April 2018 by OutSmart Magazine

FROM THE

CONGRATS ON 25 YEARS YO! KID

FROM A GROOVY CHILD

OF THE

Legacy Community Health Congratulates

OutSmart on 25 Years

OutSmart reflects the vibrancy and strength of Houston’s LGBTQ community. The magazine’s commitment year after year to telling the stories that need to be told, fighting for equality, and shining a light on discrimination is unmatched. And still badly needed. We look forward to the next 25 years!

Time Warp will bring together Houston’s vibrant LGBTQ community for an inspiring evening of entertainment and fabulous food. With drag, vocal and dance talent from around the globe, the event highlights the last four decades of struggle and success of the LGBTQ community. All of the event’s proceeds will benefit LGBTQ homeless youth. Join us in celebrating 40 years!

Eric Michael Krop of Broadway’s Godspell

Internationally Acclaimed Artist Abigail Zsiga

Renowned Musical Duo

The legacy and future of Houston’s LGBTQ magazine

For LGBTQ activists, O UT S MART has been a lifeline

A look at some of OUTSMART’s most epic issues

Jessica Gonzalez to become third openly LGBTQ member of Texas House 74

Senator Tammy Baldwin headlines group’s Houston brunch

Trans superstar Laverne Cox returns to Houston for UH luncheon

Bisexual UH scholar Margot Backus leads school’s ﬁrst queer-focused study abroad

Houston doctor’s study ﬁnds rampant antigay bias in medical profession

Anti-Defamation League to honor trans pioneer Phyllis Frye

Shining star Vanessa Williams illuminates Houston’s Brilliant Lectures Series

Former O UT S MART editor returns to Houston as TUTS’ marketing chief

A PERFECT STORM

Out actor Mark Capri on bringing “the greatest sex scandal in ﬁlm” to the Alley 100 SIR, YES SIR

An interview with Casey Spooner of Fischerspooner

TASTE OF LA SICILIA

Gay-owned Montrose bakery seems destined to become community staple

DIY FOR What it takes to cook up some Houston faves

GUIDE

The ﬁght for LGBTQ rights is far from over

Trans teen Madelyn Whitley is burning up the runways at Page Parkes Texas 63 BENDING TOWARD

Jim Obergefell to help unveil Pride mural in the Heights

GUNFIGHT AT THE OPERA

Out director Francesca Zambello previews HGO’s West Side Story

Queer storytelling showcase returns to Rec Room this month 108

100 best restaurants in Houston

For Kandice and Kristen Webber, a family photo shoot led to true love 130 WEDDING GUIDE

25 years after their ﬁrst dance, Steve Roberts and Rex Marzke ﬁnally said “I do”

Joel Garza, Realtor®

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Greg Jeu

Associate Publisher Tom Fricke

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Greg Jeu

Editor John Wright

Associate Publisher Tom Fricke

Creative Director/Entertainment Editor Blase DiStefano

Art Director/Graphic Design Alex Rosa

Creative Director/Entertainment Editor Blase DiStefano

Assistant Editor Megan E. Smith

Contributing Writers

Graphic Artist Terry Klumpp

Rich Arenschieldt, Susan Bankston, Jenny Block, Andrew Edmonson, Steven Foster, David Goldberg, Marene Gustin, Kim Hogstrom, Josh Inocéncio, Ryan M. Leach, Don Maines, Daryl Moore, John Nechman, Joanna O’Leary, Annise Parker, Lilly Roddy, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Gregg Shapiro, Janice Stensrude, Henry V. Thiel, Megan Wadding, Lou Weaver, Brandon Wolf, Grace S. Yung, Lourdes Zavaleta

Contributing Writers Rich Arenschieldt, Susan Bankston, Aisha Bouderdaben, Troy Carrington, Kit van Cleave, Angel Curtis, Karen Derr, Steven Foster, David Goldberg, D.L. Groover, Marene Gustin, Blake Hayes, Suzie Lynde, Donalevan Maines, DavidElijah Nahmod, Neil Ellis Orts, Lilly Roddy, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Gregg Shapiro, Janice Stensrude, Brandon Wolf, Grace S. Yung

Photographers/Illustrators

Dalton DeHart, Yvonne Feece, Mark Hiebert, Manuel Lara, David Eduardo Flores Perez

Edgardo Aguilar, Dalton DeHart, Theresa DiMenno, Yvonne Tran, David Eduardo Flores Perez

Account Executives

Jack Berger, Tad Dvorak, Joanna Jackson

Jack Berger, P C Douglas, Joanna Jackson, Greg Jeu

Web Editor John Wright

Web Editor Ann Walton Sieber

National Advertising Representative Rivendell Media - 212.242.6863

National Advertising Representative Rivendell Media - 212/242-6863

Publishers of OutSmart Magazine

Publishers of OutSmart Magazine 3406 Audubon Place • Houston, TX 77006 713.520.7237 • 713.522.3275 Fax

Subscriptions: $30/12 Issues, $58/24 Issues

E-mail: letters@outsmartmagazine.com Website: www.OutSmartMagazine.com subscriptions: $27/12 Issues, $48/24 Issues

E-mail: letters@outsmartmagazine.com

Website: www.OutSmartMagazine.com

OutSmart 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 OutSmart Inclusion in O ut S mart does not imply sexual orientation. ©2018 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.

OutSmart 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 OutSmart Inclusion in OutSmart does not imply sexual orientation. ©2013 by OutSmart Media Reproduction in the publisher is material is accepted.

ONSOR

When I sat down to write this note, I was overwhelmed by the thought that 25 years have really gone by so quickly. Yes, it is obvious that time does not stand still—especially when it comes to publishing and deadlines.

On April 25, 1993, I traveled with a group of friends to Washington DC to attend the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation. We were just a small part of the Houston contingent at an unforgettable event attended by close to one million people across the country. Energized by the march, and personally inspired to want to make a di erence in the lives of LGBTQ people, we came home eager to start a magazine called OUTSMART

The magazine’s 1993 launch came together pretty quickly. However, it never could have been sustained through all these years without the generous support and well wishes from our advertisers and community. It is still very humbling to realize that many friends and advertisers have been with us from day one. It’s even more humbling to know that they conﬁdently threw in their hard-earned money and support from the beginning, and have continued with us for over two decades.

I hope our readers will continue to support O UTSMART ’s family of advertisers—businesses that share your values for creating a world with LGBTQ equality. It is these advertisers who make it possible for us to put out this free magazine, both in print and online.

Over the years, we’ve been very fortunate to have a talented team producing the magazine every month—our writers and editors, artists and photographers, production and distribution crews, and advertising sales reps. Some of our coworkers are no longer with us, and we strive to keep their memory alive. Others have gone on to make their mark in other arenas.

If you would like to know more about the legacy and future of O UTSMART, check out writer Andrew Edmonson’s story on page 44. Our 25th Anniversary Issue also features retrospective pieces from two former columnists who have gone on to do extraordinary things. Annise Parker, who wrote 94 columns for O UTSMART before she became the ﬁ rst openly gay person elected mayor of a major U.S. city, reﬂects on the role of LGBTQ media in the broader movement. And Daryl Moore, who wrote our LeftOut column for a decade

prior to becoming a State district judge, reminds us that despite all of our progress, the ﬁ ght for LGBTQ rights is far from over.

This anniversary issue’s cover features trans teen model Madelyn Whitley, who is quickly making a name for herself at the Page Parkes modeling agency. As we celebrate a quarter-century marked by incredible civil-rights advances, Whitley is a hopeful symbol of the future in the battle for LGBTQ recognition and equality.

This issue also includes stories on several others who have played signiﬁcant roles in the magazine’s history, such as Houston transgender pioneer Phyllis Frye. And Kyle Young, a former O UTSMART editor, is returning to Houston to become the marketing director at Theatre Under The Stars. Long-time contributor Steven Foster also gives us a great rundown on some of O UTSMART ’s most memorable covers and feature articles.

April is also our annual Food and Dining Issue, and John Nechman (a local LGBTQ activist in his own right) shares his top 100 restaurant picks, as well as his list of 50 uniquely Houston dishes.

What would a silver anniversary be without a party? Please join us in celebrating our 25th anniversary at a festive reception on Tuesday, April 24, at the McGovern Centennial Gardens in Hermann Park. This event is also a fundraiser for the Dalton DeHart Photographic Foundation, the nonproﬁt organization set up to preserve the Houston LGBTQ community’s legacy in photography with a massive online digital archive.

Thank you—each and every one of you—for your 25 years of support. It truly is appreciated.

—Greg Jeu, Publisher

ON THE COVER

MODEL YOUTH

Trans teen Madelyn Whitley is the future of Page Parkes (See page 74.)

Photo by Select Studios Clothing by Roshan Moayed PROUD S P

Greetings,

C ITY OF H OUSTON

Sylvester Turner Mayor

P.O. Box 1562

Houston, Texas 77251-1562

Telephone – Dial 311 www.houstontx.gov

As Mayor of Houston, I extend a special congratulations to the editors and staff of OutSmart Magazine on their 25th anniversary.

Greetings,

As Mayor of Houston, I extend a special congratulations to the editors and staff of OutSmart Magazine on their 25th anniversary.

Over the years, OutSmart Magazine has remained consistent in writing rich and informative articles about the LGBTQ community which highlight the vital role that the LGBTQ community has in helping improve Houston. In its 25 years of existence, OutSmart Magazine has shown continued support to culturally strengthening our city.

I commend OutSmart Magazine for its continuous presence in serving as a voice for Houston’s LGBTQ community. We are proud to have a longstanding magazine that celebrates and advocates for diversity.

Please accept my best wishes on this special occasion.

Sincerely, Sylvester Turner

Mayor

Sincerely, Sylvester Turner

Mayor

Controller: Chris Brown

Controller:

Council Members: Brenda Stardig Jerry Davis Ellen R. Cohen Dwight A. Boykins Dave Martin Steve Le Greg Travis Karla Cisneros

Robert Gallegos Mike Laster Larry V. Green Mike Knox David W. Robinson Michael Kubosh Amanda Edwards Jack Christie

Chris Brown

Council Members: Brenda Stardig Jerry Davis Ellen R. Cohen Dwight A. Boykins Dave Martin Steve Le Greg Travis Karla Cisneros Robert Gallegos Mike Laster Larry V. Green Mike Knox David W. Robinson Michael Kubosh Amanda Edwards Jack Christie

GOP Judge Blames Defeat on Anti-LGBTQ ‘Slates’

Jay Karahan says he was targeted for ofﬁciating at same-sex weddings.

By Brandon Wolf

Arespected, longtime Republican judge in Harris County says he lost his GOP primary because he followed the law under Obergefell v. Hodges and o ciated at same-sex weddings.

Judge Jay Karahan, who has presided over County Criminal Court No. 8 for the last 16 years, blamed voter guides published by right-wing activists for his defeat on March 6.

The right-wing voter guides, commonly referred to as “slates,” are distributed in the form of glossy magazines by the likes of Steven Hotze and his Conservative Republicans of Texas, which is considered an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Republican candidates who take out advertisements in the guides are typically given favorable treatment, in a system known as “pay to play.”

“As a judge, I followed the law. As a candidate, I spoke the truth. Today, as a man, I stand on high ground with hope and gratitude,” Karahan wrote on social media following his defeat.

In an essay published March 12 by Big Jolly Politics, a local news website, Karahan wrote that “certain special-interest groups in Harris County have long inﬂuenced judicial elections according to their narrow interests.”

“Each campaign season, these special interests become ‘pay-to-play,’ mostly for-proﬁt ‘slates’ that send ballot recommendations to many thousands of voters,” Karahan wrote. “These publications often contain fake news: misleading information, exaggerations, and half-truths.”

He added that publishers of the slates

Hate Mail

A voter guide from right-wing activist Terry Lowry singled out Harris County GOP judge Jay Karahan for ofﬁciating at same-sex weddings.

“have arrogantly anointed themselves ‘judgemakers.’”

Karahan lost to challenger Don Simons, who reportedly was handpicked by conservative activists, by a margin of 86,993 votes to 36,085. Simons was endorsed in three right-wing voter guides, including Hotze’s. Thirty percent of Harris County GOP voters did not complete the 20-page primary ballot, skipping over judicial races and making them more susceptible to inﬂuence by right-wing activists.

The voter guides utilize colors and logos that could be mistaken for o cial Harris County Republican Party (HCRP) materials. The sample ballots can be removed and taken

into polling places.

In addition to Hotze’s Conservative Republicans of Harris County publication, Gary Polland publishes Texas Conservative Review and Terry Lowry produces Links Letter The HCRP has censured the publications numerous times, and the main page of the party’s website features a warning about them.

Marco Roberts, president of Log C abin Republicans Houston, said Karahan— a straight ally and longtime member of the gay GOP group—was targeted solely for his decision to o ciate at same-sex weddings.

“What this tells us is that these ‘slates,’

continued from page 20

which misleadingly market themselves as ‘official’ guides, giving unsuspecting voters the impression that they come from the Republican Party, have a disproportionate impact on judicial races where voters are not familiar with the candidates,” Roberts said, adding that “despite our best efforts, even gay Republicans were spotted taking these guides into the polling booth.”

Karahan was one of two incumbent Republican judges targeted for officiating at same-sex weddings. Precinct 5, Place 2 justice of the peace Jeff Williams was forced into a runoff against challenger Mike Wolfe.

While Polland’s guide simply indicated the candidates he favored, Hotze included an asterisk next to the names of Karahan and Williams to indicate that they “support the homosexual political movement.”

Lowry, meanwhile, wrote below Karahan’s name that he “performs gay weddings.” Below

Lowry, meanwhile, wrote below Karahan’s name that he “performs gay

February 14,

Williams’ name, Lowry wrote: “Asked [Harris County Commissioner] Steve Raddack for a temporary chapel for (gay) weddings after the Harvey flood.”

weddings.” Below Williams’ name, Lowry wrote: “Asked [Harris County Commissioner] Steve Raddack for a temporary chapel for (gay) weddings after the Harvey flood.”

Wolfe took out a full-page ad in Lowry’s Links Letter, which typically sell for $15,000. Williams did not purchase an ad.

While Karahan supports same-sex marriage, Williams has said that he opposes it, but believes in following the rule of law. Williams declined a request for an interview from O utSmart

While Karahan supports same-sex marriage, Williams has said that he opposes it, but believes in following the rule of law. Williams declined a request for an interview from O utSmart.

Judges in Texas are not required to officiate at weddings. However, if they refuse to officiate at same-sex weddings, they must also turn away heterosexual couples.

the most appropriate venue for weddings.

In an interview with O utSmart, Karahan described the 2018 primary as “real dogwhistle politics.” But he said he has no regrets.

for any proceedings requiring privacy, and was the most appropriate venue for weddings.

In an interview with O utSmart, Karahan described the 2018 primary as “real dogwhistle politics.” But he said he has no regrets.

“I’ve had a great 16 years working in the people’s courtroom, and now I’m turning it back to the people,” he said, adding that he finds the state of the local GOP “d ismaying.”

“I’ve had a great 16 years working in the people’s courtroom, and now I’m turning it back to the people,” he said, adding that he finds the state of the local GOP “dismaying.”

A December Houston Chronicle article explained Williams’ alleged “gay wedding tent.” When Williams’ courtroom was flooded by Tropical Storm Harvey, he and his staff were moved to temporary quarters. A storage room became a conference room that was used for any proceedings requiring privacy, and was

On February 24, the Empire of the Royal Sovereign and Imperial Court of the Single Star, Inc. hosted Investiture 34 at Neon Boots. Pictured are Boy Cubby Christopher Prado Emperor XXXIII, and representatives from beneficiaries Montrose Grace Place and the Montrose Center Spry program

Karahan plans to be in the Log Cabin Republicans tent during the 2018 Houston Pride Festival. He said he will marry any couple with a valid Harris County marriage license at no cost. He will be wearing a name tag that says “Jay Karahan,” with an asterisk next to it. In small letters beneath his name, the tag will indicate that the asterisk means he “follows the law and discriminates against no one.”

K arahan plans to be in the Log Cabin Republicans tent during the 2018 Houston Pride Festival. He said he will marry any couple with a valid Harris County marriage license at no cost. He will be wearing a name tag that says “Jay Karahan,” with an asterisk next to it. In small letters beneath his name, the tag will indicate that the asterisk means he “follows the law and discriminates against no one.”

Brandon Wolf is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine.

On February 24, the Mystic Society of Isis and Osiris (MSIO) presented checks to its beneficiaries at the Montrose Center. Pictured are MSIO Officers, along with representatives from the Gulf Coast Archive and Museum, the Montrose Center, Out for Education, Bering Open Gate Ministry, and PWA Holiday Charities.

Photos by Dalton DeHart and Edgardo Aguilar

On February 22, the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce hosted its second anniversary celebration at Guava Lamp. Pictured are Jonathan Netek, Tiffany Tosh, Sam Jacobson, Tammi Wallace, Gary Wood, Corey Allen, Deborah Lawson, and Roy Alvarez, Jr

The University of Houston LGBTQ Alumni Association hosted its Red Dinner III Kickoff at Archway Gallery. Pictured are Crimson Jordan, Shawn Kuehn, Kevin Hamby, and Jenna Pel

On February 23, George Country Sports Bar presented proceeds from its Gumbo Cookoff to the Montrose Center. Pictured are Tad Dvorak, George Konar, Crimson Jordan, Ken Steuart, Walter Pollpeter, Bryan Taft, Alexandria Mackzum, and Shane Fruge.

the Montrose Softball League Association hosted Opening Day Ceremonies at Jones Plaza. Pictured are MSLA board members with Houston mayor Sylvester Turner

On March 4, Bunnies on the Bayou hosted a VIP reception at the home of Richard Warner and Tony Bravo. Pictured are Colleen and Chandon Neely, Tony Bravo, and Kurt and Kate Tyler

On March 8, the Alley Theatre hosted ActOut featuring “Satchmo at the Waldorf.” Pictured are Nancy Giles, Tina Berry, and Dean R. Gladden

On February 11, Numbers hosted an NRG Reunion/The Boom Honey Edition, featuring DJ Lane Lewis. Pictured are Lane Lewis, Jerry Vann, and Alan Bellinger

‘There

Will Never Be Another Joe Watts’

Pioneer of gay theater dies at the age of 76.

By Don Maines

Afestive memorial event is planned for 7 p.m. on April 17 at the Montrose Center to celebrate the life of Joe Watts, widely considered “the father of gay theater in Houston.”

For Watts, who died March 13, all of Houston was a stage—especially for the LGBTQ-themed scripts that he produced in spaces ranging from gay bars to an art-museum lobby to a professional venue, Stages Repertory Theatre.

Watts was 76.

“There will never be another Joe Watts. He was a life force,” said actor Taavi Mark, a friend and frequent collaborator, whose first show with Watts was the popular Dirty Little Showtunes

Hard Act to Follow

After moving to Houston in the 1970s, Joe Watts directed 65 plays and appeared in 75.

“Joe was very passionate and had a connection with what we were going through as a community,” said actor Brett Cullum, who appeared nude and simulated masturbation in a typically sparse production of Jerker that Watts directed.

“The entire show was two guys having a relationship over the phone. They were afraid of getting AIDS,” Cullum explained. “Joe was way ahead of the curve. He would do plays that no other director would touch. He allowed us, as gay actors, to give voice to characters that general audiences weren’t interested in seeing.”

The shows included campy musicals with goofy names like Gulp and Fruit Cocktail; irreverent comedies such as Paul Rudnick’s The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, in which God set Adam and Steve in the Garden of Eden along with lesbians Jane and Mabel; and high dramas including Martin Sherman’s Bent, which Watts directed at

the Holocaust Museum Houston alongside a national touring exhibit called Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals, 1933–45. For a 2010 production of The Laramie Project at the museum, former Houston Chronicle theater critic Everett Evans noted that Watts ratcheted up the “tear-wrenching” dramatics by opening act 2 with the director’s original poem, “Matthew’s Flame,” and closing the show with a sentimental ballad, Jacques Brel’s “If We Only Have Love.”

Working with Watts was “fabulous,” said local thespian Buzz Bellmont. “It was wonderful to get to perform the gay point-ofview of life. But it took a lot to get gay theater up and running. In one show, there were six of us initially, but one of the actors fell off the wagon and showed up drunk, so Joe fired him. We had to make the show work with five people. It was hysterical.”

University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center—as well as the support of his “inner circle” that included Mark, Steve Bullitt, and Lee Sirois. Houston became home to Watts in the 1970s. He worked in sales and promotions at KRBE and K-ARTS radio stations, and used the skills he learned at work to help corner the market on gay plays in Houston.

Bellmont recalled that in 1983, another pioneering director of gay theater, John David Etheredge, enlisted Watts to direct Mart Crowley’s The Boys in the Band for Diversity Theatre. The production featured local actor Randall Jobe and was staged at the Pink Elephant, an ’80s gay bar.

Next, Watts directed Doric Wilson’s Street Theater about the Stonewall riots, staging it first at Marion Coleman’s Kindred Spirits bar, and then at Numbers nightclub as a Pride event.

In 1985, Watts titled his ad hoc assemblage of thespians “The Group (Theatre Workshop),” and presented Kent Johnson in the one-man play One, considered to be the first Houston production about AIDS.

Watts contributed to “Art against AIDS” in 1988 by staging A Dance against Darkness at Main Street Theater.

The director’s friends said Watts was born February 21, 1942, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he lived recently before returning to Houston about six months ago to battle Stage IV kidney cancer with treatment at the top-ranked continued on page 126

CONGRATULATES

ANN IV E R SARY

Gay O cial Fights Back after Grindr Photos Leaked

Gay Official Fights Back After Grindr Photos Leaked

Cross Coburn refuses to resign, and

By Lourdes Zavaleta

DDespite being publicly outed in what he believes was an antigay political attack, Cross Coburn says he has no plans resign City in Groves, Texas, Beaumont.

espite being publicly outed in what he believes was an anti-gay political attack, Cross Coburn says he has no plans to resign from the City Council in Groves, Texas, outside of Beaumont.

“This is not going to put an end to the 19-year-old told OUTSMART exclusive interview.

“This is not going to put an end to my career,” the 19-year-old told OutSmart in an exclusive interview.

Coburn, who was elected last November in the city of 16,000, has been under fire since late February, when nude photographs of him from the gay dating app Grindr were anonymously mailed to local news outlets and City Hall.

who was elected last in city 16,000, ﬁ re since February, when nude photographs him the dating Grindr anonymously mailed to local news outlets and Hall.

The envelopes, with no return addresses, included a cover letter with contact information for Coburn, as well as a statement: “Is this in any way proper behavior of a councilman to represent himself online or a ‘dating’ app? I felt the city council should be made aware of this situation.”

March

“Torch

from

Karen Van Amstel, Josiah Franklin-Greene, and Harry Goldberg; and (back row, from

Richard McLeod, Mark C. Brown, Marcy Bannor, Elisa Garcia, Seane Greene, Mike Martin, and Mark Eggleston

his attorney is investigating.

Outed and

Outed and Proud Groves City councilman Cross Coburn, one of the youngest LGBTQ elected ofﬁcials in the nation, says human rights will be at the forefront of his agenda.

2017 Crystal Gel, Mimi Mosa, Miss

2018 Ivanna Bath, Lady Byrd, Ruby Roxx, and Monae

On March 21, the Executive & Professional Association of

hosted its March 2018 dinner meeting at Ouisie’s

The photos were taken from a private conversation between Coburn and an unknown individual. Coburn, who is studying drama at Lamar University in Beaumont, believes he was targeted because he is a gay man in a conservative town.

“I’ve come up with the conclusion that this is about my sexuality,” Coburn said. “That is the only reason that somebody would want to do this to me, because I am gay and they don’t want me on City Council.”

Prior to the photos being sent, Coburn was out only to his close friends and family. He said the incident has caused him a great deal of emotional distress.

“Despite all of this, I love being on City Council,” Coburn said. “I love my city, and I want to continue being a part of the process continued on page 127

“Despite all of this, I love being on City Council,” Coburn said. “I love my city, and I want to continue being a part of the process that builds it up and helps it flourish.”

continued on page 127

Photos by Dalton DeHart and Edgardo Aguilar

Proud Groves City Councilman Cross Coburn, one of the youngest LGBTQ elected officials in the nation, says human rights will be at the forefront of his agenda.

On March 11, Kevin Beganud and David Riddle hosted a brunch to benefit the Provincetown Film Festival. Pictured are Richard Nguyen, Steven Duble, Jeff Peters, Reza Nouri, Kelly “Tigger” Schexnayder, Kevin Begnaud, Dave Riddle, Debbie Levine, Dr. Bill Gilmer, E.J. Farhood, and Evan Choate

On March 10, the Lone Star Volleyball Association hosted Miss LSVA at Rich’s. Pictured are Miss LSVA

LSVA

Sparkles

On March 11, Texas Pride Impact Funds hosted a Houston brunch at La Griglia. Pictured are Chree Boydstun, Tripp Carter, Judy Sherman, Mike Holloman, Janie Lopez, Bryan Hlavinka, Tim Martinez, and Ron Guillard

Houston

Table. Pictured are Brooks Ballard, Mike Adams, Jessica Celaya, Ray Price, Kevin Hamby, Frank Staggs, and Cynthia Corral

On March 18, the Krewe of Olympus distributed money to beneficiaries at JR’s Bar & Grill. Pictured are the Krewe Ball captain and president with representatives of the beneficiaries.

9, Resurrection MCC staged

Song Trilogy.” Pictured are (front row,

left)

Calendar of Events

Compiled by Marene Gustin

16th Annual Tommy Tune Awards!

