U P P E R L E F T
Dsince we were last able to grace your eyes From “No Kings” protests at Tim Cole, to anti-DEI crusades in Texas schools, to an attempt on the life of our esteemed lead editor, the temperature is rising across the South Plains But heat isn’t a problem for us more heat often helps in chemical changes that involve a CATALYST, and with relentless attacks on the LGBTQ community, change is needed now more than ever
THE CATALYST is an agent for making change We take the cause of liberation to the press by covering news and perspectives you may not find in the establishment media We strive to illuminate truth and present Lubbock’s real diversity, even if it offends or embarrasses the irresponsible powers that be
This Pride Month, we invite you to remember: “there is no freedom for some of us without liberation for all of us,” and Pride has always been a protest
Queer Love Forever ★
E R S K I N J E N K I N S : SAY . HIS . NAME .
LEAD EDITOR | Gil Caley
ART DIRECTOR | Marcello Burdis
FLUNKIES | P earl, Tracey Benefield, Friend of Dusty, Lindsey Bruner, Kimberleigh Gonzalez
June 21, 2025
Family, community members still seek answers in deputy-involved killing of Tech student
by Gil Caley • CATALYST
AFAMILY FROM THE Woodlands is still seeking
answers after their son, Erskin Jenkins, was shot and killed by a Lubbock County Sheriff’s Deputy last November
Erskin, 20-years-old at the time of his death, was a sophomore at Texas Tech studying psychology; according to a GoFundMe started by Erskin’s mother, Sharon Jenkins, Erskin “planned to use his love for animals and career path to enhance the lives of children with disabilities.”
Seven months after the incident, the Jenkins family told The Catalyst that they have very little information about what happened beyond what the Lubbock County District Attorney's Office made publicly available
When EverythingLubbock.com made a records request to the county, Lubbock County refused, claiming that “Lubbock County reasonably believes that there is a substantial threat of physical harm to the officers involved in the shooting of Erskin Charles Jenkins based on public statements made by Sharon Jenkins and representatives of the NAACP”
The Lubbock NAACP, the Lubbock Coalition of Black Democrats, BLM Grassroots, and Erskin Jenkins’ family held a vigil on June 20, followed by a press conference the day after During this, despite the county’s refusal to release furhter information related to the case, they were able to identify the deputy who shot Erskin as recently promoted Sgt Stephen Amador
The press conference, and accompanying statements from each group, renewed calls for accountability and justice for Erskin, demanding that Amador be publicly identified, removed, and prosecuted and that Lubbock County District Attorney Sunshine Stanek and Sheriff Kelly Rowe either resign or be removed from office officials who, according to the Lubbock Coalition of Black Democrats, are “actively participating in the cover-up of Erskin Jenkins’ unjust death”
“The Lubbock Coalition of [Black] Democrats will not rest until justice is served for Erskin Charles Jenkins and his family,” Stuart Williams, chair of the Coalition, said when he took the podium. “We stand united as concerned community members and as black voters and taxpayers in America and in this county who are demanding accountability, transparency, and most importantly justice Together we will continue to shine a light on this case [ ] and advocate for the rightful resolutions our community and the Jenkins family deserve”
“My beautiful son was taken from me by the very people who are supposed to protect and serve,” said Sharon Jenkins, Erskin’s mother “[ ] To every mother out there who’s had to bury her child when they brought them to this university, you need to speak up Don’t let anyone push you down so hard that you won’t fight for your child”
To date, Texas Tech University has not commented or made any public statement regarding the matter. ★
April 8, 2025 Spectrum
(Or more like a half of a) “gay bar” in Lubbock, Texas
by P. Earl • CATALYST
ON A COLD, WEST TEXAS night not long ago, I joined my friends to gather around the warmth of a lighted dance floor with a mirrored disco ball hanging from above, moving to the tubthumping of a 2000watt speaker, while drinking in the traditional and not so traditional spirits of the “gay bar”
