We were lucky to catch up with LaShawn McGhee recently and have shared our conversation below.
LaShawn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We believe kindness is contagious and so we’d love for you to share with us and our audience about the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
There are several instances where people have done kind things for me, but I’d like to share a moment from Queer Prom, an event celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and providing a safe and inclusive Prom environment for those who may not have been able to attend their high school prom. During the event, a young man approached me and handed me a drink. He proceeded to share a story about how years prior, at another event, I had offered to buy him a drink. Initially choosing a lower-tier whiskey, I encouraged him to select any drink he truly desired, and he chose Lagavulin 16.
He expressed that my gesture had a lasting impact on him, reminding him to never put limits on himself and to recognize his worth. This experience stayed with me, serving as a reminder of how small gestures can have a powerful impact on others. It also highlights the sense of community and empowerment that Queer Prom aimed to foster by creating a space where everyone felt free to be their authentic selves.
LaShawn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was working as a nurse in the Washington DC area when I attended a church meeting for the media ministry. This church didn’t have a choir, so I decided to attend, not knowing what to expect. I immediately fell in love with the demonstrations and information provided, which led me to seek out educational programs in media production.
During my time at school, I discovered a passion for video editing. I completed my undergraduate degree in Digital Media and Film Production and was accepted into the editing program at The American Film Institute. This experience deepened my love for filmmaking and connected me with a group of creative individuals who wanted to leave their mark on the digital entertainment world.
Fast forward to 2015, when we founded Revry, an LGBTQ-first free streaming network that offers the latest in queer movies, series, music, and news. Revry was born out of the need for increased positive queer representation, our goal was to create an inclusive platform for queer voices, stories, and culture. Revry has since grown into a globally available platform accessible through Smart TVs, mobile devices, and streaming devices. We are committed to providing authentic queer storytelling and a safe space for representation and this allows us to tackle the notion of Pride 365 by providing advertising brands with the opportunity to connect with LGBTQ+ folks globally through programmatic video ads and a slate of options for branded content.
Because we are a diverse group of founders, we became certified by multiple organizations, allowing brands to reach both DEI and LGBTQ+ audiences. This is one of the things that I am most proud of; the work Revry has done with brands and the communities that we are able to reach through our programmatic advertising network PrismRiot.
Another source of joy for me is the visibility we’ve been able to facilitate for the transgender community through storytelling and our support of the ballroom community. Many people are unaware of the existence of this vibrant community. Prior to the release of shows like Pose (on FX in 2018) and the HBO Max original show Legendary, only 2 films existed about Vogue Ballroom. The Queen (1968) and Paris Is Burning (1990) are the first glimpses into this underground community of primarily Black and Latinx queer and trans folks who formed “Houses” as a means of community and salvation for discarded and unaccepted youth. Ballroom was a way to show pride in self and in creativity. It honors house members for “walking” in pageant-like categories as an authentic representation of themselves. These “Houses” are set in a family structure with a Mother and Father who look after and provide a sense of belonging to the “Children” of their house. This structure helps with life lessons, shelter, food, safety, and community. They are chosen families formed through relationships and often serve as a family for those who have been shunned but the traditional, mainstream world.
In conjunction with Nike and Got2b, Revry launched Pride Ball, an epic event that brought together the creativity, style, and dance of vogue competitions while honoring the iconic houses of West Coast Ballroom and the House Mothers that made it possible. Pride Ball was an opportunity to celebrate this vibrant community and provide a platform for self-expression and pride. It was a truly unforgettable experience that showcased talent, culture, and creativity.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Revry was born from a shared passion for amplifying marginalized voices in the LGBTQIA+ community. The four Founders, Damian Pelliccione, Christopher Rodriguez, Alia J. Daniels, and I LaShawn McGhee came together through the formation of Revry, we embarked upon the journey of creating our mission, vision, and purpose statements. Our CEO, Damian Pelliccione, gathered everyone together and suggested that we all read Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why”. We went home that weekend and came back to work on Monday ready to discuss what we read.
Our meeting started with Damian playing a video of Mr. Sinek’s TED Talk on Starting With Why. Immediately following the video, we began a discussion on our individual why. Some answers included how we would inspire people through storytelling. Another addressed representation and seeing your stories on screen and another was innovation of technology and reframing the queer business model. For me, founding Revry was about providing a safe and inclusive space where our underrepresented, queer voices could be heard.
We all saw Revry as an opportunity to advocate and showcase the voices of underestimated, undervalued, and marginalized voices and culture of the LGBTQIA+ community. We people to know that they mattered. We wanted to explore queer lives that were different from our own. Through Revry, we bring awareness to inclusive queer culture and we provide an opportunity for folks to see a visualization of thoughts and feelings they were having, but may not have understood.
Have you ever had to pivot?
My pivot is into the financial non-profit space is intended to address the lack of access to financial literacy and resources for Womxn and Queer folks.
As I reflect on Revry’s achievements and the lives that were forever changed, I ask myself if what I do is enough or are there other ways that I can help create lasting change. I spent last summer in conversations with different parts of the LGBTQ community to find out what might be missing or lacking in community spaces. Most of the folks that I spoke with mentioned the need for safe spaces and funding for creative projects.
I remember a conversation that I had with B. Pagels-Minor on this subject. B. recently started the first Black Trans Venture Capital Firm DVRGNT and this led us to the deeper conversation around equity, equality, and wage disparity. We are all familiar with the glass ceiling, but what about the glass floor? How do we empower womxn and queer folks to gain wealth and start/maintain successful businesses?
I reflected on my own wealth journey. I was fortunate to have a mother who always found opportunities to educate herself. Whether through books, community programs, or talk radio, my Mom was always seeking knowledge that she in turn shared with me. She showed me the way to a solid financial future by recommending one of the first financial books that I read; “Think and Grow Rich, a Black Choice” by Dennis Kimbro and Napoleon Hill. This book completely changed the way I thought about money and sparked my interest in all things financial.
As I continued the conversation with B., we spoke about the lack of access to financial literacy, the limitations of survival mentality, and investing. I see our community in need of opportunities and the financial security to take risks. B. mentioned the first-generation wealth earners They spoke with and how many folks did not have access to information about investing
their money.
Some weeks later, B. and I spoke again. This time B. had started a non-profit called The Wealth Salons whose mission incorporated all the things we discussed. TWS believes in economic equity and equality so Womxn and queer folks can build enduring intergenerational legacies. The Wealth Salons serves as a critical hub, offering free financial education resources and networking opportunities that are essential for transforming short-term gains into sustainable wealth. In this conversation, I felt the synergy between what I was doing with Revry and what I wanted to do next.
The Wealth Salon’s mission and vision are at the core of my beliefs.
Mission: The Wealth Salons empowers historically underinvested communities through free resources and financial literacy education; fosters economic equity to build and preserve wealth; and is committed to eliminating barriers for lasting financial success.
Vision: The Wealth Salons envisions a future where investors, entrepreneurs, and consumers have equal access to the four Hs of wealth: heart, health, habits, and hope.
I knew immediately that this was something that I needed to be part of, so I officially pivoted into the financial non-profit space by becoming the Content & Operations Coordinator for The Wealth Salons. I encourage anyone who believes in the importance of financial equity and philanthropy to support The Wealth Salons and help us build a more inclusive and prosperous future for the Womxn and the queer community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thewealthsalons.com/
- Instagram: @lashawnmcghee
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewealthsalons
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewealthsalons/
- Twitter: https://x.com/thewealthsalons
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WealthSalons
