JANUARY 2024 by OutSmart Magazine

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O ut S mart is published monthly. Estimated readership in Houston and surrounding areas is 60,000. OutSmart Media Company is not responsible for claims and practices of advertisers. The opinions and views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the staff or management of O ut S mart Inclusion in O ut S mart does not imply sexual orientation. ©2023 by OutSmart Media Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Unsolicited material is accepted. No manuscript returned without SASE.

Welcome to OutSmart ’s first issue of 2024! As we embark on this new year, we want to express our heartfelt appreciation for your support of LGBTQ media in Houston. Your enthusiasm fuels our dedication to spotlighting Houston’s diverse and talented LGBTQ voices.

In recent local news, Avery Belyeu has been named the new CEO of the Montrose Center, while Meghan Fairbanks and Diamond Stylz were appointed to the Harris County LGBTQIA+ Commission. These groundbreaking appointments of three trans women represent a significant stride forward for our community.

This annual Health and Wellness issue features Andrew Hayes, the owner of Body3 Personal Fitness, on our cover. Andrew believes that “fitness should be something we strive to incorporate into our lives, not

something that bends our lives around.” And don’t miss our other inspiring stories of Jotina Buck, the visionary behind a Fifth Ward holistic healing program; Alex Alvarado, a wellness coach helping her clients achieve healthy, sustainable fitness goals; and Joe Salinas, a Woodlands-based trainer who uses his infectious energy to motivate clients.

In our Smart Health feature, Dr. Darryl Shorter guides us through his recommendations for a mindful “Dry January” and a healthier start to the new year. Dry January has steadily gained acceptance as a means of assessing one’s relationship with alcohol and drugs for those experiencing adverse consequences from their use.

Visit our site here:

We also pay tribute to the late gay artist Scott Swoveland, whose iconic artwork graced the front window of Mary’s bar in the 1990s.

Swoveland left an indelible mark in Houston, and many fondly remember his murals and the impact they had on the community. Writer Andrew Edmonson explores the works of Swiss artist Marc Bauer, who has placed the Montrose bar scene at the forefront of his mural for the Menil Drawing Institute. This work comes at a time when conservative forces are attempting to erase LGBTQ Americans from public life—including the Florida governor’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, the Texas Legislature’s attempt to criminalize drag performances, and suburban Katy ISD’s invasive policy requiring teachers to disclose the gender identities of transgender students to their parents—which has happened 19 times in the last four months.

In our Travel segment, Zach McKenzie takes us on a journey to West Texas and the

hidden gems of the Marfa artists’ colony, including a charming gay-owned hotel you’ll want to check out.

Discover what the stars have in store for you with Lilly Roddy’s astrological overview for 2024. She anticipates a busy spring, a more reflective summer, and a time for new projects and ventures in late fall and early winter.

The OutSmart staff wishes you a joyful and prosperous 2024. We’re excited about the coming year and committed to bringing you the latest news from Houston’s vibrant LGBTQ scene. Thank you for being a part of our community—and for allowing us to be a part of yours.

Happy New Year!

Your support powers

As we mark 30 years of LGBTQ storytelling in Houston, we’re forging ahead post-pandemic and need your support for our next chapter. Your contributions will fuel impactful journalism, sustain our dedicated team of writers and photographers, and nurture emerging talent through our internship program. We’re thankful and thrilled for the support we’ve already received. This is more than a tax-deductible donation; it’s an investment in the voice and visibility of our community. Please join us in this exciting journey into 2024 and beyond. You can also donate by texting OSF30 to 53-555. Use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code here. Or visit: givebutter.com/outsmartfoundation

Greg Jeu Publisher

QUEER THINGS to DO

STAGE

January 23

LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE

MONTE CARLO

Performing Arts Houston presents the world’s foremost all-male comic ballet company. The beloved troupe returns to Jones Hall with their brilliant combination of skillful pointe work and hilarious parodies of classical ballet favorites such as Swan Lake Comedy is serious business, and ballet even more so. With that in mind, the dancers of Les Ballets Trockadero work hard to balance their serious ballet technique with silly antics, all for the enjoyment of their audience. Founded in New York City in 1974, the company has been presented by Performing Arts Houston for nearly as long. They delight audiences worldwide, from ballet aficionados to the uninitiated who don’t know a plié from a jeté. tinyurl.com/3kxbvcet

COMMUNITY

January 14

CHEVRON HOUSTON MARATHON

Houston’s largest single-day sporting event attracts thousands of runners from around the world. Although the main race is sold out, you can still check out all of the volunteer opportunities. tinyurl.com/26yvuk5z

STAGE

January 14

MATCH PRESENTS 7TH ANNUAL FAMILY FUN DAY

The event will feature participatory concerts by Prelude Music, engaging children’s theater performances by Main Street Theater for Youth, and dynamic dance displays by The Open Dance Project. In addition to the stage performances, there will be face painters, balloon artists, stilt walkers, bounce houses, and chalk art to keep the kids entertained throughout the afternoon. tinyurl.com/2punm68f

COMMUNITY

January 20

TRANS LEGAL AID CLINIC

Volunteer attorneys will help correct your name and/or gender marker on your identifying documents (drivers license, passport, birth certificate, etc.). This clinic at the Montrose Center is open to Texas residents only. tinyurl.com/mry4jeeu

STAGE January 19–February 11

PICTURES FROM HOME

The Alley Theatre presents this intimate and comic portrait of a mother, a father, and their son that explores the question: who gets to depict the family story? ActOUT reception with cocktails and light bites before the February 1 performance. tinyurl.com/2p9crdc7

ARTS

Through May 27

KEHINDE WILEY: AN ARCHAEOLOGY OF SILENCE

Acclaimed queer artist Kehinde Wiley’s monumental new body of work features large-scale paintings and sculptures of men and women in repose. tinyurl.com/2rme3uft

STAGE

January 13

MIX-MATCH ARTS FESTIVAL

Mix-MATCH is a one-of-akind celebration of the creative spirit of Houston’s small arts organizations, featuring live performances, activities, and a chance to connect with the local arts community. tinyurl.com/4tp2v6es

STAGE January 24–27

GOLDEN GIRLS: THE LAUGHS CONTINUE

Picture it. United States, 2024. Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue brings Miami’s sassiest seniors to the Hobby Center for one more hurrah. tinyurl.com/59nv2t77

COMMUNITY

January 15

MLK DAY OF SERVICE

Join other volunteers from the Montrose Center for an opportunity to participate in service projects to bridge divides, heal wounds, and create lasting change. tinyurl.com/5fcsbxxz

ARTS

January 20

9TH ANNUAL 10” BY 10” ART SHOW

Hardy and Nance Studios hosts an art show consisting of works by various artists, each of which measures 10 inches square, with prices capped at $250. tinyurl.com/4xktj2ut

COMMUNITY

January 14

MISFITS HOUSTON

Misfits Houston presents the proceeds from their GLUE Weekend fundraiser to that weekend’s beneficiary, Tony’s Place. tinyurl.com/5t4zjuy

STAGE

January 19–20

NEW/NOW

Performing Arts Houston presents a mixtape of influences, backgrounds, and Houston stories waiting to be heard. This year’s New/Now winners are Group Acorde, Kam Franklin, and ShaWanna Renee Rivon. tinyurl.com/yh26km82

COMMUNITY

January 27

KREWE OF OLYMPUS BALL

Kick off Mardi Gras season with the Krewe of Olympus at Wyndham Houston NRG. Proceeds benefit Open Gate Homeless Ministries and PWA Holiday Charities. tinyurl.com/2p952v2e

STAGE

January 30–February 11 ON YOUR

FEET!

Theatre Under the Stars presents On Your Feet!, showcasing the music of Emilio and Gloria Estefan. Out@TUTS reception featuring light bites, drink specials, and live music after the performance on February 8. tinyurl.com/4ct7a468

COMMUNITY

February 2

DANCE PARTY AT THE MENIL

In conversation with Marc Bauer’s wall drawing RESILIENCE: Drawing the Line, Houston artists Nick Vaughan Jake Margolin, Koomah, and Harrison Guy present short performances in the courtyard of the Menil Drawing Institute. The party continues with music by DJ Stephanie Saint Sanchez and lively outdoor video projections of Marc Bauer’s animations. tinyurl.com/y6pt3rpe

STAGE

February 2–March 3

CINDERELLA

If you missed the TUTS production and want to relive the timeless story, Houston Ballet presents Stanton Welch’s depiction of Cinderella that has been described as “more tomboy than princess” and “Tim Burton meets Cirque Du Soleil.” tinyurl.com/3hz2vfkj

STAGE

February 10–March 3

26 MILES

Main Street Theater presents this regional premiere about a mother and her estranged daughter on a road trip that is both transforming and restorative. There will be a Pride Night reception featuring a pre-curtain mixer and post-show Karaoke Cabaret on February 29. tinyurl.com/4dwrp36h

COMMUNITY

March 16

BQAF HOMECOMING

The Normal Anomaly Initiative presents LeToya Luckett headlining the BQAF Homecoming Music Festival and Afterparty at Warehouse Live Midtown. tinyurl.com/mr3n32dr

SCENE OUT

TTGiving Annual Trans Thanksgiving Celebration was held at the Montrose Center on November 21, 2023. Pictured are members of the Chevron PRIDE Employee Network volunteers.

Election night watch party for John Whitmire was held at the George R. Brown Convention Center on December 9, 2023.

The University of Houston LGBTQ Alumni Association & GLOBAL hosted the Lavender Graduation at the UH Student Center South on December 1, 2023 Pictured are Graduates and members of the UH LGBTQ Alumni Association.

December 5,

On December 6,

and

Pictured are Lane Lewis, Bubba McNeely, Mayor John Whitmire, and Shelley Kennedy.

2023, Texas Pride Impact Funds’ Houston Directors hosted a holiday reception at Archway Gallery. Pictured are Lisa Madry, Wally Ropchan, Ron Guillard, and Tanner Williams

2023, A clothing

supply drive benefiting the LGBTQ youth served by Tony’s Place and Grace Place was hosted by Houston’s New Faces of Pride at Ripcord. Pictured are Carrie Rai, Joseph Okoh, and Courtney Sellers.

The Houston Tennis Club held its End of Year Brunch at Riva’s Italian Restaurant on December 10, 2023 Pictured are Roberto Alvarado, Bao Ong, Quentin Chavis, Kenneth Jones, Jeff Falk, and Nicky Czarnecki

On December 1, 2023, a World AIDS Day Remembrance and Celebration was held at South Beach hosted by Legacy Community Health, The Normal Anomaly Initiative, and the Houston Health Department. Pictured are Sarah McCoy, Tim Martinez, and Special K

OUT Professionals Houston held their end-ofyear networking social at JR’S Bar and Grill on December 7, 2023. Pictured are Zach Verardi, Hunny Phillips, Nathan Nguyen, and Connor Hart.

Photos by DALTON DEHART AND CREW

Pride Chorus Houston presented “Ring It In” featuring Houston Bronze Ensemble at Unity of Houston on December 9, 2023, Pictured are Sarah Marin, Matt Leslie, and Erika Beard

The Lone Star Volleyball Association presented its Wynter Gala – End of Season Awards at KIKI Houston on December 8, 2023. Pictured are Mark Griffith, Pooja Patel and Hiram Rivera-Mercado

On December 8, 2023, OUT at the Ballet for The Nutcracker was held at the Wortham Center. Pictured are Matthew Janak, Jamie Townsend, Angela Lee, Aaron Rublein, MJ Bavaret, Davin Hutcheson, Elizabeth Sosa Bailey, and Kevin Pope.

On December 7, 2023, Tony’s Place hosted an Open House. Pictured are Britton Tempton, Carrie Rai, Erin Abdelnour, Al Amado, Alyssa Kelly, and Steven Parks

The 2023 Holiday Ball Red Ribbon Toy Drive was held at Riva’s Italian Restaurant on December 11, 2023. Pictured are performers and participants.

Legacy Community Health Holiday Schmooze was held at the home of Gerry Heard and Tylor Hearn on December 14, 2023. Pictured are Gerry Heard, Chree Boydstun, Dr. Robert L. Hilliard, Jr., and Tylor Hearn.

Extravaganza & Distribution was held at the Montrose Montrose

On December 14, 2023, Jared Memorial City Jewelry presented “Sip and Shop the Shimmering Kallati Collection and Meet the Designers. Pictured are members of Jared Memorial City staff.

Photos by DALTON DEHART AND CREW

Avery Belyeu has been appointed as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of the Montrose Center, one of the largest LGBTQ centers in the United States. The decision follows an extensive nationwide search conducted by Cooper Coleman LLC, a firm specializing in executive recruitment services. Belyeu, a seasoned LGBTQ advocate and nonprofit leader, will take over from Dr. Ann J. Robison, who is retiring.

Under Dr. Robison’s leadership, the Montrose Center grew from a small mental-health clinic for LGBTQ individuals to an organization with an annual budget of over $10 million.