TUTS’ annual event is April 17.

It’s that time of year again, time for the annual Tommy Tune Awards from Theatre Under the Stars, honoring the best local high school musicals. Tune, of course, is the legendary tall talent, winner of multiple Tony Awards, and a graduate of Lamar High School. This year another local star, Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory, announced the nominees in a video on

the award’s Facebook page (facebook.com/pg/TommyTune Awards). • In a preface, Parsons encouraged all high-school students to participate in the arts, whether or not they intend to make a career of it. He then read the nominees for best musical and was clear about giving a shoutout to his alma mater, Klein Oak High School, which won a nomination for the production Big Fish (Go

Panthers!) Tickets for the fun-ﬁlled celebration go on sale at tuts. com on April 9. Support the local arts and these talented kids and, if you’re in the Big Apple next month, catch Parsons on Broadway in The Boys in the Band Bazinga! Marene Gustin

16th Annual Tommy Tune Awards • April 17 • tuts.com

Blue Plate Special + all month

Dine out to end child abuse. thethreadalliance.org

Jam at Discovery Green *

Da Camera offers a free concert. discoverygreen.com

Dark Matter * thru 14 A collection of short stories by Don Nigro. mildredsumbrella.com

Biorhythm: Music & The Body * thru July 31 Make music with your body. thehealthmuseum.org

Toddler Tuesdays at Discovery Green + Storytime in the park. discoverygreen.com

Eye on Houston: High School Documentary Photography A thru June 24 Student photographs. mfah.org

Shrek: The Musical * and 7 Fun and free! milleroutdoortheatre.com

Cleo * thru 29 When Liz met Dick. alleytheatre.org ( See page 98.)

Long Live the Queen * Music ﬁt for a queen. arslyricahouston.org

Hair * Go back to the Age of Aquarius. islandetc.org

Texas Wine & Art Festival + and 8 mainstreetfestivals.com

Anti-Defamation League * Houston in concert against hate. houstonsymphony.org

Dissent and Desire A thru 29

Unprecedented portrait of LGBTQ+ lives in India today. camh.org

An Evening with Sophia Loren + Meet a legend. thegrand.com Ann * thru 22 The one-woman play about Texas governor Ann Richards written by Holland Taylor. stagestheatre.com

Eighth Day of the Week * thru 15

Originally presented in 1995 by the Alzheimer’s center at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. ensemblehouston.com

Vanessa Williams * In concert. brilliantlectures.org ( See page 90.) Music that Should Be Danced * A celebration of the city’s diverse talent. milleroutdoortheatre.com

Magical Inspirations * A chamber concert by River Oaks Chamber Orchestra. roco.org

End Abuse Awareness Breakfast + Annual event by Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse. avda-tex.org

Michelangelo and the Vatican A thru June 10 From the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte. mfah.org

Art Car Parade + Only in Houston! thehoustonartcarparade.com

Houston’s Got Bollywood * Dance. milleroutdoortheatre.com

Amazing Grace * A musical saga. thegrand.com

Tommy Tune Awards * Best of the local high school musicals. tuts.com ( See opposite page, top.)

Moving Myths * A new kind of folk music. milleroutdoortheatre.com

Houston BBQ Festival + All things barbecue. houbbq.com

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder * A Tony Award-winning comedy. thegrand.com Step Afrika! * Traditional stepping company. milleroutdoortheatre.com

#TrueColorsDay + Show your colors for LGBTQ youth! truecolorsfund.org ( See page 32.)

Houston Earth Day + Lots going on at Discovery Green park downtown. earthdayhouston.org

Mother’s Day Market & Car Show + Take mom for crafts, cars, and food. cyspringsffabooster.org

Out from Under the Rug * thru 20 True-life tales of abortion. matchhouston.org

Old Settler’s Music Festival * thru 22 Real Texas tunes. oldsettlersmusicfest.org

Sneak Peak at Art Cars + See zany wheels before the parade. discoverygreen.com

Cabaret: Das Musical * thru May 5 Willkommen to the Kit Kat Club. obsidiantheater.org

HAYA Band: The Magician * A celebration of the city’s diverse talent. milleroutdoortheatre.com

West Side Story * thru May 6 The opera version. ( See page 96.) houstongrandopera.org

Hamilton * thru May 20 One of the greatest musicals ever comes to Houston! hamiltonmusical.com

Crawﬁ

sh Boil + Rotary Club of Galveston’s 8th annual mudbug fest. galvestonchamber.com

Texas Crawﬁ sh and Music Festival + More mudbugs, this time with music. texascrawﬁ shfestival.com

Dining Out for Life + AidsHelp.org/DiningOutForLife Freedom Train * Black history. milleroutdoortheatre.com

Latin Wave A 13th annual Latin ﬁ lm festival. mfah.org

Birding Festival + All day bird-watching and events. junctiontexas.com

Coco A See the Academy Award-winning animated ﬁ lm in the park. discoverygreen.com Dance of Asian America * East meets west. milleroutdoortheatre.com

4–6

Color Bursting Hermann Park A thru May 31 You’ve never seen tree skirts like these! artuniti.com/ color-bursting-hermann-park

Polish Festival V All things Polish at this biggest party

Calendar of Events

continued from previous page

Cleo

April 6–29

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6–29

When Liz met Dick, it was magic and the beginning of a legendary fi lm romance. They met on the set of the fi lm Cleopatra, which didn’t fair as well as their scandalous affair. But the 1963 fi lm, although over-budget and over-long, did help fuel the public’s fascination with Taylor and Burton, and they became one of the first Hollywood couples to be stalked by paparazzi and featured in tabloids despite being condemned by the Vatican and the U.S. Congress. This is a play for lovers of love and the Golden Age of Hollywood. (ActOUT performance is April 19.) alleytheatre.org

Gay 10K

April 7

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All are welcome at this run, and you can choose between the 5K and 10K routes. Lace up those sneakers and bring a friend, or an entire team. Race proceeds go to Legacy Community Health centers. Run not just for your health but for the community’s. thegay10k.com

HRC Rise

April 7

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After the run, head to the Marriott Marquis for the 21st Annual Human Rights Campaign Houston gala: Rise. There will be cocktails, dinner, a silent and live auction, and special guest speakers. hrc.org

Vanessa Williams

April 13

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Let Freedom Ring is a stirring Vanessa Williams concert celebrating the life and enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The award-winning singer, actress, and former Miss America has overcome plenty to rise to fame, and she is an LGBTQ ally. brilliantlectures.org

#TrueColorsDay

April 25

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Formerly #40toNoneDay, #TrueColorsDay brings awareness to the plight of LGBTQ homeless youth. This national day, founded by Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund, provides supporters with simple ways to make a difference, and hosts live conversations online about the issue and what everyday people are doing to end it. This year welcomes Marriott International as the ﬁrstever presenting partner. LGBTQ young people are 120 percent more likely to experience homelessness than non-LGBTQ youth. So join the effort to stop this problem and show your true colors! truecolorsfund.org

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Michael Caballero Escrow Officer

Karen Derr, Broker

By Susan Bankston

Who’s Worse, ‘Pharma Bro’ or Trump?

Exclusive: president’s daily White House schedule leaked.

Ajudge has sentenced Martin Shkreli (aka “Pharma Bro”) to seven years in federal prison and ordered him to pay $7.3 million in fines. You remember, I am sure, that Shkreli acquired ownership of an HIV drug and raised the price from $13.50 to $750 overnight. Then he laughed publicly about how rich he was going to get. By the way, that’s a 5,600 percent increase. I think they should also increase Shkreli’s prison time by 5,600 percent, for no damn reason at all.

Oddly, the HIV drug scam is not what Shkreli is going to prison for, although it’s hard to believe he actually did something worse than this. Instead, he was convicted of securities fraud. So, here’s the deal: he’s going to jail for defrauding rich people. If we had laws that mandated jail time for people who exploited the poor and the vulnerable, then a whole lot of other rich people would be in jail, too.

In other news, as you probably know, Donald Trump wakes up in a new world every day. Honey, I’m telling you he’s so forgetful that he can hide his own Easter eggs. Seriously, he could also lose a bar of soap inside a washrag.

So to help the president, White House staff members made him a daily schedule and taped it to his bathroom door so he’ll know what to do next.

trump ’s DaiLy White hOuse sche DuLe : 8 a.m.: Wake up and viciously assault Twitter. Repeatedly.

8:30 a.m.: Look in the bathroom mirror and ask, “Who’s your president for life? Who’s a good boy?”

8:45 a.m.: Do whatever it is that you do with your hair. We really don’t want to know, because it appears to involve things that PETA, the National Hairdressers Association, and even the duct-tape industry would strongly object to.

9 a.m.: Watch Fox & Friends and know in your heart that they truly are your best friends, your

I have poster board and a felt-tip marker, and I want this protestor’s job. I don’t care what it pays or where it is; I want it. I’m sure the sign doesn’t bother Paul Manafort: after all, he knows for a dead-solid, guaranteed, freeze-dried, natural fact that he’s a damn traitor. But boy howdy, it would make me feel a whole lot better. Susan Bankston

posse, your cahootin’ cousins, your blondes in the ’hood and the first ones to jump ship when it starts sinking.

10 a.m.: Ask three different people if you can fire Mike Pence. (That guy is getting on your nerves.) Keep tweeting to ask people if you can fire him until some guy in Georgia answers, “Oh hell yeah, Bubba! Does a one-legged duck swim in a circle? Is a frog’s butt waterproof? Fire that sumbitch.” Then appoint that Georgia guy to the Supreme Court.

11 a.m.: Order Grub Hub to bring you a Burger King burger, fries, and a Diet Coke. Ask nicely if they could please include the Burger King’s crown with this order. Don’t tip the driver. If he can afford a car to live in, he doesn’t need money.

Noon: Design your own Certified Guaranteed Certificates of Security Clearance (with gold trim and your giant signature) and then tell the FBI to kiss your royal butt.

1 p.m.: Call Stormy Daniels and ask, “Was it good for you, too?”

2 p.m.: Give former Texas governor Rick Perry a lifetime appointment as Secretary of Colossal Dumbass. Give him a robe, a gavel, and a fun-

ny hat to wear at all of his public appearances. 3 p.m.: Prank-call Robert Mueller and ask, “Do you have Prince Albert in a can? No? How about Noco Lusion? Do you have him in a press release?”

4 p.m.: Help Sarah Huckybooboo Sanders’ glue on her false eyelashes. While in her dressing room, steal the last remaining tidbits of her soul.

5 p.m.: Ask Putin if you can have some of that cool poison he “doesn’t have.”

6 p.m.: Announce that the White House is not in chaos. You’re simply taping Round 14 of your new reality-TV spinoff called Hire All the Best People

8 p.m.: Watch Rachel Maddow. Bring in your hired Russian hookers to pee on the TV.

See you next month, and remember: stop saying, “How stupid can you be?” Some people see that as a challenge.

Susan Bankston lives in Richmond, Texas, where she writes about her hairdresser at The World’s Most Dangerous Beauty Salon, Inc., at juanitajean.com.

IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION

This is only a summary. See complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or by calling 1-844-722-8256. This does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment.

What Is Mytesi?

Mytesi is a prescription medicine used to improve symptoms of noninfectious diarrhea (diarrhea not caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on ART.

Do Not Take Mytesi if you have diarrhea caused by an infection. Before you start Mytesi, your doctor and you should make sure your diarrhea is not caused by an infection (such as bacteria, virus, or parasite).

Possible Side Effects of Mytesi Include:

• Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection)

• Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs)

• Cough

• Flatulence (gas)

• Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down)

For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Get relief. Pure and simple. Ask your doctor about Mytesi.

Mytesi (crofelemer):

• Is the only medicine FDA-approved to relieve diarrhea in people with HIV

• Treats diarrhea differently by normalizing the flow of water in the GI tract

• Has the same or fewer side effects as placebo in clinical studies

• Comes from a tree sustainably harvested in the Amazon Rainforest

What is Mytesi?

Enough is Enough

Should I Take Mytesi If I Am: Pregnant or Planning to Become Pregnant?

• Studies in animals show that Mytesi could harm an unborn baby or affect the ability to become pregnant

• There are no studies in pregnant women taking Mytesi

• This drug should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed

A Nursing Mother?

• It is not known whether Mytesi is passed through human breast milk

• If you are nursing, you should tell your doctor before starting Mytesi

• Your doctor will help you to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop taking Mytesi

Under 18 or Over 65 Years of Age?

• Mytesi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age

Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Important Safety Information

Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%).

• Mytesi studies did not include many people over the age of 65. So it is not clear if this age group will respond differently. Talk to your doctor to find out if Mytesi is right for you

What Should I Know About Taking Mytesi With Other Medicines?

If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, herbal supplements, or vitamins, tell your doctor before starting Mytesi.

What If I Have More Questions About Mytesi?

For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

To report side effects or make a product complaint or for additional information, call 1-844-722-8256.

Rx Only

By Grace S. Yung,

Best Cities for LGBTQ Retirees

Seniors have plenty of options, but why not stay in Houston?

Choosing where to retire is a major decision, with a number of factors to consider. These include cost of living, climate, proximity to family and friends, and things to do in the area. For LGBTQ retirees, there are added variables such as whether the area is welcoming, or if it has inclusive nondiscrimination protections.

LGBTQ retirees have more options than in the past, as a growing number of cities have become welcoming. In addition, LGBTQ-specific retirement facilities have sprung up around the country in recent years, including one that’s being planned for Houston. Here are some of the top options for LGBTQ retirees:

Atlanta: The Deep South has not always been known for LGBTQ inclusion, but things have changed in places like Atlanta. The city also boasts expansive art and music scenes, as well as an airport that offers a slew of direct domestic and international flights daily. However, Atlanta may or may not be budgetfriendly, depending on where you want to live. According to Expatistan’s cost-of-living estimates, monthly rent for a 900-square-foot apartment in Atlanta is just under $1,200, with utilities running $175 per month.

Austin: Based on a recent Gallup poll, Austin, Texas, has the third-highest percentage of LGBTQ residents in the United States. The Texas capital also boasts a mild winter climate, and is well-known for its arts and culture. Austin can also be somewhat pricey, depending on the neighborhood you choose. Here, Expatistan found the average price of a 900-square-foot apartment to be in the $1,330 per month range.

Phoenix: Also a former conservative city, Phoenix has been inching up the ladder as a destination for LGBTQ retirees. This includes the neighboring areas of Scottsdale, Tempe, and Chandler. Here you will find a warm (and dry) climate year-round, as well as numerous cultural activities and eateries. Based on these factors, as well as the availability of healthcare,

affordability of housing, and quality of life, Arizona was recently named by WalletHub as one of the best states for retirees in 2018. In Phoenix, you should find the cost of living to be fairly reasonable, with an average monthly rent of $1,040 for a 900-square-foot apartment.

Tampa: If the Gulf Coast is appealing to you, then Tampa may be a good option. Florida’s climate alone has long made it a top option for retirees, and over the last few years Tampa’s LGBTQ community has grown substantially. The cost of living in also fairly reasonable, with monthly average rent on a 900-square-foot apartment in the $1,375 range (based on Expatistan figures).

Dallas: Big D has long had a thriving LGBTQ community, which is primarily centered in the Oak Lawn and Oak Cliff neighborhoods. In addition, Dallas is home to the world’s largest LGBTQ church, the Cathedral of Hope. While Dallas still has a reasonable cost of living, housing prices have been steadily inching upward in recent years.

Although putting down roots in a new city has its advantages, there is definitely something to be said about staying close to home. If you’re leaning toward remaining in the Houston area, there are a number of benefits to consider.

For instance, Space City has a more affordable cost of living than most other large

metropolitan areas. Plus, if you intend to start a second career, Houston has a rapidly expanding job market particularly in the energy, aerospace and aviation, life sciences, manufacturing, and distribution industries.

Houston will also have its first LGBTQspecific senior living facility, a 112-unit project being planned by the Montrose Center at 2222 Cleburne.

Regardless of whether you opt to stay close to home or make new memories elsewhere, it is important that you are well-prepared financially. This includes ensuring that your income sources can cover your basic living expenses as well as travel and entertainment costs.

The best way to map out a plan is to meet with a financial advisor who not only has experience in retirement planning, but also LGBTQ issues. This way, you will feel comfortable discussing all of your current and future financial needs and goals.

Grace S. Yung, CFP, is a certified financial planner practitioner with experience in helping domestic partners plan their finances since 1994. She is a principal at Midtown Financial LLC in Houston and was recognized as a “FiveStar Wealth Manager” in the 2014 September issue of Texas Monthly. Yung can be reached at grace.yung@lpl.com.

In December of 2014, David McAninch took OUTSMART to Antarctica on an Adventure Life cruise.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Check out these fabulous events co-sponsored by O UT S MART and our marketing partners.

April 1: Bunnies on the Bayou 39 beneﬁtting several local LGBT charities. (new location for this year only) bunniesonthebayou.org

April 7: Human Rights Campaign presents the 21st HRC Houston Gala hrchhouston.org

April 21: Bering United Methodist Church, “Oodles of Noodles” All You Can Eat Pasta” Beneﬁtting the Bering Support Network. beringsupportnetwork.org

April 26: The Council on Recovery 35th Annual Luncheon featuring Kristen Johnston, beneﬁtting the council. councilonrecovery.org SAVE THE DATE

May 6: Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund Houston Champagne Brunch, beneﬁtting future LGBTQ Leaders. Victoryfund.org/houston

The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Machu Picchu, Peru

The Taj Mahal, India

Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt

Abu Simbel Temples, Egypt

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Wart th

Anniv e r s ary

Smarter with Age

The legacy and future of Houston’s LGBTQ magazine.

By Andrew Edmonson

hen O UTSMART was born, Bill Clinton was in the White House, LGBTQ people could not serve openly in the military, and Section 21.06 of the Texas Penal Code still criminalized gay sex between consenting adults.

A quarter-century later, the lives of LGBTQ Americans have been transformed in extraordinary ways: from the landmark 2003 Supreme Court ruling in Lawrence v. Texas, which invalidated sodomy laws nationwide, to Annise Parker becoming the first openly LGBTQ person elected mayor of a major American city in 2009, to the marriage-equality decision of 2015.

Through it all, O UTSMART has chronicled— and often helped catalyze—a wave of profound change.

“O UTSMART has seen the LGBTQ community go from outsider status to being Supreme Court-approved legal,” says Ann Walton Sieber, who served as editor of the magazine

from 1999 to 2002. “Of course, there is still enormous stigma in many quarters, but still, it’s a mind-blowing amount of positive change.

“I hope that perhaps O UTSMART was part of making that change happen,” she adds. “We really believed that one very important part of the way to change was for people to come out— to make themselves known as gay people to their circle of friends, family, and coworkers— [so everyone could see] that gay folks aren’t all stereotypes. And we were the magazine that also showed that panoply of gay/queer people to ourselves, so that we would know who we were.”

Clifford Pugh, a reporter who has covered the Bayou City over four decades, including for the Houston Post and the Houston Chronicle, praises O UTSMART ’s editorial department for “consistently producing such a highquality publication that really has elevated the discussion of what’s going on in Houston’s LGBTQ community.”

Annise Parker, a one-time O UTSMART columnist who now heads the LGBTQ Victory Fund, concurs.

“The LGBTQ press is an essential component of our movement for equality, ensuring that our community understands the issues by providing a platform to LGBTQ elected officials and advocates who are working on our behalf,” Parker says, adding that O UTSMART was “a lifeline and a connector” for activists in the 1990s and 2000s.

“Houston was not always a friendly place for LGBTQ people,” she says. “But O UTSMART provided that sense of community and common purpose that was critical for organizing to make positive change.

“I know the coverage it provided—including exposing those opposed to our equality— played an essential role in changing the hearts and minds of many of Houston’s policymakers and elected officials,” she adds. “Houston is a better place because of O UTSMART ’s coverage.”

For noted LGBTQ historian JD Doyle, O utSmart has made a major contribution to documenting the evanescent history of Houston’s queer community and the institutions that comprise it. “In 1999, O utSmart did a year-long series focusing on Houston LGBT history, and it was wonderful. And there have been lengthy articles over the years about our organizations. I love O utSmart. It gets better and better.”

“It’s time to be Out. It’s time be Smart. It’s time for OutSmart.”

—Penned after attending the 1993 March on Washington for Gay, Lesbian and Bi Equal Rights

start-up magazine,” Jeu says. “I think 50 percent of magazines don’t even make it through their first year. We started the magazine with a handful of credit cards, and credit from a generous Vietnamese newspaper printer. Those were some rough days, and the only one getting rich from the magazine was the bank—from all of my NSF [Not Sufficient Funds] charges.”

on LGBTQ issues. But DiStefano’s specialty is actually his long-form interviews with a bevy of celebrities. Through pluck and perseverance, he has landed interviews with such luminaries as Eartha Kitt, Shirley MacLaine, Harvey Fierstein, Lily Tomlin, Joan Rivers, and Kathy Griffin.

“My focus is mainly entertainment, not politics—but I feel that talking to celebrities about anything gay is political anyway,” DiStefano says.

O utSmart sprang directly from an activist impulse.

In a letter from the publisher and staff in the magazine’s first issue on February 15, 1994, publisher Greg Jeu observed, “The emotional and pivotal experience of participating in the 1993 March on Washington for Gay, Lesbian and Bi Equal Rights was also integral to the decision to create O utSmart.”

The letter ended with a clever call to arms: “It’s time to be Out. It’s time to be Smart. It’s time for O utSmart.”

Jeu made a key business decision that would set the magazine apart: he would not accept the highly lucrative, sexually explicit advertising favored by many LGBTQ publications and alternative weeklies such as the Houston Press

“At the time, there was a double standard that existed for advertising in mainstream and gay publications,” Jeu recalls. “We’re talking about a time in history before Ellen DeGeneres came out. Even a same-sex kissing scene on TV was too much for mainstream America.

“Mainstream publications could have topless bars, chat-line ads, and other sexually explicit advertising in it, and still be distributed in major grocery stores and restaurants,” Jeu adds. “However, if you had photos of shirtless gay men dancing, it would be considered by some to be unacceptable and would cause problems. We also decided not to take sexually explicit advertising because we felt it would be a distraction from the other aspects of the community that we wanted to highlight.”

In those early days, Jeu was also confronted with the practical realities of homophobic Texas: finding a printer that was willing to handle gay content.

“Financially, it was extremely challenging since banks were not quite willing to loan to a

The first issue of O utSmart featured a cover story about high-glam A-listers Rod and Bob Jackson-Paris, which might have signaled that the magazine aspired merely to be a gay Vanity Fair. But the articles inside that issue revealed much greater ambitions, and were a harbinger of future editorial trends that would define the magazine.

In that maiden issue, there were profiles of two Houston artists, Damion Sondergaard and Missy Gentile, establishing O utSmart ’s trademark commitment to in-depth arts and culture coverage.

Community leader Rev. Ralph Lasher penned an essay, “In God’s Name—Gays, Lesbians, and the Bible,” expertly debunking homophobic religious leaders’ misuse of scripture to stigmatize gays.

Veteran activist Bart Loeser wrote an article entitled “Exposing the Myths of HIV Testing.”

Since the beginning, O utSmart has played a significant role in helping to bind together a community devastated by the AIDS epidemic.

And the publication also has its lighter side, supplied in many cases by creative director and entertainment editor Blase DiStefano, a stalwart of the magazine for over two decades. His Queer Quotes column provides a witty, bite-size roundup of the comments of public figures sounding off

Pugh, the longtime Houston journalist, admits that reading DiStefano’s interviews is his “guilty pleasure.”

“I always find something new about the celebrity from his questions.”

Not content to rest on its laurels, the magazine continued to blaze new trails. In 2002, a decade before the mainstream media began to seriously cover the transgender community, O utSmart produced its first “transgender issue.” Editor Sieber interviewed Lilly Roddy (the magazine’s astrologer and longestcontributing writer, who transitioned in January 1999) for an article titled “Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know about Your Transgender Friends.” D.L. Groover profiled several pioneering trans activists including Sara Rook, who transitioned while working at Shell Oil’s Deer Park chemical plant.

During OutSmart ’s first five years, mainstream organizations began to take note of the magazine’s quality. In 1998 and 1999, OutSmart was named Best Local Gay and Lesbian Magazine by the Vice Versa Awards. Not content to rest on its laurels, the magazine continued to blaze new trails. In 2002, a decade before the mainstream media began to seriously cover the transgender community, OutSmart produced its first “transgender issue.”

During the same year, there was also a significant change on the publication’s masthead and in its mission: the magazine added “transgender” and “bisexual” to the “gay and lesbian” audience it had previously identified.

In the early 2000s, the magazine also introduced a regular column by Parker, then serving as Houston’s city controller. She

Smarter with age continued from page 45

wrote candidly about many parts of her life, from instructing the City protocol office that her partner, Kathy Hubbard, would be included on all official invitations, to navigating the long, emotionally fraught journey through the court system to adopt her two daughters. O utSmart lavished coverage on her historic rise to mayor and her reelection campaigns from 2010 to 2016.

By 2009, Houston Press had named OutSmart Best Local Magazine four years in a row in its annual Best of Houston competition. “We keep waiting for a local magazine to stand up and snatch this prize away from OutSmart, but it just never happens.”

There were also many challenges along the way, most notably in the wake of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. “We suffered from the consequences of that nightmare, as did almost all other businesses,” DiStefano recalls. “We were a glossy magazine at the time, and had to revert back to newsprint. Since I am kind of snobbish about the inferiority of newsprint, that was a very challenging time. But let’s keep in mind that that was nothing compared to what some businesses endured.”