The lines between gay and straight nightlife have maintained a significant split as long as bars have existed here in Lubbock But living in the second most conservative city in the United States (according to a 2006 poll), those that selfidentify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer, find slim pickings these days for an open night on the town
Anyone looking for a place to meet knows where to go for nightlife to find something different, out of the ordinary, and authentic to themselves The gay bar is the place to be if you find yourself not fitting in Straight folx I know, who find themselves at the gay bar, go there for the music, lights, specials, and freedom Through this mix of communities, the lines of judgment seemingly blur This small circle of people is a real, living, breathing example of community, if only for a night
These days, people I talk to about the history of “gay bars” in Lubbock, don’t believe me when I say Lubbock was the place to go for gay nightlife Beginning with the back room of a steakhouse and a ware-
house during the 60’s and 70’s, to the big boom of brick-andmortar buildings of five –possibly six, depending on if there was a name change – in the 80’s, then back to slim pickings of the 90’s, the Lubbock bar scene was filled with queers and straights alike In 1999, I personally had experienced my first gay bar ever in Lubbock, Texas Before the bar, there were small private house parties But what if you were not “in the know,” how would you meet people like you? Unfortunately, your only choices were either a church or a bar
In 2010, the last two gay bars in Lubbock (distinguished by their myriad displays of rainbows, drag queen shows, and motley of queer patrons) decided to host “straight nite” It was even advertised on local radio On alternating Friday and Saturday nights you suddenly found people being turned away at the gay bars simply because they “looked gay” In my naive lesbian heart, I like to think the “ten-percent rule,” or the idea that 10% of the population is gay, is alive in Lubbock If it were, then at least 20,000 people in Lubbock County are LGBTQ+ But realizing that this rule has since been debunked nationwide, I am still left wondering: where is everybody?
Turn to page 3
Erskin Jenkins Photo courtesy of Erskin’s Heart.
A float dedicated to Erskin Jenkins for Lubbock’s Juneteenth parade. Photo courtesy of Erskin’s Heart.
by Kimberleigh Gonzalez
ET’S CALL IT WHAT IT IS: Lcorpse abuse
Adriana Smith was declared brain-dead in Georgia, but doctors kept her body going just to grow her baby a few more weeks She was gone But instead of being laid to rest, her body was used like a machine No consent No choice Just a law that cared more about her womb than her life.
This sounds like The Handmaid’s Tale, but it’s not fiction anymore It’s happening right here Her body wasn’t hers not even in death That’s not medicine That’s control
When laws say a dead woman must carry a pregnancy no matter what, we’ve crossed a terrifying line It’s the end result of treating people’s bodies like they belong to the state First it’s no abortion Then it’s no say in miscarriage Now? Not even death stops them from using you
This isn’t just about one case It’s about a system that sees people as vessels, not humans And if we stay quiet, it will only get worse
We should be angry We should be loud Because no one should have to fight for basic dignity not in life, and sure as hell not in death
If this shakes you, don’t scroll past it Share Adriana’s story Talk about it Call your reps Vote like someone’s freedom depends on it because it does The only way to stop this is to show up, speak out, and refuse to be silent ★
June 19, 2025
EDITOR’SNOTE
# RANCHWATER G A T E
“...And
Sitting on the largest mesa in the United States, the Llano Estacado, you can feel like you are the only person on earth
In this opinion article, Kimberleigh Gonzalez writes about Adriana Smith, a Georgia woman who was declared brain dead, but had a fetal heartbeat detected The hospital opted not to end her life support, and told the family it would violate Georgia’s six-week abortion ban The baby was born via C-section on June 13, and Smith was taken off of life support four days later
Kim Gonzalez is a Lubbock resident and current member of the Texas State Democratic Executive Committee for District 19, which includes Lubbock
Our big, exposed sky invites you to reach up and grab it The flat plains give you room to stretch and grow The sun and wind can test you to your core.