Tara M. Kelly, president of the center’s Board of Directors, expressed excitement about Belyeu’s appointment, stating that her experience and enthusiasm will benefit the center and the community it serves.

Belyeu brings a wealth of experience in serving the LGBTQ community, particularly in mental health and suicide prevention training, civil rights advocacy, and nonprofit leadership. She has worked with organizations such as Lambda Legal, The Trevor Project, and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, contributing to the advancement of LGBTQ rights. Her leadership, grant-writing, fundraising, and advocacy expertise will be invaluable to the Montrose Center.

Belyeu expressed her honor and excitement in taking on the role of CEO, emphasizing her commitment to continuing the center’s important work and exploring new opportunities for the Houston community.

In addition to her qualifications, Belyeu will also make history as the first openly transgender CEO of a major LGBTQ center in the United States. Her appointment is a significant step in breaking barriers to leadership for trans-identifying individuals.

The Board of Directors and staff of the Montrose Center warmly welcome Belyeu and express their excitement about her assuming the CEO role in February. They believe that her extensive experience, leadership skills, and dedication to LGBTQ health and wellness will greatly benefit the organization and its mission.

Established in 1978, the Montrose Center initially provided mental health services

Montrose Center Names New CEO

Avery Belyeu brings a wealth of leadership experience to the role.

By STAFF REPORTERS

to LGBTQ individuals in Houston. Over the years, it has expanded its services to cater to the evolving needs of the community. These services now include support for youth and seniors, substance use disorder treatment, gender-affirming care, advocacy for survivors of violent crimes, and HIV prevention and care. Their services cater to a wide range of individuals, including youth, seniors, people living with HIV, and transgender individuals. The center serves as a hub for various LGBTQ

organizations and activities in Houston, including support groups, educational programs, and recreational activities.

In 2021, the organization opened the Law Harrington Senior Living Center, the largest LGBTQ-affirming affordable senior-living center in the nation.

Learn more about the Montrose Center’s services and mission on their website, montrosecenter.org.

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The Harris County Commissioners Court has appointed transgender women Meghan Fairbanks and Diamond Stylz to at-large positions on the County’s newly formed LGBTQIA+ Commission, with the duo pledging to protect and empower Houston’s LGBTQ community.

“We believe that inclusion makes us stronger,” Stylz said. “One of the best ways for residents to be involved and help shape our community’s future is through service on a public board such as this one. I’ve dedicated my career to creating safe spaces for all people through sociopolitical engagement and education. This is a new opportunity for me to continue that work by pushing our county to a higher standard of community care.”

The LGBTQIA+ Commission was established in 2023 to develop goals and coordinate research for recommended planning, programming, and action relating to the LGBTQ community’s progression and protection of rights in Harris County.

It’s vital to have members of the gay community in advisory positions, and the city is showing its commitment to supporting this demographic, Stylz says.

“This ensures LGBTQIA+ voices are heard and represented in decision making,” she said. “On a practical level, if we advise leaders in one direction and they do something totally different, that’s a clear indication that they don’t value our contribution or our votes.”

Diamond Stylz is no stranger to fighting for trans rights. She started her activism at 17 when she won a First Amendment rights lawsuit against Indianapolis Public Schools in 1999, a victory that allowed her to go to the prom in a gender-affirming gown instead of a tuxedo. She currently is the executive director of Black Trans Women Inc., a national nonprofit that is led by Black trans women focused on social advocacy, positive visibility, and building strong leadership among Black trans advocates, activists, and allies.

Stylz says she’s just trying to do her part in helping Houston reach its full potential as a world-class cosmopolitan city that is safe for all LGBTQ people.

“We are a city with a long history of multicultural diversity with a unique Southern charm,” she said. “I want our healthcare infrastructure and city ordinances to reflect our compassion and ideals as a welcoming city for all residents and visitors, regardless of sexual

Advancing Representation

Harris County Commissioners Court appoints Fairbanks, Stylz to its LGBTQIA+ Commission.

By CONNOR BEHRENS

orientation or gender identity.”

Meghan Fairbanks supports these thoughts, saying that her journey toward becoming an out-and-proud transgender woman has ignited her passion to better the lives of her transgender peers.

“I came out about five years ago and pretty quickly saw how dire the state of transgender rights is,” she said. “I wanted to get involved to make things better.”

Fairbanks discovered a passion for advocacy and activism in 2021 in response to the anti-LGBTQ legislation. Since then, she has continued to advocate for LGBTQ rights and other social-justice causes. In 2022, she founded Trans & Gender Queer Houston to provide transgender and gender-nonconforming folks with a place to socialize and network outside of the traditional support-group environment. She is also currently a board member of the Transgender Foundation of America and maintains memberships with Houston’s LGBTQ+ Political Caucus and the ACLU. Additionally, she is a graduate of Equality Texas’ Equality Leaders program.

In the current political climate, Fairbanks said, the freedom to have control over our

bodies and life choices is under attack, which makes these kinds of commissions all the more important to help protect citizens.

“We’re currently living in a state where people are literally fleeing this state because they fear for their health care and for their safety,” she said. “They fear their government. We have families that are moving away because they want access to health care for their transgender children. I personally know multiple families that have moved away from Texas because of the passage of SB 14, which banned transition-related care for anyone under the age of 18. Texas just has a bad reputation right now if you’re a trans person. For some reason, the transgender community has a target on their back.”

Despite all the injustice, Stylz said she is still optimistic that change is on the way and better days are ahead for the LGBTQ community.

“I’m a Black trans woman in the South,” she said. “I don’t exist without my ancestors’ hope. My pride doesn’t exist without the LGBTQIA+ pioneers’ hope. Hope is sometimes the only string of solace I have to hold and look forward to. Hope is how I survive.”

Meghan Fairbanks Diamond Stylz

SMART HEALTH

By DARYL SHORTER, MD

Navigating ‘Dry January’ with Mindfulness

One strategy with proven mental and physical health benefits is Dry January, a 31-day hiatus from alcohol consumption and substance use. Although not entirely new, Dry January has gradually gained wider acceptance as a means for evaluating one’s relationship to alcohol and drugs, and their effects on one’s life.

Studies have shown that members of the LGBTQ community are at greater risk of suffering negative consequences from alcohol and substance use. In comparison with cis-het individuals, LGBTQ people are more likely to engage in alcohol, tobacco, and drug use; more likely to develop substance-use disorders; and more likely to suffer from depression or other mental-health conditions, while also struggling with substance use.

These increased risks among LGBTQ people are quite complicated in origin, stemming from numerous personal, familial, and structural factors such as homophobia and transphobia. Despite greater acceptance of LGBTQ persons in our society—at levels ranging from local to global—people who identify as LGBTQ are still subject to discrimination, prejudiced legal systems, trauma, and violence. Ultimately, as members of a community with vulnerability to the negative impacts of alcohol and drug use, it is particularly important to occasionally take time away from substances as a means of promoting overall health.

In addition to lowering the risk of healthrelated problems, Dry January has several health benefits. Abstaining from alcohol and substances improves sleep, mood, and energy levels; promotes weight loss; and helps with motivation to engage in other healthy activities. Blood chemistries, such as liver enzymes and kidney function tests, can also improve. Plus, there is the possibility of tremendous money savings, creating good financial reasons to make a change.

Where Do I Begin?

It can be scary to even think about embarking on a Dry January. Fears of failure and missing out might immediately spring to mind. Ques-

Prioritizing your well-being after the holiday season.

tions about how to approach certain people, relationships, or events can also seem unanswerable. Creating a solid plan and anticipating your own personal challenges is the best place to start.

Step 1: Evaluate your current drinking/ substance-use pattern.

Start by examining your current relationship to alcohol and substances. This will give you a sense of any changes you might need to make over the next month. If your first drink of the day is usually during Happy Hour, or if you drink primarily on weekends at the bars with friends, knowing this upfront will help you create strategies for identifying people and situations that might serve as triggers or weaken your resolve.

How will you structure your day to avoid alcohol or substance use? If after school or work is a challenge, are there activities that you can schedule during those times? This is a great place to fold in exercise, mindfulness practices

such as journaling or meditation, or engaging in hobbies. Instead of thinking of this as taking away alcohol, consider how you can give yourself the gift of time and presence by doing something fun

If weekends, bars/clubs, or people are going to be a challenge, consider spending time with friends outside of party settings. Perhaps there are movies or concerts you might like to see, or a visit to one of the museums. Use this time as an opportunity to explore Houston while also getting refamiliarized with your sober self.

One final recommendation: calculate how much money you spend per day on alcohol and substances. You might have to estimate this number by looking at bank or credit card statements to see how much money you’ve spent over the past month. Be sure to include ATM fees and restaurant bills where alcohol was included in the price of the overall meal. Once you know how much money you spend daily, you can use

this information as a motivating strategy. Perhaps you can allow this money to collect over the month and then reward yourself in February with a nice purchase.

Step 2: Anticipate withdrawal and craving. It will happen.

Most people don’t recognize that even with occasional alcohol or drug use, the body goes through physical changes when substances are no longer being consumed. While in some cases the effect may be subtle, there may be a few days of not feeling so great. For example, there can be changes in mood, feeling more irritable or anxious, or struggling with insomnia or oversleeping. One’s appetite can also change, with increased food intake and craving for carbohydrates.

Cravings can come as physical sensations or waves of strong desire to engage in substance use that make it seem impossible to say no to alcohol or drug use. In these moments, remember that cravings typically last for only a few minutes, and distraction can be extremely helpful in getting over the hump until they pass on their own.

Knowing about withdrawal and craving is one of your greatest assets, because now you can plan for it. During the first week of January, right after

“DRY JANUARY ISN’T JUST A BREAK FROM ALCOHOL; IT’S A MINDFUL PAUSE TO ASSESS AND IMPROVE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SUBSTANCES.”

you’ve stopped substance use, what kinds of things can you do to ease the experience of withdrawal? Observe and practice kindness with yourself (and others), since things may be a bit emotionally wonky for a few days. Perhaps these are days where you don’t try to take on too many new projects or activities. Allow yourself to take breaks from others, if necessary. Plan to have foods available that you might like to eat as your appetite adjusts to the lack of alcohol or other substances.

Are there activities that help you calm down? Make a list and have it ready for times when cravings arise. Perhaps exercise or walking, listening to music or a meditation, or taking a hot bath or

By GRACE YUNG, CFP

Let’s Get Organized!

Seemingly small changes in your

As we enter another new year, many people are eager to make a “fresh start”—particularly in key areas like health and finance. When it comes to the latter, these can be as simple as ensuring that all of your information is up to date and on track with your current goals.

In fact, reviewing certain items in your financial plan could mean the difference between your wishes being carried out or your assets going to an unintended beneficiary in the future. With that in mind, be sure to take some time early in the year to verify that everything is in place.

Changes That Make a Big Impact

Making a fresh start in a new year can be the ideal time to do the following:

• Review beneficiary designations

• Get legal documents in place

• Ensure that powers of attorney are current

• Increase your savings

• Reduce or cut unnecessary expenses

Reviewing Beneficiary Designations

Making sure that beneficiary designations are correct on life insurance, IRAs, retirement accounts, deferred compensation plans, and your will is extremely important, because if these are outdated, money and assets could go to an unintended recipient such as an exspouse or partner. It could also mean that someone you love dearly and want to take care of financially is left out.

Certain types of assets can be passed directly to beneficiaries without being dictated in your will or going through probate. In addition to naming one or more primary beneficiaries, you should also name contingent beneficiaries, just in case the primary beneficiary pre-deceases you.

Because life is constantly changing, you should review beneficiary designations at least once per year—or even more often if you have experienced major life changes such as marriage or divorce, the birth or adoption of a

financial plan can lead to substantial results.

child or grandchild, the passing of a spouse or partner, and/or the purchase or sale of a home or business.

Getting Legal Documents in Place

The beginning of a new year is also a good time to get your legal documents in place if you have been putting this off. Or, if you already have a will, trust, etc., now is the time to make sure that they are all up to date, based on your current situation and objectives.

This is also important if you have elderly loved ones who are getting older and they don’t have a plan in place yet for their wishes regarding health care and long-term care, as well as end-of-life and funeral plans.

Ensuring Powers of Attorney Are Current

While nobody likes to think about becoming incapacitated, the reality is that unexpected illnesses and accidents can and do occur. If that happens, you will want to be sure that your intentions are known, and that they will be carried out by someone you trust. Therefore, getting your powers of attorney (POAs) in place for healthcare and financial matters is critical.

A durable power of attorney names the

person(s) or agent who will act on your behalf in financial, real estate, and legal transactions if you are no longer able to do so yourself due to incapacitation, whereas a healthcare power of attorney designates one or more individuals—such as your spouse, partner, or other loved one—to make important healthcare decisions on your behalf.

