I had the pleasure
of sitting down and talking with Ebone F. Bell. In case you were not aware, this
trailblazer is the managing editor and founder of DC’s TAGG magazine. TAGG
magazine is the connection to the dc metro lesbian community. TAGG could be
described as a local lesbian’s go to magazine to find out what’s hot this week
or to just get a feel for the area’s current lesbian lifestyle. TAGG magazine
may contain previews on pride or a calendar of events, articles regarding quick getaways or even home improvements. At the back of every issue there is a calendar of
events of the go to happy hours, karaoke, or live music venues coming up in
that month. TAGG is celebrating the
first year anniversary and celebrating over 30,000 monthly on-line visitors and
growing fast. Ms. Bell or Ebone sat and recapped her story with me of what it
took to get her to this place at the head of this magazine.
Ebone was the
editor of Sherwood High school’s newspaper while attending in Montgomery County,
Md. She got her degree from the University of Maryland in College Park majoring
in Advertising and Marketing in 2003. She has been a Web Producer for AARP where
she had a major impact in promoting more LGBTQ links on the site that had not
previously been there. She also spent much time working as an advertising
manager at “The Chronicle of Higher Education”.
Both positions have only helped her to be better prepared and versatile in
her current endeavors.
TAGG magazine is the
birth child of Ebone Bell and one of her good friends. Having faith in D.C’s sometimes unstable and unpredictable lesbian community
she continued on with the magazine as part owner and managing editor. Since then the magazine has grown from 12
pages to 40+ pages and a fully functioning website. The magazine became
official in January of 2012 with the first release of the magazine launching
later that year in September.
When asked where she
got the idea for the name of the magazine she replied “There wasn’t a specific
thought behind it, it doesn’t stand for anything. Tag referring to linking and connecting women
to other women and adding the G because it made it cooler.” The purpose of the
magazine has been “to create a publication that speaks to all types of lesbians.”
A goal she tries to maintain with every issue always attempting to include as
many different articles and issues in order to reach such an eclectic
reader base. I discovered during my
interview exactly how much work and input is considered when creating each new issue.
Ebone holds monthly if not bi-monthly meetings with her writers, photographers,
as well as web site editors in regards to content calendars for print, online,
and social media. “TAGG” is very open to input from the public and takes
e-mails and ideas into consideration. Ebone listens to her writers and tries to
incorporate as many diverse ideas into her magazine.
Ebone credits her
past in the lesbian night scene as a helpful factor that helps her to
understand the community to which she brings a service. Having been a Drag King
by the name of E. Clef she gained much experience and exposure within the
community. Finding herself in such positions she in essence has been able to
take the temperature of the LGBT night scenes and find and fill a much needed
niche. She made a name for herself with her event planning and promotions company
B.O.I productions and had even been found at one time to hold a marketing chair
for capital pride as well as a main driving force for capital queer prom.
When asked where she would to see TAGG magazine in the next
five years her response was hopeful. She hopes that more women step up and
support each other and the publication. She is optimistic about the growth of
the magazine as it is now in D.C, Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware with
interest being expressed in the magazine across the country in five years
national publication making TAGG magazine a nationwide LGBT household name.