Through all of the ups and downs, the anchor for O utSmart has been publisher Jeu. Born in Houston in 1959, he attended Bellaire High School, where he started his first business with friends in 1978—a singing-telegram company that featured singers, belly dancers, tasteful strippers, and balloon deliveries. In 1985, he cut his teeth in magazine publishing when he founded Uptown Express, which was later renamed Health and Spirit Magazine

“Greg’s leadership is ground-zero for O utSmart,” Sieber observes. “Greg hires staff who bring their own visions and skills—but really, I credit Greg with how O utSmart has thrived.”

Sieber notes that Jeu, whose grandfather owned a Chinese restaurant in San Antonio, comes from a “family-business ethos.”

“It was open 24 hours; it didn’t even have a lock on the door,” she says. “When they needed to close for his grandfather’s funeral, they had no way to lock the restaurant.

“So I have a theory that owning businesses comes more naturally to Greg, because he grew up in a family culture that was familybusiness oriented,” she adds. “Greg values loyalty. He really takes care of his employees

in a caring way, more than any other job I’ve encountered. And he expects loyalty in return. I think he and O utSmart deserve loyalty.”

DiStefano says Jeu “never gives up. He has always had the tenacity to—as fashion guru Tim Gunn would say—‘make it work,’” he says.

By 2009, thanks to Jeu’s leadership and a talented and passionately committed editorial team, Houston Press had named O utSmart Best Local Magazine four years in a row in its annual Best of Houston competition. “We keep waiting for a local magazine to stand up and snatch this prize away from O utSmart, but it just never happens,” the Press wrote. “Even as the masthead changes from time to time, the quality remains high: smart, insightful features into Houston’s gay past and present, sharp reviews of theater, music, and gay-targeted movies, and lively interviews with national figures letting out their ‘Did they just say that?’ side. And it’s free. It’s a hard combination to beat, but maybe some year some [competing magazine] will.”

“Houston

well as a commitment to more extensive coverage of news and politics. In January, for example, longtime reporter Brandon Wolf broke a story about the record number of LGBTQ candidates in Texas in 2018. The story quickly went viral, and was picked up by media outlets as diverse as the Fort Worth Star Telegram, The Hill, and Breitbart News

“Texas is the second-largest state in the nation, and it still has a major shortage of LGBTQ media,” Wright observes. “So I think it’s critical that we do what we can to fill this gap.

“Over time, I envision us devoting more and more resources to our digital presence,” he adds. “In recent months, we have significantly increased our web traffic and greatly expanded our reach on social media. I expect that we will soon redesign our website and gradually begin to place a greater emphasis on digital sales.”

In this era of “fake news,” accurate, discerning reporting—whether online or in print—has become an increasingly valuable commodity.

was not always a friendly place for LGBTQ people. But OutSmart provided that sense of community and common purpose that was critical for organizing to make positive change.”

—Annise Parker, former Houston mayor and Out Smart columnist

In a story entitled “Five Great Moments in Houston’s Gay History,” Houston Press cited the founding of O utSmart in 1994, along with the city’s first Pride parade in 1979 and the Lawrence v. Texas Supreme Court decision.

As O utSmart embarks on celebrating its 25th anniversary, it is looking decisively forward, not back. In March 2017, John Wright joined the team as editor, bringing two decades of experience at both mainstream and LGBTQ publications.

Under Wright’s leadership, O utSmart has placed greater emphasis on reflecting the diversity of the city’s LGBTQ community, as

“In this time of segmented media, talking heads, and sensationalistic journalism, community publications play an important role in organizing individuals around a common purpose,” Parker says.

“O utSmart remains one of the first places newly out Houstonians go to learn about our community,” she adds. “It remains the publication LGBTQ candidates and elected officials go to when trying to reach our people. And it remains a place to learn about the rallies and events that bring Houston’s LGBTQ community together. O utSmart is a necessity in a city like Houston.”

Andrew Edmonson is a member of the board of directors of The Oral History Project, which is chronicling Houston’s response to the AIDS crisis.

This article drew significantly on research done by LGBTQ historian JD Doyle, and the website houstonlgbthistory.org, which he curates.

Live near where the FUN is! Walking distance to restaurants and an easy bike ride to the Heights Bike Trail too! This gracious end unit has open, first floor living with wonderful natural light throughout with French doors opening to the deck and back area. The second floor includes the master suite plus 2 additional secondary bedrooms with a full bathroom. Entertain in style with the expansive third floor gameroom (bedroom 4) which opens onto your sweeping rooftop deck! This well-planned space also includes a full bathroom and large walk-in closet too! High ceilings, hardwood floors on the first floor and master + a decadent master bathroom oasis!

•

Gay Press, Gay Power

For LGBTQ activists, OutSmart has been a lifeline.

By Annise Parker

Photo

by Dalton DeHart

We didn’t trust the police. We eyed strangers warily. And we knew that at any moment, things could go horribly wrong.

That was the life of a lesbian activist in the 1970s—organizing and attending meetings intended to advance our movement for equality, but always with a lingering sense of fear. Fear of becoming a target of discrimination or a victim of a hate crime. Fear of being arrested, because sodomy laws were alive and well in Texas. Fear of abandonment by family members shamed by our activism.

It was a different time. And while people of color, immigrants, and other members of our community continue to face many of these same challenges, attitudes toward LGBTQ issues have changed dramatically. Many factors contributed to this shift, most notably the push for our community to come out of the closet and the increased visibility in media, politics, and everyday life that resulted.

Yet, a driving force behind much of that progress was also a strong LGBTQ press—easing our isolation, chronicling our lives, and providing a sense of community. Before the Internet, it was our primary source of information for community gatherings—whether a rally at City Hall or a fundraising event for friends with HIV/AIDS. For activists around the country, these publications were lifelines. In Houston, one of my lifelines was O utSmart

O utSmart debuted near the start of my political career, and was a source of pride for our community from the beginning. While the weekly papers had

more current events, O utSmart was a glossy monthly magazine. Though it has always featured entertaining columns, it has stayed true to its core mission of being our voice and our watchdog. It has also been our voters’ guide—laying out the slate of candidates for local office and the positions they hold on equality.

Its political coverage helped secure LGBTQ support for my nine successful races for public office—three each for City Council, city controller, and then mayor. The monthly O utSmart column I wrote while I was city controller gave me a chance to raise my public profile while also providing readers with needed information.

While mainstream media now covers our community and issues more extensively, and information and events can be shared through social media with ease, O utSmart and other LGBTQ publications remain as critical as ever. They continue to provide a platform for LGBTQ candidates who have yet to catch the mainstream media’s attention. They ensure that the diversity of our community and its perspectives are given a platform. And they continue to provide the in-depth coverage of our issues that is essential to sharing our story on social media or elsewhere.

O utSmart deserves our gratitude for 25 years of public service. I am confident that Houston is a more equal—and fun!—city for LGBTQ people because of its great journalism.

Annise Parker is president and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund.

UNRIVALED COVERAGE

A

look at some of OutSmart’s most epic issues.

Twenty-five years ago, a small local publication debuted with little fanfare. It was quickly embraced by a community eager for something that spoke to it, reflected it, and served its needs. It was a publication like no other in the Southwest, and one of only a few nationally. No one knew whether it was economically viable, or whether a diverse, sometimes fractured community could get behind it.

What tone would it take? What voice would it speak with? And more importantly, what would it say with that voice? That publication is the very same one you now hold in your hands: O utSmart magazine.

No one, and certainly not the magazine’s staff, could have predicted that this once-fledgling magazine would turn into a venerable community staple. Other organizations have come and gone, and so many publications have fallen by the wayside. But O utSmart has (sometimes just barely) given Houston’s LGBTQ community a platform to speak with, and a powerful voice that speaks to them.

To celebrate a quarter-century in publishing, we we went through our archives, issue by issue, to piece together some of our most meaningful moments, including a few of the noteworthy people we’ve covered over the years.

By Steven Foster

FEBRUARY 15, 1994

(our premiere issue)

The cover features one of the best-known gay couples in the nation, Rob and Bob Jackson Paris, a former Playgirl centerfold model and a former Mr. Universe, respectively. The cover is in color and printed on glossy paper, while the inside pages are black-and-white newsprint.

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 1995

In keeping with the times, AIDS is featured prominently on the cover and in the magazine. Subsequent issues focus on the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, as well as the Alley Theatre’s production of the seminal Angels in America .

OCTOBER 1996

The magazine begins monthly publication and streets on the first of every month. (Well, as close to the first as we can get.)

JANUARY 1999

O utSmart is named “Nation’s Best Local Magazine” by the Vice Versa Gay Press Awards, and also receives its first of many “Best Local Publication” awards from the Houston Press

JANUARY 2001

O utSmart is named “Best Local Magazine” again, winning its second Vice Versa Award. The magazine also grabs three Houston Press Club awards.

JULY 15, 1994

O utSmart ’s first celebrity interview, with Melissa Etheridge.

FEBRUARY–MARCH 1996

O utSmart stirs up controversy with its Sex Issue, including a feature about adult-film star

Tom Steele of Houston, who appears shirtless on the cover.

APRIL 1997

A very pregnant Denay Hudson is featured on the cover in an article on same-sex families.

NOVEMBER 2000

An interview with then-Houston mayor Lee Brown is featured.

MARCH 2003

Lawrence v. Texas attorney Mitchell Katine is interviewed. The magazine is now printed on glossy paper throughout, with no newsprint. ➝

Spring has sprung— and as it turns out, there is a campy rainbow-colored lining, if you will, to the dark cloud of the Trump administration.

Artists like Randy Rainbow are thriving (while keeping hope and humor alive) as part of the Resistance. The gay YouTube star is bringing his show to Texas this month, with an appearance at Houston’s House of Blues on March 23.

For our March cover story, writer Kim Hogstrom spoke with the man behind those hilarious viral show-tune parodies of the president and his merry band of misﬁts.

Elsewhere in this issue, I report on my recent chat with Houston Independent School District’s superintendent, Richard Carranza, who has made headlines with his unprecedented support for LGBTQ equality.

Meanwhile, with voting under way for the March primary elections, we continue our “Out for Change” series with Brandon Wolf’s proﬁ le of Michael and Steven Byrum-Bratsen

of Iowa Colony, who could become the ﬁ rst married same-sex couple in Texas in which both spouses hold elected o ce.

In our annual real-estate section, Marene Gustin chats with Galveston’s Tom Schwenk as part of her rundown of the Houston area’s top LGBTQ-friendly Realtors. This issue also includes “What Drives You,” in which James Hurst takes a look at the latest automotive trends.

On the entertainment front, Don Maines has previews of several upcoming shows, including Cirque du Soleil at the Toyota Center and a production of The Laramie Project in conservative Brazoria County.

Our lovely spring weather also means it’s time for the Sherwood Forest Faire and Bunnies on the Bayou, while the Lone Star Volleyball Association serves up its 30thanniversary season.

Here’s to new beginnings.

—John Wright

BORN THIS GAY Randy Rainbow does Texas.

(See page 30.)

Photo courtesy of Randy Rainbow

Unrivaled Coverage

continued from previous page

JULY 2003

O utSmart publishes its first Galveston Issue, an annual tribute to Houston’s sister city that continues to this day.

JULY 2006

Team Houston goes to Chicago and Montreal to compete in the Gay Games.

JUNE 2007

O utSmart ’s annual Pride Issue, with a complete Pride events calendar, hits a record-setting 148 pages.

OCTOBER 2009

Kathy Griffin appears on the cover.

NOVEMBER 2010

O utSmart continues to be the city’s gay cultural touchstone, this time featuring Bill Arning, the new artistic director at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.

OCTOBER 2003

Lawrence v. Texas plaintiffs Tyrone Garner and John Lawrence are featured.

NOVEMBER 2005

O utSmart interviews Tab Hunter and Kathy Griffin. Griffin says she’s “a complete militant atheist” in the interview.

O utSmart gets a “mention” on CNN.

JANUARY 2007

A controversial image of Janina Gavankar from the Showtime series The L Word.

JUNE 2008

The previous record is broken just a year later, with the Pride Issue coming in at a whopping 162 pages.

JANUARY 2010

Annise Parker appears on the cover again after making national news as the first openly gay person elected mayor of a major American city.

continued from previous page

JANUARY 2011

Always in touch with the national news,

O utSmart covers the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

NOVEMBER 2012

Fran Drescher is featured on the cover of the annual Pet Issue.

Steven Foster is a frequent contributor to Out Smart magazine. He can be reached at ste7en@ste7enfoster.com Unrivaled Coverage

OCTOBER 2011

Legacy Community Health moves in to a giant new Montrose facility.

JUNE 2014

JULY 2013

O utSmart covers the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Windsor that strikes down the Defense of Marriage Act.

O utSmart sets a record again, with a 170-page Pride issue.

JULY 2015

Marriage equality (ushered in by the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision) is the talk of the country and the cover of O utSmart

SEPTEMBER 2015

Lily Tomlin graces O utSmart ’s cover for the second time.

JUNE 2016 170 pages again!

OCTOBER 2017

O utSmart salutes the LGBTQ Heroes of Harvey.

JULY 2017

Out lesbian Harris County district attorney Kim Ogg grants O utSmart an exclusive interview.

Bending toward Justice

The fight for LGBTQ rights is far from over.

By Daryl Moore

Twenty-two years ago, O utSmart welcomed me to its pages and published my first LeftOut column.

For 10 years, publisher Greg Jeu gave me a monthly platform to write about issues that engaged me, enraged me, and frequently perplexed me.

I wrote my last LeftOut column in 2006, when I felt like I’d run out of fresh things to say. Last month, Greg messaged me to ask if I wanted to write something for O utSmart ’s 25th-anniversary issue. I said yes without hesitation.

I said yes because I welcome the opportunity to write about what’s changed and what hasn’t in the last 25 years, and why it’s as important as ever to stay engaged and to continue the fight for equality.

When I wrote my first column in 1996, everything was different. State laws criminalizing oral and anal sex between consenting adults were still on the books because of Bowers v. Hardwick, the 1986 case in which the Supreme Court held that the Constitution did not confer “a fundamental right to engage in homosexual sodomy.” President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996, denying federal recognition of samesex marriages. That same year, the military discharged almost 900 service members for violating “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the mili-

tary’s policy that prohibited gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals from serving openly.

Much has changed since 1996. In 2003, the Supreme Court overruled Bowers with Lawrence v. Texas and invalidated sodomy laws nationwide. In 2011, President Barack Obama certified the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” In 2013, the Supreme Court held in United States v. Windsor that DOMA’s provision of allowing the term “spouse” to apply only to marriages between a man and a woman was unconstitutional. Then, in 2015, the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling declared that the right of same-sex couples to marry is fundamental under the U.S. Constitution.

In 1996, I was a thirty-something single young lawyer who was not really all that out. Today, I’m a fifty-something married and out elected official in Harris County, Texas. The relative speed at which we have been moving toward equality has, in many respects, been mind-blowing. Even the labels used by our community have changed: GLBT to LGBT, to LGBTQ, to LGBTQI, or simply to LGBT+.

If you had asked me in 1996, when I started writing my O utSmart column, whether we would see the undoing of DOMA, the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and marriage equality in my lifetime, I would have responded without hesitation: “No way.” And while I’m thrilled

about our progress, this is no time to take our foot off the gas. It might seem like morning in America for our community, but there could well be more dark days ahead. If we assume there’s nowhere to go but up, we’re sunk.

And there is historical precedent for my anxiety. Let’s talk about race relations and reproductive freedom.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 are all more than a half-century old. Undoubtedly, all three helped kick-start our nation’s remarkable progress with racial justice. But still, the fight continues.

Just last year, two different federal courts found that the State of Texas had acted with “racially discriminatory intent” and with a “discriminatory purpose” against minority voters in congressional redistricting and in enacting voter-ID laws. Federal courts have found intentional discrimination by the State of Texas eight times since 2011.

More than 50 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, America’s courts are finding that the promise of racial justice remains unfulfilled.

And let’s talk about women’s reproductive freedom. In 1965, the Supreme Court held in Griswold v. Connecticut that married couples had a constitutional privacy right that ➝

Bending

Justice

includes legal access to contraception. Eight years later, in Roe v. Wade, the high court held that a woman’s constitutional right to privacy includes the right to terminate a pregnancy. After these two seminal cases, many women thought their march for reproductive freedom was over. Hardly.

Last year, President Trump rolled back the birth-control mandate and allowed employers and insurers to refuse to provide contraception for religious or moral reasons. Every bill that Congress considered to roll back the Affordable Care Act called for defunding Planned Parenthood. And today, all but 10 states have imposed at least one major abortion restriction: onerous regulations on abortion clinics, mandated counseling to dissuade women from having abortions, a mandated waiting period before an abortion, a requirement of parental involvement before a minor obtains an abortion, or a prohibition on the use of state Medicaid funds to pay for medically necessary abortions.

The unfinished fight for racial justice and reproductive freedom reveals that although we now have marriage equality, the fight for full equality has just begun. Today, while we can legally marry, only 20 states have employment nondiscrimination laws that cover sexual orientation and gender identity. Fifty percent of the LGBTQ population lives in states that allow employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. And 51 percent live in states that allow publicaccommodation discrimination or the right to refuse LGBTQ individuals entry into stores, restaurants, hotels, etc.

In other words, while we can legally marry, half of us live in states where we can be fired at work if we put our wedding pictures out on our desks. And more than half of us live in states where we can be turned away at a restaurant or hotel because of who we are.

In a commencement address at Wesleyan University in 1964 the same year the Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination based on race Martin Luther King Jr. reminded new graduates that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Even with the passage of the Civil Rights Act at hand, King knew that the fight for racial justice had just begun.

So has the fight for full equality.

FREE CONSULTATIONS

Peter Chang, M.D. Ankur Mehta, M.D.

Daryl Moore is a former contributor to OutSmart magazine.

Moore

Queer Latinas, Represent

Jessica Gonzalez to become third openly LGBTQ member of Texas House.

By Marene Gustin

Editor’s Note: This article is part of “Out for Change in 2018,” a monthly series on LGBTQ candidates in Texas, who were the subject of our January issue. For more, visit tinyurl.com/outforchange2018.

Jessica Gonzalez says her primary focus as a member of the Texas House will be improving the quality of life for families—whether that involves child welfare, education reform, or criminal justice.

“One of my top priorities will be addressing affordable housing,” she adds. “It’s a big problem in Dallas. People are being forced out of their homes, and the state keeps decreasing funding for education, making the school districts rely on raising property taxes.”

Gonzalez is also prepared to take a stand on another issue, should it come up again in the 2019 session.

“If the bathroom bill comes back,” she says, “I will definitively be at the forefront of blocking that.”

Gonzalez, an out lesbian and attorney, handily defeated her opponent, incumbent State representative Roberto Alonzo (D-Dallas), in the March 6 primary. Gonzalez has no District 104 Republican opponent in the November general election, meaning she will be sworn in prior to the 86th Texas Legislature.

“The campaign was really a grassroots effort,” Gonzalez told O utSmart from her Dallas law firm on her first day back at work following the primary election. “I started knocking on doors back when it was just me and my consultant.” As time went on, the campaign gained more staff, supporters, and funds. Gonzalez says the campaign included mail pieces and social media, “but it really was all about talking to people one-on-one, just getting voters to turn out.”

“And the LGBTQ issue was never raised during the campaign,” Gonzalez says. “A lot of the demographics in the district are changing; it’s getting younger and more LGBTQ-friendly.”

Gonzalez will become one of at least three openly LGBTQ lawmakers in the Texas House, marking the first time in history there have been more than two. She will join incumbent State representatives Mary Gonzalez (D-El Paso) and Celia Israel (D-Austin), who are also both queer Latinas.

These three Democrats could be joined by at least one more in November. Julie Johnson won her Democratic primary with 77 percent of the vote in District 115, so she will face incumbent representative Matt Rinaldi (RIrving), who is rabidly anti-LGBTQ.

“Wouldn’t that be something if she wins?”

Gonzalez says of Johnson. “That would make four of us.”

The Texas Legislature saw 33 anti-LGBTQ bills in the 2017 session, the most in any state. Although the bathroom bill was defeated, State lawmakers passed one of the most antiLGBTQ adoption laws in the nation.

Chuck Smith, CEO of Equality Texas, says even though the community is clearly outnumbered in the Legislature, people shouldn’t underestimate the power of having three openly LGBTQ House members.

“It’s very true to say that if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” Smith says. “There is power in their presence, and they can be effective.”

Of course, there could also be a much larger regime change in Austin next year. Former Dallas County sheriff Lupe Valdez, also a queer Latina, was the top vote-getter in the Democratic primary for governor. She will face Houston businessman Andrew White in the May 22 runoff, with the winner meeting Republican incumbent governor Greg Abbott in November.

“Dallas is very blue, very progressive,” Gonzalez says. “[Valdez will] do fine here, but it’s going to be all about turnout in the general election. I’m just hoping what’s happening in Washington will mobilize people.”

District 104 stretches across Dallas County, including more than 172,000 residents in the cities of Dallas, Grand Prairie, Cockrell Hill, and Irving. It is predominantly Hispanic, and a strong Democratic bastion. Alonzo had held the seat since 1994 and had not drawn an opponent since 2008. This was Gonzalez’ first run for public office, but she has a history of public service.

she taught life skills at the Dallas County Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center, and served as the interim restitution coordinator for the Dallas City Attorney’s Office Community Court division. She then decided to enroll in law school at Western Michigan University, where she graduated at the top of her class. She served as a White House intern in the Obama administration, working on immigration issues.

Returning to Dallas, Gonzalez opened her own law firm, Gandara and Gonzalez, PLLC. Her law partner is also an LGBTQ woman, and their firm specializes in personal-injury cases, routinely providing low-cost or pro bono work to the community.

The firm actually moved its offices during the campaign, so Gonzalez had a lot of catching up to do when she returned to work.

“I really haven’t had any down time yet,” she says. “I’m really bad about taking time for myself, but I definitely need to take a little break before I go to Austin in January.”

In what little down time she does have, she enjoys working on her 100-year-old home in Dallas and taking bike rides.

“I’m really looking forward to biking the trails in Austin, and the live music scene—that is, if I have any down time there,” she says.

“IF THE BATHROOM BILL COMES BACK, I WILL DEFINITIVELY BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF BLOCKING THAT.”

The youngest of four children of Mexican immigrants, Gonzalez was the second in her family to graduate from college. She attributes her work ethic and values to her parents, who opened their own business to support the family.

After earning her undergraduate degree,

At the capitol, Gonzalez says she plans to try to reach across the aisle.

“I think that will be important,” she says. “It’s going to be about building coalitions and getting people involved.” She also plans to work with local governments and use their expertise. As for the future, she hasn’t really had time to think too far ahead.

“Certainly I want to stay in the House long enough to see my agenda through,” she says. “Maybe 10 years. Then it would be time to turn the set over to younger, newer voices.”

Marene Gustin is a regular contributor to Out Smart magazine.

Wisconsin’s Finest Tammy

seeking re-election this year.

Baldwin, who became the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012, is

Celebrating Victory

Senator Tammy Baldwin headlines group’s Houston brunch.

By Ryan M. Leach

Photo by Bill Clark

The theme for the eighth annual Houston Victory Fund Champagne Brunch should be, “New Brunch. Who Dis?”

Everything is new—from the venue, to the organization’s president and CEO (former Houston mayor Annise Parker), to the record-breaking slate of LGBTQ candidates in Texas.

The keynote speaker will be Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin, the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012 who is facing a tough re-election fight this year.

“Tammy is our sole LGBTQ voice in the U.S. Senate, and anti-LGBTQ forces are coming together to spend enormous amounts of money to defeat her,” Parker tells O utSmart. “It is critical for the LGBTQ community to step up to help ensure we do not lose this important LGBTQ leader in the Senate.”

The brunch is moving from its traditional date in April to May 6—just eight days before early voting for the primary runoffs in Texas. It is also moving from The Corinthian to the Ballroom at Bayou Place.

Although Parker is no stranger to the brunch, this will mark her first year as leader of the 27-year-old organization dedicated to electing openly LGBTQ candidates, which played a critical role in her successful City races. In 2009, Parker became the first openly LGBTQ person elected mayor of a major U.S. city.

“Although I attend the Houston Champagne Brunch almost every year, unsurprisingly I am more excited about the 2018 brunch than any before,” Parker says. “Houston is my home, so standing before friends as the first former elected official to serve as Victory Fund president and CEO will be a proud moment for me.”

Houston activist Bryan Hlavinka, a Victory Fund board member of nine years, will co-chair the brunch with Jani Lopez for the second consecutive year. Lopez has participated in the brunch for the last five years.

Hlavinka says he believes Parker is “ready to take the organization to new heights. With our former mayor as the new Victory Fund president, the energy will bring new growth and scale that enables historic levels of LGBTQ representation at all levels of government in all 50 states,” Hlavinka says. “As we all know, representation is power. Representation is access. Representation is equality.”

Pastor Matt Russell will serve as honorary co-chair of the brunch, a title reserved for someone who has contributed to the advancement of LGBTQ people in Houston. Russell is the leader of projectCURATE (projectcurate.org), a public theology and racial-equity collaborative with a mission of working toward a more just society.

Houston has long played an outsized role in the success of the Victory Fund.

The enthusiasm around Parker’s Houston races created a base of support locally that has allowed the city to host the organization’s only large-scale fundraising brunch outside of Washington.

This year, local LGBTQ candidates are again vying to make history. Judge Steven Kirkland hopes to become the first LGBTQ person elected to the Texas Supreme Court, while activist and attorney Fran Watson would be the first out Texas state senator.