Another document that is a key component to a complete plan is a DNR, or “do not resuscitate” order. This is a medical order that is prepared by a doctor that instructs healthcare providers not to perform CPR or other life-saving measures on you, based on your specific wishes.

In addition to making sure that your own powers of attorney are updated, you should also do so if you will be representing someone else as their POA. The beginning of a new year is a great time to get this done.

Increasing Your Savings

Entering into a new year may also be a great time to increase your savings. Typically, the annual maximum contribution amounts for IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement

plans goes up every year, so increasing what you put in is usually possible.

Even if it doesn’t seem like a lot, every additional dollar that you contribute adds up. For example, even just an additional $20 per week equates to more than $1,000 at the end of the year. Plus, the money in your retirement plan(s) is allowed to accumulate and compound tax deferred or tax free.

There are other ways to give your savings a boost, too. For instance, if you will be getting an income tax refund, you could use a portion of it to pay off debt, and then put the rest of the money in savings, rather than spending it on items that you might not really need.

Reducing Unnecessary Expenses

Reducing, or eliminating, unnecessary expenses is another primary component in working toward financial security. In this case, take a close look at your 2024 budget and see where costs could be trimmed.

As an example, do you really use that gym membership or that expensive streaming service that you’ve been paying for every month? If not, it may be time to cancel them. Some other ways that you could cut costs include:

• Shopping for cheaper home, auto, health, and/or life insurance rates;

• Comparing cell phone carriers for a less expensive company or plan;

• Being mindful of how much you spend on non-essential items and/or eating out in restaurants.

Any of the money that you save on your expenses could be redirected into your personal savings or retirement plan.

Get a Financial Jump Start for 2024

The earlier you put your plan in place—or update your current plan—the more time it has to build momentum. Early in a new year is an ideal time to review what you have and make sure that it still correlates with your short- and long-term goals.

Having financial planning professional on your side can help ensure that you are on the right track with what works best for you. And working with a professional who is knowledgeable about issues that impact the LGBTQ community can be even more beneficial, as they can guide you based on the current legal and economic environment.

Grace S. Yung, CFP ®, is a Certified finanCial P lanner practitioner with experience in helping LGBTQ individuals, domestic partners, and families plan and manage their finances since 1994. She is the managing director at Midtown Financial Group, LLC, in Houston. Member FINRA / SIPC. For more information, visit: www.midtownfg.com

Free

Mary’s Mural , by Scott Swoveland, was originally on an outside wall of Mary’s bar, which closed in 2009. He recreated it in 2016 for the opening of the Phoenix Room, upstairs at Eagle Houston.

Remembering Artist Scott Swoveland

He painted hundreds of art pieces for Mary’s bar throughout the 1990s.

By CONNOR BEHRENS

Gay artist Scott Swoveland, who painted more than 500 infamous scenes on the front window of Mary’s bar from 1990 to 1999, recently passed away from health problems. A staple in Houston’s gay community, many are remembering Swoveland’s art and his impact on the city.

Swoveland, who moved to Houston in 1985, used art as a means of escape growing up. As a Navy brat, the artist moved a lot during his youth, and he would spend time drawing Snow White, Cinderella, Mickey Mouse, and other characters he found in his collection of Disney book-and-record sets.

“I attended seven different schools on

the East Coast and then in Louisiana, before graduating from high school,” he told Outsmart in 2011. His art, he said, “was a great way for a shy kid to meet people at a new school. I would sit under a tree and start to draw, and soon more and more people would come up to see what I was doing.”

Scott Swoveland’s artwork gained popularity when he started working at Mary’s bar, then located at the intersection of Westheimer and Waugh Drive. He was first hired as a parttime barback, but as his artistic talents became known, Mary’s owners asked him to work full time. He painted the weekly windows, designed the ads for This Week in Texas and the Houston Voice, took on numerous creative projects, and barbacked when he could.

Swoveland’s window designs advertised events such as military parties, crawfish boils, and other social events held at Mary’s. He also coordinated window themes with the bar’s weekly advertisements.

While there were many other art projects, Swoveland’s most notable piece was the mural he painted on the east exterior wall of Mary’s bar as part of the 1997 Pride Month celebration. The scene featured two leather men, some regulars playing pool, others gathered near the bar, and Mr. Balls, Mary’s mascot cat. Swoveland says his intention was to create a real-life reflection of what might be going on inside Mary’s on any given day.

Local gay historian JD Doyle had an on-

line friendship with Swoveland for years, with the artist even designing the cover of Doyle’s book, 1981: My Gay American Road Trip Doyle says the artist was always kind and cared about Houston, even after he moved away.

“While we never met in person, I have very fond memories of Scott,” he says. “In our communications he was always very giving. He sent me a bunch of old photos from his time in Houston because he knew how much I cared about preserving Houston’s gay history.”

Swoveland’s art connected with people because it was an authentic representation of Houston’s gay scene.

“You could tell it was definitely us that Scott was drawing,” Doyle says. “People connected with that. They could see themselves in his works. Plus, his style was unique. His portrait pieces were really good, but it’s not what you would typically expect of a portrait artist. He had a certain style.”

In 2006, Swoveland’s mural was mostly painted over, leaving only Mr. Balls perched on his bar stool. In 2009, Mary’s permanently closed. Fast-forward to 2011, when local artist Cody Ledvina announced that he and local art collective The Joanna

would be restoring the mural. A call was put out, and nearly 20 volunteers showed up to help with the task of recreating the mural.

Swoveland told Outsmart in 2011 that he was “touched, humbled, surprised, and honored” by the restoration of his mural and the community’s support.

“I am a big believer and supporter of preserving our gay heritage,” he said. “After all, if we have lived through the best and worst of times and don’t share our stories, then how will our young people who are starting their journey know where they came from, and the

sacrifices of those who came before?”

After the 2011 reproduction disappeared, Eagle Houston owner Mark De Lange began an effort to recreate it again in 2014 when he purchased the former 611 Club and converted it into the Eagle. De Lange asked around and connected with Swoveland, who had since moved to Indianapolis.

By 2016, De Lange and Swoveland reached an agreement: the Mary’s mural would be recreated in its original form, and Swoveland would also be commissioned to paint several new pieces, including striking paintings of masculine men. The new works gave Swoveland the opportunity to showcase his maturing artistic style.

Today, you can check out Swoveland’s art in the Phoenix Room, upstairs at Eagle Houston.

“When we were bringing Eagle into the neighborhood, I wanted the bar to have a local feel,” De Lange says. “That’s why it was so important to have Scotty’s art featured at the Eagle. He really was a beacon of light and hope for our community. He was instrumental in unifying the Houston gay community with his art.”

For more info, visit facebook.com/ gsswoveland.

Scott Swoveland

HEALTH + WELLNESS ISSUE

Unleashing Fitness Passion

From fitness enthusiast to business owner, Andrew Hayes shapes a supportive gym experience

By CONNOR BEHRENS

Fitness instructor

Andrew Hayes didn’t expect to open his own gym business, but when the opportunity presented itself, he knew this was the best way to help people achieve a healthier lifestyle.

“Body3 Personal Fitness is all about community, and our gym members are amazing,” he says. “Helping people with their health and fitness goals is always great. I get to see so many people come through our doors, and it’s awesome to see them get the support they’re looking for to work toward their goals.”

Hayes’ fitness journey started at a young age. Whether playing sports or just being outside, fitness has always been a part of who he is. It wasn’t until his mid-20s that he decided to turn fitness into a professional career.

“I always liked to help my friends when it came to running or lifting, and since a lot of them knew how much I ran, they asked for feedback or ideas or plans,” he says. “A lot of my friends recommended that I should be a trainer, which helped me decide. Once I realized this was what I wanted to do, I haven’t looked back.”

A mission of Hayes’ gym, which he owns with his husband, is to create a safe, fun environment where everyone can inspire and push each other to achieve their goals.

“Our gym is all about community, and our members are amazing,” he says. “Being in Oak Forest, we have a lot of members from right here in the neighborhood. However, we also have a lot who live farther away but want the community and support. Our clients tend to either be busy professionals who balance work and family, or they’re older folks looking to stay strong and healthy as they age. We know that trying to fit in exercise can be time consuming, and gyms in general can be stressful and intimidating. But it’s important for a lot of reasons. We try to take the stress out of it and make it as quick and easy as possible. Our end goal is that our members start to think of exercise as a regular, ongoing part of their life to stay healthy and strong as they get older.”

The goal of the gym is centered around that sense of support, with the official motto being “Just move!”

“The goal is to make the day the best you can,” he says. “Some days you maybe have more time to get a workout and some cardio in, and that’s great. Some days you may only have time to get a 15-minute walk in, and that’s great too! Fitness should be something

we strive to incorporate into our lives—not bending our lives around working out. I always tell my run clients and gym members that the big goal is movement. As long as we move more than we sit, then it’s a good day.”

It’s that mindset that Hayes says people should take into 2024. While many Americans have weight loss as their New Year’s resolution, it can be a struggle to stay motivated year round and keep the weight off.

“It’s important to slow down and focus on one step at a time,” he says. “Nothing is gonna happen overnight, but stick to it and trust the process. You will get results. Results take time and people tend to want them to happen fast so they do everything at once. Then they feel overwhelmed, stressed, or like they failed. I always tell people to keep things easy and focus on one thing at a time.”

In terms of specific tips and tricks that people can use to stay motivated, Hayes says small short-term goals add up to bigger goals, so that you don’t end up feeling overwhelmed

“FITNESS SHOULD BE SOMETHING WE STRIVE TO INCORPORATE INTO OUR LIVES, NOT BENDING OUR LIVES AROUND WORKING OUT.”

—Andrew Hayes

as you start your fitness journey.

“Have small short-term goals that all add up to your bigger goals,” he says. “This gives you more wins along the way and gives you a more detailed path to the big picture. It seems simple, but having the patience and sticking with it is really hard. That’s why the support and accountability we give at our gym is so important.”

It’s also important to make sure you don’t start a fitness journey all by yourself, as friends and family can help keep you going, Hayes says.

“Again, community will help you stick to your goals and make it fun along the way,” he says. “That’s why it’s such a big goal at our gym. You want exercise to become a part of your lifestyle, so it should be something you enjoy! And starting is the hardest part. Anything new can be challenging at first, but it should be something that makes you feel better about yourself and your day.”

For those who are apprehensive about getting fit and losing weight, Hayes suggests connecting with a gym coach and researching workout plans to find out what works best.

“Everyone needs something different in their health and fitness journey, so learn what you want or what kind of support you need to be successful,” he says. “There are so many different types of gyms and communities out there, so don’t be afraid to try out a few and find the right fit for you. Start with a call or email to schedule a visit to learn more about our gym. Visit and ask questions to find out if it’s the right fit for you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and ask for what you need. A gym or gym community that you feel comfortable with is essential.”

Everyone will have a bad day or two, but it’s important to not give up and keep your weight goals at the forefront of your mind, Hayes says.

“Don’t get discouraged,” he says. “Not everything is gonna be perfect. Maybe you had a little too much to drink one night, maybe you went a little overboard with food, or maybe you met friends for brunch that turned into an all-day Sunday event! When that happens, don’t stress about it. Don’t punish yourself the next day by overdoing the exercise. All you need to do is go back to your regular routine. Don’t stress. Just move, and the rest will fall into place.”

For more information on Body3 Personal Fitness, visit body3fit.com.

Rooted in Purpose

Jotina Buck ’s vision for holistic healing is going international in 2024.

By IAN HADDOCK

Jotina Buck has been curating Yoga in the 5th—a space for healing through yoga in Houston’s Fifth Ward—for the last two and a half years. This past December was her last iteration of what has become a celebration of community and the practice of wellness in Houston. Almost half of Fifth Ward residents are Black, and most of the other half Hispanic. In a Greater Fifth Ward Community Assessment, the Houston Health Department reports that a staggering 43% of Fifth Ward households report a cancer diagnosis and 50% of respondents say their self-reported health is fair or poor.

Once an unfathomable idea, Jotina and Fifth Ward community leaders decided to bring yoga, a wellness practice usually associated with the affluent, into a community plagued with health and wealth disparities. Her determination to expand the horizons of those most marginalized has been a driving force in her healing work. Through her vision— and by listening to her call and the community’s needs—she has forged a path and created facilities and activities that fill the needs of the people she serves.

Jotina is the leader and founder of Root+Yoke Wellness, the first and only Black queer female-led integrative mental healthcare practice in Houston. The journey to becoming a healing guide was a winding path that initially forced her to heal herself. Born near Fifth Ward on Laura Koppe and Lockwood to two entrepreneurs, she would find herself having to pass drug dealers and liquor stores just to get to the local fruit stand. She was raised by a mother who functioned as a healer through meals that were not only intended to enhance her palate but also provide sustenance and wellness. Her father worked with the earth and with animals to ensure his

family was taken care of. Jotina knew early on that one could find power in the community while seeking to enhance the environment in which the community existed. In her early childhood, she knew that some day she would want her own children to experience the same type of upbringing in a society of promise.