OUTwest Lubbock, the virtual
June 17, 2025
bbock man attacks Catalyst editor, eaders
HE HEAT IS GETTING TO T
everyone in Lubbock, Texas
hat’s certainly true of a drunk ubbock man who lobbed a can hard seltzer at our lead editor a parking lot last night Gil Caley, 26, was standing in ont of St John's Methodist hurch and chatting with board embers of PFLAG Lubbock hen the very inebriated man egan shouting obscenities and rew the ranch water Luckily whizzed past our beloved ditor and exploded on the ound several yards away, pewing precious lemony liquid over the asphalt Caley, in a ost on Facebook, wrote about
GBTQ+ community center, is working to chronicle the history, culture, and personal narratives of our LGBTQ+ community While we are using various collections across Lubbock and the State of Texas for our research, we want to hear from you, the people who have lived and worked in Lubbock ★ Help us add your story/memory to our history project
Diane’s Steakhouse (early 1960s), 1801 19th St
the attack saying, “he called me a ‘fucking punk’ and threw his beer at me (but he missed because homophobes can't aim).” Thankfully, nobody was hurt in the incident, except perhaps the ego of the aspiring assassin
The assailant is still at large and was last seen traveling south near the 1600 block of University Avenue ★
If you have any tips on his whereabouts, The Catalyst editorial staff asks that you call 248-434-5508
Did or do you still frequent the “gay bar”? Want to help edit our list for more accuracy? Do you have personal papers, posters, and memorabilia you would like to share? Do you have articles, newspapers, etc, that you have saved and want to share? Let's go down memory lane together Just send an email to contact@outwestlubbockorg
Back room reserved for those “in the know,” but commonly known as a gay restaurant, no drag shows but some customers were comfortable coming in drag
The Plaid Door (early 1970s), corner of 4th and University
Dorothy’s (early 1970s), corner of 50th and Q
The Place (1970s), 2492 Main St
David’s Warehouse (mid to late 1970s), 2400 block of Marshall St
Possibly gay-owned Commonly staked out by police officers to arrest men in the parking lot
Hilltop (late 1970s to early 1980s), N University Ave
Opened while David’s Warehouse was still open Primarily women customers
Peaches (f/k/a Pinocchio’s, before 1977) (late 70’s to late 80’s), 510 N University Ave
Located down from Hilltop on University Avenue “Stunningly beautiful bar/club”
Just Magic (1980s), 40th and Chicago, off Brownfield Hwy (now Marsha Sharp Fwy), Lesbian-owned.
Pandora’s Box (mid 1980s to late 1980s), in North Lubbock, off Avenue Q, Mostly women customers
Papillons (briefly open in late 1980s), 1204 Broadway, basement of present-day Pioneer Hotel
Backgammon tables, bar, dance floor
Uncle Charlie’s (1988 to 1991), location unknown
Owned by Tino Calderon and Ray McDermett, who owned gay bar ‘Bout Time II in North Austin
Captain Hollywood’s (mid 1990s), 13th and University
The Bar (1990s to early 2000s), 2401 Main St
Played top 40, Tejano, and country music Had one large bar and two pool tables
Murphy’s Pub (2005 to 2009), 3502 Slide Rd, Great food and drinks Lesbian-owned
Belly’s Café (2009 to 2013), 1406 Ave Q, present-day location of Flippers Tavern
Great food and drinks A space to host gay-themed fundraisers Lesbian-owned
Club PINK (2015-2016), 510 N University Ave, Hosted drag shows. Played top 40 and Tejano music.