Kirkland and Watson were among 10 Texas candidates endorsed by the Victory Fund in the March primaries. Eight of those endorsed candidates advanced to runoffs or the general election, including Kirkland, Watson, and Harris County judicial candidates Jim Kovach, Beau Miller, and Jerry Simoneaux.

On a national level, in addition to helping re-elect Baldwin, the organization is hoping that Arizona Democratic congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema will join her in the Senate. Sinema is vying to replace retiring GOP senator Jeff Flake.

Hlavinka says the Houston brunch is important to the success of the Victory Fund’s mission—especially in a critical election year.

“It allows us to showcase the work of the Victory Fund nationally, and the candidates that are endorsed and supported by the Victory Fund,” he says. “It also allows national candidates to come speak to the Houston LGBTQ community about the work they are doing on the national stage.”

What: Victory Fund Houston Champagne Brunch

When: Noon to 2 p.m., Sunday, May 6

Where: Ballroom at Bayou Place, 500 Texas Ave. Tickets/sponsorships: VictoryFund.org

Ryan Leach is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine.

Here

“As

FrankBillingsley

MODEL YOUTH

STrans teen Madelyn Whitley is burning up the runways at Page Parkes Texas.

By Jenny Block

eventeen-year-old Carnegie Vanguard High School student Madelyn Whitley has been modeling for only a short time.

But Whitley is already a hot commodity at Page Parkes Texas, with a mix of photo shoots and runway shows under her belt, and a TV documentary in the works. Given Whitley’s edgy looks and lean, leggy body, it is no wonder she has made a splash.

But she is more than the beautiful girl next door. She’s also the beautiful transgender girl next door.

Assigned male at birth, Whitley began transitioning when she was 14.

“I started having these feelings [when] I was really little and couldn’t wear a princess dress, bring my Barbies to school, or paint my nails like all the other girls,” Whitley tells O utSmart. “It was hard feeling so isolated.

“It’s been the best and worst thing that’s ever happened to me,” she adds. “I love my life now. I love the person I’ve become, but there are a lot of people who simply don’t understand and who try to bring me down—and [they] almost succeeded.”

While Whitley’s parents and step-parents have had mixed reactions to her decision to transition, she has found acceptance in the modeling world. Page Parkes, founder of the agency that represents Whitley, still remembers the day she came in, describing it as “a regular Saturday.”

“Madelyn had asked for information through the Page Parkes website, and I was the one who had the pleasure of meeting her myself,” Parkes tells O utSmart. “She was magical. When she turned to speak to me, I was inspired by her look—just stunning.”

Although some may think looks are the only thing to consider when it comes to modeling, Parkes will be the first to tell you otherwise. And that was especially true with Whitley. “The real magic came when I asked, ‘Why have you never been to Page Parkes before?’ And she said, ‘Well, there is a back story,’” Parkes explains. “Madelyn began to trust me with her story. I was then saying to myself, ‘This is a dream come true for me as a model agent. She is the future, and I am on board.’

“I felt Madelyn was super-special and so very smart, as ➝

well,” Parkes adds. “She is one brave girl, standing up for all transgender teens.”

Indeed, Whitley views herself as not only a model, but also an activist.

“I educate people, [and] by simply living my life, people can gain an awareness of the community and what it means to be transgender,” she says. “Everyone is watching the current trends and news and events, so I think that being an activist for equal rights, especially for my LGBTQ+ community, is going to bring a lot of attention to the matter, sparking a conversation for change.”

Whitley has done runway shows for Fashion X and Fashion Fusion, as well as a photo shoot for a Jonathan Blake social media campaign, a test shoot with Select Studios, and a modeling shoot for Alan Gonzalez’s line of clothing with Roshan Moayed. She is now working with the production company Audacious Media on a TV documentary.

Parkes says Whitley’s gender identity has not been an issue for the agency’s clients.

“My clients are open-minded, and she sells

clothes, so they have loved using her locally.”

But locally is just the beginning, Parkes says. “Our dreams are much bigger. I will present her to Gucci and other leaders in fashion this summer. She is also studying acting, and my hope is for her to be a film actress long-term. But her academics are very important as well. She can do it all.”

The admiration is mutual “I’ve been headover-heels in love with the entire process,” Whitley says. “I love the people, the energy, taking pictures, going to castings, walking on the runway—everything. It’s been an amazing time in which I’ve met some really great people and had so much fun.”

Whitley says her idols include Tyra Banks, Romee Strijd, Kendall Jenner, and Laverne Cox. And she has a role model right at home— her twin sister, Margo, who is also transgender. “But to be fair, I think every transgender person is my idol,” she says. “It sounds really corny, but to be able to show so much strength and courage to be your authentic self is amazing and inspirational.”

“I EDUCATE PEOPLE, [AND] BY SIMPLY LIVING MY LIFE, PEOPLE CAN GAIN AN AWARENESS OF THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE TRANSGENDER”

Margo came out in January 2017, not long after Madelyn.

“I knew the hardships she would face and the struggles she would have. But I was also really excited for her, because being able to express yourself in a new way, like with hair and clothes, is so much fun, no matter the hate,” Madelyn says. “Margo is my biggest fan and my biggest critic, all in one, and I love that. She’s always helping me better myself, and will always be there for me.”

Whitley says if there is one thing she would say to people who don’t seem to “get it,” it would be, “It’s not about you at all. It is something deeply personal and emotional, which means I have no space nor tolerance for your opinions on how I live my life.

“I try to think of all the love I receive when I hear hateful comments,” she adds. “Life is too short to waste it trying to please the people who will never understand or respect you.”

Jenny Block is a frequent contributor to Out Smart magazine.

Living Her Vision

Trans superstar Laverne Cox returns to Houston for UH luncheon.

By Lourdes Zavaleta

Laverne Cox has come a long way since her last appearance in Houston, when she headlined the National LGBTQ Task Force’s Creating Change Conference in 2014.

“I am so blessed in my life that I get to tell stories through my work as an actor, through my work as a producer, and as an advocate for the issues that mean so much to me,” Cox said in 2016, after becoming the first trans honoree at Variety ’s Power of Women event.

Cox will keynote the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work’s (GCSW) Living the Vision 2018 Scholarship Luncheon at the Post Oak Hotel on April 11. Organizers of the second annual gala, which raises funds to provide scholarships for GCSW students by bringing nationally recognized speakers to Houston, recruited Cox because she embodies the college’s mission of achieving social, racial, economic, and political justice, according to spokeswoman Connease Warren.

“Through a number of her philanthropic and activist efforts, Laverne has shined light on several social-justice issues, especially within the transgender community,” Warren says. “Since she puts these issues at the forefront of her work, we felt that she was a great candidate to showcase Living the Vision.”

In 2008, Cox became the first trans woman to appear on an American reality TV program, VH1’s I Wanna Work for Diddy, for which she won a GLAAD Media Award. Two years later, she worked with the network again for TRANSform Me, a makeover series that made her the first black trans person to produce and star in her own television show.

When Netflix debuted Orange Is the New Black in 2013, Cox became the first trans woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream television show. She also became the first openly trans person nominated for an Emmy Award for her role as Sophia Burset, a trans woman who was sent to prison for creditcard fraud in 2014.

Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word, a documentary produced and narrated exclusively by Cox, premiered on MTV and Logo in 2014 and won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2015.

In 2017, Cox began her role as trans attorney Cameron With on CBS’s Doubt. She also hosts Glam Masters, Lifetime’s new beautycompetition series that premiered in February. Also in February, Cox expanded her media presence beyond television with the release of her debut music video, “Beat for the Gods.”

At the Houston luncheon, Cox will speak

about her social-justice efforts and present awards to Houston mayor Sylvester Turner and Karen Winston.

Turner will receive the Spirit of Social Work Award, which honors non-social workers who display the values of social work, for his actions during Hurricane Harvey. Winston, a GCSW alumnae who has been a social-work clinician in Houston for 20 years, will be honored with the Social Worker of the Year Award for her work at the George R. Brown Convention Center during Harvey.

Proceeds from the annual luncheon represent GCSW’s largest source of unrestricted scholarship funds, so donors can help make UH’s social-work degrees more affordable by purchasing tickets. Prices range from $250 for a single seat to $50,000 for two tables seating 20 and a VIP meet-and-greet with Cox for six guests.

What: Living the Vision with Laverne Cox

When: 1:30 p.m. on April 13

Where: The Post Oak Hotel, 1600 West

Loop South

Tickets: Giving.uh.edu/gcsw

Lourdes Zavaleta is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine.

Trans-formative

Laverne Cox last visited Houston in 2014 for the National LGBTQ Task Force’s Creating Change Conference.

Photo by Dalton DeHart

Professor B

Bisexual UH scholar Margot Backus leads school’s first queer-focused study abroad.

By Lourdes Zavaleta • Photo by Justin Tijerina

When University of Houston professor Margot Backus was 18, her adoptive father was outed as gay and publicly humiliated.

“It was intolerance that led my dad to believe he had no other options than to hide,” recalls the 57-yearold Backus, who identifies as bisexual. “Between intolerance, HIV, and self-hatred, I am so lucky that he survived through the ’80s.”

Prejudice against LGBTQ folks such as herself, her father, and her younger brother, who was also bullied for being gay, inspired Backus to put queer visibility at the forefront of her work.

Putting Family First University of Houston professor Margot Backus says seeing her father and brother bullied for being gay inspired her to put LGBTQ visibility at the forefront of her work.

This summer, she will lead UH’s first queer-focused study abroad, a two- week English course about Ireland’s LGBTQ history. From May 21 through June 2, “Irish Heritage and the Queering of Contemporary Ireland” will take Backus and her students to Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Killarney, and Northern Ireland to explore connections between the country’s heritage and its contemporary queer culture.

“Ireland has a huge tourist industry, but it’s usually marketed in such a vanilla way,” Backus says. “Most people think the country is

sweet, conservative, and traditional—almost like 1950s America. But it’s not. There’s something so fun about getting to be a part of what Ireland really is.”

In 2015, Ireland became the first nation to legalize marriage equality by popular vote. Backus says this represented an extraordinarily rapid shift out of a period of extreme sexual conservatism, even though gender and sexual diversity are deeply rooted in Ireland’s early history.

The first time Backus visited Ireland in 1989, she was celebrating the completion of her master’s degree in English literature at the University of Texas at Austin. She studied at Ireland’s Yeats International Summer School with fellow UT alumnus Ed Madden, a closeted gay Arkansan who had been raised by religious fundamentalists.

Among other things, Backus and Madden met LGBTQ people who had returned to Ireland and created safe spaces after leaving to flee persecution from the Catholic Church.

“About a year after our trip, Ed finally came out,” Backus recalls. “He gives the time he spent with me wild amounts of credit for accelerating his coming-out process. I just did what I always do, which was chatter away about queerness.”

Backus has returned to Ireland a number of times since, including when she taught in Belfast for a semester in 2015. During her upcoming study abroad, Backus hopes to replicate her initial visit to Ireland while teaching her students what she has learned about the country over the years.

Though she now resides in Houston, Backus grew up moving around the Midwest with her adoptive parents, Russell Thomas and Suzanne Fitzgerald, and her younger brother, Tom.

When she was old enough to move out of her parents’ home, she relocated to San Francisco, where her father helped her land a position in IBM’s mail room. While living in the city, she fell in love with a woman from

New England and decided to move there to be with her.

In Boston, Backus discovered her desire to become an English professor. While working at the Boston Public Library shelving books, she came across examples of queer writing that she never knew existed. Lillian Faderman’s Surpassing the Love of Men, a study of romantic relationships between women from the Renaissance to the present, and other books like it, led her to study English literature at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she graduated in 1987.

Though most Bostonians put on a liberal façade, Backus discovered that many of them were racist. She decided to move to Texas for graduate school because it seemed like an easier place to avoid people who did not share her intersectional feminist values.

“Boston was a very racist city in the ’80s, and other white people interacted with me as if I held their same attitudes,” Backus says. “I felt that if people in Texas had problematic beliefs, they would be up-front about it and I wouldn’t have to waste my time on them.”

After completing her doctorate in English literature at UT in 1993, Backus served as an assistant professor at St. John Fisher College in New York for seven years.

When Backus and her then-partner decided to have a child together, the two got married and moved to Houston, where Backus gave birth to their daughter. Motivated by the idea of working for a university that represents Houston’s diversity, Backus applied for an opening in UH’s English department.

“UH was urban, offered inexpensive credits, and had loads of people who come from many different experiences,” Backus says. “I knew that was where I wanted to teach.”

Backus has been a full-time English professor at UH since 2000. She teaches modern Irish literature and a queer-theory course on Irish author James Joyce’s 1922 novel Ulysses Backus is also working on her third book, The Crux of the X: Literary Dispatches from Ireland’s War on Children, a study of sex scandals in Ireland, with co-writer Joseph Valente.

“My goal is to create safer spaces by acknowledging the reality of difference,” Backus says. “I have been very fortunate in finding places where people see me as having something to offer and facilitate me doing that work.”

Lourdes Zavaleta is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine.

Disturbing Diagnosis

Houston

doctor’s study finds rampant antigay bias in medical profession.

By Kim Hogstrom

Joseph Varon is a celebrated Houston pulmonologist with an insatiable curiosity about the world, and a deep commitment to human rights.

Throughout his career, Dr. Varon says he has witnessed discrimination in every corner of the medical profession—from doctors and nurses, in clinics and hospitals, and in teaching environments. The fierce ally says this discrimination has been particularly flagrant toward LGBTQ patients—a fact that gnawed at him.

Were his observations anomalies, or disturbing snapshots of the larger medical community? He was determined to find out.

Varon proceeded to design a 30-question anonymous survey and send it to 12,000 professionals working in 147 healthcare institutions in 40 countries around the world. The questionnaire was issued in multiple languages and went to people in all types of medicine. About 3,000 (or one quarter) went to practitioners in the U.S.

Respondents were asked about their religion, gender, and age, in addition to their attitudes. “Do you feel comfortable working with a homosexual colleague? As a healthcare provider, does a patient’s race affect your treatment of them? Do your religious preferences affect the way you treat homosexual patients?”

A total of 10,106 questionnaires were completed and returned.

“I was in shock when I started to organize the data,” Varon says. “Roughly one in five reported treating homosexuals differently from straight patients, based on their moral or religious beliefs. That’s 20 percent.

“In which century are we living—the 1800s?” Varon adds. “I found it difficult to believe at first. It still alarms me every time I look at it.”

Were the survey results possibly skewed by responses from countries known for antiLGBTQ attitudes, such as Saudi Arabia or Pakistan? “Not at all,” Varon says. “If there

was any difference at all, I would say that discrimination was less evident there. That surprised me. The fact is, it’s everywhere.”

While the survey used the term “homosexual,” there is little risk in assuming that if “LGBTQ” had appeared in its place, the number of medical professionals reporting religious objections would not have shrunk.

In fact, Dr. Gordon Crofoot, one of Houston’s leading physicians in LGBTQ healthcare, estimates that if more questions about transgender patients were added to the survey, the percentage of respondents reporting objections would have increased from 20 percent to 45 percent.

Crofoot established his practice in the 1980s to serve AIDS patients who were often shunned elsewhere. Today, he heads the largest privately owned research clinic dedicated to LGBTQ health and disease in the South. Dr. Abel Flores says he joined Dr. Crofoot’s practice to help patients who are not able to get help elsewhere.

“It is grotesque, the way the the medical community manages LGBTQ patients, and also people of color and the disadvantaged,” Flores says. “As a gay man myself, I experienced discrimination throughout my medical training and much of my career. What I have seen and experienced has left me mortified.”

And as bad as things are, they may soon be getting worse. In January, the Trump administration announced the addition of a new “Conscience and Religious Freedom Division” to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the Department of Health and Human Services. According to a news release, the division’s purpose “is to protect healthcare professionals who refuse to provide services that contradict their moral or religious beliefs. “

OCR’s director, Roger Severino, stated in the release, “No one should be forced to choose

Barbaric Practices

Dr. Joseph Varon says he was shocked to learn that one in five healthcare professionals reported treating gay people differently than straight patients. “In which century are we living the 1800s?” Varon asks. ‹

between helping sick people and living by one’s moral or religious convictions, and the new division will help guarantee that victims of unlawful discrimination find justice. For too long, governments big and small have treated conscience claims with hostility instead of protection, but change is coming and it begins here and now.”

O utSmart asked Dr. Veron what can be done about this disturbing development.

“The first thing we need to do is add training geared specifically for treating LGBTQ people in all medical schools,” he says.

“Following that, most medical professionals are required to take continuing-education courses. We need to add training on the care of LGBTQ patients in all areas of medicine. These steps would make a big difference.

“There have always been [antigay medical professionals], and there may always be,” Varon adds. “But we can diminish their numbers through education. Maybe then they will dissolve into history. It’s certainly time to try.”

Varon presented the preliminary results of his survey at the fall annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians in Toronto. He hopes to have a paper published in a prominent journal in the next year.

Kim Hogstrom is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine.

Wall of No Shame

By Kim Hogstrom

Photo by Dalton DeHart

Following the Pulse Nightclub massacre in 2016, Select Skate Shop created what would become Houston’s most prominent “Pride wall.”

The outdoor mural, bursting with the colors of the rainbow flag, quickly developed into a popular lower-Westheimer attraction, serving as a backdrop for selfies and other photos.

When the wall was suddenly repainted earlier this year with a black background and 10-foot-tall white letters spelling “Select,” some in the LGBTQ community were disappointed. Houston photographer and LGBTQ activist Eric Schell responded by seeking out a new location to host a bigger and better Pride wall.

Schell partnered with his friend, artist Hugo Perez, to design the mural, and longtime LGBTQ ally Jenni Tranweaver offered the large façade at her Heights restaurant, Jenni’s Noodle House, as a canvass.

The “Be Visible” Pride Wall, set to be unveiled April 5, will feature a quote from Supreme Court marriage-equality plaintiff Jim Obergefell, who will attend the ceremony: “I march because of the people who marched before me. Thanks to them, I live in a better world due to their bravery, and I owe it to them and those who come after me to continue the fight for equality.”

Pride Personified

Since O utSmart introduced Schell to our readers in a cover story 10 months ago, he has rapidly grown his nonprofit organization, Pride Portraits, photographing members and allies of the LGBTQ community locally, statewide, and nationally.

Today, Schell has about 3,000 portraits in his portfolio, including musician Melissa Etheridge, congressman John Lewis, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, actress Alyssa Milano, comedic actor Leslie Jordan, and many others.

Perhaps the most compelling elements of Schell’s collection are the statements that accompany the photos. Subjects are asked to write down what they would like the world to know about them. The photos, coupled with these personal revelations, add up to a power-

ful commentary on equality.

All of these components are exactly what Schell had in mind when he launched Pride Portraits in 2016. “Our mission is to represent the LGBTQ community and its allies, one photograph and story at a time,” he explains. “Because visibility and insight are keys to fully humanizing people, this new, free public art will serve as a reminder for those in the community to ‘be visible’—to show their support and pride.”

Schell is not the only one with a deep commitment to the Pride Wall project. “As a gay person of color, I am proud to have the opportunity to help create it,” Perez says.

Jenni Tranweaver and her husband, Scott, own four locations of their popular Vietnamese restaurant. They hope the Pride Wall will contribute to a better future for American youth.

“We want to participate, to help young people feel safe and comfortable to rise up and speak out about who they are,” Jenni Tranweaver says. “We love the Heights and think it’s the perfect location for the wall.”

A Hero in History

Ohio resident Jim Obergefell says he took all of a New York minute to decide to fly to Houston for the unveiling of the mural.

“It’s just as Harvey Milk used to say: we as a community have to come out. We have to introduce ourselves, to be seen and known for who we are. It’s the only way things will change,” Obergefell says in his gentle, gracious tone.

Who can forget Friday, June 26, 2015, when the Obergefell v. Hodges decision in favor of nationwide marriage equality was announced on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court?

Obergefell recalls the outpouring of joy among thousands who had gathered. “Most of them started crying when the verdict was read,” he recalls.

It was bittersweet for Obergefell. In 2013, he married his partner of 20 years, John Arthur, in Maryland because Ohio, where the coupled lived, would not recognize their union. Arthur died from ALS three months and 11 days after their wedding, and Ohio would not list Obergefell’s name as the surviving spouse on Arthur’s death certificate. It was a cruelty he refused to accept.

“I promised to love, honor, and protect John when we exchanged our vows,” Obergefell says. “Bringing the case was one of the ways I could keep my promise to him.”

Amid the cheers and tears on the steps of the Supreme Court that day, Obergefell was fielding live interviews with major networks. Just as he was wrapping one up with CNN, a producer said he had a call and handed him a phone. He had no idea who it could be.

It was president Barack Obama. “Congratulations, Jim. Love wins,” Obama told him.

That is all Obergefell remembers of their conversation. “Honestly, I am not even sure my feet were touching the ground, or for many days after,” he says. “It was a moment of joy I will never, ever forget.”

What: “Be Visible” Pride Wall unveiling When: 3-6 p.m., April 5 Where: Jenni’s Noodle House, 602 E. 20th St. Free and open to the public

Kim Hogstrom is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine.

Rainbow Rampart

The ‘Be Visible’ Pride Wall is shown under construction at Jenni’s Noodle House in the Houston Heights in late March. Pictured are Pride Portraits artist Hugo Perez, Pride Portraits creator and photographer Eric Edward Schell, Pride Portraits director of operations Crimson Jordan, and restaurant owner Jenni Tranweaver.

‹

Jim Obergefell

ERIC EDWARD SCHELL

Enemy of Hate

Anti-Defamation League to honor trans pioneer Phyllis Frye.

By Marene Gustin

Eight years ago, Phyllis Randolph Frye became the first openly transgender judge in the country. But that accomplishment is hardly Frye’s only triumph, or the focus of her amazing story.

Frye will be one of four honorees at Houston in Concert Against Hate: Many Voices, One City, hosted by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) at Jones Hall on April 4. The other honorees at the annual event, which features speakers, a silent auction, and a performance by the Houston Symphony, will be A.J. Durrani, Adrian Garcia, and Alfred Tribble.

“The Anti-Defamation League sought out civilrights leaders in Houston who are on the ground doing the work to further ADL’s mission ‘to secure justice and fair treatment to all,’” says Bailey Player, ADL’s associate director of development. “Phyllis Frye was an obvious choice. Her work for the trans community, not only in Houston but across the country, speaks for itself. One only has to google ‘New York Times Phyllis Frye’ to read about the lifetime of work Phyllis has committed to making sure members of the trans community are treated with justice and [get] the respect that everyone deserves.”

Frye transitioned in 1976, after she was forced to resign from the military, disowned by her parents, divorced by her first wife, separated from her son, and lost job after job. It was her second wife who encouraged her to live openly as a woman, and who has stood by Frye for more than four decades now.

“I’ve been in the business of working in the LGBTQ community for decades,” Frye says. “I’ve spoken at the last two women’s marches and have been honored by more than my share, but the ADL award is something else because they have been at the forefront of the fight against all kinds of hatefulness. When they told me, it just really blew my socks off.”

Frye plans to bring her wife, her two law partners, and pioneering Houston activist Ray Hill to the event.

Frye, who is widely considered to be the grandmother of the trans movement, says coming out to

Phyllis Frye, shown above at the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979, became the nation’s ﬁ rst transgender judge in 2010. ‹

Living Legend

her family was heartbreaking. “They still don’t know how to deal with it, and many of them have gone to their graves without accepting me. I was also run out of the military and blackballed by the engineering community.”

While struggling to make a life in Houston, Frye lobbied City Council members for four years to repeal an anticross-dressing ordinance, which they finally did in 1980. That sparked her desire to fight for the rights of all trans people, so she enrolled in law school at the University of Houston. Still, she faced rejection and isolation, even from the local gay community. After graduation, when no law firm would hire her, Frye began defending indigent people at the Harris County Courthouse. Eventually, in 2003 she founded her own firm, Frye, Benavidez, and O’Neil (liberatinglaw.com). She now focuses almost exclusively on LGBTQ clients, aiding them with name- and gender-marker changes on legal documents, as well as other issues.

In the 1980s, Annise Parker befriended Frye and invited her to become the first trans woman on the city’s lesbian softball team. Two decades later, when Parker became mayor in 2010, she appointed Frye as an associate municipal judge, where she still presides for a few nights each week.

At 70, Frye is very comfortable with her life—but there is one more battle looming on the horizon.

“If November comes and the Republicans [still have] a stranglehold on Texas, there will be another bathroom fight [in 2019],” she says. “I hope it doesn’t come to that, but I’ll be ready if it does.” She has already made plans for a very public arrest to launch the legal fight against any bathroom bill that passes.

“I’ve been using women’s bathrooms since the ’70s, and I’m not about to stop now.”

What: Houston in Concert Against Hate: Many Voices, One City

When: 6–10:30 p.m., April 4

Where: Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana St. Tickets: houstonconcert.org

Marene Gustin is a regular contributor to OUTSMART magazine.

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THE BRIGHT STUFF

Shining star Vanessa Williams illuminates Houston’s Brilliant Lecture Series.

By Gregg Shapiro

by Gilles Toucas

You would be hard-pressed to find a performer more versatile than Vanessa Williams. As a singer, Williams has had numerous hit singles and best-selling albums. As an actress, she has played leading roles in the Broadway musicals Into the Woods and Kiss of the Spider Woman She has also performed regularly on the big and little screens, with memorable roles in Ugly Betty and Soul Food, to name a few. She has even co-written a book with her mother, Helen. The definition of a born performer, Williams will perform at The Corinthian in downtown Houston on April 13 as part of the Brilliant Lecture Series. I had the pleasure of speaking with her in mid-March.