The path may have been difficult, but she showed herself to be resilient—even after failing ninth grade and taking a remedial math class in her first year of college. Her breaking point was reached in her senior year at Houston Baptist University. She had become a proud mother to her daughter, Lauren, her mother and father had transitioned to be with the ancestors, and she was in her car in the Houston Baptist parking lot having a panic attack, unable to move. In between tears, Jotina tells me, “It’s a personal journey to healing. In this moment I had to recognize my feelings because, many times, we divorce our bodies and forfeit feelings. Cutting off reservoirs to feel cuts off pathways to heal. I have learned to stay connected to feeling.”

After working through those deep feelings of grief and fear, she began her journey on the other side of healing. Before long, she was working in education and was the first of her siblings to become a homeowner, all while raising a brilliant daughter who was at the top of her class. Fully realizing she had created the life she desired as a young woman, she decided to leave the public education system and begin her full-time journey into being a mentalhealth practitioner.

In just a few years, Jotina has amassed a quarter of a million dollars in revenue from her business, while working with communities worldwide to enhance their wellness. Through her work, she has been able to generate a local spirit with a global impact, working in partnership with names such as Lululemon, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, Immigrant Children’s Rights, and ViiV Healthcare, among

others.

Sitting in her office while peering out the window, she remembers how she buried her mother’s Bible and a letter to her dad under the foundation of her Zen room where she now sat. Quietly but profoundly, she exclaims, “This next moment is doing what I said I would do, whether I know if that is possible or not. That is the continued path toward healing.”

Jotina has decided that this new year will be spent creating a significant addition to her healing practice: the Root+Yoke Wellness Retreat Center in Mexico. In this space, she will be tapping into the powers of her mother and father as she provides farming, gardening, and meals with meaning and mindfulness. This hosting space for retreats will be a place where Black and queer bodies can experience all their identities and be held, while also providing healing and wellness modalities such as yoga and breathwork. Though she has not fully envisioned what it will entail, she is audacious enough to accept the mystery and know that it is a part of her journey to fulfill this need.

So Jotina is leaving Houston with a wealth of community backing and a renewed vision for the locals here in Fifth Ward and the world at large. Creating a space for people to be guided into their healing is her life’s work, and it is steeped in the memories of her younger self walking past people with substance-use issues into rooms filled with people who had access to yoga, meals, meditation, and compassion. “It is my prayer that they know we’ve been co-builders in what we have. It is not me; this is an ‘us’ thing. I hope that it will continue to grow and thrive.”

Keep up with Jotina Buck on Instagram @jotinabuck

“IN THIS MOMENT, I HAD TO RECOGNIZE MY FEELINGS BECAUSE, MANY TIMES, WE DIVORCE OUR BODIES AND FORFEIT FEELINGS. CUTTING OFF RESERVOIRS TO FEEL CUTS OFF PATHWAYS TO HEAL. I HAVE LEARNED TO STAY CONNECTED TO FEELING.”

—Jotina Buck

MAD About Fitness

Alex Alvarado is on a mission to help her clients reach their fitness goals.

By ZACH McKENZIE

Photo by ASHLEN SYDNEY

The dawn of a new year inspires many to adopt a healthier lifestyle. These resolutions often manifest in the purchase of gym memberships and eating more fruits and vegetables. As it turns out, the phrase “new year, new me” is typically much easier said than done. Local fitness leader Alex Alvarado is a professionally certified coach who is on a mission to disrupt toxic fitness tropes and help her clients achieve their goals in a healthy, long-lasting way.

“I sort of stumbled upon my fitness career while in college at the University of Houston,” the H-Town native explains. “I minored in kinesiology and was looking for a job. I saw that a boxing gym was hiring, so I applied.” Alvarado initially manned the gym’s front desk before serendipitously being tapped to lead a boxing class. “One day, a coach didn’t come into work, and I was asked if I could coach their class. After that experience I thought, ‘Oh, this can maybe take me somewhere.’”

Despite having a calling for a career in health and wellness, Alvarado worked as a 7th-grade English teacher after graduating from UH. “I was a full-time teacher for about six years, and I was training clients at a gym part-time at night,” she explains. “I loved teaching so much. I also coached volleyball and basketball and loved the team aspect. I knew how to lead people.” Her boss at the gym recognized her dedication and enthusiasm for her work and offered her a full-time coaching job. Alvarado obtained her ACE Personal Training certification, and the rest is history. “I decided to give this fitness thing a go and left teaching. It was a no-brainer.”

“EVERYBODY’S GOING TO START SOMEWHERE, SO JUST MAKE WHATEVER DAY YOU CHOOSE YOUR ‘DAY ONE.’”

—Alex Alvarado

Today, the 31-year-old has parlayed her personal training experience into her current role at MADabolic The Heights. The franchise positions itself as the leader in barbell-free strength training and conditioning, offering a new standard for group fitness. “I found out about MAD through a podcast that I was listening to and looked them up on Instagram,” Alvarado recalls. “MAD is way different than anything I’ve ever heard of or experienced. I needed a change and a challenge. I applied to work at MAD, got hired, and left my other job soon after.”

MAD stands for Momentum, Anaerobic, and Durability—the three signature intervals

that the gym on Washington Avenue applies in order to torch body fat, increase strength, and promote lean muscle. “MAD is full of growth and opportunity. They really set their staff up for success and intentionally design their programming, structure, and the accountability for their members as well. It doesn’t compare to any other company when it comes to group fitness.”

Although there is light conversation among members before each class begins, Alvarado assures that her clients take their workouts very seriously. “When it comes time to work, it’s time to work. Everybody grinds through the

same workout together.” One aspect she particularly appreciates is MAD’s emphasis on hosting socials for gym members and staff. Events have included pickleball games, happy hours, and more. “I think it’s super cool how we’re able to talk, mingle, and get to know each other outside of the gym setting. People realize all they have in common, as well as how they’re different. Our socials give them the opportunity to have other conversations besides just gym stuff, which I think people really enjoy.”

Her clients, and the progress they see over time, are what inspire Alvarado and reinforce her decision to pursue a career in personal training. “I love seeing people make progress. Whether it’s somebody who’s intimidated about coming into the gym, or someone that never thought they could lift more than 15 pounds. I get to witness them overcome their doubts and crush it in the gym. I constantly think to myself, ‘Damn, you did that!’” she says, regarding her clientss “And I get to be part of their journey along the way.”

The inclusive environments at MAD (and with previous employers) have afforded Alvarado the spaces to be herself. Most recently, she shared news of her engagement to her partner, Michelle, with her clients at MAD. “I came out when I was a few years into the fitness world. Initially, I wouldn’t tell anybody and it was kind of a secret because I didn’t want people to think differently of me,” she explains. “But as the years went on, I began naturally showing my personality, Michelle came into the mix, and people knew I was out. I quickly learned that people like me for my personality and don’t really care what my preferences are.”

The Certified Functional Strength Coach (CFSC) encourages members of the community, and anyone who is looking to make fitness-related changes in the new year, to do it for themselves. “Everybody’s going to start somewhere, so just make whatever day you choose your ‘Day One.’ Whatever you choose to do, just stick with it,” she says. Sneaking in a little plug for her full-time gig, Alvarado adds, “If you’re looking for that strength training, structure, and accountability, I definitely recommend coming in and trying out MAD.”

Keep up with Alex Alvarado on Instagram @aalvarado_4.

Rocky Hollub

Victor Lopez

Breaking the Mold

Joe Salinas offers tips and tricks for getting into shape in the new year.

By CONNOR BEHRENS

Like many people, Joe Salinas’ fitness journey began with a need to get healthier and feel more motivated. Now, The Woodlands trainer is sharing that passion and using his high-energy personality to inspire others to get fit.

“I came from an unhealthy family and an unhealthy way of living up until high school,” he says. “Then I was introduced to the JROTC program, and that kind of changed my outlook on health and what it means to be fit. I learned I really excelled at physical fitness and following workout routines.”

While Salinas went to college for criminal justice, the idea of pursuing a career in physical fitness became a reality when he got recruited to Camp Gladiator by a friend.

“Camp Gladiator really changed my whole outlook on what health and fitness can be in my life,” he says. “Before, it was just something that I was good at—a hobby. With this, it became

a full-fledged career. Camp Gladiator showed me that you can have an impact on people’s way of living, something that’s always been incredibly important to me.”

Salinas, who teaches strength classes and offers nutrition programs, knows that when it comes to exercising, you have to find what works best for you. And that includes your mental mindset.

“So many people see fitness and exercise as a chore, but I teach my clients to have fun,” he says. “I like to build a community. I teach them to have fun. Exercising should be seen as something that makes you feel good. I like to foster a sense of community where we are all just working together towards a common goal, and that builds trust among everyone. I think I’ve been pretty successful because of who I am as a person, and I don’t try to hide or tone down who I am as a gay man. I like to be high energy and pump people up.”

While exercise is important, many

people forget to change their diet, something that Salinas says is a key reason people don’t get the results they want.

“Diet is something that you have to commit to and really want in order to be successful,” he says. “Whether it’s to lose weight, gain weight, or maintain, you have to create a plan based around that. What I do is calculate a nutrition plan for clients—what calories they need in order to meet their goal. I come up with a meal plan and provide it to them weekly. I find that people will find the change they’re looking for when they partner fitness and nutrition together. You can only go so far with one or the other. You need both.”

dealing with the difficulty sheltering with neighbors hurricane, someone from Wyoming contacted Kern inspired to rewrite their policies to be more transthat Kern’s voice is making a

ary tone. The cover was designed by Egyptian artist Ganzeer, who Kern met at a local festival and recognized him as the activist and street artist who gained notoriety during the Egyptian revolution in 2011 before being forced into exile. Now based in Houston, Ganzeer was able to produce a cover design—including a dust jacket that unfolds into a protest poster—recalling the street art he produced during the Egyptian revolution.

Looking ahead, Kern is already working on their next book, and it’s a departure from previous climate-fiction novels. This new story takes place in Eastern Europe in 1647 and is a historical-fiction plot that follows a group of traveling queer Jews as they navigate religion, racism, and capitalism. But Kern’s signature style—including elements of climate change and social justice—will still be evident throughout the book.

Even though many Americans pick weight loss as a top New Year’s resolution, it can be challenging to stick to a diet and exercise plan. Salinas says community is important for this very reason.

inspire further activism

“You have to have someone to keep you accountable,” he says. “Even just having someone to go with to the gym is honestly the best thing I’ve seen work. Again, I’m all about community, all about having people in your life that are there to support you. I think that’s what helps someone become successful, rather than

The Free People’s Village. a red background with suggesting war propaganreaders with its revolutionP.O. Box 940082 Houston, TX 77094

doing it themselves and falling off.”

Salinas says anyone trying to lose weight or gain muscle should start slow and not overwhelm themselves.

WHAT: Sim Kern book launch event and discussion WHEN: September 12 at 6:30 pm WHERE: Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet INFO: www.brazosbookstore.com

Keep up with Kim Kern on Instagram @sim_bookstagrams_badly

“If you look at my workouts, you’ll find that they’re all simple,” he says. “You have to create a plan that you can realistically do. I tell my clients that they can’t suddenly make drastic changes. You will burn out if you start dieting or exercising too fast. You will come crashing down and then be in the same spot you started at. Slow and steady wins the race.”

For anyone who is apprehensive about bringing exercise into their daily routine, Salinas says it’s normal to feel overwhelmed or shy at the gym, but that will pass the more you go.

“When I first started going, I was really shy,” he says. “I didn’t know what the machines did and what equipment would be best for me. Again, that’s why it’s good to have a buddy or a coach. They can help you feel less stressed. A coach can create a program for you and educate you on which machines to use and what benefits you will get. If you can’t afford a trainer, you can always just do some research online and find a workout plan to try.”

Fitness is a journey, at the end of the day, and Salinas wants to make sure he can help people feel confident and proud of who they are.

“It makes my heart happy being able to help people and see people working together to accomplish their goals,” he says. “I just want to be a positive role model for the people in my area. I hope I can be a light. I want to be there for people and show them that someone cares and is willing to challenge them. Exercise and fitness is a journey, not a race. I want to be their guide on that journey.”

Keep up with Joe Salinas on Instagram @salinasjoee.

O V E R V I E W 2024 ASTROCAST

by LILLY RODDY

Mercury retrograde, which generally occurs three to four times a year, is always an important time for all signs, as it allows us to review the past while putting our present choices on hold. We start the year in Mercury retrograde, so New Year’s resolutions will be delayed. The next Mercury retrogrades are March 28–May 3, July 31–September 3, and November 21–December 21. These are good times for cleaning up, clearing out, finishing projects, and connecting with people from your past. However, it is never a good time to purchase a car, electronics, or sign your name to a document.

