We had the good fortune of connecting with Dontá Morrison and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dontá, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind our success has been our unwavering commitment to the founding vision of Watch VIM. From the very beginning, we set out to build a platform where LGBTQ individuals of color could see authentic, affirming, and multi-dimensional representations of themselves — free from harmful stereotypes and one-dimensional narratives. We recognized the urgent need to showcase the beauty, resilience, and diversity within our communities, highlighting stories that reflect our humanity, complexity, and brilliance.

Far too often, society reduces LGBTQ identities to monolithic or distorted caricatures, erasing the richness of our lived experiences. Watch VIM was created to actively challenge and dismantle those narrow frameworks by offering content that uplifts, educates, and celebrates who we are in all our fullness. Staying true to this mission has been our guiding light, fueling our creativity and driving every decision we make. Ultimately, remaining loyal to these core principles is what defines our success — because every time someone sees themselves accurately and beautifully reflected on our platform, we know we are fulfilling our purpose.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped how we consume media, drawing audiences to streaming platforms and changing entertainment forever. As theaters struggled, networks like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime thrived, serving a world hungry for stories. Yet even in this explosion of content, one gap remained heartbreakingly clear: authentic LGBTQ programming centering people of color was still missing. WatchVIM was prepared to fill that void — to create quality programming where our too-often overlooked community could finally see itself reflected with honesty, dignity, and love.

Building and launching WatchVIM has been so much more than a business venture; it has been a profound labor of love. Over more than a decade, we have (Anthony Newsome, Brandon Moten, and myself) navigated countless challenges, both internal and external, that have sharpened our mission and positioned us as a meaningful player in a crowded market. One of our greatest commitments has been to rise above harmful stereotypes and refuse to profit from negative portrayals of LGBTQ lives. Instead, we stand firm in telling stories that challenge the status quo while offering hope, affirmation, and humanity — even if that means making difficult choices to preserve our integrity.

Throughout our journey, we have faced negative press — commentary that only told one side of the story, sometimes twisting facts to place our company in a bad light. Even in those moments, we chose not to return insults or sabotage those seeking to harm our brand. We remained silent, stayed focused, and let our work speak for itself — continuing to deliver the content our community deserves.

At our core, we believe there is room for everyone to win. We are not in competition, but in collaboration with other LGBTQ networks and platforms committed to shifting cultural norms and challenging outdated narratives about LGBTQ communities of color. Together, we can build a richer, more truthful landscape of stories and images that fully reflect who we are.

At WatchVIM, we want the world to see LGBTQ people of color as whole, vibrant, and beautifully complex — more than sex, more than drama, more than tired stereotypes that invite judgment and scorn. We want audiences to experience the other side of the story: the full story, the whole person. And in doing so, we hope they will reflect, grow, and rethink how they view and engage with LGBTQ lives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As a born-and-raised Angeleno, I know this city far beyond the usual tourist hotspots. If a friend came to visit, I’d give them a real taste of L.A. — the kind that shows off the magic of how we live, laugh, and thrive together. This city’s heartbeat is in its people, and that sense of shared survival and celebration makes our cultural scene unforgettable.

We’d kick things off with some soul food (because that’s a must!), then venture into Korean BBQ, Ethiopian feasts, fragrant Indian curries, and, of course, Chinese — you haven’t lived until you’ve had the slippery shrimp at Yang Chow. And let’s talk about Mexican food — some of the best you’ll find outside of Mexico itself. We’d hit La Barca to get started, then slide over to El Cholo for that nostalgic old-school flavor. And since no trip to L.A. is complete without a DTLA rooftop moment, we’d grab drinks and soak up the vibe at “LOST”, Issa Raye’s amazing new lounge.

But honestly, the best part would be introducing them to my circle — my people. The folks who let me be fully myself. We’d cook up a meal together, break out the spades, dominoes, or a cutthroat game of Uno, and get into those deep conversations about life that stretch long into the night. For me, that’s what it’s all about: community, laughter, and having a safe, loving space where you can just be.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate this shout-out to LGBTQ creatives who are too often overlooked or marginalized due to systemic bias and anti-LGBTQ attitudes. I’ve long admired the groundbreaking work of visionaries like Marlon Riggs, Patrick Ian-Polk, Nathan Hale-Williams, Maurice Jamal, Carlton Jordan, and industry powerhouses such as Anthony Hemingway, Quincy and Deondray Gossfield, and of course, Lee Daniels. I’ve had the privilege of meeting—and in many cases befriending—several of these trailblazers, and I hope to collaborate with them in the future.

On the literary front, the late E. Lynn Harris was instrumental in inspiring me to write two books rooted in my lived experiences. His storytelling, along with that of James Earl Hardy, profoundly shaped my understanding of self and expanded my belief in what’s possible.

Website: https://www.watchvim.com

Instagram: @watchvimnow

Facebook: Watch VIM

Youtube: WatchVIM

Other: TikTok: watchvim

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.