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Farren Fucci and Dr. Oni Blackstock Recreate Out's First Cover

Fucci

The content creator and Health Justice executive director represent a new generation of LGBTQ+ changemakers.

MikelleStreet

This summer, Out enters its 30th year with over 300 printed issues. Here, we revisit and re-create 10 covers -- celebrating them for what they were while reimagining them for newer audiences.

Out launched in the summer of 1992. And when it came to the cover, editors had quite the issue to solve. "It was really hard to figure out what to do," says Michael Goff, the first editor in chief. "We needed to communicate it was gay and lesbian, but if you put a gay and a lesbian together and it doesn't have the right air it looks straight."

The final result was casting a female model (credited as Jane from Click Agency) and painter Tom Ward, who was then a bartender, making kisses at the camera in a way that would read as approachable to the largest swath of people.

Fucci

Farren Fucci and Dr. Oni Blackstock, who are a part of this new reimagining, both have stories that dovetail with access. Fucci came into the spotlight via audiences he built on social media before flipping that cultural cachet into work as a stylist -- and finally, an all-around creative and content creator. He uses those platforms to turn his followers on to new music or to have important conversations like when he disclosed he was living with HIV.

Blackstock helped lead New York City's response to the HIV epidemic. Now the founder and executive director of Health Justice, Blackstock continues her work in HIV and health equity while helping health-related organizations reduce inequalities in the communities they serve.

Fucci

DR. ONI wearing HELMUT LANG Jacket and Dress K.NGSLEY Earring FARREN wearing Vintage VERSACE Jacket CANALI White Shirt K.NGSLEY Tank Top and Earring

Creative Direction MIKELLE STREET mikelledstreet.com @mikellestreet
Assistant MILAN GARCON @milangarcon
Photographer MYLES LOFTIN mylesloftinphotography.com @mylesloftin
Photo Assistant Light Tech EVADNE GONZALEZ @evadnegonzalez
Photo Assistant ANDREW ESPINAL @andrewespinal and JIN JIN
Digitech MERLIN VIETHEN and JOSH ROBINSON
Production Director TIM SNOW @snowmgz
Production Manager STEVIE WILLIAMS x2production.com @beingstevie of X2 Production Production
Assistant TOBY TEITEL @toby_teitel
Video AUSTIN NUNES austinunes.com @austinunes
Creative Conception STUART BROCKINGTON, ANNA CARIAS, MIKELLE STREET
Hair CHARLIE LE MINDU charlielemindu.com @charlielemindu
Hair Assistant JET KEEFE @jetkeefebeauty
Makeup LARAMIE laramiemakeup.com @laramiemakeup
Makeup Assistant ARPITA BRAHMBHATT
Stylist RASAAN WYZARD @monsieur_wyzard
Stylist Assistant MELINDA GRIFFITH

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Mikelle Street

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.