ARIES

(Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

Eclipses will play a big role in your astrological outlook this year. The eclipses in March/April and September/October will provide you with new opportunities and focus attention on your relationships. You will be initiating new projects.

Mercury is retrograde in your sign March 28–May 3. This will have a direct impact on your relationships. If your relationships are positive, this is a great time to reflect together on why you are together. If you are in a difficult partnership, you will be confronting those issues seeking some sort of resolution.

Friendships, work colleagues, and your support groups are all going through major life shifts. Some folks are retiring, others are moving on to a new stage in

The eclipses this year will be in Libra/Aries and Libra/Pisces.

The first set of eclipses is the Lunar Eclipse at the March 25 Full Moon in Libra and the Solar Eclipse on April 8 in Aries. The second set of eclipses is the Lunar Eclipse September 18 in Pisces and the Solar Eclipse on October 2 in Libra. Eclipses are door openers. They allow us to see an alternative path. The 2024 eclipses will have the strongest impact on the cardinal signs of Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn.

Spring will be a busy time of year. We will slow down some in the summer and will be more reflective. In late fall and early winter, we will be getting ready to take on new projects and ventures.

their lives, and you are assessing the benefits you receive from the organizations you belong to.

Your interest in metaphysics or spiritual pursuits are strong this year. You may take this up as a study or improve your existing knowledge. You are questioning more why you are here and the nature of your spiritual path on the planet.

This continues to be a good time for investment, expanding your current resource base, and connecting to something that really satisfies your passion. This will be very strong in April!

Communications and your curiosity will be stronger after May. You may be looking to expand your education, do more traveling, or develop your presence on social media. Come summer, you will have lots of new ideas opening up for you.

Overall, this is a fairly positive

year. You will be more selective about the people you allow close to you this year. Your psychic receptivity is stronger, and people seeking help may bug you more than usual.

TAURUS

(Apr. 20–May 20)

Career direction, a shift in long-term goals, moving on to something else, and possible retirement are what the planets have in store for you. There will be shifts in your industry or with the company you work for, even if you run your own business. Many of you have been looking for something more exciting. You may find help and support in business organizations or from colleagues in your field. You will want to take an active role, or you may shy away from that area of your life. You may also be looking to

relocate for your work. You are looking for wide-open spaces and a chance to be closer to nature.

Your relationships continue to be positive through the end of May. This is a great time for taking your relationship to the next level or taking some time to appreciate what you have. If you are in a restrictive or unappreciative relationship, you are already looking! MidApril could be a very bumpy time if you are around people who want to put you in a box.

Finances and investments improve after May. This is a much better time to ask for a raise, upgrade your skills, and expand your resource base. You are more likely to want to spend money, and you will have to be aware of that throughout 2024. You are also working hard to get yourself out of debt

and lessen the financial pressure.

Take the lead and move forward with the necessary changes in your life after January 9.

GEMINI

(May 21–June 21)

You are interested in the longterm perspective this year. Your career energies are going to be very active this year and next year. You may be looking to take a leadership role, start your own business, or if you’re older, cutting down and having better personal balance in your life. You have been looking for something more fulfilling for the last several years, and this will be the year that you make some choices about that direction.

Boundaries are going to be especially important this year. You want to be treated with respect and appreciated for what you do. For people that take advantage of you, you will be limiting their access to you. You may be going through a big cleanout by getting rid of things you don’t need. You may also be questioning your personal holiday and family traditions and

the relevance they hold for you.

There are some changes occurring in the family hierarchy, and you may have to step up! You are seeing your parents and family members in a more realistic light. You may feel the pressure of being an adult and may be wanting to start your own family.

Jupiter, the planet of growth, travel, expansion, and good luck, enters your sign on May 25th for a one-year stay. This will help with most all activities and plans for the future. Jupiter will provide more options and give you more of a magnetic personality. You may even be busier than you like. Multi-tasking will be required.

This year, Mercury retrograde impacts your sign more than other signs. There are three this year: March 28–May 3, July 31–September 3, and November 21–December 21. The one in November/ December will have the strongest impact. Take care of the past and put the future on hold.

CANCER

(June 22–July 22)

This year you will be gaining traction, creaating order, and bringing focus to your interests and projects. You will be exposed to differing points of view this year, and you may review what you think you know through broadening your education or improving your existing skill set. You have a lot of ideas this year, and you want others to hear your point of view through social media. You may also be the teacher this year, as well!

Your social arena continues to grow. You are connecting with

people who share a similar point of view in order to improve your neighborhood or to bring an awareness to diversity and justice. This is an excellent year to join a business organization. You may find that you are pushed into a leadership role here. And for some of you, this is a year of stepping away from what you have done in the past and looking for a less chaotic environment.

Over the past few years, you have been overhauling your relationship patterns and partnership interactions. You have been clearing away your hesitancy and learning to be more comfortable with being more direct. Others will be surprised! This has helped positive partnerships get past negative blocks in the relationship, while difficult partnerships have gone by the wayside.

This year begins a time when you will be working on getting rid of your debt, looking at investments, and overall making better use of your resources. You are willing to look at a long-term plan to get everything in order.

The eclipses this year are in your career sector in March/April and in October. This should open up some new opportunities for you! You may even be considering doing something on your own. You want your career to be of your own making.

LEO

(July 23–Aug. 22)

This year begins a shift in your perspective on relationships of all kinds. You are clearing your negative patterns and eliminating people who are toxic. In personal relationships, this can mean a

time to renew your initial goals and reasons you got together. This will be extra strong when Mercury is retrograde in your sign in August and September.

This continues to be a time of shift and change in your career arena. For some, this can be a time when you are ready to retire. For others, you are ready to do something more interesting that really stirs your passion. You may be starting something on your own or taking on a leadership position at work or in your community.

You are more social this year, expanding your circle of friends and colleagues. You will have a great awareness of your community and will want to participate in making your neighborhood better. You are being a lot more conservative with your money and investments, and are doing more with what you have. This is an excellent year to deal with debt and free yourself from some of the burdens of obligation. It may be harder to get a loan this year, and money will seem tighter. This may increase your concern and cause you to be even safer with your finances.

This is a better year for expanding your education, honing your existing skill set, working with social media, and setting up

a blog or a podcast.

The eclipses this year, March/ April and September/October, are putting emphasis on your day-to-day activities. You will be eliminating some activities and adding others that really interest you. You will be more communicative during the eclipses, as you will be sharing your point of view more clearly.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept.22)

You Virgos are getting serious this year. You are reevaluating your relationships and career, bringing in better boundaries and feeling better about telling people no. Generally, you are paying much more attention to your boundaries. You are not just responding to keep the peace or make others happy— although you could!

In existing relationships, this is a time for review and renewal. You may need new goals to bring a partnership into better agreement. This is also a good year to make new commitments, as you are wide awake about what you are getting into in either business or romance. You will want to find resolution with difficult relationships, one way or the other.

Career activity is going to be positive and active this year. You are reevaluating your current career position, trying to decide on a

course of action. Although your career energy is already improving, it gets very good in May. This beneficial time will be strong through June 2025. But you are taking a more practical and realistic view, and you will be more careful about the choices you make. If you are a stay-at-home parent, you may have a more active community life and find yourself involved in projects that may seem “career-like.”

You continue to question your spiritual life, as you are more sensitive and psychically aware. You have been in this cycle for the last few years, and it has affected your point of view and determining what really matters.

Mercury, your ruler, will be retrograde in late July through early September, and late November through late December. These retrogrades will have a strong impact on you. You will be more introspective and question your choices during these periods.

You are going to make some progress this year!

LIBRA

(Sept. 23–Oct. 23)

You are working on creating more order, keeping better boundaries, and not taking on too much this year. If you work outside the home, you are improving your personal routines. There should be equipment updates and better communications. There will be less redundancy and more efficiency. You will be more clear about what your job is—and what it isn’t. If you are an at-home worker, you will want a better workspace with modern connections. You will also want a clearer schedule, so you don’t find yourself always working. You are wanting your family to grow up and take on greater responsibilities.

This is also an important year

to pay attention to improving your health through exercise, better eating, and eradicating the negative influences around you. This is a great year to set up a routine of exercise so that it fits into your busy life.

You are more interested in expanding your point of view or education. This is a wonderful year for improving your existing skill set or even teaching a class and helping others. You are generally more open-minded and can see how small actions affect the larger world. This is a better time for travel and connecting with people from other countries. This can also be a very good year for dealing with international business.

Creatively, you are looking for ways to express your individuality and uniqueness. You may be taking on a hobby and growing that into a business. If you have children, you will see them being more ingenious. There is a playful part of you that wants more fun time!

The eclipses this year, March/ April and September/October, will have a direct impact on your relationships. If your partnerships are not going very well, these times can be very challenging. If you are doing well, the eclipses will only help to magnify those pleasurable aspects.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 24–Nov. 21)

Relationship energies continue to be positive through May. You are looking for a more balanced relationship where responsibilities are shared. You don’t have any patience for people who are too demanding, and you will be eliminating those people from your life. Intellect, equality, and friendship are very important to you in your partnerships. After May, you may be considering a deeper level of commitment or personal investment. This is a better year for financial investments, loans, and investments in general. Companies that deal with travel and communications are viable investments for you. Your core values are going through a clearing and cleaning. This will be seen impacting your family, the family hierarchy, where you reside, and who are you at the

deepest levels. With the family, people are getting older and there is a shift in who is in charge. If you have older relatives, this can be a time when they retire or possibly move on. You may face some personal challenges when it comes to family dynamics. In some challenging cases, you may withdraw completely. Your personal definition of family is coming into conflict with the mythology of family. There can also be some hidden truths that are unearthed at this time. You may feel that you are going through a death and rebirth time or a shedding of your old skin. You are more direct and have less tolerance for BS. You will question your own identity. You may make some major shifts in your life, stepping away from your previous career path. There can be changes there that are about shifts in your industry, and you may not know if you are going to continue. This is a great time for therapy, improving your health, getting rid of negative people, and removing the shackles of the past.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov.22–Dec.21)

Over the last several years, there have been some significant changes in your family. Older relatives are giving way to the young folk, and it may have been harder to find the connections you once had. Personally, you have needed more time to yourself with fewer demands from family members. All that is slowly shifting, and there is a sense of order coming back into your family. Even if you are relatively young, you may have to step up and take on a leadership role in your family. There is definitely a need for guidance and putting things back on course. You may be looking to relocate, remodel, or purchase your own home.

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You are looking for more long-term stability in your life. This is also impacting your career goals. You may feel that this is the time to start your family and start building your life.

With career, you are more open to going to school, expanding on existing experience, and making yourself more valuable. You are also wanting more personal freedom when it comes to work. This is an excellent time to improve your work environment. If you are working from home, you are looking to upgrade your home office.

In May, your relationship energies improve. If you are involved, this will help to bring fresh energy into your partnership. If you are single, this is a better time for meeting new people and expanding your social life. In business, this is a better year for connecting with colleagues and pleasant customers. With the stabilizing factors also going on, this can be a time for commitments.

You are improving your day-to-day activities by getting rid of bad habits and making better use of your time. You are more direct and to the point!

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Your year starts with Mercury retrograding in your sign. This is a clear indication to step back and gain some perspective before you move forward. Capricorns have been going through some tough times since 2008. The major impact of this long process is coming to an end. You have been forced to respond to change, despite your best efforts at trying to gain some stability and safety. With family, there have been some losses that have made you rethink what is really important in your life. You may have felt cut off or isolated. Help

and support may have been hard to find. Through all of it, you are leaner and tougher. You are now entering a rebuilding phase in your life where things will have more stability and permanence. You will be doing that by making sure you have a great balance between work and home

You will be improving your daily agenda by setting a schedule that provides a clear structure for getting things done—and for recuperating, as well! This can be a time where you are interested in taking classes and possibly even teaching one.

You will be rediscovering some latent talents over the next couple of years and finding ways to include them in your life.

The eclipses in March/April and September/October this year are in the career and home areas of your horoscope. These can be good times for new work opportunities that may affect where you live. You will be busier than you have been with work and home routines. There is improvement in your workspace. You may be getting some office upgrades so your communications will be vastly improved.

You are slowly becoming more social. Family issues may draw you out this summer. Be ready to set some boundaries there!

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

The next few years are going to be exciting, challenging, and growthoriented times for Aquarians. This is not a quick process, but one that allows you to go inward and clean out all the muck. This will impact you in your relationships, family, career, and your view of yourself.

In relationships, this can be a time to challenge rigidity and outmoded ways of relating. You and your partner may be redefining the roles in your relationship, providing you with more freedom and equality. Having intellectual interests in common is a must with Aquarians. In difficult relationships, this can be a period when some sort of resolution must occur. You will not continue to go on as before without that resolution.

