L Style G Style was created to profile gay and lesbian individuals that impact a community in a positive way. My grandmother always said "Alisa, once you settle into your community, make a difference and give back to what gives to you." I continue to follow her advice and most importantly aim to make my family proud of me in all that I do - leading the way as a open lesbian woman. In 2004, after five years without a vacation and ready to head down a new career path, I took a trip to Portland, Ore., site unseen. I walked the streets and landed at a coffee shop in the northwest pocket of the city. I watched a middle age lesbian family walking their daughter in her stroller. It was a Norman Rockwell scene - the leaves in full color, falling as they strolled by me. As if every family was to look to them as an example how to be and live - everyday and normal. Portland is like Austin, inclusive to all. Something about that moment inspired me to write my thoughts, ideas and things I admire and love: magazines, pens, stationary and cards of all sorts, typography, architecture, home development and renovation, a yard with good turf, instructional handbooks, my south Houston collection of restaurant matches, roller skates, illustrated flip books, things with grommets, good design, self help books, East Austin Studio Tour, turtles, travel and people who have impacted my life... and then there was making my Christmas list from old Spiegel, Sears and JC Penny catalogs. I immediately noticed at a young age that the hardware and electronics (for the men) was located on one side, opposite of clothing & accessories (for the women) on the other. After putting it all down, it hit me: I would create an eclectic publication highlighting the gay and lesbian community that would inspire, educate and enlighten and offered information with shelf life for all people to enjoy.  And on the plane ride home, I drew out the first logos in my sketch pad and jotted down all the influential people that have impacted the city in one way or another.

In July of 2006, I met Lynn Yeldell and shared my passion for beginning this magazine. By December of 2006, we began our life as life partners and in April of 2007, I sold my house and invested my life savings into the creation of L Style G Style. With a background in advertising and marketing and a fifteen year career as a graphic designer, I knew a ‘two magazine in one’, flappable publication had the power to reach multiple target audiences (bringing two groups that normally didn't likely combine in space and time) and showcase powerful stories in our community. Indeed, “L Style” refers to “lesbian style” but infers “lady style,” and “G style” means “gay style” but more broadly can be viewed as  “guy style.”  This purposeful naming offers inclusion to all and its intentional to leave "lesbian" and "gay" off the covers. There is something for everyone on the pages of this extraordinary publication. It celebrates who we are and what we do – capturing stories about visionaries, entrepreneurs, creative and those who give back to the community. Our goal with L Style G Style is to offer the public a different view on gay and lesbian individuals. I want to profile those who inspire and “normalize” who we are in the view of others who may not know us.

 My sincerest appreciation,
Alisa Weldon

"Get to know us." These four words perfectly embody the reasons why I am so proud of L Style G Style. More than a magazine, L Style G Style for me embodies the gay, lesbian and open-minded community that I so closely associate with yet so desperately seek to find in various cities and settings. As a community, we are easily identified by our activism and our activities, both social and political, yet rarely recognized for our professions, our pursuits and our families.

Typically, magazines which target the community are dominated with imagery and advertisements promoting a city's clubs and nightlife. As a New Orleans native, I have enjoyed my fair share of great nights out on the town…but that is only a small part of who I am. I am a professional, a partner, a daughter, a consumer, a pet-parent and a loyal supporter to those who are loyal to us. In business, I often see open-minded consumers blindly supporting businesses who don't support fair-minded causes. In your community, L Style G Style is a great place to begin to find companies who vote with their advertising dollars in telling you that they believe in the power of our community.

I am also constantly in awe of Alisa and her perseverance. She founded a niche publication in a declining economy and is flourishing. Our first issue hit the streets November 2007 and since then, every economic story has been challenging. Yet L Style G Style has been repeatedly rewarded because these stories needed to be told. We needed this forum.

So do get to know us. Enjoy flipping through our pages…either in print or online. Come to a release event and join the thousands celebrating this wonderful forum for our community, our families, our supporters and our friends.

Lynn Slayton Yeldell