Gregg Shapiro: We are speaking the day after your birthday. I want to wish you a happy birthday, belatedly. Vanessa Williams: Thank you!

Did you do anything special to celebrate?

I was in-flight from Guam, so I spent my birthday in a zillion different time zones. I had a total of eight birthday cakes all week, from every restaurant that I went to and every event that I attended in Guam. I flew in there last week on Monday and they got word that it was my birthday. Everywhere I went they sent me a cake. I finished it last night when I came home. My mom made me dinner and, of course,

a birthday cake. I had a total of eight cakes [laughs]. When I left Guam I was serenaded by some wonderful Chamorro dancers and island music. It was spectacular.

GS: Speaking of anniversaries and special occasions, 2018 is the 30th anniversary of the release of your first album, The Right Stuff. Do you have any plans to commemorate the occasion? We’re working on something. I don’t know right now, but we’re trying to figure that out.

When you are on a concert tour, such as the one that will be bringing you to The Corinthian in Houston, how much of the music is drawn from albums such as The Right Stuff and The Comfort Zone, and how much comes from your performances in Broadway musicals such as Into the Woods and Kiss of the Spider Woman ? It’s a combination of my hits —“Save the Best for Last,” “Colors of the Wind,” “The Sweetest Day,” “Dreamin’,” and “Love Is”—which people all know from the radio. I also do a Broadway section, which is wonderful. I do some Sondheim, and one from Into the Woods I do my covers that I’ve done, some jazz, and R&B. It’s a nice mix of Broadway, R&B, pop, and jazz.

I’m glad you mentioned covers, because you covered songs by Bill Withers on The Right Stuff as well as on your most recent album, The Real Thing. What does

a songwriter such as Withers mean to you as a singer?

I grew up with Bill Withers’ music. I’m a huge fan of his. I love his songs. “Ain’t No Sunshine” is a phenomenal song. He wrote and sang. I got a chance to meet him in the studio. He came and surprised me when I was recording his number. It was a great opportunity to tell him how much I adored his music and songwriting. I’m at that age now where my kids are like, “This is a great song!” And I say, “Do you want to hear the original?” And they’re like, “Oh my God!” Most of my kids are very appreciative of the origins of where a lot of these songs come from.

It’s been almost 10 years since the release of your 2009 album The Real Thing. Is there a new recording in the works? Yes. We started in January or February. We’re mixing now, and it will be out in the fall.

You recently returned as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race. What can you tell me about the experience?

It’s great! Any time Ru calls, I’m there for him. It was great because it was his All-Stars. Shangela had judged before, and is just amazing. It’s fantasy and the creativity is unbelievable—what the queens come up with for their costumes and makeup and ideas. Also, learning the choreography so quickly. They h ad to do a huge number that they learned immediately. I’m so impressed by their talent.

Photo

The resilience, and how they can up with some fantastic ideas and then make them come alive.

Have you ever had occasion to see a drag queen perform a number dressed as you? We did an episode of Ugly Betty where there was a drag queen doing Wilhelmina. The whole episode was me going incognito to this club to see who was doing me. When they cast it, our producer asked me if my brother would be into it. My brother, Chris Williams, is an actor. I said, “Oh my God, he’d love it!” So my brother plays me in drag. I think it was one of the proudest moments my mom ever had [laughs] Both of her kids, performing in the same episode of a hit show on ABC. That was probably the most fun.

As a performer who has appeared on TV, in movies, on Broadway, and on recordings, would you say that you have a preference for one type of entertainment over the others?

I just got off the road after three weeks with my band. It’s wonderful, because we’ve been performing together for 20 years. We started off with Luther Vandross back in 1997. There are so many tunes that we know, and so many ways that we can shape a show. That’s my natural go-to. There’s something about Broadway. I think it’s because I grew up doing shows and wanting to be on Broadway in musical theater—that first day of rehearsal when you

get your new music and you’re sitting in a semi-circle around a piano with your music stand and you’ve met the cast for the first time. Then you hear what you’re doing, and it’s always thrilling. The fact that you’ve put it up so quickly, and then it’s opening night. You pray that you remember everything—our choreography and your words and your breath support. I think musical theater is probably the most thrilling because it’s the most familiar to me.

Speaking of Broadway, are you planning to see your Ugly Betty co-star Michael Urie in Torch Song Trilogy on Broadway this fall?

I saw him opening night when he was offBroadway. Of course I’ll support him!

What: Vanessa Wiliams in concert

When: 8 p.m. on April 13

Where: The Corinthian, 201 Fannin St Tickets: BrilliantLectures.org

Gregg Shapiro is a regular contributor to Out Smart magazine.

You enjoyed a colorful 40-year career. Now you are working on your first greatest hit. You never imagined moving to a community would be so inspiring, and now you couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Be Inspired.

Forever Young

Former OutSmart editor returns to Houston as TUTS’ marketing chief.

By Don Maines

Talking sex, politics, and religion with Kyle E. Young, a one-time editor of O utSmart, brings up the subject of right-wing Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick.

“I had the ‘privilege’ of being fired by Dan Patrick for being gay,” says Young, with a journalist’s knack for spotting a headline.

Young, who graduated from Houston’s Second Baptist School, holds a bachelor’s degree in radio, television, and film (RTF) from Texas Christian University.

Patrick hired Young as a sales representa-

tive at the populist talk-radio station that the lieutenant governor now owns.

Even “before coming out to my mother,” Young says, he told his supervisor at the radio station that he was gay. The next thing he knew, “Dan pulled me aside and basically fired me. He said, ‘I don’t think you’re happy here.’ I had neither the vocabulary nor the courage to do anything other than to leave.”

Young recently moved back to Houston after more than a decade in New York City. He is the new “marketing and partnerships pro/ chief smile officer” at Theatre Under The Stars

(TUTS). It’s a joyous “homecoming” for Young, but, oops, bad timing for Patrick.

“I am getting registered to vote, and certainly getting involved in the community,” he says. “I am excited and very inspired to use the skills I learned in New York and connect again with my little corner of the world.”

Young was born February 23, 1968, at Methodist Hospital and grew up in Briar Meadow, an idyllic-sounding neighborhood that straddles Richmond and Westheimer at Hillcroft.

“It was a place for riding bikes, and we

mike cope

Young

from previous page

had a neighborhood pool,” he says. “We worshipped at St. Luke’s Methodist Church, and I was very involved in church, especially in junior high and high school. But by attending Second Baptist School from kindergarten through 12th grade, I got a perspective that, even within protestantism, there were differences. Meanwhile, I was such a closet case, having this internal battle about being gay. I tried to pray it away, but that wasn’t going anywhere.”

At TCU, Young began as a theater major (“It was my jam,” he says), but wound up with an RTF degree with minors in both journalism and art history.

After he returned to Houston, the position at the radio station teased his lifelong appreciation for marketing.

“Marketing has always been second nature to me,” he says. “I understand how to get people’s attention.”

Young produced radio spots for his clients, then promotions for the station, until someone finally asked him, “Why don’t you just become our marketing director?” Which he did.

After Patrick put a quick quietus on Young’s radio career, he “did a little of this and a little of that,” including penning articles for the Texas Triangle, a statewide LGBTQ publication, and earning a master’s degree in social work from the University of Houston.

“My career has unfolded in unpredictable and magical ways,” he says. “With each chapter, I’ve developed a richer array of skills, grounded in my ability to balance creativity with analytical thinking.”

Young parlayed his stint at O utSmart into sales and marketing jobs at Stages Repertory Theatre and Clear Channel Entertainment, which became Live Nation Entertainment.

clear lake

In 2005, Young was lured to the Big Apple, where he created innovative platforms to drive a marketing relationship between American Express and Broadway. “We stuffed DVDs of Broadway shows into magazines,” he says. “Then came the call from ‘the Mouse,’” when Disney Theatrical Group (The Walt Disney Studios) enlisted Young to manage an annual budget of $2.25 million to market its Broadway productions and North American tours.

More opportunities followed, including an out-of-the-blue offer, in 2014, to become chief operating officer of the gym where he worked out

“It felt very ‘close to home’ because most of the trainers and the clients grew out of the Broadway community,” he says. “One day, they asked me to be COO, and I said, ‘I don ’t know anything about being a COO.’ They said, ‘That’s great; we don’t either.’”

Young began the job “officing in somebody’s apartment.” The gym, Mark Fisher Fitness, expanded into two facilities serving more than

3,000 clients. In 2015, it was named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. by Inc. magazine, and designated one of the best gyms in America by Men’s Health in 2016.

While home for the holidays in December, Young decided to take the job at TUTS and move back to Houston.

His partner, hairstylist Michael Girel, left a job on Park Avenue, “and we came back on the same plane,” Young says.

“I felt like I had done New York theater, and I feel like the universe is pointing me in the right direction with TUTS,” he says. “The first thing I had to do is go buy a car. We are still looking to buy a house, so we are living with my parents. I just celebrated my 50th birthday, and my mom’s packing my lunch every day for work.”

Young says O utSmart has had a lot to do with bringing him back to Houston.

“Every month it arrived in my mailbox, so I have watched it flourish and grow,” he says. “I have gotten to watch one of the most diverse cities in the country also become inclusive, with the LGBT community leading the way. I saw an opportunity to feel a sense of community connection through work that is so inspiring.”

Don Maines is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine.

Early Voting: Monday, May 14Friday, May 18, 2018

Election Day: Tuesday, May 22, 2018

A Gunfight at the Opera

Out director Francesca Zambello previews HGO’s ‘West Side Story.’

By Don Maines

The groundbreaking ethnic musical about teenage violence—which out director Francesca Zambello is staging with the Houston Grand Opera April 20–May 6—sounds like something from the latest news cycle.

But West Side Story began as a 1950s collaboration by four gay New Yorkers—and is actually based on Romeo and Juliet, William

Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed 16th-century lovers from rival families.

Stephen Sondheim and the late Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, and Jerome Robbins changed the story’s setting from Verona, Italy, to a blue-collar neighborhood in New York City where a white gang, the Jets, and a Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks, battle for turf. The musical’s Romeo character, Tony, pledges allegiance to

Handsome Shark

The original West Side Story starred George Chakris as Bernardo Nunez (forefront), leader of the Sharks, a Puerto Rican gang. Chakris, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, later came out as gay. Francesca Zambello (opposite page), an out lesbian, directs the Houston Grand Opera’s upcoming production.

the Jets until he falls in love with Maria, whose brother is the leader of the Sharks.

“I love every character,” Zambello says, “but I think my favorite is Maria, because of how she goes from being an innocent to a person with a voice who can articulate herself so powerfully about guns and violence.”

“Now, I can kill, too,” she screams at the end, “because now I have hate.”

Zambello hesitates to “make a connection” between the show’s final bloodbath and today’s gun-control debate, shrewdly allowing the senseless violence in the material to speak for itself.

Zambello was born August 24, 1956, and recently celebrated her sixth wedding anniversary with her wife, high-powered Manhattan attorney Faith E. Gay. Their wedding was in Cooperstown, New York, where Zambello works in the summertime as general director of the Glimmerglass Festival.

Zambello was born in New York City, but grew up in cities throughout Europe. “Paris, Vienna, Frankfurt—it was great,” she says. “My father, Charles C. Zambello, worked for TWA, so we got to travel a lot and I developed a love of travel.”

Her mother was the late actress Jean Sincere, who played the school librarian in the 2009–2015 TV series Glee that entertained a big gay following. “She was the first to introduce me to the theater,” Zambello says. “I grew to love music and storytelling, and I have always enjoyed the extremely heightened emotions of opera. They range from the very real to the very fantastical, and they have the power to communicate effectively. Discovering opera as a way of expression, I felt like, ‘This is me.’”

As for coming out, Zambello says, “Like most people, I got a crush on someone, and something happened. My parents were very understanding.”

In 1984, Zambello was an assistant director to the late Jean-Pierre Ponnelle when HGO’s former general director, David Gockley, tapped Zambello to direct a production of Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio. In it, a woman disguises herself as a man and works as a jailer’s assistant in a plot to rescue her husband from the dungeon where he is being held as a political prisoner. Gockley, who would leave Houston in 2005 and retire as general director of the San Francisco Opera in 2016, gave Zambello an important break. “I owe a lot of my career to him. He was an amazing general director and collaborator, as is Patrick Summers,” HGO’s current artistic and music director who succeeded Gockley.

In 1987, Zambello debuted as a director in Italy at the Teatro la Fenice in Venice, with Bellini’s Beatrice di Tenda Zambello has returned to the Wortham Center to direct several productions, including 2012’s Show Boat, in which she cast Montrose favorite son Tye Blue as Frank Schultz, the star

of the Cotton Blossom, a Mississippi River steamer. However, West Side Story will be performed at the George R. Brown Convention Center’s Resilience Theater—actually a convention exhibit hall that HGO’s production team has transformed into a performance space for its post-Hurricane Harvey season of “triumph over adversity.”

“I think it’s fantastic,” says Zambello, who visited the space prior to rehearsals for West Side Story

What: West Side Story

When: April 20–May 6

Where: Resilience Theater, 1001 Avenida de las Americas

Tickets: HoustonGrandOpera.org

Don Maines is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine.

A Perfect Storm

Out actor Mark Capri on bringing ‘the greatest sex scandal in film’ to the Alley.

By Don Maines

Hurricane Harvey may have delayed the perfect storm of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton last August, but it will take more than April showers to stop the Alley Theatre’s second attempt to stage a new play about “the greatest sex scandal in film and ancient history.”

“It’s glamorous, it’s full of zingers, it’s about two of the greatest tabloid stars of our time,” says openly gay actor Mark Capri, who plays Rex Harrison, the Oscar winner whose part as Julius Caesar in the 1963 film Cleopatra was upstaged by the Liz & Dick affair.

In the play, says Capri, his character “is not crazy about this. He is a big personality who has a lot of needs, so he doesn’t like getting overshadowed. He’s a lothario himself, very much a ladies’ man.”

Capri, who lives in the Hollywood Hills, flew into Houston last year in time for only one day of rehearsing Cleo before Harvey struck on August 25. As the Alley took stock of its situation, Capri says, “We rehearsed downtown at

the Four Seasons Hotel, across from the convention center that was ground-zero for homeless flooded-out people. From our luxurious perch, we watched as Houston pulled its socks up. Nobody can be prepared for such a heartbreaking storm, but once disaster hit, the City of Houston certainly knew what to do.”

The Alley had to postpone the play’s planned fall premiere, but saved a spot for Cleo this month on its huge Hubbard Stage. The play will run April 6–29.

“What better way to ring in spring than with a writer, director, and love affair, all of epic proportions,” says James Black, the Alley’s interim artistic director.

The writer is celebrated author Lawrence Wright, who has penned 10 books, including The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11, which won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. He also wrote Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, which HBO adapted into a 2015 TV documentary series. This month, Knopf will

‹ Turbulent Affair

At left, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton are shown on the set of Cleopatra in 1963. The Alley’s production of Cleo used a temporary rehearsal space at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston, above. Cleo was written by Lawrence Wright, shown below right with Lisa Binbaum, who plays Taylor. Mark Capri, below left, plays Rex Harrison.

publish Wright’s new book, a personal history titled God Save Texas

Wright, a longtime Austin resident, grew up in Dallas, where Capri spent his teenage years as a student at the St. Mark’s School of Texas. Capri went on to Stanford University and then to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

“Playing Rex Harrison is right up my alley,” says Capri, 66. “I was just a kid in 1956 or 1957 when I started listening to the LP of My Fair Lady and wearing the grooves off. I memorized every word. He was my role model.”

Several times in his career, Capri would even portray Harrison’s most famous role, professor Henry Higgins, in California stage productions of My Fair Lady

Capri won a Theatre World Award when he performed in On Approval at The Roundabout in New York City, and he covered roles on Broadway in Private Lives and Blithe Spirit. He has also appeared in the movies Titanic and The Empire Strikes Back

Among his many TV roles was a turn as the French master of ceremonies at an international awards show in the episode of Modern Family where Pritchett’s Closets & Blinds finally scores a nomination.

In 2008, Capri married TV writer/producer/show runner Michael Chessler, whose latest credit is the VH1 series Daytime Divas starring Vanessa Williams. The couple married in 2008, before marriage licenses in the Golden State were halted by the passage of Proposition 8. “We have been together a lot longer,” Capri says. The cast of Cleo, adds Capri, includes two New York actors, two Los Angeles actors, “and one local—Adam Gibbs. He’s just terrific as singer Eddie Fischer.”

Taylor was married to Fischer, and Burton was married to his first wife (and the mother of actress Kate Burton) when Taylor and Burton began their turbulent affair on the set of Cleopatra. “It brought condemnation from the Vatican and the U.S. Congress,” says the Alley’s press material. “It opened the age of pa-

parazzi and tabloid celebrity, ensuring that the names Burton and Taylor would always be associated with the greatest sex scandal in film and ancient history. With lavish sets and costumes, Cleo goes behind the scenes and explores what sparked the sexual revolution in Rome in 1963.”

“What better way to ring in spring than with a love affair of epic proportions?”

The director of Cleo is veteran actor Bob Balaban, who is widely known for his performances in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Gosford Park, and multiple films with Christopher Guest, including Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show. Balaban directed and produced the long-running off-Broadway play The Exonerated, which won the Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama Desk awards.

Balaban has been assisted by a stage-combat coach, H. Russ Brown, who is the head of

theater at the College of the Mainland in Texas City.

“Being a story about the love triangle between Eddie Fisher, Richard Burton, and Elizabeth Taylor, I was brought in to choreograph a couple of slaps and a punch or two in scenes where the volatile relationships are brought to a boil,” Balaban says. “I’m also choreographing some intimacy movement that involves two people in a passionate embrace, gracefully navigating from a standing position to a more horizontal one. It’s a really fun, funny, and fascinating show.”

What: Cleo

When: April 6–29

Where: The Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave. Tickets: AlleyTheatre.org

Don Maines is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine.

YESSIR

An interview with Casey Spooner of Fischerspooner.

noexaggerationtosaythatFischerooner'stimehascome.Inadditionto ereleaseofthenewalbum Sir (Ultra), Fischerspoonerhasbeenthesubjectofamuseumexhibition,abook,andarecentarticle inVogue.AsFischerspooner'sfirststudio albumsince2009'sEntertainment, Sir isits sexiestandmostpersonalefforttodate.On Sir, outvocalistCaseySpooner'slonghistory ofcreativecollaborationwithWarrenFischer expandstoincludeMichaelStipeandAndy LeMaster,aswellasCarolinePolachek(of Chairlift),HollyMiranda,andBoots.Ihadthe pleasureofspeakingwithCaseyshortlybefore thealbum'srelease.

Gregg Shapiro: Casey, if you don't mind, I'd like to begin by talking about collaboration. The name of the band, Fischerspooner, combines your name with longtime collaboratorWarren Fischer. You've co-written Fischerspooner songs with others, most recently including Michael Stipe and Andy LeMaster. What is it about you that makes you so good at playing well with others?

CaseySpooner:Itriedtobeapainter,and itwastoosolitaryforme.AndIwasanonly child.Idon'tknowifthat'srelated,butIjust lovegoingtowork,goingtothestudio,going toarehearsalspace,andIloveworkingwith otherpeople.Ialsothinkit'sthewayIlearned. I'vealwaysbeenkindofabadstudent.I'mnot reallygoodathomeworkanddoingstuffby

By Gregg Shapiro Photoby RinaldoSota

myself.Butifyouputmeinaroomwithsomeone,Ilovelearninghowsomeoneelseisgoing toapproachsomething,orhowtheyaregoing todosomething.Rightoutofcollege,Iworked withanexperimentaltheatercompanycalled Doorika,whichwasverycollaborative.I've beenmakingcollaborativeworknowfor20 years.It'skindofthewayIgetthingsdone.

In the 15 years since the release of the first Fischerspooner album, and the nine years between Fischerspooner albums, electronic musichas become an increasingly dominant force. As one of the forebears of the "post-electroclash pop revolution," what do you think of thecurrent scene and Fischerspooner's place in it? It'scool!I'vealwayslovedelectronicmusic. Tome,it'sjustanothertool.Weliveinsucha digitalworldnow.Thethingthatwasexciting forusisthatallofasuddenwehadaccessto thesetools,andtoanetworkofcommunicationandsharingmusicthatwassoeasy. That'sbeenanamazinghistoricalthing,to beapartofthishugeculturalshiftthat'snow becomekindofthewaywelive.I'mflattered. It'ssocrazy.Iwouldneverhaveimaginedthat I'dbeinthatplace.IthoughtIwasgoingtobe thisperformanceartist/painter/fineartist.I neverimaginedIwouldhavesuchanextensiveimpactonpopentertainment.Myidols werepeoplesuchasGraceJonesandLaurie Anderson.It'scoolthatIgottobeoneof thosepeople.

The songs on Sir, such as "Everything Is Just All Right" and "Togetherness," are intensely and unapologetically erotic and sexual, but also feel extremely personal at the same time.

Ingayculturethere'saschismbetweensex andemotion.Ithinkthat'stiedtoshame.One ofthethingsIwantedtodoonthisrecordis createaworldwhereyoucanbeverysexual andveryemotional,andyoucanhaveanonymoussexanditcanbevaluableandimportant andrespectedandromantic.Oryoucanhave amorecomplexlong-termrelationshipthat's equallyvaluableandromanticandrespected. Itriedtogivevalueandrespecttoallkinds ofqueerrelationships,whethertheyareonenightstandsorromancesorlong-termrelationships-torepresentandrespectfullyletall thosebeautifulandamazingqueerconnectionsexistinoneplaceandnot[bemeasured] againstaheteronormativefantasy.

The music video for "TopBrazil" is a perfect example of the brazen sexuality of the album. What can you tell me about the influences for the video?

IactuallymetTomBrown,thedirector,on thedanceflooratFireIsland.Westarted ourconversationthere.Thereweredifferent thingsthatIwantedtodo.Therewasthisidea oflasersthatIbroughtin.Therewastheidea ofthesedifferentqueerspaces.Ilovethelight onFireIsland,underneaththedecks.Whenit comesthrough,it'ssuper-graphic.Therewere--,

Sir continued from previous page

these different architectural and light spaces in which I was interested. The sauna scene felt kind of like where Tom and I first met. It was about representing these queer spaces with beauty and glamour.

We were also concerned about having a cool, dynamic New York cast. There was a lot of debate about how there were so many men! In the end, the thing I like about it is that it’s kind of a classic cliché of a pop video. You would see women in a video displayed with the same kind of eroticism, but you would never see men objectified in the same way. To me, the thing that’s interesting is to put men in a similar situation as women. To see the reactions and YouTube comments alone has been fascinating.

Especially at this point in time, and with what’s happening with the #metoo movement.

Yes, exactly. I think it’s an interesting document of the double standard applied to men versus women. Also, the innate homophobia that exists in the culture. When we turned the video in, people were like, “This is so pornographic!” I was like, “What are you talking about? Have you seen a Rihanna video? Have you seen a Nicki Minaj video? There’s nothing pornographic here! Just because you’re used to devouring women, it’s strange that you’re not able to look at a man in the same way!”

I was especially struck by the song “Oh Rio,” which features a spoken-word segment, as well as guest vocals by Holly Miranda.

That song is a big thesis for the whole record. Actually, that’s the song that convinced Michael [Stipe] to produce the record. That kind of writing and performance is a little bit more of where I’m coming from traditionally as a performance artist. I didn’t come from music. I came from storytelling and performance and theater. That song is basically as it always was. Michael didn’t write on that one. It was one of the songs that stayed after he got involved. The title comes from a Bruce Weber book called O Rio de Janeiro

When I was growing up in the South in the ’80s, there wasn’t a lot of access to anything homoerotic. There was a bookstore in the mall that had this Bruce Weber book. The first verse tells the story of me going to the mall and visiting this book. It was in the photography section. It never sold. I would pick it up, look at it, and get turned on. I would get confused and freak out and put it back on the shelf. Because of the book, Rio became this erotic fantasyland in my mind. It was someplace I always wanted to visit. I was never able to get to Rio until March of 2013. I was working on the record. I jumped through all kinds of travel and budgeting and scheduling hoops to get to Rio. When I finally got there, I got deathly ill. It was March and I was coming from a deep New York winter; fat, pale, sick. I finally got to my sexual dream-come-true, and it was not pretty. The second verse is about that moment on the beach where I’m sick and old and tired in a Speedo. It’s the end of summer there, and everyone in Rio is hot. They have amazing bodies. Athletes—what I had fantasized about. My dream came true, but it was a failure for me. There was this beautiful, amazing, sunga swim-trunks salesman smoking weed on the beach who tried to pick me up, but it was the saddest moment—I couldn’t even pretend to be able to engage because my self-esteem was so crushed. I was just stuck on the beach drinking cough syrup.

“Hacking up a lung,” as you say in the song.

Yes, sick on the beach. I always visualized that scene a little bit like Dirk Bogarde at the end of Death in Venice. The first half of the song, to me, is very Bruce Weber O Rio de Janeiro, and the second verse is me as Dirk Bogarde in Death in Venice

I hope you get to go back again. I went back last month, and I shot a video for the song. That beautiful video is going to come out soon.

Finally, the cover art for Sir features you sticking out your tongue. A tongue was also featured prominently on the cover of 2002’s major-label reissue of Fischerspooner’s debut album, #1. It’s funny; that Sir cover photo was taken in Madrid two summers ago by a fan named Vincent Claudio Urbani. I reluctantly went to shoot with him, more as a personal favor than wanting to do a photo shoot. I just happened to be in Madrid. It was completely his idea. He was like, “I want you to do this, I want you to pose this way, I want you to stick your tongue out.” Vincent came up with that idea. I liked the idea that it connected to the continuity of the first record. There was a cool connection, and it is kind of a great, classic, iconic image. I can’t take much credit for it. Vincent Claudio Urbani came up with that idea.