With career, you are not feeling as connected as before. You are exploring alternatives that reflect more of your personal interests rather than what you are good at. If you are older (or just tired of old ways), you may be considering retirement or disconnecting from the grid. And some of you will be starting your own thing that guarantees more control and personal self-determination.

With family, there have already been changes that are pushing away the past and making way for present realities. You are able to detach yourself from problems and squabbles from the past and move on. You may also be looking to relocate this year. That desire could be very strong in July.

And finally, this is a very good year to have children, to relate better with your children, or just satisfy your own inner child. This is a more playful and creative time. Personally, you may focus on your hobbies and external interests. This is a great year for going back to school for an advanced degree and expanding your presence on social media for business.

PISCES

(Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

This year you are bringing order, direction, decision, focus, and clarity to your life. This is the year of boundary-making and improvements. You are going to be focused on yourself this year, which is stepping out of character for you. You are normally more open and willing to help others, even when it’s not in your best interest. You will be valuing yourself more and not giving away the best parts of yourself this year.

With friends, you are looking for them to grow up and act like

adults, or you may not want these folks in your life. You don’t want to hear the same old complaints. You want to see them take action on resolving their problems and not dump them on you.

In your career, you are ready to take more control of what is going on. This is a good time to step into a leadership role or consider doing something on your own. If you are older, this can be a time of retirement or semi-retirement, but you will still be looking for a new project that reflects more of your personal interests.

Existing relationships need renewal and resetting goals for the future. This is a much better time for commitments, weddings, and business partnerships. You are clearer about your boundaries, so you have more freedom in your choices.

You are looking for more personal options and freedom with your work schedule. You just don’t need to be stuck in one place! This is a very good time to upgrade your electronics and internet connections.

Family connections improve in the summer. This can be a good time to heal old family wounds and betrayals, as family members are more receptive.

For more info, visit lillyroddyshow.com.

The Magic of Marfa

This small West Texas town is the perfect place to escape.

Text

and

photos by ZACHARY McKENZIE

Tucked away in the vast West Texas landscape is a little place called Marfa. The unassuming small town with a population of 1,750 is recognized for its impressively iconic art scene, the elusive “mystery lights” that have inspired folklore over the years, and as the backdrop for commercials, music videos, and films such as the film epic Giant starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean. Today, Marfa is a destination for city slickers seeking a slower pace, as well as an oasis for the LGBTQ community in the deeply red part of the state.

One gay couple, Adam Walton and husband Clark Childers, a fifth-generation Texan, planted stakes in the West Texas desert and opened The Lincoln Marfa, a boutique hotel and lodging community that honors the history of the town and offers comfortable accommodations for travelers far and wide.

The pair were working in the entertainment industry and living in Los Angeles when they met. A trip Childers took to Marfa ultimately led to their acquisition of the hotel building.

“I had been living in LA for 15 years, living paycheck to paycheck. I love Marfa, and when I saw this place was on the market, I put in an offer because it was a hell of a deal,” he recalls.

When the original buyer’s offer fell through, the couple made the leap from Hollywood to West Texas. “We decided to move to Marfa together to get started on creating this housing community,” Childers explains. Walton jokingly interjects, “People would tell us that they wouldn’t touch this building with

a ten foot pole!”

The couple shared a vision for their hotel project, one the two deemed a major labor of love. The steady income they see from their long-term tenants and short-term guests has afforded them financial stability and breathed new life into their film careers.

“We’re still filmmakers and actors. We haven’t given that up yet,” Childers remarks, “[and the hotel] has certainly allowed us to continue to expand that part of our lives.”

To the couple’s delight, Marfa is an incredibly LGBTQ-friendly town. In fact, thanks in part to sponsorships from businesses like The Lincoln, it has hosted an annual Pride event for two consecutive years.

“There’s a sizable queer community out

here,” Walton says. “There are trans kids, gay men and women. We knew we needed to get all these people together, because Marfa is a place where people come to disconnect. We had drag queens come in from El Paso and Austin. People made the pilgrimage to Marfa, brought the energy, and made it happen.”

Situated between Valentine and Alpine, Marfa is a quiet desert town with a lot of heart.

“We feel very safe here,” Childers explains. “We’re a blue county that has stayed blue through thick and thin. I was a Democratic county chair for three years and worked to keep it blue through COVID. I think that’s what makes it appealing. You’ve

Roadside GIANT murals, the See Mystery Lights sign, and Marfa Spirit Co.

got allies and advocates, and there’s a mix of every flavor.”

Walton emphasizes the beauty of Marfa’s diversity and explains that “the town has a wide array of political perspectives, but the intimacy of small town life demands that we all know each other and participate in the community together, so there’s a necessity to set aside any differences and lean on one another.”Tourists flock to Marfa year round to visit the Prada Marfa roadside attraction, catch a glimpse of the rumored UFOs floating around in the night sky, visit The Chinati Foundation contemporary art museum, and live like the locals—if only for a little while.

“We constantly have this global population of people coming here,” Walton says. “It’s an international crowd and it’s really special. It allows this small town to con-

stantly be infused with the global infrastructure of the world.”

“There’s a balance here that doesn’t seem to exist in many places,” Childers adds.

Before you hit the dusty trail and head west, here’s what to know about visiting Marfa, Texas.

Where to Stay in Marfa

The dynamic gay duo behind The Lincoln Marfa have created a cozy, unique hotel that is centrally located and perfect for short- or longterm visits. Their courtyard rentals include a koi pond, fire pit, exteriors and interiors that make the space feel like home away from home, and even an option for guests who are looking for extra privacy to stay in an actual remodeled nuclear fallout shelter. The outdoor cowboy soak tank is perfect for relaxing after a long day of walking around and exploring, while the

pink-and-yellow exteriors make for perfect photo backdrops.

The Lincoln Marfa is only one of the LGBTQ-owned hotels in town. Liz Lambert is the out hotelier behind El Cosmico. The campground, equipped with yurts, Airstreams, safari tents and more, is the perfect option for those who are inclined to glamp during their West Texas adventure. The outdoor showers and restrooms are all part of the chill vibes and communal atmosphere at this Marfa landmark.

Looking for a ghost encounter? The Hotel Paisano, once deemed “the jewel of the West Texas desert,” is a historic building that has attracted Hollywood folk, tourists, and even ghost hunters. In addition to its supernatural lore, the hotel features a bevy of gift shops, a luxurious pool, an elegant restaurant named Jett’s Grill, and more.

Hotel Saint George is a trendy hotel that features sleek, contemporary design and a spacious pool, gym, bar, and restaurant. For visitors who are seeking the finer things in life, Hotel Saint George is the option for you.

There are a few other great hotels available in town, along with Airbnb accommodations worth exploring. Do your research and pick what makes sense for the needs and comfort of you and your guests.

Best Things to Do in Marfa

Marfa has an impressive shopping scene, with most shops being within walking distance of one another. Visit the gift shops at the Hotel Paisano, buy some quirky postcards at Love, Marfa or browse the eclectic retail at Wrong Marfa. You can also find souvenirs aplenty at Marfa Mood Mercantile, snag some Western wear at Communitie Marfa, and support local journalism by purchasing merch from Marfa Public Radio.

You’ll find art at every turn in the tiny town. Whether it’s The Chinati Foundation, the picturesque Ballroom Marfa, the Judd Foundation—which houses artist Donald Judd’s art gallery, as well as living and working spaces in downtown Marfa—or other options, you definitely won’t be disappointed! Nearly every shop acts as some sort of art gallery, so be on the lookout.

Escape into the mountains with a hike and history lesson at Fort Davis National Historic Site, while soaking in the fresh air and gorgeous mountain views. If you don’t mind the 30-minute drive, you will undoubtedly want to get a picture at the Prada Marfa roadside attraction. It’s not the most exciting attraction, but it was good enough for Beyoncé.

Once the sun goes down, you can stargaze at the McDonald Observatory in the pitch-dark desert. Bring a jacket—it gets cold at night!

Fort Davis National Historic Site, the Prada Marfa store, and Angel’s Mexican Restaurant ➝

You’ll also want to at least say you attempted to see the Marfa Lights, which are rumored to be everything from aliens visiting Earth to apparitions of fallen conquistadors who have returned in search of their gold. The best place to try to catch a glimpse of the lights is the Marfa Lights Viewing Area.

Enjoying a nice cocktail and getting lost in conversation with the bartenders at Marfa Spirit Co., or exploring every nook and cranny at the whimsical Planet Marfa, is a perfect bookend to a stellar day. Stock up on booze at Cactus Liquors, or if beer is more your speed, The Pony is the dive bar for you!

Where to Eat

If you’re looking for upscale dining, you’ll want to visit either Cochineal or LaVenture. (Pro tip: ask to sit at LaVenture’s back bar for good conversation and discounted menu items.) Luckily, the rest of Marfa is casual dining, including The Water Stop and Para Llevar.

A sleeper hit is Angel’s Restaurant, which offers delicious Tex-Mex. The space is small and has only one waitress, but the service is choice and the food is satisfyingly delicious. Also in the realm of Tex-Mex is the iconic Marfa Burrito (cash only). Breakfast and lunch are served at The Sentinel—a coffee shop, restaurant, and bar that supports local independent journalism in Marfa. You can also get your

coffee fix at Big Sandy Coffee, which offers delicious brews and great vibes.

Houstonians will absolutely enjoy the delicious Italian sandwich, pasta, and salad menu at Bordo, helmed by Michael Serva, who made his mark at Tiny Champions in Houston’s East End. Pair your meal with a glass of wine—you won’t regret it.

The Best Time to Visit

Marfa is a proper desert town, meaning hot summers and cold, windy winters. Spring and fall may seem like the most attractive options, but depending on your weather preferences, Marfa can serve as a year-round destination.

“We’re a high-desert plateau, closer to Denver in altitude, and with that comes a more mild overall summer,” Walton says. “When Texas cities were experiencing that bad heat dome this past year, we had consistently cooler temperatures and near-zero humidity. It may still get very hot here, but in the summer we almost always have the coolest temperature in the state.”

Visiting during Pride Month or the TransPecos Music Festival would certainly offer prime entertainment. Also, keep in mind that most businesses aren’t open at the beginning of the work week, so plan your trip for the latter

part of the week.

Getting There

The drive from Houston is about 10 hours, give-or-take, depending on pit stops. Staying overnight in San Antonio is a great way to break up the trip. If flying is more your speed, consider El Paso— Marfa is a 3-hour drive from the El Paso International Airport.

Marfa is a town like no other. One local business owner described it as a place “where the word neighbor is a verb.” You’ll likely wind up sitting at a bar or wandering into a shop, striking up a conversation with a local, chatting about the multiple jobs they have (they call it “The Marfa Hustle’’), and losing track of time. The best part of your trip will undoubtedly be your connections with the people you encounter. Marfa is a place to talk to strangers and escape from the hectic pace of big-city life. Plan a trip out west and find out for yourself what makes this quirky little town out in the middle of nowhere so special.

For more info, follow @thelincolnmarfa and visitmarfa.com/visit

The Lincoln Marfa owners Adam Walton and Clark Childers

Gay Swiss artist Marc Bauer, 48, created his new work RESILIENCE, Drawing the Line for the Menil Drawing Institute in the fall of 2023.

Witnessing Queer Joy

Houston’s Menil Drawing Institute showcases Marc Bauer ’s RESILIENCE mural.

As a teenager watching French television in the 1980s, Swiss artist Marc Bauer rarely saw representations of queer people. There were only two exceptions: when the news media announced that a famous public figure had AIDS (and he was accidentally outed), and when that public figure died shortly thereafter of AIDS-related complications.

“It was a constant revelation and annihilation at the same time,” he recalls. “This idea of representation is so important for communities to have an idea of themselves. It’s very difficult if there’s no public image of yourself.”

By ANDREW EDMONSON

Photos by SARAH HOBSON

The queer artist has made up for this lack of representation with a vengeance in his 2023 work RESILIENCE, Drawing the Line, commissioned by the Menil Drawing Institute and unveiled last September. Vibrant figures voguing in a Montrose club and embodying queer joy take center stage in Bauer’s 36-foot-wide charcoal and pastel mural. It also incorporates references to great works of art history such as Théodore Géricault’s The Raft of the Medusa, an iconic work of 19th-century Romanticism. At the same time, Bauer explores such contemporary themes as climate justice, humane migration policy, and the rights of marginalized people. He sets the work decisively in Houston, with the city’s downtown skyline anchoring

the left side of the tableau.

Messages from Childhood

In a diaristic manner, Bauer also includes moving fragments of messages about masculinity and sexuality that he absorbed from his father while growing up: “I HAVE NEVER BEEN MASCULINE ENOUGH, MY VOICE NEVER DEEP ENOUGH, MY BEHAVIOR NEVER ASSERTIVE ENOUGH. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE FEMININE CHILD. MY FATHER SAYS TO ME, ‘YOU ARE SO SENSITIVE. YOU SHOULD MAN UP.’”