Heaven Night Club (“Gay Night”) (2016 to 2019), 1928 Buddy Holly Ave
Rewind Lounge (2019 to 2023), 1802 Buddy Holly Ave, drag shows LubbockPRIDE Block Party
Club Luxor (1998 to present), 2211 Marsha Sharp Fwy, Lubbock’s premier and legendary alternative lifestyles nightclub
An evening at Club Rewind in 2023 Photo courtesy of P Earl
Then There Was One”
Kim Gonzalez. Photo provided by author
LIN MU
June 19, 2025
How I’m Blazing a Trail With Southern Soul & Sapphic Fire
by Lindsey Bruner
ORN IN DALLAS AND B length short & lesbian romance film, “Off Script,” (that I directed & acted in) is going to resonate with its viewers through raw emotions, taking on toxic culture, age gap complexities, and asking the question: what would you sacrifice for love and authenticity? It’s going to leave a mark in the LGBTQ+ community
raised on grit and gut-level honesty, I’ve always carried a sound that didn’t quite fit into one box It took me years to stop fearing my own truth and be relentlessly vulnerable with the world as to who I truly am! Now I freely give my raw emotions through words and belting vocals in hopes that it reaches even one person who just needs a little reassurance that they are uniquely beautiful and perfect With my debut album Fire & Lace, I’m finally giving that sound its full expression a blend of modern country and blues, charged with heat, heartbreak, and a distinctly sapphic soul
This project is deeply personal Every track tells a story of desire, defiance, and emotional complexity especially for women who love women I’ve always been drawn to the tension between fire & vulnerability, and this upcoming album lives in that space, housing music that lives outside the margins and doesn’t ask permission
In parallel, I’ve also been telling queer stories in film My full-
The song “Sapphic Poison,” which I created to serve as the film’s score, anchors one of the most complex experiences seen in any toxic relationship you know you shouldn’t but you just have to and is full of unspoken tension For me, whether in song or on screen, the goal is the same: to make space for sapphic longing, sensuality, and complexity without compromise
With Fire & Lace, I’m not just releasing songs; I’m building a world Whether it’s song or film, it’s all part of a larger vision: to tell the kinds of stories I never got to see growing up, never thought I would get to be a part of, and to do it with elegance, honesty, and heat ★
by Tricia J
EDITOR’S NOTE
This feminist zine, “Riot, Rinse, Repeat,” is cropped to fit We did our best to keep adjacent art visible while keeping the text legible, but still, a lot of Tricia J’s awesome visual art was cut off If you’d like a PDF version, you can request it by email: editor@texascatalystcom
YOUR AD HERE
Do you have no sense of propriety? Trying to reach a local audience of troublemakers and ne’er-do-wells? Advertise in THE CATALYST! Reach out to us for more information at advertising@texascatalystcom
Lindsey Bruner Photo courtesy of Lindsey Bruner Music.
W O R K S C I T E D
The Lesbian Avenger Handbook Lesbian Avengers, https://wwwlesbianavengers com/ handbooks/Lesbian Avenger handbook3shtml
Nast, Condé “The Radical History of the Lesbian Avengers and the Dyke March” The Cut, 25 June 2021, https://wwwthecutcom/2021/06/lesbian-avengers-and-the-dykemarchhtml
“Reconsidering the Sexual Politics of Fascism” Historical Materialism, https://www historicalmaterialismorg/reconsidering-the-sexual-politics-of-fascism/ Harkness, Sara “Fantifa: Feminist Antifascist Counterpublics and Intersectional Antifascism.” Journal of Lesbian Studies, vol. 28, no. 2, 2024, https://www. tandfonlinecom/doi/full/101080/1089416020242359281#d1e133
Butler, Judith “Nature and Culture” Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity, Routledge, 1990, pp 35–44
Meyer, Elizabeth J “The Acultural Assumptions of Empiricism: Revisiting the Gendered Science of ‘Gendered’ Behavior” Educational Researcher, vol 37, no 9, 2008, pp 460–462 https://doiorg/103102/0013189X08327398
PROCESS K I T S
Jane’s Due Process delivers free repro kits in Lubbock and the surrounding area Each kit includes 2 emergency contraceptives (aka plan b), 2 pregnancy tests, condoms, and an info zine. To request a kit, text the Jane’s Due Process Hotline (866-999-5263) The volunteer who replies will ask you for a safe address and time window to deliver the kit Deliveries typically take 12-48 hours
For more info, visit: https://janesdueprocessorg/blog/how-to-getfree-ec-in-texas/
Not in Lubbock? The Texas Free Plan B Map (right) shows other projects across Texas that also provide free emergency contraceptives! Graphic courtesy of Jane’s Due Process, Lubbock
FORYOURINFO
Plan B, also known as the morning-after pill, is an emergency contraceptive that can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex It contains the hormone levonorgestrel and is most effective when taken within 72 hours after the incident It is not intended for regular use as a contraceptive method
Spectrum
T H E P O W E R O F A P R I D E F L A G
June 4, 2025
Wrap up and stay taut
by P. Earl
T’S A FEW DAYS INTO JUNE I year Here in Lubbock, we’re back to be recognized as H-UM-A-N We know we have a long way to go before we will ever see a flag on the pole at City Hall But here we are! And in honor of this year’s Lubbock PRIDE Fest theme: “We’re Not Going Anywhere”
aka Pride Month in Lubbock, Texas Queers and Allies, Citizens of Lubbock, are wondering will this be the year that our city leadership recognizes the many economic, social, and cultural contributions we have made to the growth of our fair “hub city”? Will the mayor and city Council members sign and read the proclamation at Lubbock PRIDE on June 28?
