Set in 1770 France, Marianne 

(Noémie Merlant), who is a painter, is 

commissioned to paint Héloïse (Adèle 

Haenel), a young woman who is forced 

out of the convent after her sister’s 

untimely death, in the hopes that the 

portrait will attract her suitor. Having 

issues with previous painters, 

however, makes Marianne confused 

about the reasoning behind the 

described arduous subject, as she 

becomes more and more indulged in 

Héloïse’s sorrow for having never 

known love (IMDB). 

This movie is available to stream on Hulu, Kanopy, Prime Video, iTunes, VUDU, and 

Fandango Now (decider.com). Winning various awards including the LGBTQ+ Film 

of the Year at the Dorian Awards, Portrait of a Lady on Fire holds a strong 

reputation for how queer people are represented in the media. Its accessibility to 

the general public continues to this day through strong reactions from the 

LGBTQ2S+ community, and it is clearly through the positive depiction of lesbian 

couples on-screen. 

9


The story follows Marianne, a painter 

who is introduced posing for a livesketch 

session in an art class. 

However, the true story begins once 

one of her old paintings is addressed 

to have been taken out from stock; a 

painting of a dark, grassy field, with a 

woman in the middle-ground staring 

out to the coastal view, with the rim of 

her dress glowing with flames. At this 

point, we see a grim look overtake 

Marianne as we succumb to the 

captivating story behind the canvas. 

We are transported back to a stormy 

boat ride, concluding at a seaside 

residence isolated from other cities or 

villas, where we meet the Countess 

(Valeria Golino), who requests 

Marianne to paint a wedding portrait 

of her daughter Héloïse, which was to 

be sent to her suitor before he agrees 

to marry her. However, there is a 

catch. Previously, a painter had come 

to attempt the portrait, but was unable 

to finish it. This time, the Countess 

aims to keep the portrait a secret, 

where Marianne would chaperone 

Héloïse on daily walks, and return to 

her chambers in the evening to create 

an image from scratch. 

10


Managing to take short sketches of 

Héloïse, Marianne finishes the 

painting. Before she leaves, she 

requests that Héloïse learns who she is 

and in turn views the portrait. This 

scene, relieving both of them from the 

undeniable tension between the two, is 

cut short when Héloïse demands, “is 

that how you see me?”. Appalled and in 

disarray, Marianne wipes the painting 

and is given one last attempt to save it, 

with the assistance of Héloïse to model 

while her mother is away for 5 days. 

11 

Portrait of a Lady on Fire explores the 

complexities of learning how to love, 

no matter the person. Very early on, 

though we do not see the romance 

immediately, we sense the tension 

between the lovers and the bond they 

build through intimate moments of the 

little freedom they hold. Promised to a 

man she had never met, Héloïse has 

the freedom she yearned for: 

swimming in the sea, hearing music 

outside for the first time, and even the 

smallest task of running outside. With 

this, we see her counterpart Marianne, 

who does hold the freedom yet the 

lack of courage to go outside her usual 

understanding of concepts, as she had 

been used to the contemporary way of 

things.


The Male versus Female Gaze 

The Female Gaze, defined by Oxford 

Reference as “the right of women to 

adopt the active and objectifying gaze 

that has traditionally and 

stereotypically been associated with 

males, undermining the dominant 

cultural alignment of masculinity with 

activity and femininity with passivity” 

(oxfordreference.com), is what is often 

termed when I looked into this movie. 

Upon watching, it is understandable 

how many would feel this way in 

relation to other LGBTQ2S+ 

relationships depicted on screen, such 

as Blue is the Warmest Colour, directed 

by Abdellatif Kechiche. 

Portrait of a Lady on Fire was directed 

by Céline Sciamma, who identifies as a 

lesbian. Her focus on the sexual 

identity of women as well as topics 

within gender politics is evident in her 

movies, such as Water Lilies (2007), 

which follows the sexual awakening of 

a swimmer for another woman on her 

team. As we view this movie through 

the eyes of Sciamma, we see strong 

differences when compared with 

Kechiche’s work when illustrating 

romance and sex. Here, we are not 

thrusted into near pornagraphic 

images, as it holds unnecessary to the 

plot and may very much take away 

from the approach Sciamma is trying 

to produce when viewing this womanloving-woman 

relationship. With this, 

it proves that Portrait of a Lady on Fire 

12 

is trying to illustrate the parity of these 

relationships in society; which is why 

I’d prefer this over Kechiche’s work. 