Gregg Shapiro is a regular contributor to Out Smart magazine.

Fight Night

Queer storytelling showcase returns to Rec Room.

From staff reports

Adrag queen, a social worker, an oil-andgas employee, and a comedian will all be part of the cast for Story Hole: “Let’s Fight!”

The third installment of the queer storytelling showcase is set for April 5 at Rec Room.

Since its premiere in June 2017, Story Hole has twice presented a collection of local LGBTQ storytellers to sold-out crowds. Stories have ranged from hilarious to heartfelt, and from serious to sexual.

The showcase creates a safe space for queer voices to be heard, and the cast is representative of the diverse groups that make up Houston’s LGBTQ community. The cast for “Let’s Fight!” includes Jenny Block, Aaron Flores, Crimson Jordan, Hoja Lopez, Melanie Pang, Brian Redmond, Eric Schell, and Darius “Blackberri” Vallier.

“LGBTQ people have spaces for socializing with each other, like bars and clubs, or for supporting each other, like clinical settings for therapy,” Pang says. “I think a storytelling platform like Story Hole is important because there aren’t many spaces in between [where we can] be both socially informal and seriously vulnerable.”

Vulnerability is a component that all of the storytellers bring to Story Hole. Cast members are not usually professional performers, but regular members of the community who have funny or interesting stories to share. For many, this marks their first time sitting before an audience and relating a piece of themselves.

“I don’t consider myself a performer, so this is definitely a first,” Brian Redmond says.

Redmond has attended the last two installments of Story Hole, but this will be his first as a storyteller.

“I think storytelling brings people together and builds community,” Redmond says. “It’s easy, today, to isolate ourselves. Coming together to hear others’ experiences can help us see what we have in common with people we

wouldn’t normally find commonalities with.”

Although the majority of the cast are first-timers, one performer, Hoja Lopez, is making her third appearance after two hilarious appearances. Lopez is a seasoned local comedian and hosts her own popular podcast, Relationsh!t, with co-host Stacey Daniels.

“Houston is such a large city, and while our Pride and nightlife are poppin’, I definitely feel like we lack grassroots art and comedy events that are queer-centric,” Lopez says. “To feel a part of something through storytelling is healing—and flat-out fun.”

Block, a nationally published author and performer, says she is excited to join the family of story-holers.

“I love the idea of Story Hole,” Block says. “I am a writer and performer by trade, so this has been something I have wanted to be a part of from the very first time I heard about it.”

The theme is always an important component of the show. All of the evening’s stories connect to it, either loosely or literally.

“Let’s Fight!” will feature stories that touch on a struggle or confrontation encountered by the storyteller. In some cases, those confrontations may inadvertently play out on stage. For the first time, one of the stories will be told simultaneously by a couple, Eric Edward Schell and Crimson Jordan.

“I’m not used to sharing the spotlight in a theatrical experience,” Schell says. “As Bobbie Adler from Will and Grace said, ‘I always have to be the star—God cast me in the role.’”

“I want to make sure that I tell my story in a genuine way [so that, together with my partner, we] effectively communicate it to the audience,” Jordan says. “I’d like people to have a takeaway without actively attempting to teach anyone anything.”

A principal component of Story Hole is that it allows the LGBTQ community to share outside of a political or educational context. This was one of the main drivers for show creator Ryan Leach.

“After the 2016 election, I felt like I needed a space to be queer and to blow off some steam,” Leach says. “I was tired of my ‘gayness’ being politicized. I felt we needed a space where we could come together and laugh about our wonderful, beautiful, and sometimes boring lives as queer people. When the first shows sold out and the reaction was so positive, I realized that it really touched on something that the community needed.”

Leach plans to develop Story Hole into a podcast.

“What I have learned from producing Story Hole is that LGBTQ people and allies want to share and hear our collective stories,” Leach says. “It’s a beautiful thing. I want to spread the Story Hole gospel.”

What: Story Hole: “Let’s Fight!” hosted by Ryan Leach and Kathryn Way

When: 8 p.m., April 5

Where: Rec Room, 100 Jackson Street Tickets : $10, available at RecRoomArts.org

Holey Spirit

Comedian Hoja Lopez will make her third Story Hole appearance during ‘Let’s Fight,’ on April 5 at Rec Room.

100 BEST RESTAURANTS in HOUSTON John Nechman’ s

There’s something gloriously, uproariously queer about Houston’s dining scene. It gives us our edge, it’s hard to define, and it’s undeniably present.

It’s transgressive, ebullient, explosive, unpredictable, and captivating—but because we’re surrounded by it and it’s part of our DNA, the rest of the world celebrates the gastronomic gift of “Mutt City” cuisine more than we do.

Still, we all know that Houston’s food scene is one of the best reasons to call this hard-to-peg sprawl of ours home.

We’re cowboy/cowgirl. Cajun. Every country from Afghanistan to Zaire. Some say we don’t have an identity or iconic dishes like our friends in New Orleans or Philly. But is that really the case?

We (or rather, our own Mama Ninfa) gave the world fajitas. I don’t think I’ve ever met a Houstonian who doesn’t have a favorite bánh

mi place. We’ve been gleefully scarfing down chef Hugo Ortega’s grasshoppers and flying ants for years. Crawfish season excites every community here, and boil recipes know no borders. Boudin kolaches? Crawfish phở with Cajun seasonings? We have Tex-Mex, Tex-Cajun, and Tex-Soul, but no single style dominates our indomitable cuisine.

So why is H-Town food getting its star turn? Because we are the America of tomorrow, today. We are the trendsetters. Unlike most cities with fairly fixed identities, we are in the astounding position of being able to be anything we want to be, incorporating the best of the world into our vivacious mix. It just doesn’t get more exciting than that.

This dynamism is giving all of us new reasons to be Houston Proud. We’re also better at appreciating the base that supports our disparate mix. Farmers markets are emerging in every neighborhood, and Houstonians are discovering that our rich soil is capable of growing virtually anything.

We’re embracing the bounty of the Gulf, and doing more to protect our waters and reefs. Local purveyors and brewers are opening every day, and suddenly the concept of farm-to-table is part of our culinary lexicon.

Even a catastrophe like Harvey (which could have annihilated other cities’ food scenes) resulted in overwhelming generosity from every corner of Houston, including local restaurateurs and food suppliers. We showed

the world what it means to be Houston Strong and the City of Heart.

For the last few years, I have enjoyed compiling and sharing a list of the best places to eat in the Houston area. My initial list of 30 turned into 100 last year, including eateries in adjoining counties (since our scene is too big for just one county!).

But this year I wanted to celebrate what makes us special, so I took a more Houstoncentric approach. Making this year’s list required more than just serving great food. I wanted to see Houston Pride—support for local purveyors and brewers, new dishes that could become icons, and an involvement in and a commitment to this community.

While non-Houston chains, or eateries serving dishes from other parts of the globe, were still considered, preference was given to those that have shown dedication to contributing to our mesmerizing mosaic.

Do you participate in Houston Restaurant Weeks? Do the actions of your business show that you are welcoming to all in our great community? Are you invested in Houston Strong? If so—and if your food is amazing—I had a place on this year’s list for you.

And, as for Houston’s purported lack of iconic dishes, I beg to differ. In the most diverse city in America, we simply have more iconic dishes than most cities. I’ve taken a stab at creating a list of some dishes that are uniquely ours, having sprung up from the Mutt City magic. Just like Houston, this list will evolve and grow over time.

This year is special—25 years of O utSmart It’s a reason to celebrate, and in Houston, that inevitably involves eating.

Something deliriously, exuberantly queer is taking place in our great town. There’s never been a better time to be Houston Proud.

Theodore Rex (Mutt City)

1302 Nance St. - trexhouston.com $$

The 10 Crème de la Crème 1

If I had to choose who from H-Town to put up in the World Cup of Cooking against the likes of Grant Achatz, René Redzepi, and Massimo Bottura, the golden spatula would go to Chef Justin Yu. He’s proven time and again that he’s capable of anything— without pretense and with incredible flair. Even the most modest of vegetables become unforgettable in this kitchen. Though it’s often the hardest reservation in town to snag, if you get one, bonhomie and egalitarianism will reign. I never thought he could top his miraculous Oxheart, but to experience Houston on a plate, head to T-Rex.

Himalaya (Pakistani)

6652 Southwest Freeway himalayarestauranthouston.com $$

When you dine at chef Kaiser Lashkari’s Himalaya, don’t bother to look at the overwhelming menu. Just ask the chef to take care of the table. The amount of food you’ll get, the breathtaking quality, and the absurdly low cost will show you why this has been Desi Central in this part of the country for decades. And to make the meal even more compelling, Himalaya is BYOB (except during Ramadan). Chef Lashkari has come up with his own spirited renditions of such Southern staples as chickenfried steak, fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, and smoked brisket. They are now a legendary part of Houston’s culinary history.

Killen’s BBQ (Barbecue) 3613 East Broadway St., Pearland killensbarbecue.com $

Always packed, and always worth the drive. Think of it this way: at Austin’s Franklin, you’ll wait four times longer for BBQ that cannot match Ronnie Killen’s, and an open keg of Lone Star makes the wait even more bearable. If they’re serving chicken-fried steak or fried chicken, you won’t find better. Although a full beef rib might come out pricey, it will feed three, and when you see one on a neighboring table, you’re going to kick yourself if you haven’t ordered one. And your dog will love you even more.

Kitchen 713

3 ➝

(Asian-inspired Southern) 4601 Washington kitchen713.com $$

Chefs James Haywood and Ross Coleman, two military journeymen, have created one of the most riveting menus in town, combining the soulful dishes of the South with ingredients from around the globe. Here, masala-fried chicken and waffles match up with black-vinegar-braised oxtails and hoe cakes topped with labne and house-cured salmon. Sunday brunch is legendary, as are the powerful spirits on the well-curated cocktail list. The 713 is what Houston is all about.

11. KATA ROBATA (Japanese) 3600 Kirby $$$

12. CAFE TH (Vietnamese) 2108 Pease St. $

13. DORIS METROPOLITAN (Israeli Steaks) 2815 S. Shepherd $$$

14. TONY’S (Italian) 3755 Richmond Ave. $$$

15. FIELDS & TIDES (Houstonian) 705 E. 11th St. $$

16. XOCHI (Oaxaca, Mexican) 1777 Walker St. $$

17. KILLEN’S STEAKHOUSE (Steaks) 2804 S. Main St., Pearland $$$

18. PRESIDIO (Houstonian) 911 W. 11th St. $$

19. STATE OF GRACE (American Texan) 3258 Westheimer $$

20. ANDES CAFÉ (South American) 2311 Canal $$

21. ROOST (Global Eclectic) 1972 Fairview $$

22. MF SUSHI (Japanese) 1401 Binz $$$

23. RUDY & PACO’S (Central/South American) 2028 Postoffice St., Galveston $$$

24. ONE FIFTH (Eclectic) 1658 Westheimer $$$

25. PAULIE’S (Italian) 1834 Westheimer $

26. PAX AMERICANA (New American) 4319 Montrose $$

27. B&B BUTCHERS & RESTAURANT (Steaks) 1814 Washington Ave. $$$

28. CUREIGHT (Global Tasting Menu) 24 Waterway Ave., The Woodlands $$$

29. BRENNAN’S (French Creole) 3300 Smith St. $$$

30. PELI PELI (South African) 5085 Westheimer $$

31. EL REAL (Tex Mex) 1201 Westheimer $

32. NANCY’S HUSTLE (New American) 2704 Polk St. $$

33. CAFE ANNIE (New Southwest) 1800 Post Oak Blvd. $$$

34. CAFE BRUSSELS (Belgian) 1718 Houston Ave. $$

35. LUCILLE’S (Modern Southern) 5512 La Branch St. $$

36. SUD ITALIA (Italian) 2347 University Blvd. $$

Killen’s STQ (Houstonian/Steaks) 2231 South Voss killensstq.com $$$

STQ is the restaurant every city wishes it could have. It offers superb food to suit every taste, and no pretentiousness. Chef Ronnie Killen, who trained at the Cordon Bleu in France, has created a spot where spectacular steaks and wine may draw a lot of attention, but you’ll still be treated like a star whether you order a Mishima Ranch Wagyu filet or one of their excellent burgers and an iced tea.

Pondicheri (New Indian) 2800 Kirby pondichericafe.com $$

Always fresh, exciting, and welcoming—Pondicheri is a perfect stop for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—or takeaway from the wonderfully inventive bake lab upstairs. The ambience is informal but engaging, and the food is ethereal and reflective of the seamless fusion that characterizes our city’s food. Chef Anita Jaisinghani has been enthralling Houston diners since the day she first started serving us at her groundbreaking Indika.

7 6 ➝

The Pass and Provisions (New American and Tasting Menu) 807 Taft passandprovisions.com $$$

Two restaurants in one, and both rank among the best Houston has to offer. Chefs Seth Siegel-Gardner and Terrence Gallivan have established themselves as H-Town superstars, and we’ve been cheering them on ever since. If you do the tasting menu at The Pass, order every possible course—you won’t regret it.

The Rest of the Best (37-60)

37. KENNY & ZIGGY’S (Deli) 2327 Post Oak Blvd. $

38. BCN (Spanish) 4210 Roseland $$$

39. OPORTO FOODING HOUSE & WINE (Portuguese) 125 West Gray $$

40. LANKFORD GROCERY (Texas) 88 Dennis St. $

41. HAROLD’S IN THE HEIGHTS (Southern Creole) 350 W. 19th St. $$

42. LUCIENNE (Upscale Mediterranean) 1070 Dallas St. $$$

43. KILLEN’S BURGERS (Burgers) 2804 S. Main St., Pearland $

44. ORIGINAL NINFA’S (Tex Mex) 2704 Navigation $$

45. UCHI (Japanese) 904 Westheimer $$$

46. CAJUN GREEK (Cajun Greek Seafood) 2226 61st St., Galveston $$

47. DISH SOCIETY (New American) 5740 San Felipe $$

48. ALADDIN (Middle Eastern) 912 Westheimer $

49. BENJY’S (New American) 2424 Dunstan and 5922 Washington Ave. $$

50. AL ASEEL GRILL AND CAFE (Middle Eastern) 8619 Richmond Ave. $$

51. CARACOL (Mexican-Inspired Seafood) 2200 Post Oak Blvd. $$

52. GOOD DOG HOUSTON (Hot Dogs) 903 Studewood and 1312 W. Alabama $

53. GILHOOLEY’S (Seafood) 222 9th St. $$

54. THE CONSERVATORY (Food HallHouston Businesses) 1010 Prairie St. $

55. AQUI (Modern Filipino) 520 Westheimer $$

56. HUGO’S (Mexican) 1600 Westheimer $$

57. GAIDO’S (Seafood) 3828 Seawall Blvd., Galveston $$

58. HABANERA AND THE GRINGO (Mexican) 9902 Gulf Freeway, South Houston $$

59. ROKA AKOR (Japanese Steaks/Sushi) 2929 Weslayan $$$

60. THE SALTWATER GRILL (Seafood) 2017 Postoffice St., Galveston $$

Rainbow Lodge (New American) 2011 Ella Blvd. rainbow-lodge.com $$$

This 100-year-old log cabin set on a bayou in the heart of the Heights has been called Houston’s most romantic restaurant, but it can also take its place as one of our best places to eat. Expect wild game and regional seafood paired with Texas Gulf Coast flair. If you haven’t been here since your high school prom, go now. The Lodge is quintessential Houston, and has never been better.

Criteria

5 points: How fabulous is the food?

3 points:

Does the place represent H-Town by creating something uniquely Houston/Upper Texas Gulf Coast, dedicating itself to locally sourced products/booze/Houston spirit while also exhibiting community involvement?

2 points: Other Intangibles: location/value/ BYOB option/versatility/ambience/ service/Houston-style welcome to everyone

Price:

$$$ = Very Expensive $$ = Medium Expensive $ = CHEAP!

61. OHN KOREAN EATERY (Korean) 9630 Clarewood Dr., Bellaire Asian District $$

62. STEVE’S LANDING (Seafood) 1290 Bay Vue Rd., Crystal Beach $$

63. MALA SICHUAN (Chinese) 9348 Bellaire Blvd. and 1201 Westheimer $$

64. SOUTHERN GOODS (Southern) 632 W. 19th St. $$

65. CRAWFISH & NOODLES (Vietnamese Cajun) 11360 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire $$

66. PINKERTON’S (BBQ) 1504 Airline Dr. $

67. FLIP ’N PATTIES (Filipino) 1809 Eldridge Parkway $

68. STAR FISH HOUSTON (Seafood) 191 Heights Blvd. $$

69. THE GROVE (New American) 1611 Lamar St. $$

70. POTENTE (Italian) 1515 Texas Ave. $$$

71. ESTHER’S CAJUN CAFE & SOUL FOOD (Cajun Soul) 5204 Yale $$

72. COLTIVARE (Italian) 3320 White Oak Drive $$

73. CUCHARA (Mexican) 214 Fairview St. $$

74. BENNO’S ON THE BEACH (Cajun Seafood) 1200 Seawall Blvd., Galveston $$

75. SALTILLO MEXICAN KITCHEN (Steaks, Mexican) 5427 Bissonnet, Bellaire $$

Giacomo’s (Italian) 3215 Westheimer giacomosciboevino.com $$

Chef Lynette Hawkins has been part of the Houston culinary scene for decades, and we’re all the better for it. Her Giacomo’s has allowed us to experience the finest of Italy—all made with top-quality local ingredients and at remarkably affordable prices.

Local Foods (Houstonian) 2424 Dunstan Road houstonlocalfoods.com $

Local Foods may be a chain, but it’s our chain, and every location hits the right notes. Each sandwich and side is made with care and local ingredients. Order a combination of a gulf crab and shrimp sandwich with a banana squash slaw, and rejoice in what it means to be a Houstonian.

John Nechman is an immigration attorney with the Houston law firm of Katine & Nechman L.L.P. as well as an adjunct professor of law at South Texas College of Law. He’s also an inveterate food and H-Town junkie.

76. KAT’S BBQ (Barbecue) 3813 FM 646 Rd. N., Santa Fe $

77. BURGER-CHAN (Burgers) 5 Greenway Plaza $

78. AMÉRICAS (New Central/South American) 2040 W. Gray and 21 Waterway, The Woodlands $$

79. CLEBURNE CAFETERIA (Upper Kirby/ West U) 3606 Bissonnet St. $

80. JAXTON’S (Italian French) 9955 Barker Cypress Rd., Cypress $$

81. TONY MANDOLA’S (Cajun Gulf Seafood) 1212 Waugh Dr. $$

CONGRATULATIONS OUTSMART 25 YEARS!

COMING SOON!

LOVE’S MAGICAL HEART

A Collection of Poetry Written by Sandra

And you thought I was just a humble little Baker….I am!

If you love gazing at starlight flickering in the eyes of your lover while being kissed in the suppleness of a waning moon, then you will love my book of poetry. It’s about LOVE and it is a malady I have been stricken with so many times in my life that I am afraid my beloved friends, it is incurable!

Jean Bubbert

50 ICONIC

HOUSTON-AREA DISHES

BREAKFAST

• Boudin Kolaches and a Dozen Hot Glazed Shipley’s on North Main (Saturdays only) (Sunset Heights)

• Katﬁsh & Grits, The Breakfast Klub (Midtown)

• Bò Né (Vietnamese steak & eggs with paté, baguette, and salad), Bò Né (Bellaire Asian District)

• Morning Thali, Pondicheri (Upper Kirby)

• Chicharrón and Eggs Taco, Villa Arcos (East End)

• Border Quail and Eggs, Goode Company Taquería (Lower Kirby)

• Brisket & Egg Tacos, Plantation BBQ (Richmond)

• Grand Slam Breakfast, Kelley’s (various locations in southeast metro area)

LUNCH

• BBQ Beef Ribs, Killen’s BBQ (Pearland)

• Smoked Oxtails and Boudin, Ray’s BBQ (South side)

• Homemade Hot Links, Powell’s (Sunnyside)

• Cheese Coney, James Coney Island (everywhere)

• Grim Burger, Lankford’s (Montrose)

• Gulf Crab and Shrimp Sandwich, Local Foods (various locations)

• The Zellagabetsky, Kenny & Ziggy’s (Galleria area and Upper Kirby)

• Steak Sandwich, Champ Burger (East End)

• Grilled Pork with Egg Bánh Mì and Chả Giò, Cali Sandwich (Midtown)

• Antone’s Original Po Boy with Chow Chow (various locations)

• Spaghetti and Meatballs with Extra Link Hot Sausage, Sacred Heart Society (Thursdays only) (Sunset Heights)

82. RITUAL (Smoked Meats/Southern) 602 Studewood St. $$

83. RIEL (New American/ Canadian/Ukrainian) 1927 Fairview St. $$

84. URBAN EATS (New American) 3414 Washington Ave. $$

85. NUMBER 13 (Steaks and Seafood) 7809 Broadway St., Galveston $$$

86. SHRI BALAJI BHAVAN (Indian) 5655 Hillcroft $

APPETIZERS/SOUPS/ SALADS/SIDES

• Smoked Oysters, Gilhooley’s (San Leon)

• Vietnamese-Style Crawﬁsh, Crawﬁsh & Noodles (Bellaire Asian District)

• Cajun-Style Crawﬁsh, Crawﬁsh Shack (Crosby)

• Watkin’s Bisque, Gaido’s (Galveston)

• Potato Salad, Baba Yega’s (Montrose)

• Banana Squash Slaw, Local Foods

• Crawﬁsh Phở, LA Crawﬁsh (various locations)

• Phở Tai Nam Gau, Phở Binh Trailer (Pearland)

• Queso with Chips, Little Pappasito’s (Upper Kirby)

• Jalapeño Corn Bread, Goode Company

DINNER

• Fajitas, Original Ninfa’s (East End)

• Fried Chicken, Frenchy’s (Third Ward)

• Panuchos, Chapultepec (Montrose)

• Cheese Enchiladas with Eggs, Larry’s (Richmond)

• Musakhan, Al Aseel (Woodlake)

• Fried Shrimp, Bubba’s (San Leon)

• Mala Pot Roasted Tilapia, Mala Sichuan Bistro (Bellaire Asian District and Montrose)

• Le Complet Belge, Café Brussels (First Ward)

• Steak Tikka, Himalaya (Sharpstown)

• Huachinango a la Plancha con Camarones, Tampico (Sunset Heights and north side)

• Chicken Fried Steak, Goodson’s (Tomball)

• Smothered Pork Chops, Mikki’s (Sta ord)

87. YAUATCHA (Chinese Dim Sum) 5045 Westheimer Road $$

88. STATE FARE KITCHEN & BAR (Southern) 947 Gessner, Memorial City $$

89. DA MARCO (Italian) 1520 Westheimer $$$

90. BAYOU & BOTTLE (New American) 1300 Lamar St., Four Seasons Hotel $$

91. LIBERTY KITCHEN (New American) 1050 Studewood St. $$

92. BRANDANI’S (Italian) 3340 FM 1092 Road, Missouri City $$

93. NAM GIAO (Vietnamese) 6938 Wilcrest, Bellaire $

94. MAX’S WINE DIVE (Gourmet Comfort Food) 4720 Washington Ave. and others $$

95. FIELDING’S WOOD GRILL (American/Grill) 1699 Research Forest Dr., The Woodlands $$

DRINKS

• Lemonade, Irma’s (Downtown)

• Blue Frozen Ritas, El Patio (Woodlake)

DESSERTS

• Maple Sweet Potato Cheesecake, Esther’s (Independence Heights)

• Grand Marnier Sou é, Tony’s (Greenway Plaza)

• Trés Leches, Américas (River Oaks)

• Bayou Goo Pie, House of Pies (Upper Kirby)

• Butter Pecan and Sweet Corn Ice Cream, Hank’s (Astrodome area)

• Crème Brûlée Bread Pudding, Killen’s Steakhouse (Pearland)

• Chai Pie, Pondicheri (Upper Kirby)

96. MARINI’S EMPANADAS (Argentinean) 10001 Westheimer $

97. RAY’S BBQ (Barbecue Soul Seafood) 3929 Old Spanish Trail $

98. ECULENT (New American Tasting Menu) 709 Harris Ave., Kemah $$$

99. TEOTIHUACÁN (Mexican) 4624 Irvington and other locations $

100. GOURMAND KITCHEN (American Contemporary) 9818 Fry Road, Cypress $$

A Taste of La Sicilia

Gay-owned Montrose bakery seems destined to become community staple.

By Marene Gustin

Photo by Dalton DeHart

Walk into this boutique bakery on Lower Westheimer, and the first things you notice are the divine aroma and the decadent pastries filling the glass-enclosed counter. The second thing you notice will likely be coowner Antonio Rios, a Cuban-American with a 100-watt smile, working the counter and the few tables. If you’ve been there before, he’ll greet you by name and strike up a friendly conversation.

La Sicilia Italian Bakery & Cafe, which opened March 12, is like a little slice of Europe in Montrose—a welcoming home filled with tasty treats and aromatic coffees that seems likely to become a mainstay in the community. The genius behind both the artwork in the café and the food coming from the back is Antonio’s husband, chef and co-owner Diego Chiarello Rios.

“It had always been my dream to move to the United States,” says the native of Sicily who has been baking since he was 8. His four brothers are also pastry chefs.

Six years ago Diego moved to New York City, where he met Antonio within a week.