As long as the Aryan Brotherhood, the Ku Klux Klan and other hateful white supremacist organizations have existed in this part of Texas, queer people have also lived, worked, and died trying to navigate a climate literally and figuratively that test you to your core and makes you ask why am I still here?
El Paso, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, or just a small few of the cities and municipalities that have raised the pride flag to honor June as pride month this
Why a flag you may ask? To answer that question, let’s start with Texas and Texans
Ask any native-born Texan living abroad, traveling out of state, living out of state, what their response would be if they caught a glimpse of a piece of fabric that was red, white, and blue with a lonely single star and how that makes them feel It’s called pride
Texas is known as a “sticky state” Of the roughly 21 million people who are born Texans, a little over 17 million of them still to this day live in Texas about 82% Texas is a culture, a way of life that people worldwide have grown to love or hate
I’ve felt that “Texan Pride” too Being abroad and at a crosswalk in London I heard the word “y’all” and found myself drawn to that voice to say hello Even though we were from opposite ends of the state back home, we felt like neighbors in London
There is also an arrogance that comes with native Texans It’s something I have witnessed and felt firsthand I try and stay clear of that Texan-ness but lately I can’t unsee or unhear some of the hate masked as Texas Pride from the 89th State Legislature leadership More on that to come
To continue to answer the question, what’s in a flag, we need the second part of this piece which has to do with P-RI-D-E
Looking through online National PRIDE merchandise’s this year, I came across trucker hats with the bald eagle in flight with the inclusion rainbow spread throughout the wings with the slogan “these colors don’t run” I know what the meaning is for the slogan “these colors don’t bleed” (literally, as I have my share of accidentally dyed-white T-shirt’s in my laundry to represent the rainbow). But what does it really mean for PRIDE this year to use “run” instead of “bleed”?
Taking the message quite literally Kelly Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign
says: “This year we’re making one thing clear These colors don’t run and they never will. The pride flag is more than fabric; it carries the weight of generations who refuse to be erased in the fire of those still rising With world PRIDE here in the nation’s capital our visibility has never mattered more and neither has our strength That’s why it matters that HRC is now 36 million strong it’s the largest base of support we’ve ever had and it’s growing in direct response to the attacks on our community This is not just a number it’s a movement, a mandate, and a promise: we’re not backing down we’re building a future where every LGBTQ+ person can live bold safe and free
To really feel this year’s theme both set forth by the National and local organizations, we need to remind ourselves of the history behind the evolution of the PRIDE flag
The rainbow flag is a symbol of LGBTQ plus pride commonly used at events worldwide The colors reflect the diversity of the community in addition to the spectrum of human sexuality and gender over the years The flag has been updated and changed to be more inclusive of individuals in their allies
Do you have any writing you’d like to volunteer for a future issue of The Catalyst? Or a particular story you want to to cover? Have art you’d like to show off? Contact editor@texascatalystcom with your submissions or ideas We accept news, investigative reports, short stories, poems, art, & more
Original design Gilbert Baker, 1978
flag + intersex flag Valentino Vecchietti, 2021
Daniel Quasar, 2018 Progress flag (trans colors)
BIPOC inclusion Philadelphia, 2017
K I N G S
June 14, 2025
Lubbockites join national protests by
Gil Caley • CATALYST
UNDREDS OF LUBBOCK H residents gathered under
scorching sun this June in protest of the Trump administration the latest in a protest movement sweeping across all fifty states in the US This installment was called "No Kings," embodied in its primary image of a crossed-out crown The June 14th demonstration coincided with Flag Day, the US Army's 250th anniversary, and President Trump's birthday military parade
Protestors carried signs and flags as diverse as the crowd, including Lubbockites young and old Many criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement's role in mass detentions and deportations that have targeted even documented citizens, legal residents, and political dissidents like Mahmoud Khalil and Rümeysa Öztürk without due process
“The first thing I wanted to do was let other Democrats know that they aren't alone,”
Spectrum
No Kings protestors on the sidewalk in front of the Tim Cole Memorial Photo courtesy of P Earl
Rob Juno, one of the organizers of the protest, said “We are out here, there is no need to whisper that you're a Democrat There are thousands of others like you”
“The second thing I wanted to do is to form a place where people could go to be informed of local events” Juno pointed out that many participants in this year’s protests had no common forum for finding these events “So I started the ACT/Americans Crushing Tyranny Facebook page.”