Though it is raw and unafraid of 

exploring sexuality on screen, Blue is 

the Warmest Colour was nearly 

impossible to view without the 

impending male gaze hovering over 

my head. Defined by Oxford 

Reference, the male gaze in film is :the 

point of view of a male spectator 

reproduced in both the 

cinematography and narrative 

conventions of cinema, in which men 

are both the subject of the gaze and 

the ones who shape the action and 

women are the objects of the gaze and 

the ones who are shaped by the action 

(...) the film spectator oscillates 

between two forms of looking at the 

female image: voyeuristic looking 

involves a controlling gaze; fetishistic 

looking involves an obsessive focus on 

some erotic detail” 

(oxfordreference.com). The portrayal 

of lesbians in his film, as it is overtly 

sexual, comes across as voyeuristic 

under the impression that a man had 

directed this film. With Sciamma’s 

work, however, it is more trustful that 

the depiction of lesbians are in a 

realistic point of view, and as it trails 

away from a sole depiction of sexual 

nature between two lovers, it 

enamours the audience with it’s 

realistic point of view on love, no 

matter your sexuality.


13


Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire is visually 

pleasing to the eye. From introducing characters 

behind white sheets of canva to the wide open natural 

shots, we see visually the methods of revealing freedom 

in these characters. Outside, where the tall grass leads 

to unexpected bonfires with chanting women, holds the 

mysterious aspects of love and the openness to explore 

it. The untouched grass also holds true for how 

untrodden the territory is, and while we watch, we 

become more and more familiar with its surroundings. 

Indoors, however, we see more intimate aspects of 

love; the aspects that are meant to be hidden and “nonexploitative”. 

Avoiding the maid and mother’s 

intrusion, we are all trapped in that small room that 

these two are able to be themselves in. 

14


Personally, I did not see this as a story of forbidden 

love, but rather as a love that is born out of curiosity 

and desire. Though centered and advertised around the 

lesbian romance, we see that the trouble is not that 

they are women, but rather the circumstances that the 

two are under. Here, we see the painter who has 

experienced love through relationships with men, 

which have a little to no impact on her viewpoints on 

love. She can see herself being alone for the rest of her 

life, never marrying, and she is content with this 

position, which is already considered atypical of the 

times. Contrastingly, we see the perspective of a 

woman who had never known love, and rather is pulled 

into it against her will. Though they do form a 

forbidden love, the story is focused on these characters’ 

realization as to what love really is. In extreme 

circumstances, we are able to view a blossoming of 

tension and the release through delicate shots of naked 

skin-on-skin contact while respecting the lens of the 

female gaze for LGBTQ2S+ people. Films like Blue is the 

Warmest Colour lack this respect, as it depicts a lesbian 

romance through a male gaze lens. With the release of 

this movie, in addition, it provides less of what it were 

trying to do for the LGBTQ2S+ community⼀ though 

being one of the more critically acclaimed films for 

representing lesbians in film, it is harmful through the 

odd sexualization and overall sacralization of 

womanhood that can be deemed dangerous. However, 

what we see in Portrait of a Lady on Fire is quite the 

opposite of this. Though showing nudity, the film 

masterfully avoids strict sexualization of these women 

as a result of pent-up aggression of their inability to 

find love, but rather the emotional turmoils that come 

with love when it hasn’t been felt in such intensity. 

15


Though I hadn’t seen a tremendous 

change between the first and the last 

painting Marianne had done of 

Héloïse, it did not matter. The most 

torturous portion of this movie was 

the same as how Marianne had 

thought: she would never see her lover 

again despite it being one of the best 

she had ever had. The long-awaited 

painting had finally been completed, 

and with that the end of their 

relationship was here. The conclusive 

scenes of this film provide a sense of 

closure and satisfaction in the less 

traditional method, and for that I am 

grateful. Director Céline Sciamma has 

produced one of the most uplifting yet 

devastating (though conflicting terms, 

makes sense in the moment) 

conclusions I have yet to see. A single 

shot, slowly zooming in provides the 

audience time to contemplate what 

had happened in the film, how the 

characters had adapted, and even the 

own mysteries of the viewers' 

experiences with love. Overall, I highly 

recommend this film not just for the 

positive representation of LGBTQ+ 

relationships on screen, but for the 

consistency in providing it’s audience 

with sensational and thoughtful inter 

and intrapersonal outlooks on 

relationships. 

Works Cited 

“Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” IMDb, IMDb.com, 18 

Sept. 2019, www.imdb.com/title/tt8613070/. 

“Portrait of a Lady on Fire: Where to Stream and 

Watch.” Decider, decider.com/movie/portrait-of-alady-on-fire/. 

“Female Gaze.” Oxford Reference, 

www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authorit 

y.20110803095814800?rskey=z85loW&result=8. 

16


Jasmine's Choice: 

The Thing About Harry 

Sarah S.'s Choice: 

Call Me By Your Name 

Gurkiran & Hailey's Choice: 

Love, Simon 

Other LGBTQ2S+ 

Movies to Watch 

Victoria's Choice: 

A Single Man 

Tara's Choice: 

Blue is the Warmest Color 

Bonus Choice: 

Shiva Baby 

17


oh 

golly! 