“A mutual friend set us up,” Diego says in a charming Italian accent. “I didn’t even speak English then, so I wasn’t expecting much, but we married within a year.”

Antonio is a Houston-area native who was working in human resources for a corporation. But he and Diego dreamed of running their own small European bakery. While they were traveling around the country looking for a location, Antonio’s parents convinced the couple to visit them in Spring.

“I wasn’t sure the South would be so welcoming to an openly gay couple,” Antonio says,

“but this was not the Houston I left.

“This area has just been wonderful,” he adds. “We received flowers and cards welcoming us to the neighborhood. It’s so inclusive, and we want to be a part of the area and the gay community here.”

The couple starts baking at 4 each morning, and the shop is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Everything—from the buttery croissants to the raspberry-and-almond braids, cookies, savory paninis, and pizza-style pastries—is made fresh daily. At the end of each day, unsold inventory goes to The Women’s Home, a local charity that assists homeless women.

The co-owners are currently staying with Antonio’s parents in Spring, but after leasing their Montrose space they will soon move to a nearby apartment.

“I love Houston, because it reminds me of home,” Diego says. “[It has] so much more green space than New York.” What down time they have is mostly spent hanging out with friends, watching movies, and cooking.

“We make Cuban and Italian food, and it’s really what we prefer,” Antonio adds. But they have discovered Lupe Tortilla’s fajitas, which Antonio says they are “kind of hooked on.”

Visitors—the shop already has many local regulars—may want to take home one of everything they see. And the owners admit it is not always easy for them to

resist their own treats. “We go to the gym a lot,” Antonio laughs. “But it’s worth it.”

Although the café already has plenty to offer, there’s one more thing to look forward to: custom cakes.

“Diego is a real artist,” Antonio says, showing photos of elaborate cakes on his phone that would rival those at any black-tie gala or overthe-top wedding. There’s even a photo of a multi-tiered white confection that Diego made for the couple’s own wedding.

“I just love the colors, the decorating, and the artistry of cakes,” Diego says.

As if we didn’t already have enough reasons to return to La Sicilia.

La Sicilia Italian Bakery & Cafe 515 Westheimer Rd., Suite C 713.636.2900 facebook.com/lasiciliausa/

Confectionary Couple

Antonio Rios, left, and Diego Chiarello Rios were set up by a mutual friend six years ago, just one week after Diego moved to the U.S. ‘I didn’t even speak English then, so I wasn’t expecting much, but we were married within a year,’ Diego says.

To DIY For

What it takes to make some Houston faves.

Giacomo’s Cibo e Vino 3215 Westheimer giacomosciboevino.com

• Place the smashed garlic, black pepper, and guanciale in sauté pan with the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté until garlic is golden and the guanciale has rendered its fat and is crispy on the outside, but still juicy on the inside. Discard the garlic (it has already yielded its deliciousness to the sauce).

• Beat the eggs and cheese together.

GIACOMO’S SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA

Makes one serving

¼ cup guanciale lardons (if guanciale isn’t available, substitute pancetta)

1 whole clove garlic, smashed

1 tbsp olive oil

1 whole egg, plus 1 egg yolk

¼ cup grated pecorino romano

½ tsp coarsely ground black pepper

2–3 oz. pasta water

4 oz. spaghetti, cooked al dente in plenty of salted boiling water (reserve some of the pasta water for sauce)

• Put the cooked spaghetti in the pan with the guanciale and set over medium-high heat. Add 2 oz. pasta water and simmer until the water is boiling. Turn off heat, and drizzle the egg mixture on top of the pasta. Quickly stir and toss pasta vigorously to make a creamy sauce. Add more pasta water if needed. Serve with more grated cheese if desired.

Note: no salt is necessary in this recipe because the guanciale and pecorino romano are quite salty.

Pesto

Combine the following in a food processor, and pulse until smooth in texture:

2 cups fresh basil leaves and small stems

1 cup Italian flat-leaf parsley

3 cloves garlic

¼ cup toasted pine nuts

½ cup grated parmesan

½ tsp sea salt

¼ tsp black pepper

¾ cup high-quality olive oil

(You will have about 1 cup finished product, more than required for the recipe,

URBAN EATS

OEUF DE MONDE (SOCIETY EGG)

Makes 24

My mother made the most amazing deviled eggs. They started out simple— mayo, mustard, dill relish, onion, paprika, etc.—but were always so delicious. Later, she began getting more creative. One of my favorite versions was a pesto deviled egg she made for Easter, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July. They were so fancy with perfectly piped whipped egg salad, and often topped with crumbled bacon. Our Oeuf de Mode (Society Egg) is a take on this family favorite. —Levi Rollins, Urban Eats

Hard-Boiled Eggs

• In a large saucepan, cover 18 eggs with cold water, bring to a rapid boil, cover and remove from heat. Let stand for 12–14 minutes, depending on the size of the egg. Remove from water and place into an ice bath, cool completely. Peel and half 12 of the eggs, remove the yolks, and set aside. Rinse whites with cold water and refrigerate on a flat surface until needed. Hold the remaining six whole eggs for the recipe.

but leftovers will be amazing tossed with pasta, smeared on toast, or rubbed on roasted chicken.)

You will need the following to complete:

8 oz. cream cheese

½ cup mayonnaise

¼ cup chopped white onion

1 tbsp white truffle oil

½ cup crisp, chopped bacon

¼ cup balsamic glaze or reduced balsamic vinegar

• In the food processor, combine reserved yolks, six whole eggs, ½ cup prepared pesto,

6 large Gulf oysters

cream cheese, mayo, onion, and truffle oil. Process until smooth and creamy. Salt to taste if desired.

• Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large closed star tip (#848 preferred). Pipe egg salad into chilled whites, making sure to overfill. Top with chopped bacon and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

Urban Eats (now celebrating its third anniversary) 3414 Washington Ave. feasturbaneats.com

3 tbsp. unsalted butter

2 tbsp. garlic

3 tbsp. Cajun spice

2 tbsp. heavy cream

1½ tbsp. kosher salt Juice of ½ lemon (to taste) Fresh cropped green onions or chives

• Combine butter and garlic in a preheated pan. Cover over high heat while shaking pan until butter has dissolved. Add oysters, salt, lemon juice, heavy cream, and green onion. Continue cooking, while shaking until oysters open. Serve in a small casserole dish or bowl with garlic parmesan toast.

Danton’s Gulf Coast Seafood Restaurant 4611 Montrose Blvd. dantonsseafood.com

Cake

4 oz. margarine, softened

½ cup vegetable shortening

2 cup granulated sugar

5 egg yolks

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

2 cups flour

1 cup buttermilk

¾ tsp. vanilla

5 egg whites

Soaking Syrup

2 tbsp. vanilla coffee syrup (such as Monin)

Chocolate Frosting

4½ oz. unsalted butter, softened

¾ cup cocoa, sifted

3 cups powdered sugar, sifted

½ cup half-and-half

1½ tsp. vanilla

1½ tsp. corn syrup

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray three nine-inch pans with Baker’s Joy.

• Cake: cream margarine, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy. Add yolks slowly and mix well. Combine dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture, alternating with the buttermilk. Add vanilla. Beat egg whites to stiff peaks, but not dry. Fold whipped egg whites to mixing batter. Divide batter between the three pans. Bake 25 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool completely before frosting. Lightly drizzle vanilla syrup on each layer.

• Chocolate frosting: cream room-temperature butter. Sift cocoa and powdered sugar. Add to butter alternately with half-and-half. Add vanilla and corn syrup. Blend well, scraping down sides of bowl.

• Decorate/assemble: ice top and sides of cake with chocolate frosting.

Dessert Gallery Bakery and Café

3600-D Kirby Drive dessertgallery.com

The mission of The Dalton DeHart Photographic Foundation is to digitize, catalog and preserve an expanding collection of approximately one million photographs chronicling the Houston community, primarily nonproﬁt and community events, and to make these images publicly accessible for their educational, historic, and cultural value.

1¼ parts Grey Goose melon vodka ¼ part mango purée Splash of orange juice Splash of pineapple juice

• Shake all ingredients together and strain into shot glass.

JR’s Bar & Grill

808 Pacific St. jrsbarandgrill.com

Creator: Sarah Tompkins-Gutierrez, award-winning bartender

DRIPPING SPRINGS VODKA

JALAPEÑO HILL-COUNTRY MULE

1.5 oz Dripping Springs Texas Orange Vodka

4.5 oz. ginger beer

½ fresh-squeezed lime Slice of jalapeño

• Shake orange vodka, lime, and jalapeño vigorously over ice.

Top with ginger beer, stir, and garnish with a lime twist.

GARDEN SPRINGS

1.5 oz. Dripping Springs Vodka

3 oz. grapefruit juice

½ oz. Domaine de Canton (ginger liqueur)

1 large sprig of basil

• Muddle basil in a shaker, then add vodka, grapefruit juice, and liqueur. Shake vigorously and strain over fresh ice.

San Luis Spirits-Dripping Springs Vodka, Gin & Bourbon Distillery drippingspringsvodka.com

midtown Financial

continued from page 24 News

In addition to directing 65 productions, Watts acted in 75 plays, including his portrayal of playwright Eugene O’Neill in former Houstonian Andrew Hager’s monologue Eugene at Chocolate Bayou Theater, presented in tribute to the 100th anniversary of O’Neill’s birth.

In a Playbill biography for one of his acting gigs, Watts admitted that “being on the cusp of Aquarius and Pisces, [I am] a strange and moody, yet wonderful person.” Watts also allowed that his many interests outside theater included “spending time with my pet ulcer.”

In the director’s later years, Watts shined as a playwright, penning Joe’s FairieTales, a program of short plays that he produced at his apartment on Hawthorne Street i n Montrose. He also wrote a winning entry in Scriptwriters/ Houston’s 15th annual 10x10 showcase of 10 new scripts, each about 10 minutes in length, that were performed at a community theater in west Houston.

Watts also watched as mainstream theater groups began performing plays with gay characters and themes that tackled the AIDS epidemic and LGBTQ rights. Undeterred by the competition, he soldiered on with his pioneering brand of grassroots gay theater.

Watts shined as a playwright, penning Joe’s FairieTales, a program of short plays that he produced at his apartment in Montrose.

In the past six months, said Cullum, Watts had considered directing a revival of The Boys in the Band before finding out that the performance rights aren’t currently available because an all-star cast of gay actors, directed by a Tony Award-winning gay director, is performing the seminal gay play on Broadway this spring.

But Watts had a backup plan. He also imagined staging Take Me Out, Richard Greenberg’s 2003 Tony Award winner for Best Play, about the tragic results of a professional baseball player revealing to his team that he’s gay. Like other shows that Watts directed “with a reputation for lack of costuming,” said Cullum, Take Me Out scintillates with a locker-room scene of naked athletes in the shower.

Don Maines is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine.

that builds it up and helps it flourish.”

Coburn says some of his colleagues in City government have not been supportive following the incident. Although Coburn did nothing illegal, mayor Brad Bailey described the photos as “unbecoming of an elected official” in an interview with the Port Arthur News

Bailey also told media outlets that a citizen-driven recall election for Coburn could take place after he has served six months in his position.

Coburn’s attorney, Jill Pierce, said the individual who sent the photos violated Texas Penal Code Chapter 21.16, which makes the unlawful distribution of intimate visual materials a Class A misdemeanor.

Pierce is working with Grindr to find who sent the photos. Police have not yet been involved in the investigation.

“I have reached out to Grindr to figure out who did this,” Pierce said. “However, anybody can create profiles online. It might not be possible to find out who it was.”

Cross said the story of his outing was inaccurately reported by several news outlets. And Ruben Gonzalez, vice president of leadership initiatives for the LGBTQ Victory Fund, believes there is a double standard because Cross is an LGBTQ politician.“If Cross was a single straight man, his photos wouldn’t have been sent to City Hall, and there would have never been a controversy,” Gonzales said. “He had the right, like any other young person, to build his social network and friend group through online applications.”

On the bright side, Coburn has emerged as one of the youngest LGBTQ elected officials in the nation, according to Gonzalez.

“We’ve seen a rush of young people really inspired to get involved in politics,” Gonzalez said. “It’s pretty remarkable that Cross is a City Council member at 19.”

“Constituents appreciate the authenticity of out elected officials,” Gonzalez added. “We hope that Cross will be able to move forward so that he can inspire people just like him to run for office.”

Coburn says being an openly LGBTQ politician will benefit the community because human rights are at the forefront of his agenda.

“We’re not where we want to be with equality,” Coburn says. “I want to be a part of changing that.”

Lourdes Zavaleta is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine.

By Henry V. Thiel

Kandice and Kristen Webber met when Kristen was a nursing student at Memorial Hermann Hospital, and Kandice was assigned to be her clinical preceptor.

“The ﬁ rst day Kristen and I spent together outside of work was not really a date,” Kandice recalls. “I had recently moved into a new house and I wanted new family photos taken of me and my kids, and Kristen overheard me talking about it with a coworker. After she ﬁ nished her semester as my preceptee, she contacted me and volunteered to take the photos.”

In addition to being a registered nurse, Kristen has a degree in photojournalism.

“I told Kandice that I wanted to take the photos as a ‘thank you’ for the great clinical experience I had with her the previous semester,” Kristen says.

They met in Galveston for the photo shoot.

“My kids instantly loved her,” Kandice says. “They all had a great day full of smiles and laughter. When we were leaving, my daughter whispered to me, ‘Mom, she is totally into you.’”

“I denied it, of course, but it still made me blush,” Kandice says. “I thought to myself:

Picture Perfect

For Kandice and Kristen Webber, a family photo shoot led to true love.

Could a woman as beautiful as she is really be into me?”

The second time they met was to look over the photos. “Kristen had made me a photo album of all the photos she thought were the best,” Kandice says. “While looking at the photos, my connection to this woman was sealed. Her photographs captured the best of all three of us, and radiated my love for my children in a way that perfectly told our family’s story. When I caught my breath, I knew I had to know more about this woman.”

Five years later—on April 22, 2016—Kandice and Kristen Webber tied the knot at The Gallery in Houston. It was Kandice, 42, who outraced Kristen, 29, to a marriage proposal.

“We had planned a trip to New York and were both trying to keep it a secret that we had been working on rings for each other. I think we both knew, but pretended not to,” Kristen recalls. “I assumed that she was going to propose in New York. The ring I had made for her was [there], so I planned on picking it up when we got there, trying to beat her to the punch. Well, I guess she ﬁ gured all this out, so she had my best friend (who lives in New York) ﬂy

down to Houston a few days before we left, and she proposed to me here.”

Having already said yes to Kandice, Kristen was still planning a day in Central Park riding bikes, followed by her own proposal during a picnic.

“Well, that sounds way more romantic than it is,” Kristen says. “It was hot, and there are a lot of hills in Central Park. I guess she still liked it, though, because she said yes to my ‘re-proposal.’”

Kandice’s proposal in Houston didn’t exactly go perfectly either. She says she wanted to pop the question at Bayou Bend Gardens while the ﬂowers were in bloom, but it was the weekend in May 2015 when Houston ﬂooded, necessitating a change of venue.

“In order to get Kristen to the garden all dressed up, I told her a friend of ours was proposing to his girlfriend at the garden, and there was a reception afterward,” Kandice says. “At one point in the day, Kristen looked at me and said, ‘I feel horrible for Christian. He’s supposed to propose to Jenny today, and the garden is completely ﬂooded.’

“So I improvised,” Kandice says, adding

Young Nurses in Love Kandice, left, and Kristen Webber, both registered nurses, met when Kandice was assigned to be Kristen’s clinical preceptor at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

that Kristen thought her best friend from New York, Emily, was in town for someone else’s graduation.

“I had Emily call Kristen to tell us to meet her at the Galleria,” Kandice says. “We somehow got her to go over to the Waterwall. I walked her to the center, took the ring out of my pocket, and said, ‘So what do you think?’ I know that was kind of lame, but I was nervous—give me a break! She said yes.”

The brides chose to marry at The Gallery events venue near the Galleria because they wanted an outdoor wedding and an indoor reception. Their good friend, Dakri Brown, officiated, and they made a point to include “jumping the broom” in the ceremony.

“In African history, before it was associated with slavery, the broom ceremony represented two families becoming one,” Kandice says. “It was intended to honor our ancestors and our heritage.”

They reached out to the LGBTQ community to cater their wedding. Pandora’s of London provided their signature Bundt cakes, and Café Natalie took care of the meal.

The newlyweds honeymooned at a Secrets resort in Cancún, where they enjoyed lots of sun and tequila. They now reside in Houston.

Henry V. Thiel is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine. He loves weddings.

More Wedding guide ➝

One Two-Step at a Time

Space Cowboys

Rex Marzke, right, and Steve Roberts were both NASA employees when they met during a country-western dance lesson at the Brazos River Bottom Saloon in 1992. Twenty-ﬁ ve years later, they danced at their wedding (inset).

Twenty-five years after their first dance, Steve Roberts and Rex Marzke finally said ‘I do.’

By Henry V. Thiel • Photos by Dalton DeHart

Steve Roberts and Rex Marzke met on December 29, 1992, at the Brazos River Bottom Saloon, which was a popular gay bar in Midtown.

Marzke recalls that he went to the “BRB” that night to meet a friend and take his ﬁ rst country-western dance lesson. Roberts happened to be the instructor.

As they danced, Roberts and Marzke found they had a lot in common. They were both NASA employees who lived in the Clear Lake area, and they were both “small-town boys.” Robert s grew up in Falmouth, Kentucky, and Marzke is from Edinburgh, Indiana.

They also discovered they had seen each other at a white elephant Christmas party a few weeks before. “Actually, I thought Rex was a snob,” Roberts recalls, laughing. “When I ﬁ nally got to meet him, Rex was really di erent and sweet, and someone I wanted to get to know better.”

Marzke says he had such a great time danc-

ing with Roberts that he wanted a “real date.”

“I loved that he was always smiling, and that he made me feel like I was a special person,” Marzke says.

Twenty-ﬁve years to the day after they met, Roberts and Marzke were married on December 29, 2017, at the Bay Area Museum.

“You have to understand: we had been together since 1992, and had been living together since 1999,” says Roberts, now 66. “Gay marriage was illegal our entire lives, and so it was never really an option. Neither of us had any preconceived ideas about what our dream wedding could be.”

It was Marzke, now 56, who said to Roberts over a cheeseburger at their local Wendy’s, “Shouldn’t we get married?”

“We are both Christians, although neither of us goes to church now since we both think American Christians are no longer actually Christian anymore. But we still wanted a church wedding,” Roberts says. “Since we do

not belong to any church, we thought that was an impractical choice.”

However, they had been supporters of the Bay Area Museum, and the centerpiece of that charity organization is a small church building built in 1901. Since it only has 77 seats and would not accommodate all of their guests, they decided to have a small church wedding followed by a larger celebration at the Hobby Event Center. That space was formerly a TexMex restaurant where the couple had once eaten together, and they were thrilled that it had a stage, dance ﬂoor, spotlight, and several bars.

When they discovered that the center’s caterer could provide the cake and DJ—and that they could provide their own liquor and have an open bar—they signed the contract.

The entertainment at their wedding included local performer Morgan Fairview. “We knew our friends had never seen a performance quite like the one she puts on,” Marzke says.

The Rev. Raphael Warner of Bay Area

Unitarian Universalist Church officiated for the ceremony, and Dalton DeHart served as photographer.

The ceremony consisted of a reading from The Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach, as well the exchange of rings while the couple read vows that they had written themselves.

Since both men are type-A personalities who rarely get emotional in public, many of their friends had never seen them cry. But just prior to the wedding, Marzke got teary-eyed while rehearsing his vows. He urged Roberts to re-read his vows, too, but Roberts laughed it off and said, “No way am I going to cry.”

Sure enough, during the ceremony, Roberts began crying after the first sentence and could only stop long enough to look at the guests. Some were chuckling, but the vast majority were crying, too. Marzke was doing both. They finally composed themselves just long enough to get the words out.

The week after their wedding, the newlyweds went on a cruise. “It wasn’t much of a honeymoon or very romantic, since Rex’s dad and sisters and niece joined us,” Roberts says. “But we did dance together every night—to country-western music, of course.”

The happy couple lives in Clear Lake with their Tonkinese cat, Tippi (Hedren).

Henry V. Thiel is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine.

Queer Quotes

Twenty-ﬁve years of quotes from LGBTQ people, our allies, and a few from those who don’t consider us their equals.

Simon Gilbert (Suede’s drummer) ( Out, 11.94, Ray Rogers)

When a British journalist asked [Gilbert] what he thought of [Suede’s lead singer Brett Anderson] calling himself a bisexual who has never had a homosexual experience, Gilbert [who is openly gay] replied playfully, “I can understand completely. I’m a bisexual who’s never had a heterosexual experience.”

Roseanne Barr

(The Advocate, 1.24.95, Peter Galvin)

Peter Galvin: It’s been rumored that D.J., your son on the show, is going to be gay. Is that true?

Roseanne Barr: Everyone has said that about Sara Gilbert’s character, Darlene, too. Well, we just don’t know, do we? You never know if anyone’s gay until he or she tells you. How would you feel if any of your kids told you they were gay?

I talked to my real-life kids, and I said, “If you tell me you’re gay, I plan to be really, really bored. If you tell me you’re going to be a Republican, I shall be shocked.” I would hope that they would be safe and be in a good relationship and be happy.

Janis Ian

(The Advocate, 10.15.96)

I have nothing intrinsically against dresses— some of my best friends wear them. I’ve just never enjoyed the feeling of air rushing up past my ankles into my nether regions without a pair of lips attached at the other end.

Bi’s in the Band?

Suede’s lead singer, Brett Anderson (top), and the band’s drummer, Simon Gilbert. (See 1994)

Kevin Spacey

( Esquire, 10.97, Tom Junod)

Roseanne Barr What if she had gay children? (See 1995)

I say, “Kevin, my mother thinks [you’re gay],” and he puts his forearms on the table and pushes his face close to mine and says, “More power to you, Mom.” Then he says, “I don’t see anything wrong with sexuality. And so I’ll put it to you this way. I live in a world in which I work with many different people all day long. They’re my friends, and I love them. And many of those are gay or homosexual. And I can’t imagine feeling the need to jump up and say, ‘I’m not one of them.’ If anyone wants to think that, they’re absolutely free to think that. I have no interest in confirming or denying that at all.”

Sandra Bernhard

( Out, 11.98, Tom O’Neill)

“You know,” says [Sandra Bernhard of her sixmonth-old daughter Cicely Yasin], “the thing I like best is burping her, giving her the little rubs and taps on the back. Sometimes I end up burping before her, but she burps as loud as I do,” Bernhard smiles proudly. “She burps, she farts, she laughs, she eats, she sleeps, and she’s the prettiest girl I’ve ever had in my bed.”

1999

Lucy Liu

( Details, 2.99, David A. Keeps)

David A. Keeps: Has a woman ever come on to you?

Lucy Liu: Oh yeah. It can be pretty sexy. I mean, c’mon everyone is sort of bisexual. It’s not a big deal. I’ve thought about it, when relationships don’t work out with guys and you think, “God, this woman friend is so wonderful. It would be so much easier.” But really it’s going to be the same damn problems.

2000

Greg Berlanti

( Entertainment Weekly, 10.00, Lisa Schwarzbaum) We’re here, we’re queer, we’re funnier, with better haircuts. Get used to it.

Eddie Izzard Fantasizing about men? (See 2002)

Ellen DeGeneres

(The 53rd Annual Emmy Awards, 11.4.01, CBS)

On a personal level, I felt that it was important for me to be here tonight because, number one, our leaders have asked us to get back to our jobs; number two, there is no number two, but things are funnier in threes; and number three, I feel I’m in a unique position as host, because think about it what would bug the Taliban more than seeing a gay woman in a suit surrounded by Jews?

Bea Arthur

( Out, 8.01, Michael Musto)

Michael Musto: Do you know a lot of gay people in show business?

Bea Arthur: Isn’t that a rhetorical question?

2001 2002

Eddie Izzard

(The Advocate, 10.29.02, Austin Bunn)

Austin Bunn: You’re a heterosexual transvestite — what was it like to come out?

Eddie Izzard: When I was 23, I was in Islington [a London borough], and there was a

transsexual help group there—the only one in the whole country. It was down the road a half mile. And I thought, Well, this is karma. So I went down there, and that helped me to come out. My whole big thing when I came out was that I had to go to the dentist, the doctor, the bank in makeup, and break conventions. But if you’re a straight transvestite, it’s confusing. Why am I not bisexual? It seemed so much more logical. I’ve tried fantasizing about men, like Johnny Depp God, that guy looks amazing—but I still don’t want to sleep with him. So I’m a male lesbian.

2003

Howard Dean

(Medical doctor, and Vermont’s governor at the time) (The Advocate, 4.1.03, Chris Bull)

Chris Bull: As a medical doctor, what do you think of sexual orientation “conversion” therapy?

Howard Dean: It has no basis in science. When all the evidence is in, it will be shown that being gay has a significant genetic component. The idea that you can change sexual orientation is laughable. It just goes to show the ignorance of the right wing.

2004

Margaret Cho

( Interview, 6.04)

What I tell straight people in my standup is that if you watch Will & Grace but don’t

support gay marriage, then f--k you. Taking the flowers of a culture without easing the burden of minority is like when white people took rock ’n’ roll from black people in the ’50s. “I love that song, but please don’t use that drinking fountain.”

Pam Grier

(Girlfriends, 12.04, Candace Moore) If I ever met a man who felt he was a woman and I absolutely fell in love with him, and he was wonderful and wanted to change [to a woman], but stay with me, I would go down that road.