Lubbock resident Marla McCoy, 64, who also attended the rally, explained her reason for attending: “I don't want to go backwards I want my kids, my grandkids, to have a better life than I had I don't want some king, some tyrant telling them
what they can and can't do He's taking away everything that's going to help our planet”
As for Trump, she pointed out that “he doesn't have anybody now [to stand up to him]; they all kiss his ass, and I'm afraid of where our country's going to go He's talking about a third term”
According to LPD, roughly 600 to 700 people were present at the peak of the protest Meanwhile, across the street, a massive throng of eight (8) MAGA supporters mounted their opposition on the green of Texas Tech
The American Civil Liberties Union also noted that over 5 million people participated in the nationwide protests which were the largest protests against any US president in history ★
R A I N B O W S I T - I N
June 24, 2025
Third annual sit-in calls on city council to recognize June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month by
Gil Caley • CATALYST
RAINBOW-CLADMEMBERS
of the LGBTQ+ community
and allies packed the normally yes-men-filled chamber of Lubbock City Council for the third year in a row
“Our main goal is for the City of Lubbock to recognize our LGBT community,” said Tiffany Frias, Vice President of LubbockPRIDE “We’re taxpayers, we’re homeowners, we work in the city, we are Lubbock [ ] so there’s no reason why the city can’t just recognize that we exist”
Local non-profit organizations like LubbockPRIDE, OUTwest Lubbock, and PFLAG were also present at the sit-in Each of these groups had also participated in a related “Pride Proclamation” letter-writing campaign, and LubbockPRIDE, Frias said, even offered a platform to a member of City Council for speaking at their 2025 Pride Fest
James Dees, Entertainment Coordinator for LubbockPRIDE, highlighted the important issues facing the LGBTQ community in Texas: the ending of the
national LGBTQ youth suicide hotline, the closure of diversity offices at Texas Tech and other universities, the governor’s call to have CPS investigate families that affirm their trans children for child abuse
“All of this is compounded by the harmful rhetoric that was put forward last year, in which City Council said that all drag queens are sexually assaulting minors just by wearing a costume,” said Dees “And we should know that 7 pedophiles were just arrested 7 residents of Lubbock. Zero of them were drag queens”
As in previous years, the activists were again ignored by their representatives, who instead focused on other urgent business, such as streetlamp banners the ones that advertise student housing on Glenna Goodacre and having a Christian pastor proselytize about humility and the devil while singing the mayor’s praises Kim Gonzalez, community member, also pointed out that other mostly conservative cities
like Fort Worth, San Marcos, New Braunfels, and others issued proclamations regarding Pride Month
The silent protest aside, the City Council did not try to even feign interest in the just two citizen comments that were presented. Despite them, Glasheen and others seemed to have more important Council business to attend to on their phones ★
B O Y M O M
by Tracey Benefield • CATALYST Spectrum USED
TO PROUDLY CALL Imyself a “boy mom” My first
child was rough and tumble, wild and loud, and I loved every second of it I had been a tomboy growing up, more comfortable in the dirt than in a dress, and it felt like fate that I had a son I could wrestle and run wild with
When I was pregnant with my second child, I felt relieved to be having another boy I didn’t know the first thing about styling hair or playing with makeup or Barbies I wasn’t “girly” at all, and honestly, I was scared I wouldn’t know how to connect with a daughter But the moment I met my little one, all I felt was joy As he grew, I got to know his heart: funny, mischievous, brave, and most of all, deeply caring
Around the age of three, he started carrying around a baby doll he named Peter One day, I casually asked what he wanted to be when he grew up Without missing a beat, he said, “A mommy who takes care of babies”
I chuckled and said, “Well, how about a daddy?”