18


Oh Golly! is an LGBT and disabled owned 

small business hand-making jewellery, 

homeware and gifts! I am 

environmentally conscious and my 

pieces feature zero-waste clay (made 

from clay offcuts and failed projects) and 

everything is packaged in minimal 

packaging that is recycled or recyclable. 

I also make reclaimed pieces which are 

made from metal offcuts in the jewellery 

making process and rescued beads 

and/or charms that would have 

otherwise gone to landfill. These 

beads/charms are usually donated and 

are often from old jewellery/collections - 

these are then taken apart and cleaned 

by myself, and then reused in my own 

work. 

I take a lot of inspiration for my pieces 

from psychedelia art and alternative 

fashion, but also like styles that have a 

huge focus and love for nature such as 

bohemian and cottagecore. The aim of 

my pieces is to make the wearer proud to 

stand out and present themselves 

however they want. 

OhGollyDesigns 

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@ohgolly_designs


WHERE DID IT COME FROM? 

21


By Sarah Chen 

As we move into June, we celebrate 

LGBT Pride to commemorate the 

Stonewall riots that occurred in June 1969. 

In this month’s beauty column, we will be 

analyzing drag makeup. Drag makeup 

may be a term that is familiar to you, but 

have you ever wondered where it 

originated from? How did this makeup 

look become what it is today? For those of 

you that are unfamiliar with the term, 

what even is drag makeup anyways? We 

will be covering all of those questions in 

this month’s beauty edition! 

Photo: early drag captured by Linda Simpson 

Firstly, drag makeup is makeup that imitates 

and exaggerates feminine features and gender 

roles for entertainment purposes. The word, 

“drag”, was originally a theatre term from the 

1800s that described male performers that 

wore petticoats to perform as a woman. The 

term “drag” was coined because their 

petticoats would drag on the floor as they 

walked. As indicated by the Oxford English 

Dictionary, the word "drag" has existed since 

1388, yet it wasnt until the nineteenth century 

that it was connected with acting in garments 

or a persona unique from one's own gender. 

Now, “drag” is a celebrated and constantly 

evolving term. 

22


In the 1880s, the first drag queen, 

William Dorsey Swann, hosted drag 

balls at his home. William Dorsey 

Swann was an American gay liberation 

activist who was born into slavery. 

William became the first person in the 

States to lead a queer group and selfidentified 

as “Queen of Drag”. 

23


In 2009, the show RuPaul’s Drag Race, a reality competition in pursuit of “America’s 

next drag superstar”, premiered. The series of 10 seasons and spin-off shows introduced 

drag to a new generation and millions of viewers, bringing drag to the mainstream 

population. 

Today, “drag” can involve dressing up, wearing funky and fresh makeup, gender 

crossing, or having a persona that is different from gender norms. Regardless, it will 

always have its underlying foundations in queer culture. 

24 

Reference: https://www.them.us/story/inqueery-drag


@JENILEE JASMINE @JENILEE JASMINE SHOP: JENILEEJASMINE.COM 

My name is Jenilee Jasmine and I am a Bisexual Latina/Asian artist from 

Los Angeles. 

A little bit about me: I love going to the beach, playing with my pet bunny 

and going to cafes! 

My jewelry is a collection of cottagecore and y2k styles. The beads and 

crystals that I create these pieces with are sourced around the world. I 

design each item with care and love. I hope you enjoy my designs as 

much as I enjoy making them. 

JENILEE JASMINE 

25


THERE'S A WHOLE LOT TO 

LO 

VE 

BY ISABELLA LOMBARDO 

June is the lucky host month to the 

beginning of summer and the colourful 

celebration of diversity that we have the 

liberty of expressing nationwide. Although it 

would be easy to rythm off all the reasons why 

this month is special, I’ve decided to dive 

deeper into an aspect to Pride that deserves 

normalizing; the mental health and wellbeing 

of those who have experienced social stigma 

and discrimination due to their expression of 

self and lifestyle. It is time to open up the 

conversation and understand the underlying 

significance of what it means to be an ally for 

the LGBTQ community, especially during 

Pride month. 

26


THE 

STATS 

According to an article published by Mental Health America, the 

discrimination that the LGBTQ community experiences correlates with 

high rates of suicide, mental health disorders, and substance abuse 

amongst its members (2019). The sad truth is that in comparison to 

individuals that identify as straight, the LGBTQ community, specifically 

its youths, are “three times more likely to experience a mental health 

condition...and four times more likely to attempt suicide... and self 

harm (Iselin, 2019)”. 

Becoming an 

ALLY is being a 

FRIEND 

When we stand with the LGBTQ community we are not only 

standing up for love and unity but we are standing to respect and 

support our friends, family, neighbours; just as we would want done 

to us. 