As part of the research to create his Houston-inspired oeuvre, Bauer, 48,

reached out to several notable LGBTQ Houstonians including choreographer Harrison Guy, visual artists Jake Margolin and Nick Vaughn, and trans/queer genderfluid artist Koomah. He also drew upon LGBTQ historian JD Doyle’s website, HoustonLGBTHistory.org, and Bryan Washington’s popular novel Memorial, among other resources.

Bauer’s decision to put queer people at the center of his work comes at a time when conservative forces are attempting to erase LGBTQ Americans from public life. Florida and four other states have passed discriminatory “Don’t Say Gay” laws to silence and repress LGBTQ Americans. In May, the Texas legislature passed a law criminalizing drag performances. In the Greater Houston area, Katy ISD implemented an invasive and cruel policy in August that requires teachers to report the gender identities of transgender students to their parents, which has occurred 19 times over the last four months.

Disrupting Violent Power Systems

The Menil’s press release about RESIL-IENCE underscores the importance of the LGBTQ experience to the central image of the mural, observing, “In centering this scene, Bauer considers how queerness and the queer encounter—in its joy, celebration, and fluidity—might present pathways to reinvent how to care for one another and

disrupt violent power systems that seek to exploit and control the natural world.”

Kelly Montana, an assistant drawing curator for the Menil Drawing Institute, who curated RESILIENCE, notes several other concepts that Bauer explores in his works: ideas of the fragility of memory, the mutability of image, and the joys and hazards of human relationships. She also praises “his incredible investment in drawing,” which made him a natural choice to be the fifth artist selected to create a work for the Menil’s ephemeral wall-drawing series, which began in 2018 as part of the Drawing Institute’s commitment to seeking new approaches to the form and language of drawing. That year, the series featured another queer artist, Roni Horn. In an unusual move, Bauer will return to Houston at the end of January and in April to revise and further develop RESILIENCE, which will be on view through the summer and then destroyed.

“INTIMACY IS POLITICAL.”

—Marc Bauer

Drawing as an Act of Witness Born in Geneva in 1975, Bauer studied at the École Supérieure d’Arts Visuels Genève (now HEAD) and at the Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten in Amsterdam. He spent a significant part of his career in Berlin and then returned to Zurich, where he is a tenured lecturer at the Zurich University of the Arts. In 2020, he received the Meret Oppenheim Award, Switzerland’s most prestigious art prize. His works have been featured in galleries across Europe, including at the Drawing Room in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, at the Berlinische Galerie in Berlin, and as part of the Congo Biennale in Africa in 2022. His commission for the Menil Drawing Institute was selected by the New York Times in its fall 2023 arts preview as one of the season’s most notable visual-art events. In 2024, the artist will create his first graphic novel.

Bauer’s art practice is based in his careful examination of how images circulate in print and online media platforms. He uses drawing to reconfigure found images—from sources ranging from personal family albums to cable news streams—with the goal of ultimately shaping a prismatic view of history, culture, and politics. He likens this process to a kind of witnessing—a deliberate and deeply personal way of seeing and understanding the world.

Of his practice, Bauer has noted that “painting and drawing are a way for me, and by extension for the viewer, to understand reality, in all its complexity—subjectively, politically, symbolically. It also allows me to show how history, memory and changing power structures influence the present moment.”

In conjunction with RESILIENCE, Drawing the Line, the Menil Drawing Institute will host a free dance party celebrating queer histories on Friday, February 2, from 7 to 10 pm. Houston artists Nick Vaughan and Jake Margolin, Koomah, and Harrison Guy kick off the night with short performances in the courtyard of the Drawing Institute. The party continues with music by DJ Stephanie Saint Sanchez and lively outdoor video projections of Marc Bauer’s animations projected on the Drawing Institute’s exterior.

As a young man coming out, gay social gatherings like these were exhilarating for Bauer. “Partying was a moment of freedom, of discovering yourself,” he notes. “There’s something very exciting—a frame that allowed people to experience the best of themselves.”

Marc Bauer’s RESILIENCE, Drawing the Line is on view at the Menil Drawing Institute, 1412 West Main Street, through the summer. For more information, visit menil.org

Bauer puts the lives of queer Houstonians at the center of RESILIENCE, Drawing the Line. The 36-foot-wide charcoal and pastel mural will be on view through the summer.

Parris Lewis performing “River Deep, Mountain High” as Tina Turner in the North American touring production of TINA – The Tina Turner Musical

PHitting the High Notes

By JENNY BLOCK

arris Lewis is full of contradictions. She is a member of the LGBTQ community but does not identify as lesbian or queer. She grew up in a house filled with gospel music but trained to be an opera singer. And she looks like the laid-back, cool girl next door but she plays the pop icon Tina Turner onstage.

“I was that very outspoken, very performative kid, always wanted to entertain, and my dad really supported my imagination. And my mom was already a singer,” Lewis says.

Growing up in Brooklyn, Lewis’ mother sang gospel music and her sister was a dancer. So it seemed only natural that she sang gospel on Sundays and took up dance professionally. Somewhere along the way, she says, “I kind of just realized that dance wasn’t really something that I felt was mine. I was auditioning for dance, and one day I got off the dance line and got on the vocal line.”

Her interest in classical music began when her music teacher played the Queen of the Night aria from Mozart’s The Magic Flute for her class. She was stunned and excited when the teacher explained that those “really high notes” were not a musical instrument, but the soloist’s voice. She relives the excitement that she felt that day: “I just remember going

home and being on fire and telling my parents I learned about this new ‘opera’ thing today, and I wanted to do that. Every day I would get in the shower and I would practice singing these high notes that I heard my teacher play.”

A voice teacher and gospel choir director in Harlem also taught classical music, and that’s where Lewis’ formal training began. Having found her direction, she studied classical music at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, but later switched her major to education, earning a degree in K–12 music education while studying to be an opera singer. After college, she won roles in national tours of The Color Purple and Hairspray, as well as in Stonewall at the New York City Opera and Pray at Ars Nova, among other New York productions.

“I don’t have a background in musical theater,” Lewis explains. “I tell people all the time: I’m a choir kid, and that foundation of being a choir kid, that discipline of being a classical student, led me here. That background of doing dance, because my sister was dancing, gave me the skill level. I can catch on, and I can practice and grow. To me, it was a beautiful combination leading me to where I am.”

And now, she is portraying the woman who is, well, “simply the best.”

“I am so enthralled with being authentic,” she says, “watching myself shapeshift for this role to be the icon that is Tina Turner. People see a lot of Tina’s journey and how much she overcame. You’ve got to have thick skin to be able to do that. And to be able to even try to emulate all that has been a feat in and of itself.”

Lewis’s excitement about her performance is palpable as she talks about the challenges of the role: “Singing this colossal score, 22 to 23 songs every time that I’m on, that’s an incredible feat.”

What can audiences expect when they see the show in Houston this month? “I tell them to expect a thrill ride,” Lewis says. “A thrill ride of love, hope, turmoil, grace, triumph, and joy. There are so many heavy moments in our show, but there are also so many light, beautiful, exciting moments.”

Find Parris Lewis on Instagram @renaissancewoman_.

What: TINA – The Tina Turner Musical When: January 2–7

Where: Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

Info: tinyurl.com/5n7yc7zr

Parris Lewis shines in TINA – The Tina Turner Musical.

shower can help to reduce stress and cravings. If you find doing the first thing on your list doesn’t help, keep moving down the list until you realize (almost miraculously) that the craving has passed. It is important to add that people can also be a critical part of any craving-management strategy. Don’t hesitate to reach out to friends or family members who can distract, support, or entertain you—regardless of whether or not they know about your Dry January.

Step 3: Plan for the month, but be flexible. Take a look at a calendar for the month. Are there days that may be more difficult than others? Perhaps your weekends are particularly challenging, or you have an event such as a birthday or anniversary in the month of January. Think through what might be helpful in staying committed to your health goals.

If attending an event where there will be alcohol, taking a friend who is also not drinking can provide support in the moment as well as a sober set of ears for conversation. If one of your special days takes place in January, what other ways might

you commemorate the moment? For better or worse, our society often associates celebration with alcohol and substance use. There are other ways to honor an occasion, however. Give some thought to what might feel personally meaningful and rewarding to you. Just because you’re not drinking for your birthday doesn’t mean you’re not celebrating.

Step 4: Take note and celebrate the change. Download a Dry January app for your smartphone or plan on keeping a journal or record of your progress. This will help you track changes over the course of the month. Depending on the level of sophistication in your tracking system, not only can you take note of days where you did not drink or use substances, you can also follow how much money you’ve saved, sleep hours, and your daily moods—one of the best pieces of evidence that this change is working is you.

New Year, New Beginning

Each new year offers an opportunity to pause, reflect, and evaluate your lifestyle and wellness practices. Perhaps you set personal health goals last year—some easily attained, others a bit more elusive. Through fits and starts, we refine our overall approach to mind and body,

making gradual changes that hopefully lead to continual self-improvement.

Keep the elements of what worked for you last year and learn from past challenges to set the stage for a strong start to the new year. Whether it’s a Dry January, a Dry 2024, or another health goal entirely, proper evaluation and planning can help with establishing and maintaining new behaviors for promoting wellness.

Please note: if stopping alcohol or substance use were to pose a danger or risk due to the development of mental-health symptoms such as suicidal thoughts or physical symptoms that require withdrawal management (detox), then seeking mental-health evaluation and treatment is warranted. Rather than embarking upon a Dry January without appropriate supervision, obtain the guidance of a licensed physician or mental-health clinician.

Daryl Shorter, MD, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is board certified in both general and addiction psychiatry. His clinical practice focuses on veteran care, and he lectures widely on LGBTQ mental health. Dr. Shorter can be reached at dr.darylshorter@gmail.com.

Out ▼ There

LGBTQ ballet lovers and friends came out in their festive finest for the Out at the Ballet reception for the Houston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, the holiday favorite with choreography by Stanton Welch and music by Tchaikovsky.

Photos by DALTON DEHART & CREW

GRACE PLACE’S ANNUAL HAUS OF GINGERBREAD COMPETITION

DECEMBER 16, 2023

Grace Place, a local nonprofit that supports youth and young adults experiencing homelessness, surpassed their fundraising goals at their annual Haus of Gingerbread competition presented by Francesca’s. The event featured drag performances, a raffle, buffet, and bar. With a 300% increase in fundraising compared to the previous year, the event raised a

total of $27,000.

Francesca’s CEO Andrew Clarke spoke about the importance of Grace Place’s work, and his company’s delight in being the event’s presenting sponsor. Thirty-four teams competed in designing unique gingerbread houses to support Grace Place. Judging the event were Emilio Coochie, Papi Culo, and Hugh Stone.

Photos by HAILIE DURRETT

SUPPLY DRIVE BENEFITING

LGBTQ YOUTH HOSTED BY HOUSTON’S NEW FACES OF PRIDE

DECEMBER 6, 2023

Houston’s New Faces of Pride hosted a clothing and supply drive at Ripcord Houston. The event, benefiting Tony’s Place and Grace Place, collected backpacks, jackets, and blankets for housing-insecure youth of all genders and sexualities. Tony’s Place is a resource center

and community space focusing on LGBTQ youth who are in need of help with safe housing, queer health services, educational support, and more. Grace Place provides a safe, welcoming environment for vulnerable youth of all sexualities and genders experiencing homelessness.

Photos by DALTON DEHART

“BKBY

—Deborah B.

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—Dr. Penchas

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—The BL Family

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—Whitney K.

“BKBY provides top notch services.”

—Will P.

“BKBY keeps everything running smoothly.”

—Hollee M.

From College Sweethearts to Wedded Bliss

Katie Lynn

Robertson

and Gina

Leigh Robertson

’s unique journey of enduring love and joy.

By JENNY BLOCK | Photos by CHRISTINA TALLANT

Katie Lynn Robertson, 27, is a legal assistant at Provost Umphrey law firm and is originally from Beaumont, Texas. Twenty-six-year-old Gina Leigh Robertson is from Jasper, Texas, and is a systems analyst at American Valve and Hydrant. The two first met when Gina moved to Beaumont and began attending the high school where Katie was enrolled. But they didn’t start dating until they were both in their second year of studies at Lamar University in Beaumont. “Two young 20-year-olds having fun, going to school, and working our retail jobs,” Katie says.

Knowing they had found “the one,” they say, was evident in how well they took on life together. “Over the years, Gina and I faced adversity and always overcame it. When things were the worst in our lives, our relationship was the best,” Katie says. “We leaned on each other when we faced problems and grew together when there was a disagreement.”

Both agree it was not about a single moment in time that made each of them sure of the match, but rather “all the little moments we shared together. I just knew I had found a love so pure and an understanding with her,” Gina says. “She loved me in all the ways I needed to

be loved. Within all of our seemingly ordinary shared moments in life, I found comfort in knowing this is the woman I am meant to share the rest of my moments with.”