His smile vanished He looked down and simply said, “No”
Over the next couple of years, I started noticing things He loved the movie Trolls, especially Princess Poppy, “because she likes glitter and hugs, like me,” he would explain For Christmas, the only thing on his list was Wonder Woman He called her his “independent woman” He mimicked the dance moves he saw women doing on YouTube, and while the other cousins were outside playing in the mud, he stayed in to brush his baby cousin’s hair
I began to wonder if my child was simply more in touch with his feminine side than I’d expected I never discouraged
June 18, 2025
him, but I did worry I worried about teasing, about bullying, about how hard life might be for a boy who didn’t fit into everyone else’s idea of what a boy “should” be
One of my closest friends is trans, and she often came over for game nights at our house One evening, my child turned to me and asked, “Mommy, is your friend a boy or a girl?”
It was the first time I explained what it means to be transgender I told him that sometimes, the gender someone is assigned at birth doesn’t match who they truly are inside And when that happens, some people choose to live as the gender they truly feel
He nodded thoughtfully and went back to playing, unbothered
A few days later, his tone changed With his head down and eyes avoiding mine, he softly asked, “Mommy what does it feel like to be a girl?” I froze for a moment “I don’t really know,” I admitted “I don’t know what it feels like to be a boy either, so I can’t say for sure
But sometimes being a girl is hard because people expect you to act a certain way, or like certain things and Mommy’s never been very ‘girly’”
His face lit up “That’s like me!” he said “Because people say I can’t like Princess Poppy because I’m a boy, but YES I CAN!”
I think that was the moment I knew we were heading down a path I hadn’t expected. My child was starting to question their gender, and I had no idea what lay ahead
Below: LGBT community members and allies, dressed in Pride flag colors, stand outside City Council chamber Photo courtesy
Turn to page 8
of Kim Gonzalez
Immigration Protest at Tim Cole Memorial
6 P M - 9 P M
Vent Together Poetry Slam at First Unitarian Universalist Church 6:30 P.M.
No War Protest at Tim Cole Memorial
From page 6, “The Power of a Pride Flag”
In addition to the rainbow, there are many other flags and symbols used to communicate specific identities within the community
The early days of the pride flag was designed by artist Gilbert Baker at the request of San Francisco city supervisor and first openly, gay elected official in the history of California, Harvey Milk The original colors included eight with bright pink and deep purple flanking the other colors in the prism The original flag made its debut at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day PRIDE celebration on June 25, 1978. After the assassination of Harvey milk in November 1978 the demand for the flag greatly increased Baker dropped the hot pink strip from the flag as that particular color was not readily available In 1979 he modified it again to become the six-stripe rainbow flag that is still used today in addition to many other renditions
Fast forward to June 2017 under the leadership of Amber Hikes the Philadelphia office of LGBT affairs unveiled the “more colors more pride“ flag This version of the pride flag includes a black stripe and a brown stripe to draw attention to underrepresented people of color within the community
The following year, the progress pride flag would appear by designer Daniel Quasar, and follow with the intersex inclusive pride progress flag designed by Valentino Vecchietti of Intersex Equality Rights in the UK This design built off Quasar’s design by adding a yellow triangle and purple circle as a tribute to the 2013 intersex flag designed by Morgan Carpenter, Australian bioethicist, and researcher
As is with most inclusive movements, the naysayers will always make accusations of being intolerant to straight people by displaying the pride flag I have news for them, there is a flag for those who do not identify in the LGBTQ plus community It’s called the Ally Flag. You can also be part of the rainbow, but you must commit with love
As history tends to repeat itself, we are not blind to the fact that we are facing the same old hateful tropes & messages
The “anti’s” have nothing new to use or say against us They are floundering, grasping at anything and anyone that will hate alongside them But we do have small celebrations from this hatefulness, shown by many of our state GOP legislators this past session
The Texas House LGBTQ+ Caucus, founded in 2019, held strong against hateful bills, messages, and vitriol They represented LGBTQ+ Texans by speaking out, speaking truth to power, struck down misinformation, and educating through promoting and producing logical bills
We say thank you to all the Representatives and a special shout out to the new executive board; Jessica Gonzalez (chair), Venton Jones (vice-chair), and Josey Garcia (secretary)
In this time, in this month, and in this year, just as our colors will not run, we will not run from hateful rhetoric we have been subjected to, we will not run from the old tropes being used as new, but instead we will run towards and power through to safely live our authentic lives, as our authentic selves, as we were meant to do We are not going anywhere! ★
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From page 7, “Boy Mom”
The following year, while shopping for back-to-school clothes, my kiddo excitedly picked out a few Princess Poppy shirts My stomach tied itself in knots.