Being an ally is being a person who is: 

1. open to listen to others and reach out to those of the 

community 

2. slow to judgement and categorizing of people 

3. quick to sympathize when they hear discriminative language 

directed to a target audience 

27


Tips and Mental 

Health resources 

When it comes to mental health, there should never be a boundary in the 

way of helping those who are suffering, even when they do not explicitly 

express their hurt. Ultimately, no matter what the circumstances are, 

everyone who is hurting in some capacity can always use a friend; someone 

that will be there for them unconditionally. Be a part of the change and make 

a difference in the lives of those around you. Never feel the hesitation to ask, 

“How are you? Really?”. Being a good listener is an undervalued virtue to 

have, luckily if we position ourselves correctly, we can shift from being - 

someone waiting for the next line- to - being an attuned listener. 

For more ways on how to be an Ally, check out the links below: 

LGBT People and Mental Health Resource 

https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/lgbt-vol6/lgbt-people-and-mental-health 

NAMI: More reading on the importance of being an Ally 

https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/LGBTQ 

References 

Archie, A., & Griggs, B. (2019, February 18). How to be an ally to your LGBT friends, relatives and co-workers. CNN. 

https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/22/health/lgbt-how-to-be-an-ally-trnd/index.html. 

Iselin, M. (2019, June 10). Making Mental Health a Priority During Pride Month. Mental Health America of the MidSouth. 

https://mhamidsouth.org/making-mental-health-a-priority-during-pride-month/. 

Picture 

https://cdn.dribbble.com/users/1986787/screenshots/11355991/media/b866a35bcfc764c0ca855 6c2c1c33fe8.png? 

compress=1&resize=400x300 

28


By Dina Hejazi 

Before you read this article, I want to 

make something clear. My game reviews 

are for games that I would recommend 

you play and my standards are low so 

please do not come at me. That being 

said, this month’s game is none other 

than “My Ex Boyfriend The Space Tyrant,” 

the gayest adventure game you’ll ever 

play. 

29


My Ex Boyfriend The Space Tyrant is a 

traditional point and click science fiction 

game which follows Captain Tycho 

Minogue as he travels the universe in 

order to take down his ex boyfriend. Not 

only is there action but there’s drama, 

mystery and even love tied into his 

adventures. Creator Luke Miller wanted 

to make a game that was unashamedly 

gay and he did exactly that. This game is 

campy and completely in your face with 

innuendos and even a dog named Boner. 

Some have expressed that this game is borderline offensive but I beg to 

disagree. There is very little gay representation in video games and because 

of that, small games like this get extreme backlash. While some may think 

that the game over sexualizes male characters I feel that such complaints 

are more due to the fact that we barely even see gay characters being 

comfortable and confident in their sexuality within video games. Even 

though My Ex Boyfriend The Space Tyrant may just seem like a small simple 

game there was actually a lot of thought put into this game as its full of 

surprises and jokes. Characters even break the fourth wall from time to 

time. I feel that those playing need to focus more on the other aspects of the 

game rather than the fact that the main character wears tight short shorts. 

30


Nonetheless, while I am a big fan of the story and characters in My 

Ex Boyfriend The Space Tyrant, the actual game itself isn’t the most 

stable. There are some glitches and sometimes you feel like you are 

just doing the same thing over and over again. There are some 

issues with the animation and some characters aren’t even animated 

at all. It is also a short game that can be finished in about 3 hours if 

you really put your mind to it. While that was a pro for me (since I 

have the attention span of an ant) most people want replay value 

especially for a game that’s $16.99. There is an alternate play 

version but it isn’t much different from the original and may not be 

worth playing through again. 

Did I regret buying it? No, it made me giggle and I loved the story line 

but it is one of those games that I see as more of a novelty. 

Something you have just to say you have it and have played it. That 

isn’t necessarily a bad thing but definitely not worth it for the amount 

that it costs. I would for sure recommend it though if you find it on 

sale especially if you’re a gaymer like me. 

31

N Y X S A G E 


32


Who is Nyx Sage? 

Hello fellow readers, today we have Nyx Sage. 

Nyx Sage is a non-binary 21-years-old and works 

many careers. They're currently working in a 

dispensary, as an exotic content creator, and 

are now in the process of auditioning for gogo 

dancing. Nyx is truly one of a kind and we are 

very glad to have talked to them to learn more 

about their daily life and careers. If you like 

reading about hard-working and badass people, 

well reader, this is the right interview for you! 

Q1. Do you remember the first time where 

you felt “Yes, I’m non-binary. This is who I 

am?” If so, what was it like? 

Well if I’m honest with you, I haven't had one of 

those moments. I’m still not even sure if I’m 

nonbinary. There are times where I feel that I 

relate more to what describes genderfluidity, 

and it's something that's on my mind often. 