On their fourth anniversary as a couple, Katie took Gina to Galveston for a getaway. “I had the brilliant idea of bringing the GoPro we had just bought to the beach,” Katie says. They were heading to Destin, Florida, the following weekend, and Katie told Gina she wanted to test the GoPro before their trip.

“We walked to the end of a jetty where I used the GoPro to record our engagement,” Katie says.

Katie Lynn Robertson (l) and Gina Leigh Robertson

Katie took out the ring, got down on one knee, and told Gina how much she meant to her. “She was shocked and giggling in excitement,” Katie says. After she finished talking, she realized she had never actually proposed. When Katie did finally pop the question, Gina said, “You didn’t even have to ask! Yes!”

Katie knew it was the right time to propose, she says, because after almost four years of dating, she felt she knew Gina with all of her heart. “To me, marriage mean ‘I love you now, and who you will become.’ I was confident that we would continue to grow together,” Katie says. “I wanted her to be my partner for the rest of my life.”

The couple were wed on October 21, 2023, at the Triple D Ranch in Warren, Texas. Their friend Catherine Honey officiated.

“October is the perfect time of year. The sun sets earlier, the weather gets cooler, and we didn’t have to worry about hurricanes,” Katie says. “The owner of Triple D Ranch was very relaxed and kind to us. Gina’s best friend got married there the year before, and we fell in love with the venue and the owner.”

Sadly, there was one person who should have been there for the big day but was not: Katie’s best friend, who had died of COVID.

“He was going to be my best man at our wedding,” Katie says. “The last time I saw him was when he and our other childhood best friend made a cake and celebrated Gina’s and my engagement. Gina created a

memento with his picture for my bouquet so that he could stand beside me on my big day.”

The couple chose not to partake in many of the most common wedding traditions. They skipped the bridal handoff, family dances, and the bouquet toss, and the two walked down the aisle together. “We wanted the day to be more about each other and to keep things simple,” Katie explains.

They made the occasion their own as much as possible. “One of our closest friends sang the song for our first dance, and we had cabins at the venue so we were able to have a bonfire and celebrate with everyone after the wedding,” Katie says.

“Gina blows me away with her kindness and thoughtfulness,” Katie says. “Every day I wake up to my wife who fills my days with love that cannot be described with words.”

Gina echoes Katie’s sentiments, saying the world is a better place because Katie is in it. “She has a heart of gold and consistently puts others—even strangers—before herself,” Gina says. “She inspires me to be a better person, and I’m so thankful she chose me to be the person she spends her life with.”

OutSmart’s Bar Guide is now on your phone! Scan here to check out our directory of LGBTQ bars and clubs in and around Houston, including your favorites in Galveston, Huntsville, Spring, and College Station. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, we’ve got you covered with this updated guide to the best LGBTQ-friendly spaces.

evolved into Rich’s Houston, a

lounge & boutique day / night

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

You are certainly in an upbeat mood as the month begins. You remain in a holiday mood until about midmonth. Your career energies take on a much bigger role this month. You may be taking on a leadership role, generating conflicts at work, or starting your own business. You don’t have much patience there! Your relationships need some attention, and you have to balance that with your own needs. This continues to be a better time for you financially, but you are also spending more. Later in the month, you are looking to reinvent your social group and friends. Your patience level is very low this month, and you will want to find a positive outlet; otherwise it may show up at your work!

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20)

There are big shifts in your career sector this month. You are considering what your plans need to be. There continues to be plenty of opportunity, but it may require that you relocate or take on a new task. You want more freedom of choice about most everything in your life. You are more aware of the world around you and how the events affect you personally. This is a great time for taking classes or improving your current skill set. Your relationships continue to be positive. This is a very good time to connect with others for business partnerships, friendship, or romance. Your leadership skills are being activated this year, and you may take a leadership role in your business or community organizations.

GEMINI (May 21–June 21)

Your relationship energies are very active this month, as Mercury retrograde has been hovering there since last month. Difficult partnerships will be tested and a

By LILLY RODDY

A Mercury Retrograde for the Winter Solstice

Capricorn ’s reign begins.

Happy New Year! As the month begins, we are still in Mercury retrograde, a time of delays and reviewing the past, until January 8. After the 8th is the time to put your New Year’s resolutions into play! We are still in an upbeat mood as the month begins, and we may not be back into our workaday world until midmonth.

The New Moon on the 11th will help us push our career and security needs forward. This will be an excellent time to look for a new position. The Full Moon on the 25th reminds us of our uniqueness. We will want to make the people around us feel special and important to us.

The Sun enters Aquarius on the 20th, joining Pluto. Mercury goes stationary direct on the 1st, but we are not out of the retrograde until the 8th. Mercury enters Capricorn on the 13th. Venus starts the month in Sagittarius but enters Capricorn on the 23rd. Mars finishes his visit in Sagittarius and also enters Capricorn on the 4th. Jupiter and Uranus remain in Taurus; Saturn and Neptune remain in Pisces.

resolution needed. In positive partnerships, you are reconnecting and enjoying the process. You have also been reconnecting with friends from your past. Career activity really picks up and builds into the early spring. You are looking for a promotion, assuming a leadership role, or starting something on your own. If you are older, this can be a time of semi-retirement and looking for something else to do. You are working on clearing your debt in the last part of the month, and particularly at the very end.

CANCER (June 22–July 22)

You are paying attention to your work and health routines this month. This is an excellent month to have a checkup, improve your health, and develop a better balance between your work and home life. You may be short-tempered with co-workers or people working in your home. With Mercury retrograde, you have been introspective about your partnerships, and you may have been connecting with friends and associates from the past. Friends are very supportive at this time, and can help with business decisions as well as emotional reassurance. This is a good time to focus on improving your social-media position, which can benefit you financially. Freeing yourself from debt is foremost this month!

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

As the month opens, you are in a more playful mood and still enjoying the holiday season. After the 8th, you are ready to return to normal routines. At work there are some shifts occurring. New people could be coming in, and you may be changing your duties. If you are a stay-at-home parent, you are taking a more active role in your children’s lives. This would be an excellent

time to work with the PTO, the school board, or neighborhood organization. You are also paying more attention to your health, and this might be a good time to join a gym or employ a personal trainer. In the latter part of the month, relationships take the focus. You are renewing your connections!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.22)

This month is a significant time for partnerships. If you are in a partnership, this is a time of review and renewal. You are going to be setting new relationship goals. If you are in a difficult partnership, there has to be resolution one way or the other. Your career and your role there take on stronger implications. This continues to be a family time, even if everyone was not happy with events over the holidays. You are more creative as the month progresses. At the end of the month, you begin focusing on improving your health. This is a super time to break bad habits and set new healthy ones. If you are a parent, kids will be more demanding this month.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 23)

As the month begins, you are still connecting with friends and finishing up your holidays, when you find yourself busier than usual connecting with friends from the past. By midmonth, you are focusing on your family and home. You may be considering home improvements or even relocating, as you are wanting your nest to be more comfortable. There can be family squabbles, and you may have to step in and assert yourself during the next two months. You are looking for greater closeness and intimacy in your relationships. Real friendship is

so important in your partnerships this year! You continue to pay more attention to your health habits and investigate areas where you can make improvements.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24–Nov. 21)

Personal finances, savings, and retirement are all significant as the month begins. You are certainly exploring ways to increase your income and make better investments. You are starting to add more order and boundaries to your day-to-day life, wanting to make the best use of your time. There are some big changes coming to your family. This could involve an elderly relative passing on, parents retiring, or dealing with the loss of a close friend. Your role in the family is changing, and you can free yourself from the chains of the past. If you have children, they are acting more mature and your role in their lives is shifting. Relationships should continue to be positive through the spring.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov.22–Dec.21)

This has been an especially busy holiday year for you, and it continues to be busy. You are trying to return to your routines, but that may not happen until after mid-January. Finances are an important topic this month. This energy has been strong throughout the holidays. You may feel that you have

to cut back or just be more careful with your spending. You are more outspoken and clear at the end of the month. You may be having a stronger presence on social media via writing or podcasting. You are taking on more family responsibilities, and you may be taking on the role of the family matriarch/patriarch. Work is busy, or perhaps even very busy. That will continue and only get stronger through February.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

You are off to a slow start in the New Year. You are still enjoying having time to yourself and avoiding your normal responsibilities. All of that shifts around the second week in January. You are feeling re-energized and ready to take on new projects. You are more focused on yourself this month, and you are taking life much more personally. You are not going to be very patient, and you will need a healthy outlet to let off some steam. This is a great opportunity to channel that energy into exercise and better living. In relationships, you will want more contact with your partner. If you are single, you are more confident about putting yourself out there. Finances require your focus at the end of the month.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

As the month begins, you are in a more social mood that carried over from the holidays, and you are tak-

ing some time for yourself. You are more psychically sensitive to your environment and will need better boundaries all around. You pay a lot more attention to your finances, possibly putting yourself on a budget. You continue to make your home a safer and more comfortable place. You may be doing some remodeling or downsizing to create more space and freedom. On a personal level, you are already beginning to look for new directions or interests. This phase will be active for several years, and will help you redefine who you are.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Future concerns will drive your actions this whole year. You are improving boundaries, letting go of responsibilities that no longer suit you, and making yourself the important person in your narrative. Career continues to be a strong theme this month. You have been reviewing where you have been, and will make decisions about this after the 8th. Friends come back into your life later in the month. This can be a time to connect to your tribe that supports you and your interests. You may be wanting to pull back some at the very end of the month. You are more sensitized to your environment, and may not be able to ignore people and things as well.

For more info, visit lillyroddyshow.com.

Annalee

Simply the Breast

Naylor, as the name implies, is ready for… well, anything.

By SAM BYRD | Photo by ALEX ROSA

Never one to take herself too seriously, Annalee Naylor is a walking, talking sex joke. The bombshell is blessed with the gift of gab, along with a set of hypermammiferous assets that would leave Jayne Mansfield slackjawed. But this drag opossum isn’t letting the world pass her by. She is making the most out of life, even if she makes herself the butt of the joke, and the crowd loves her for it. Read on for more about this busty beauty.

Pronouns?

In drag I prefer she/her, but “beast” is also acceptable. Out of drag, I don’t care.

Hometown?

I am a Houston native.

Drag birthday?

I was born on the 4th of July. I did a whitetrash pageant and won. It’s the only title I’ve ever won.

What got you interested in drag?

I went to High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), and then went to college in New York for theater. But after graduating, I had to move back home because of my enormous amount of student debt. I was stuck in a soulless corporate job. I have always loved the art of drag. I grew up watching Divine and John Waters movies. I also have followed RuPaul’s Drag Race since the day it premiered. After working for a while in something that wasn’t creative or artistic, I needed a way to perform and express myself, and that’s when I found drag.

Story behind the name?

My name is a sex joke—anal-lee nail-her, get it? Lol! It was originally Annalee Devasted, but people couldn’t say that so I changed it, because a woman who helped at my job had the last name Naylor and I loved it.

Most embarrassing moment on stage? Falling is always embarrassing, but I don’t tend to get embarrassed. I tend to lean into it. I do a donkey show with a stuffed donkey with a working penis. I’ve done a number where

I pay tribute to Edith “The Egg Lady” from John Waters’ Pink Flamingos, where I eat raw eggs and rub them all over my body. I just did a number inspired by Marina Abramović Rhythm O where I laid objects out on stage and I let the audience do whatever they wanted with me, all set to Lady Gaga’s “Do What You Want With My Body.” So I guess you could say I embrace the embarrassing.

Thoughts about recent legislation regarding drag performances?

That was really scary, because at the time I had just started doing drag full-time. It was threatening my livelihood. Thankfully we had the support of people who realized that drag queens were being used as scapegoats, and nothing came of that legislation. Remember to get out and vote so nothing like that will happen again!

Describe your aesthetic.

My aesthetic can be summed up by a Dolly Parton quote: “I was not a natural beauty. I wanted to be pretty, I always wanted to be flashy. When they always used to say less is less and more is more, more is good for me. I always patterned my look after the town tramp. She wore makeup, high heels, and tight clothes. I always thought she was the prettiest thing.” When I first started, I wanted to be ugly and messy, but that doesn’t always translate, so I had to class it up a bit—but not too much.

Where can fans see you perform?

I perform every Monday at Ripcord with Luna of the Lilies for Basura. I have another show at Ripcord on the second Thursday of every month called Dirty THoTs. I’m on cast at Michael’s Outpost for Laugh Track, hosted by Carmina Vavra. I host the first and last Wednesday of the month at The Room Bar in Spring, with Dynasty Banks and Iris Seymour.

What have you learned from drag that you use in your everyday life?

People will always judge you, and that’s okay. I don’t have to let that take away my joy. Other people’s opinions are their problems, not mine. Being kind goes a long way.

Follow Annalee Naylor on instagram @annaleenaylor and on Facebook at Annalee Naylor.