Every instinct in me wanted to say no Not because I thought it was wrong, but because I was scared I was scared he’d get teased Scared he’d stand out Scared he’d be hurt I didn’t want my child to feel “othered” before he even had a chance to find his place.
But more than anything, I didn’t want him to think he had to hide who he was to be accepted I wasn’t going to let my fear become his shame
So I bought the shirts And I braced myself for what came next
Buying those shirts felt like the single most nerve-wracking decision I had ever made It wasn’t just about clothes, it was about identity, self-esteem, and my child’s mental health
What if wearing them made him a target? What if he never made friends? What if he started to spiral under the weight of feeling different? What if it broke him? I couldn’t stop the fears from piling up I didn’t know what this road would look like, or if I was strong enough to walk it with him
But I did know this, I had to love the child in front of me That part was non-negotiable
Over the next year, he started wearing more feminine clothes He got some funny looks A few kids said stupid, hurtful things But we practiced comebacks together We said daily affirm ations I reminded him every
2. FIND YOUR CITY REP
Mayor - Mark McBrayer
Dist. 1 - Christy Martinez-Garcia
Dist 2 - Gordon Harris
Dist. 3 - David Glasheen
Dist. 4 - Brayden Rose
Dist 5 - Dr Jennifer Wilson
Dist. 6 - Tim Collins
WHATDOISAY?
OUTwest Lubbock provides a sample proclamation and letter online at:
outwestlubbockorg/home/procl amation
1. FIND YOUR DISTRICT
3. SEND THEM A LETTER
The best way to send your letter is by mail* You can use the address below:
[Representative name] City of Lubbock 1314 Avenue K Lubbock, Texas 79401
* Email works better for following up with your council rep Physical mail is documented as it is received by the City of Lubbock
single day that he was brave, and he was awesome
And then he met a teacher who changed everything She became his advocate She was kind, protective, and safe She made sure he felt supported and seen at school when I couldn’t be there In many ways, she helped carry some of the fear I couldn’t speak out loud
The following year, my baby boy told me she wanted to be my daughter instead She asked if we could start using different pronouns and if she could choose a new name I said yes Of course I said yes We held a naming celebration at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Lubbock, a space that had always felt safe and full of grace Everyone who had known her by her old name showed up with love, intention, and effort calling her by her new name, using the right pronouns, making space for her to shine She stood there, surrounded by people who truly saw her
And for the first time in a long time, I saw something else, peace in her eyes Relief Joy She knew she was loved
What I’ve learned from raising this incredible child is this: you can’t let fear of a future that
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hasn’t happened yet stop you from loving the person standing right in front of you.
I know my daughter will face obstacles The world isn’t always kind to kids like her But I also know she’s not facing it alone She’s backed by an army of people who love her fiercely She may stumble She may fall But my job isn’t to shield her from every storm, it’s to arm her with courage, confidence, a few good comebacks, and the unshakable knowledge that I will always, always be in her corner
And to every LGBTQ+ kid who needs to hear this, I’m cheering for you too
You are enough. Exactly as you are You are brave, brilliant, and worthy of love in every possible way
Find your people Build your community Surround yourself with those who lift you up and see you clearly
You are not alone You’ve got this
And we’ve got you ★
C O N T R I B U T E
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