When I was a teenager, I identified as FTM 

Transgender: Full He/Him/His pronouns wore a 

binder daily and was on track to start 

Testosterone shots. It was exterior pressure that 

had stopped me from transitioning, and I 

wonder if that has affected how I identify now. 

Long answer short, I have not felt that feeling 

just yet, but I’m still in the process of figuring 

myself out. 

Q2. What made you decide to go into the 

sex work industry? 

It's a large mixture of things, I’ll explain the 

biggest one. Without trying to sound any sort of 

way, it just is how it is: I get catcalled, stared at, I 

have provocative inquiries and offers to model. 

By joining the sex work industry it’s me making 

the misogyny work for me. I already have 

looming eyes while I work at my dispensary job, 

so might as well get paid for it while having fun 

at a strip club. 

33 

Q3. Could you tell us a typical day of Nyx? 

One before the strip clubs closed and one 

after? 

Oh jeez. A typical day is waking up at 5 am to 

smoke a couple of tokes from my bong and see 

how the weather is for the day. If I work in the 

morning then I eat some food and watch 

TikToks until I have to go, but if I don't work I go 

right back to sleep until I naturally wake up. If it's 

amateur night and I’m dancing I’ll get ready at 2 

pm. I’ll shower and shave everything (and I mean 

everything) and toss on some cozy clothes and 

pack up my outfit for the night. I have light-up 

pleaser heels that I adore that I always pack. 

When I get to the club I sign in, say hi to the DJ 

and let him know what songs I want, and wait to 

be called on stage! I party with the other 

dancers and clients until it's time to dance! I get 

home probably around 3 am but that's because 

I don't after party much. 

Q4. In your own experience, what is it like 

being non-binary and working in the sex 

work industry? For example, were your 

coworkers accepting, or did they give you a 

hard time? 

Oh, it's kind of impossible for me right now. I’m 

not settled enough into the industry to feel 

comfortable standing that ground if I’m fully 

honest. I’m a little scared of not being accepted 

by certain clubs if I’m more nonbinary 

presenting.


Q5. Do you have any advice for those who 

want to come out/identify as something 

other than male or female? 

I don't feel that I can give good advice on coming 

out because I had a very horrible experience, 

and I wouldn't want to add any extra anxiety to 

something already so emotionally demanding. 

My advice is to be prepared for every outcome. I 

went into my coming out expecting a certain 

reaction and was completely floored when I got 

the opposite. Also, the right people will stay by 

your side, the wrong ones will let themselves 

out. 

Q6. In your experience, do you think your 

world is becoming more accepting with the 

LGBTQ community as well as the sex work 

industry? 

I think so. I feel that a lot of stigma is dissipating 

about the LGBTQ community, not to mention 

the access to the information we have now and 

the increase of people who feel comfortable 

coming out. I think we’re heading in the right 

direction. 

Q7. Could you tell us something that feels 

rewarding to you? Could be in your day-today 

life or specifically in your work. 

It's something specific and cheesy but cooking 

dinner in my own apartment looking out the 

window watching the sunset. I’ve worked hard to 

have a home. I finally have one. 

Q8. With Covid around, what are some 

obstacles that you have to go through in 

the sex work industry? 

It's completely online now and entirely 

saturated. I’ll be honest I’m a part of the early 

wave of new sex work that saturated the market 

but at least I venture offline as well with my 

erotic modelling and dancing. Now the clubs in 

Canada are starting to open up again, so 

hopefully the ‘stripping economy’ doesn't 

completely flop after the pandemic. Though, the 

club I did an amateur night at is packed daily 

now because so many people want out of the 

house and are extra horny from lockdown. 

Q9. What are some obstacles you have to 

go through as a person that identifies as 

non-binary? 

Having breasts. One day they are lovely, the next 

I cannot breathe because my chest feels like it 

belongs to another person. Binding is 

impossible for me because my boobs are too 

large for the width of my rib cage to have it work 

properly. Also having female micro-nicknames 

being used while talking/referring to me is hard. 

I get called ‘girl’, ’mami’, ‘sweetheart’, ‘doll’ a lot 

and it is annoying because I wish I could correct 

them but I was taught to pick my battles. 

34


Q10. Being in the LGBTQ community 

can have people feeling hopeless or 

have no sense of belonging, do you 

have any advice for those people? 

….honestly no. I’m one of those people. I 

never really had an LGBTQ community 

other than friends here and there, and my 

GSA group in high school. I want to start a 

community in Oshawa but I wouldn't know 

where to start. 

Q11. How has the sex work industry 

helped you express yourself (if it has)? 

It’s taught me that I’m worth so much more 

than I have been letting myself believe. The 

first night I went I was so shy, but the 

number of people who thought I was a bad 

bitch while I was so anxious was crazy to 

me. 

Q12. Any last words? 

I’m trying not to let exterior factors 

influence my gender identity, and I truly 

wish others who may feel the same do so 

too. Nothing is worth more than your true 

inner happiness, and you get that from 

being who you're meant to be. 

35


There’s More Than 

Meets the Eye 

Usually, I write about fashion when it comes to the magazine, but I decided to 

change it up a bit and write about a visual artist this time. Without art, the world 

would be one hell of a boring place! Art brings colour to the world, it brings life to 

the world, it brings people together, but most importantly, it helps break the 

traditional views that we thought were the only views deemed as “acceptable”. The 

world is constantly evolving and there is more than one gender, identity, and sexual 

orientation. Art helps bring awareness to those topics but also challenges people to 

think beyond what they are used to seeing. 

Photographer Lex Barberio does exactly that through her solo exhibition, “THE 

AMBISEXTROUS'' by showing that there is more than one definition of beauty and 

LGBT+ acceptance (Lex Barberio, N.D.) through photographs that she took of her 

models. Each photo includes three looks for the model, one feminine, one 

masculine, and one androgynous. The transition between the three looks is done 

effortlessly, it’s easy on the eye, yet engaging at the same time. 

The title of the exhibition is well thought out, in my opinion. If you didn’t notice by 

now, “THE AMBISEXTROUS” is a play on the term, ambidextrous meaning that there 

is no dominant hand, the person can use one hand just as well as the other. 

Barberio uses the term by showing that there is no dominant look, instead, all of the 

models are able to portray all three looks equally well. 

It’s beautiful what Barberio has done. As she has said herself, “There is a lot I don’t 

understand about myself, but I find joy in continuously being able to unwrap and 

enjoy different versions of who I am. I wanted to capture and share that feeling of 

curiosity and freedom that comes with getting to know yourself,” (Morales, 2019). 

Figuring out who you are is a never-ending journey and honestly, it’s going to be a 

bit scary, but within that fear comes relief and acceptance, which is lovely. Figuring 

yourself out also makes you understand others better, because, in the end, they are 

also on their own journey, especially those who are majorly different from you are. 

This is another thing that Barberio mentions; one of her missions with her artwork 

is that she wishes to bring understanding and empathy to those not part of the 

LGBTQ+ community (Morales, 2019). 

Another aspect of this exhibition that I want to talk about is how Barberio shows 

that there is definitely more than meets the eye when it comes to humans through 

her photographs. As we all know, humans are such complex beings, and you will 

never fully know someone even if you know them for many years. Barberio lets us 

know that humans are capable of being various versions of themselves (through the 

three looks) to make up their true identity. 

Overall, Barberio’s photographs are mesmerizing and show that no one person is 

simple, everyone is unique, but it also shows that figuring out your identity can be a 

fun adventure. If you ever have the time to look at her photos, I highly suggest it. 

The lighting, the makeup, the transitions are all muah, chef’s kiss. I also hope you 

enjoyed my first art review and will see you in the next issue! 

Links used: 

http://www.lexbarberio.com/theambisextrous 

https://www.guildmagazine.com/ 

art/the-ambisextrousphotographer-lex-barberio/ 

36


EMILY ROCHA 

37


Emily Rocha is an 

emerging artist based 

in Toronto. She has 

recently graduated 

from U of T's Faculty 

of Music. She is an 

opera singer, actor, 

and photographer 

hoping to 

revolutionize the 

industry by 

connecting more 

people with her art 

and returning opera 

to mainstream 

relevance. She looks 

forward to starting 

her masters in 

September at U of T's 

renowned Opera 

School. 

Her inspirations and 

style include clean 

and bold colours, 

nature, vintage, 

futurism, 80s art and 

synthwave music 

Special thanks to 

Emily for allowing us 

to use her photo as 

the cover! 

38 

@emilyr1221


By Victoria Veroni 

Disco was never intended to 

reign. Like all things that 

culture uses to evolve, it's time 

was temporary. This imperative 

process that deems things 

obsolete is ever changing and 

ironically enough, the one 

element of life that tethers the 

human experience from 

generation to generation. 

Culture shifts rapidly, but for 

good reason, the art produced 

during these tectonic shifts 

reflecting a conversation. It’s 

use being a step in the right 

direction in becoming better 

people and having our 

creations be a direct 

translation of that. Disco, with 

its colourful, energetic, and 

intoxicating sound represented 

a sense of freedom and 

liberation in its birthplace of 

1970’s New York. 

50


Nightlife boomed during this time and in turn, created a space that was 

encouraging of self expression. Clubs became the modern churches, and provided 

a safe haven for those that were outcast and misunderstood by society. Disco soon 

became synonymous with the LGBTQ community and marked a moment in history 

that saw the genesis of their acceptance and inclusion in popular culture. 

There is an energy captured in this era and the music it conceived. This month's 

playlist is meant to translate why this era for music acted as the catalyst for a 

culture shift that remains tangible 40 years later. From Diana Ross’s “Love 

Hangover” to Donna Summer’s “Spring Affair” what these 20 tracks have in common 

is the ability to transport their listener to a time where music was the positive 

shining light to so many. Although Disco’s popularity has faded into the past, the 

influence and effect it had on the evolution of our culture will live on forever. 

Today, this legendary genre shows itself in society's state of progression and 

advancement, Disco is not dead, it never was. 

51


PLAYLIST 

Love Hangover - Diana Ross 

Running Away - Roy Ayres Ubiquity 

Supernature - Cerrone 

Shame - Evelyn “Champagne” King 

Get Down Saturday Night - Oliver Cheatham 

I Just Love What You’re Doing - Hot 

Chocolate 

Born To Boogie - Steve Watson 

Every 1’s a Winner - Hot Chocolate 

Love Love Love - Those Guys 

Why - Carly Simon 

Forget me Nots - Patrice Rushen 

Destiny - Vivien Vee 

More Spell On You - Eddie Johns 

Look At You - Jacques Renault 

Music - One Way, Al Hudson 

Loving You - Kiki Gyan 

Going Back to My Roots - Odyssey 

Disco Fantasy - Rahaan 

On Your Knees - Grace Jones 

TEAM FAVOURITES 

Strawberry Blond - Mitski 

Out Of My League - Fitz And The Tantrums 

UNNATURAL - WJSN 

I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor 

Baby Powder - Jenevieve 

happier - Olivia Rodrigo 

Summertime In Paris - Jaden Smith ft. 

Willow 

On your Knees - Grace Jones 

Solar Power - Lorde 

LUMBERJACK - Tyler, The Creator 

52


@boymonsta 

@batattackk 

@shopboymonsta 

@boymonsta 

YHasmin Wilder 

53


Hi Friends! 

My name is Yhasmin (they/them) and I'm an illustrator, comic artist, 

zinester, and merch designer based out of Metro Detroit! 

My work centers around my experience as a black, nonbinary person and 

representation for other nonbinary or gender nonconforming people! 

After realizing I was a trans nonbinary person, I wanted to wear my 

identity proudly. This inspired me to make a line of enamel pins 

specifically for those who use 'They/Them' pronouns! I'm excited to say 

they were a hit and many people have placed orders and left the kindest 

reviews. I'm happy that my designs could resonate with so many people 

and look forward to expanding my enamel pin line in the future! Feel free 

to check out my enamel pins and other items on Etsy at shopboymonsta! 

As my first love is drawing, I've always hoped to make meaningful 

connections through my auto-bio zines about my experiences. I deal with 

topics such as mental health, gender identity, and all facets of my life. 

Through creating zines, I've been able to meet so many diverse creators 

that I admire! Zines have allowed me to express myself and explore the 

inner workings of my brain while finding like-minded people, and I believe 

everyone should try making them! 

If you're interested, Physical zines are available in my Etsy shop 

'shopboymonsta' and digital zines on gumroad 'boymonsta'! 

In addition, I've recently tried my hand at making adult comics! For all my 

18+ friends, please keep an eye out for the Nectar Anthology coming to 

Kickstarter later this year, filled with wonderful feel-good and sex-positive 

comics by Trans femme & Nonbinary Creators! 

54


JO'S LITTLE 

ART SHOP 

@jos.little.artshop 

JosLittleArtShop 

Welcome to the wonderful world of Jo’s Little Art Shop! 

Here you can find Sunny Side up earrings to Groovy 

Pronoun Pins! Not only can you find those charming 

items in their store, but you can also find other things 

such as more earrings, prints, and clay figures! You can 

check out more of Jo’s stuff on their Insta, 

@jos.little.art.shop and their Etsy store, JosLittleArtShop 

55


Colorushh 

COLORUSHH IS A RAINBOW ART SHOP THAT 

SPREAD SHADES OF COLOURS INTO 

EVERYONE’S LIFE. WE BELIEVE IN EQUALITY. 

AS AN IGBT ARTIST, OUR SHOP USES A 

CREATIVE APPROACH TO SUPPORT EACH 

I NDIVIDUAL BEYOND SEX, NATIONALITY, 

RACE, DISABILITY, AND GENDER IDENTITY. 

W E OFFER CUSTOM PORTRAITS, PERSONAL GIFT 

E T C . FEEL FREE TO SEND US A MESSAGE VIA 

E S T Y OR INSTAGRAM FOR MORE INFORMATION! 

56 

@COLORUSHH.CO


Yao Xiao 

Yao Xiao is a China-born illustrator and cartoonist that is based in New 

York. Her works include her debut graphic novel, Everything is Beautiful 

And I’m Not Afraid She also illustrated the children’s book, How To 

Solve A Problem. Her work has also been featured in Buzzfeed, TIME 

magazine, VICE, and many others. She also is the illustrator behind Katy 

Perry’s single album cover for Dark Horse. 

As of now, Xiao has been 

publishing a serialized comic on 

Autostraddle called Baopu. You 

can find more of Xiao’s work 

on her website: www.yao.nyc 

@yaoxiaoart 

57

@THEZACHARIAHEXP @ZACHARIAHHIGHGATE THEZACHARIAHEXP 

ZACHARIAH 

HIGHGATE 

MY NAME IS ZACHARIAH HIGHGATE, A RAPPER, WRITER, AND CONTENT CREATOR BORN AND RAISED IN 

TORONTO, ONTARIO RECENTLY, I HAVE BEEN RELEASING VIDEO GAME STREAMING CONTENT FOR MY CHANNEL, 

“THEZACHARIAHEXP,” AND HAVE REALLY ENJOYED DOING SO! SOME OF MY FAVOURITE GAMES INCLUDE ENTRIES 

IN THE “FINAL FANTASY,” “TALES OF,” “RATCHET AND CLANK,” AND “JAK AND DAXTER” SERIES. IN THE FUTURE, I 

WOULD LOVE TO START UPLOADING “LET’S PLAY” VIDEOS THAT ARE PRE-RECORDED AND EDITED PRIOR TO 

RELEASE; THIS WAY, I COULD TAILOR MY GAMEPLAY VIDEOS AND SHARE EVEN MORE OF MY 

REACTIONS/OPINIONS AS I PLAY. I WOULD ALSO EVENTUALLY LIKE TO START WRITING PLOTS FOR VIDEO GAMES 

AND BE A PART OF THE WORLDBUILDING CREATIVE PROCESS. SEEING INDIGENOUS AND LGBTQ2+ 

REPRESENTATION IN THE MYSTERY, NARRATIVE ADVENTURE GAME TELL MY WHY (2020), AS WELL AS THE BLACK 

AND BI-RACIAL REPRESENTATION IN THE WALKING DEAD: A TELLTALE GAME SERIES (2012), MEANT THE WORLD TO 

ME AND I WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO CREATING GAMES THAT HIGHLIGHT THE REALITIES OF DIFFERENT 

COMMUNITIES. 


58


ECHO 

@modmice 

@modmice 

lovelyfiendz.storenvy.com 

MY NAME IS ECHO! I AM 24 AND CURRENTLY LIVING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS RUNNING MY OWN SMALL 

BUSINESS FULL TIME. 

I WAS BORN IN OHIO AND RAISED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE I PURSUED ART SINCE I COULD 

PICK UP A PENCIL. FROM THE TIME I WAS A TODDLER I KNEW I WANTED ART TO BE MY ENTIRE LIFE. I 

LOVE CREATING NEW MERCHANDISE AND COMING UP WITH NEW CONCEPTS TO SHARE WITH THE 

WORLD. I STARTED OFF SELLING STICKERS AND BUTTONS AT 15 YEARS OLD, AND NOW I ALSO SELL 

ACRYLIC KEYCHAINS, PRINTS, T-SHIRTS, AND EVEN EARRINGS! MY ARTISTIC INSPIRATION COMES FROM A 

MULTITUDE OF SOURCES, MY LOVE FOR 70’S-90’S ANIME/MANGA, CUTE LADIES, CELESTIAL BEINGS, 

CRYPTIDS/MONSTERS/DEMONS, AND FASHION MAGAZINES. I LOVE STRIVING TO CREATE ART THAT 

DEPICTS HEAVY EMOTION AND INTERACTION BETWEEN SUBJECTS. 

60


JEONGWON (JUSTIN) 

CHWEH 

@jeongwon_chweh 

Justin Chweh 

Jeongwon (Justin) Chweh is currently a student at Utsc and is enrolled in the co-op management program. He creates 

stunning fashion designs (just like the ones below) and is also the illustrator for Margins Magazine. In his first look, 

his inspiration comes from pride of course! But not only does pride inspired him, but he is also inspired by having the 

freedom of being able to wear what you want, which can be seen in his second design. As Jeongwon says for his second look, 

“Not only do I get inspiration from pride, but also from freedom. I’m from South Korea, and women wearing leggings is 

still a debatable topic. Some people do think women should not wear it because it makes them too “sexual.” Pride is about 

being confident and be free from doing things. For this outfit, I wanted to say that it is ok to wear whatever they want. 

We must not criticize or blame women who wear certain types of clothing (like leggings or not wearing a bra under their 

shirt) We should let women wear any type of clothes that they want. Overall, this look is about the freedom of wearing 

what you want.” 

You can find more of Jeongwon’s incredible designs on his Instagram!

Underrated Magazine: Vol 1 Issue 4 - Love Has No Labels

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