2005

Jackie Mason (New York Post, 6.9.05)

On same-sex marriage in his Freshly Squeezed one-man show at New York’s Helen Hayes theater:

I don’t care if a guy is in love with a horse, unless it’s my horse. And even then, the only thing that really matters is this: is the horse happy?

2006

Valerie Harper

(The Advocate, 1.31.06, Matthew Hays)

Matthew Hays: There’s an episode in season three of The Mary Tyler Moore Show where Rhoda dates Phyllis’ brother, and Phyllis is horrified to think that he might fall for Rhoda. Then Rhoda breaks the news to Phyllis about her brother.

Valerie Harper: That he’s gay! Yes, I loved doing that episode. When I tell Phyllis, she says, “Oh, what a relief!” Do you know, when I said that line “He’s gay,” we got the biggest laugh ever on the show? I mean, this was the ’70s, long before Will & Grace and Ellen; there really weren’t gay characters on television back then. The audience laughed and cheered for over a minute. They had to take out most of the audience response for the broadcast cut. It was amazing.

2007

Carrie Fisher

( Entertainment Weekly, 7.13.07)

After viewing a contestant’s egregiously bad film on Fox’s reality show On the Lot, Fisher (acting as one of the judges) said, “That was my least favorite thing, next to adolescence and being left by a man for a man.” ➝

John Waters

( Radar, 1.08)

Radar: What would you do if you knew the world was going to end tomorrow?

John Waters: Think about what I’ll wear to the resurrection.

Cynthia Nixon

(The Oprah Winfrey Show, 5.1.08)

Oprah Winfrey: I heard that you just sort of met Christine, you fell in love, and it didn’t matter to you whether she was male or female.

Cynthia Nixon: It didn’t, no. [ Puzzled ] How does that work?

You haven’t met my girlfriend! [Now wife] Elton John

( Entertainment Weekly, 7.25.08, Dave Karger)

On July 21, 2008, the rock icon became part of music’s most exclusive clique: after his Essex Junction, Vermont, show, he had now played live in all 50 states. Here, Sir Elton, 61, dishes about [one of] his most memorable tour dates [in Texas]:

“I was threatened with death in Houston at a show in the late ’80s. But they were so stupid, they put their seat number on the letter.”

2009

Sigourney Weaver

(The Advocate, 2.09, Dale Hrabi)

I’m horrified by how hard Americans are making it for my gay friends to live. To me, that’s un-Christian.

Marie Osmond

( Entertainment Tonight, 5.20.09, NBC)

Re: reconciling her Mormonism with her daughter’s lesbianism.

I love my daughter. She’s my baby girl, come on. So what if she’s gay? She’s my daughter and she’s an amazing woman, she’s a good kid. I raised her, she better be good.

Where are the welfare checks?

(See 2012)

Daniel Radcliffe

( Attitude, 8.09, Matthew Todd)

I just loathe homophobia. It’s just disgusting and animal and stupid, and it’s just thick people who can’t get their heads around it and are just scared. And I’m not just saying that because I’m being interviewed for Attitude [a UK gay magazine]. I’d be using a lot stronger language if this wasn’t on tape.

2010

Jackie Collins

( Vanity Fair, 2.10, George Wayne)

George Wayne: Any bouts of lesbiana in your past?

Jackie Collins: Well, I did go to an all-girls school. Need I say more? Honey, I’ve dabbled in everything.

Jason Jones (a Daily Show correspondent) and Scott Lively (Defend the Family president) (The Daily Show, 7.28.10, Jason Jones)

In The Daily Show ’s Jason Jones’ interview with Scott Lively (the report was titled “Gay Reichs”), Lively asserted that the Nazis, including Hitler, were gay. When Jones asked why gay Nazis would persecute gays, Lively replied that the Nazis needed to “distract public attention away from their homosexuality.” Jones: So, that which you hate the most, you secretly are?

Lively: [long pause, taking in what Jones was suggesting] I am not gay.

Jones: I didn’t say you were.

Kristen Johnston

( Out, 10.10)

I’m all about the gays, but if I try to fit even one more of you in my life, I will officially have to go on Hoarders

Sarah Silverman

YouTube video, 10.4.10)

I think it’s sad when we have to separate something from society. Whether it’s “Oh, you’re Jewish,” “Oh, you’re a Mormon,” or “Oh, you’re gay.” There are a lot of women out there who have gay children. Who cares?

The thing I want is love. I’m a Christian, and Christ was that way he loved everybody.

Dear America, when you tell gay Americans that they can’t serve their country openly or marry the person that they love, you’re telling that to kids, too. So don’t be f--king shocked and wonder where all these bullies are coming from that are torturing young kids and driving them to kill themselves because they’re different. They learned it from watching you.

2011

Joel Osteen

( Piers Morgan Tonight, 1.26.11, CNN)

The scripture shows that [homosexuality is] a sin. But I’m not one of those that are out there to bash homosexuals and tell them that they’re terrible people. I mean, there are other sins in the Bible, too. [But] I don’t believe homosexuality is God’s best for a person’s life.

Lady Gaga

(During her Monster Ball Tour at Madison Square Garden, 2.11)

The only thing better than a unicorn is a gay unicorn.

John Waters

Is this the ensemble that he would wear after the end of the world? (See 2008)

Wanda Sykes

2012

Joan Rivers

( Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?, 1.25.12, We TV) Before going in for plastic surgery, Joan talks with her daughter about the possibility of dying. The serious conversation ends with Joan’s mention of her grandson, Cooper, who is 11 years old:

The only thing that makes me a little sad is that Cooper’s not gay.

Roseanne Barr

( Piers Morgan Tonight, 8.9.12, CNN)

I’m not like my gay sister and my gay brother that have both been with the same partner for 25 and 26 years, respectively. I, as a straight person, have not been able to hold any relationship together as well as they.

Wanda Sykes

( NewNowNest Vote with Wanda Sykes, 9.10.12, Logo TV)

I’m a black, gay woman. I think the only way for the GOP to hate me more is if I sent them a video of me rolling around on a pile of welfare checks.

2013

Cher

( Maclean’s, 9.8.13, Elio Iannacci)

I can’t name names, but my friend called who is a big oligarch [in Russia], and asked me if I’d like to be an ambassador for the Olympics and

open the show. I immediately said no. I want to know why all of this gay hate just exploded over there. He said the Russian people don’t feel the way the government does.

Holly Near

(One of the originators of the women’s music movement in the ’70s, The Advocate, June/July 2013)

If I had been asked in 1975 if I thought we would soon have out lesbian singers and comedians, be winning Grammys, be showing up at events with our sweethearts, be producing and directing films with positive lesbian images that are distributed by Hollywood companies, see gay characters on many TV sitcoms, have [openly] gay people in Congress and legislatures and on the bench, out gay athletes, marriage equality, and on and on—well, I would ➝

Dr. Marcus de Guzman

Dr. Cynthia Corral

Queer Quotes

continued from previous page

have been happy with the fantasy. But I’m not sure I would have believed it possible in such a short amount of time. It is worth pausing to celebrate.

Marco Rubio

(Republican senator from Florida, The Andrea Tantaros Show, 6.13.13)

If this bill has something in it that gives gay couples immigration rights and so forth, it kills the bill. I’m done.

Josh Hutcherson ( Out, 11.13)

Maybe I could say right now that I’m 100 percent straight. But who knows? . . . I have this dream that one day, my kid’s gonna come home from school and be like, “Dad, there’s this girl that I like, and there’s this guy that I like, and I don’t know which one I like more, and I don’t know what to do.” And it’s just a non-issue, like, “Which one is a good person? Which one makes you laugh more?”

Lady Gaga

(The Huffington Post, 10.31.13, James Nichols) You know what? It’s not a lie that I am bisexual and I like women, and anyone that wants to twist this into “she says she’s bisexual for marketing,” this is a f--king lie. This is who I am and who I have always been.

Dolly Parton

Where is she gonna pee? (See 2016)

Cynthia Nixon

Nixon (holding child) is seen here at the 2016 NYC Pride March with her wife, Christine Marinoni (far right), and (from left) Bill de Blasio, Chirlane McCray, and Al Sharpton. Will she be the first female and first openly gay governor of New York? (See 2018)

Annise Parker

(The Advocate, June/July 14, Tom Dart)

Being an out activist here in Texas in the ’70s, being a very, very visible lesbian activist in the ’80s, it was a very different time. I had death threats. I would debate homophobes on radio or TV and come out to the parking lot by myself and find my car covered with Bible tracts or the tires slashed. Nothing that’s ever happened in a public meeting since I’ve been an elected official compares in any way to the pressures or the dangers of being a lesbian activist in those days.

Joan Rivers

(The View, 7.1.14, ABC)

Abraham Lincoln was gay as a goose. If he had been straight, he would have been alive, cuz I said, “Abe, stay in bed.” He said, “No, I’d rather go the theater.”

Ted Cruz

(At the 5th annual Faith and Freedom Barbecue in South Carolina, 8.24.15)

No man who doesn’t begin every day on his knees is fit to stand in the Oval Office.

Dolly Parton

( CNN Money, 6.3.16)

Re: HB2, the anti-trans bathroom bill. I think everybody should be treated with respect. I don’t judge people. I try not to get too caught up in the controversy of things. I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are. I just know if I have to pee, I’m going to pee—I don’t care where it’s going to be.

Michael Sam (ESPN, 2.9.14, Chris Connelly)

I’m not afraid to tell the world who I am. I’m Michael Sam. I’m a college graduate. I’m African American. And I’m gay.

Jason Stuart (Press release, 4.10.15)

After performing in Indiana, Stuart joked, “I read in one of the Christian papers that only 1 percent of the country is gay. If that’s true, I slept with everybody!”

Miley Cyrus (Papermag.com, 6.9.15, Amanda Petrusich) Re: her fluid sexuality.

I am literally open to every single thing that is consenting and doesn’t involve an animal and everyone is of age. Everything that’s legal, I’m down with.

Caitlyn Jenner (2015 ESPY Awards, 7.15.15, ABC)

If you wanna call me names, make jokes, doubt my intentions, go ahead. Because the reality is, I can take it. But for the thousands of kids out there coming to terms with being true to who they really are, they shouldn’t have to take it.

Miley Cyrus Really really open. (See 2015)

Lady Bunny

(The New Yorker, 9.5.16, Hilton Als)

We’ve become so politically correct that they just made Dick Van Dyke change his name to Penis Von Lesbian.

2017

Kristen Stewart

( Saturday Night Live, 2.4.17)

The president is not a huge fan of me. But that is so okay. And, Donald, if you didn’t like me then, you’re really probably not gonna like me now, ’cause I’m like so gay, dude.

Ruby Rose

( NBC’s Sunday Today, 2.5.17, Willie Geist)

Re: Rose’s mother’s reaction to her coming out to her at the age of 12.

I didn’t know anyone else that was gay or lesbian. So I didn’t really know how to word it. So I was just like, “I think I should let you know that when I eventually get a boyfriend, they’ll be a girl.” And she was just like, “I know.”

Ellen DeGeneres

(The Ellen DeGeneres Show, 4.14.17)

When I was younger, I had so many first dates that were just horrible. And then one day I figured out why: I was dating men.

2018

Cynthia Nixon

(CynthiaForNewYork.com, 3.19.18)

I’m running for governor because I love [New York] For the last 17 years, I’ve traveled across this state to fight for better schools, LGBTQ equality, and women’s healthcare, including the right to choose.

This is the state where I made my career, raised my kids, and met and married the love of my life, my wife Christine. . . . Together, we could show the entire country and the world that in the era of Donald Trump, New Yorkers will come together and lead our nation forward.

It won’t be easy. But I know that together, we can win this fight.

Bill Maher

( Real Time with Bill Maher, 3.23.18)

Let’s see what went on in this week’s episode of Honor and Dignity.

First, there’s a former Apprentice contestant who says she was the victim of Trump’s unwanted sexual advances; she’s suing him.

Playboy centerfold Karen McDougal said they had an affair; she’s suing to tell her story.

A nd, of course, porn star Stormy Daniels revealed a lie-detector test about the time she was f--king Trump, and [she] passed the test. It also came out that Don Jr. apparently was having an affair with an Apprentice contestant.

This must be the breakdown of the family that conservatives warned about if we allowed gay marriage.

By Gregg Shapiro

Over the Years

Cyndi Lauper, Andy Bell, Ruthie Foster, Ty Herndon, and many more.

When I tell people what I do for a living that I am an entertainment journalist, writing reviews of music and movies, as well as doing interviews they invariably have a lot of questions.

The funny thing is that as someone who spends a lot of time asking questions of musicians, filmmakers, actors and actresses, comedians, poets, playwrights, novelists, photographers, and assorted folks in the arts, I am often reticent about answering other people’s questions about myself.

Since the early days of this new century, I’ve had the privilege of having almost 90 of my interviews published in the pages of O utSmart Writing mainly for the LGBTQ media is a fascinating (and occasionally frustrating) experience. For example, I spend a lot of time explaining to publicists still, to this day that the LGBTQ community’s tastes have expanded beyond divas, disco, and Broadway show tunes.

The good thing is that, in terms of music, queer artists have expanded into genres not known for being welcoming to LGBTQ performers. Some examples include blues musicians Gaye Adegbalola (whom I interviewed in 2006), Ruthie Foster (2014), and the late Candye Kane (2011); jazz artists Patricia Barber (2006) and Ann Hampton Callaway (2009); gay Canadian rapper SoCalled (2011); and Klezmer musician Lorin Sklamberg of The Klezmatics (2007).

Thanks to O utSmart, one of my most rewarding interview opportunities came when I had the chance to speak with country-music star Ty

and Sonia (2008), Emily Saliers (2009), Patty Larkin and Owen Pallett (2010), Seth Bogart, Diamond Rings, and Amy Ray (2011), Jake Shears and Jay Brannan (2012), Spencer Day, Steve Grand, Levi Kreis, Vicci Martinez, and Sara Quinn of Tegan and Sara (2013), Ferras and Mary Lambert (2014), Jonny Pierce of The Drums (2017), and others.

Herndon at the time of his coming out in 2014. I was fortunate enough to speak with him again in 2015. Fellow country artist Billy Gilman also spoke openly about being gay in a 2014 interview I did with him. Speaking of coming out, sometimes you get an unexpected scoop as in the case of Carly Simon (2008) and Maja Ivarsson of The Sounds (2009).

Many out musicians (whose vocal and media presence has done so much to advance the cause of LGBTQ rights and acceptance) have also taken time to speak with me over the years. We owe a debt of gratitude to the words and artistry of Andy Bell, Ashley MacIsaac, and Rufus Wainwright (2003), Melissa Etheridge, Janis Ian, and Jill Sobule (2004), Jennifer O’Connor, Lucas Silveira of The Cliks, and Susan Werner (2007), Catie Curtis, Scott Free, Missy Higgins,

The LGBTQ community has a reputation for being voracious readers and lovers of literature. Over the years I have spoken to an assortment of writers, including Caryn Aviv and David Shneer (2002), mystery novelist Greg Herren (2002), humorist Kim Ficera (2003), award-winning graphic novelist Alison Bechdel, actor memoirist Craig Chester, gay novelist John Weir, and trans novelist T Cooper (all 2006), gay novelists Aaron Ham-burger and Samuel Park (both 2007), poet Dan Vera (2013), and comedian Paula Poundstone (2018).

It goes without saying that the gay presence in film and TV is immeasurable, exemplified by my interview subjects that have included TV producers Neil Meron, Craig Zadan, and Chuck Ranberg (2004), the Next Food Network Star winners The Hearty Boys (2007), filmmakers Ira Sachs (2013) and Patrik-Ian Polk, Oscar-winner Tarell McCraney (2016), and actor and illusionist Michael Carbonaro (2017).

Of course, we wouldn’t be anywhere without our allies, including Tori Amos (2001), Linda Eder (2003), Aimee Mann (2008), Idina Menzel (2009), Joe Manganiello (2012), Helen Reddy (2014), LeAnn Rimes (2017), and especially Cyndi Lauper, whom I had the honor of interviewing four times for O utSmart (2002, 2007, 2008, and 2017).

Congratulations to publisher Greg Jeu and the staff at O utSmart, including my longtime entertainment editor Blase DiStefano. Happy Anniversary, y’all, and many happy returns of the day!

Gregg Shapiro is a regular contributor to OutSmart magazine.

Singing Out for Equal Rights

Cyndi Lauper was on her True Colors tour in 2008. Inset : Lauper in 2017. B elow (l–r): Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears (2012), Ruthie Foster (2014), Candye Kane (2011), and Tarell McCraney (2016).

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

‘Tomorrow Will Be Different’

Love, loss, and the fight for trans equality.

When They Call You a Terrorist:

A Black Lives Matter Memoir

Patrice Khan-Cullors & asha bandele with a foreword by Angela Davis

Growing up as the third child in a family of four, Patrisse Khan-Cullors lived with her mother and siblings in a “multiracial” neighborhood near Sherman Oaks, California. Even though her mother worked all day and into the night, Khan-Cullors was reared in a loving atmosphere. But she was only 12 years old when she was arrested for the first time. By then, she’d witnessed her brothers being questioned by police just for hanging out with friends. She started truly noticing her surroundings. • Not long afterward, as Khan-Cullors came to understand that she was queer, she began to earnestly question many things in her life. At 16, she became an “organizer” and an activist, and she doubled down on it after her brother was arrested and called a “terrorist” for yelling at a woman. She was driven to act when, following the death of Trayvon Martin and the acquittal of George Zimmerman, she sent out a message to her friends: “I hope it impacts more than we can ever imagine. #BlackLivesMatter” • Khan-Cullors gives her story an urgent hear-me-now outrage. That “done playing” feeling is what readers may come away with—a feeling that underscores Khan-Cullors’ activism. And that’s what this book is about: it’s a rallying cry wrapped in a memoir, tied in with a call to legal action. If you’re ready, When They Call You a Terrorist is worth a look. • St. Martin’s Press (us.macmillan .com). Terri Schlichenmeyer

Things are never as bad as they seem. There’s always a brighter spot, if you just look for it. There’s always something to be thankful for and a way of making yourself feel better, because things aren’t as they seem. As in the new book Tomorrow Will Be Different by Sarah McBride, there’s always a chance to make a change.

Though she was 10 years old the first time she heard the word “transgender,” Sarah McBride knew from an early age that she was really a girl. Problem was, everyone around her saw her as a boy, and she didn’t want to disillusion or disappoint them.

And so, McBride tamped down a feeling of “homesickness” inside herself, and she tried to be a boy by dating girls, joining a fraternity at college, and doing “guy” things that felt wrong. It wasn’t ’til the end of her time as student-body president at American University that she took the leap and came out, publicly, as a woman. It was a relief, she says, and though there was some initial

‹ Tomorrow Will Be Different

• by Sarah McBride, with a foreword by Joe Biden

• 2018

• Crown Archetype (crownpublishing.com)

• 288 pages

• $26

shock, her friends and family never stopped loving her. She acknowledges her good fortune in their acceptance, since a high percentage of her LGBTQ peers aren’t so lucky.

Not long after this major life-changer, McBride landed an internship at the Obama White House, which was a dream come true. She’d been fascinated by politics ever since she had volunteered as a young campaign worker in her home state of Delaware. Starting in the Office of Public Engagement, she was quickly engaged; activism, as McBride learned, was something she could sink her teeth into as a trans woman.

Happier than she’d ever been, McBride’s life continued to rise: she fell in love with

Andy, whom she’d met at a party, though she didn’t see him again until he emailed her months later. He was trans, too a homegrown Wisconsin boy with a sense of humor, and she adored him. The future was bright.

And then things changed again.

There’s a message inside Tomorrow Will Be Different but it’s not the usual ode to trans activism that you think is there. Oh, there’s no denying that author Sarah McBride is an activist and she’s played a big part in making change, both locally and nationally. She’s a history-maker and a shaker. But this book isn’t just about that.

Oh-so-subtly, McBride makes readers’ brains itch. LGBTQ teens can be fragile, and you’ll watch them more closely after reading this book. Healthcare isn’t just an issue for the middle class, and you’ll understand that better now. Politics isn’t just something to rant about, and you may be better off than you think you are even in the midst of a Trump presidency. This book forces a different way of looking at things, but you might not initially notice that as you’re crying over the rest of this memoir.

So grab some tissues while you read, and let your brain itch. Let Tomorrow Will Be Different sink in, because things can always be better than they seem.

Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading since she was three years old, and she lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 11,000 books.

Author Sarah McBride

Photos by Dalton DeHart & Edgardo Aguilar

March for Our Lives Houston - Tranquility Park - March 24

Photos by Dalton DeHart & Edgardo Aguilar

Montrose Softball League Association - Opening Day, Lone Star Classic - February 24, March 16 –18

Photos by Dalton DeHart & Edgardo Aguilar

Decadent Desserts and Dancing - AssistHers - Neon Boots - February 25

Bringin’ in the Green - The Montrose Center - Home of Glenn Dickson and Justin Liendo - March 16

Photos by Dalton DeHart & Edgardo Aguilar

AIDS Walk 2018 and Rock the Walk - AIDS Foundation Houston - March 4

Diana Foundation - 65th Annual Diana Awards - March 10

by Dalton DeHart

OUTSMART magazine is pleased to announce the addition of account executive Tad Dvorak to its staff. A native of Spring, Tad has been part of the Houston club scene as a DJ for two decades. Before joining OUTSMART, Tad served as a manager for a national tire chain, where he retired after 25 years. Tad has been a close friend of the publication for many years. He brings several years of experience in retail sales, marketing, and customer service—as well as a strong familiarity with the LGBTQ community—to the magazine. Outside of work, Tad enjoys live music, trying new restaurants, travel, and spending time with family and friends, as well as his two dogs, Nacho and Juno. He can be reached at Tad@OutSmartMagazine.com

Hollywood Hair and Nails, at 2409 Grant St., celebrated its 15th anniversary on March 3. Pictured are staff and guests.

On March 21, Lisa Slappey, Elizabeth Slappey and Mehdi Abedi celebrated the opening of the new showroom for PostModern Traditions and Pride of Persia Rug Co. The showroom is at 7050 Portwest Drive, Suite #140. It brings together all of their great rug selections in one location that is easy to ﬁnd and centrally located. For more info, visit prideofpersia.com.

Tad Dvorak

Photos

Get your business listed here. Call 713/520-7237 ext 10 for details.

ACCOM M O dATIONS /H OTE lS

L’Emerson Corporate Lodging ...........................................................Lemerson.net

The Village of The Heights www.vilageoftheheights.com ....713/802-9700

The Village of River Oaks www.villageofriveroaks.com .........13/952-7600

ACCOUNTA NTS/BOOkk EE pERS / C pA S

Gary Gritz, CPA

230 Westcott, Ste 210 ..................713/784-3030

Merlin CPA

MerlinCPA.com 713/833-3302

Paramount Bookkeeping Services ParamountBookkeeping.net .....713/623-1210

AdVERTISING /M AR k ETING

OutSmart Magazine

3406 Audubon ...............................713/520-7237

Tephra Agency/Roger Bare TephraAgency.com .......................713/398-0863

AIR CON d ITIONING/HEATING Newport Air newportair.net .............................281/808-8630 ARCHITECTS

Morningside Architects

MorningsideArchitects.com ........713/529-2630 A STRO lOGER

Lilly Roddy Astrology ...........................................................713/529-5842

ATTORNEYS/ lEGA l SERVICES

Gonzalez Olivieri LLC gonzalezolivierillc.com .................713/481-3040

Erik J. Osterrieder/Rao deBoer Osterrieder RDOip.com.....................................281/372-6114

Katine & Nechman LLP

1834 Southmore. ...........................713/808-1001

Dwane Todd Law Firm

801 Congress St., Ste. 350……..713/965-0658

Clyde Williams, Attorney ..........................................................713/236-0064

AUTOMOTIVE RE pAIRS

Master Car Care & Collision

2305 Yale St ...................................713/862-6630

RMS Auto Care

1759 Westheimer ...........................713/529-5855

Tech Auto Maintenance 37 Waugh Dr. .................................713/863-8244

AUTOMOTIVE SA lES

Audi Central Houston

2120 Southwest Fwy ...............866/673-7093

Central Houston Cadillac 2520 Main St ...................................832/981-7590

Clear Lake Subaru

15121 Gulf Fwy ..............................346/229-3234

Planet Lincoln 20403 I-45 North Spring, TX...... 888/242-5059

Sterling McCall Lexus/Denny Holiday 10235 Southwest Fwy ...................713/995-2447

AUTOMOTIVE /T IRE S ERVICE

TireLink Tirelink.com ....................................832/610-2858

BA k ERIES /C USTOM C A k ES

Acadian Bakers

604 W. Alabama.............................713/520-1484

David Alcorta Catering

davidalcorta.net ............................832/439-0224

Dessert Gallery

DessertGallery.com.......................713-522-9999

La Sicilia Bakery

515 Westheimer ............................713/636-2900

Tipsy Pastry tipsypastry.com ............................832/303-2522

C AR pET AN d FlOORING

Carpet World Usacarpetworld.com ...................281/998-3200

CATERING SERVICES

David Alcorta Catering

davidalcorta.net ............................832/439-0224

Jim Benton of Houston Catering 2811 Eastman ................................713/802-2860

CHURCH ES /SpIRITUA l C ENTERS

Bering United Methodist

1440 Harold ..................................beringumc.org

Living Mosaic Church

401 Branard St. ..............................832/971-0364

Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church

6221 Main Street............................713/529-6196

Resurrection MCC

2025 W 11th ....................................713/861-9149

St Paul’s United Methodist Church 5501 Main .......................................713/528-0527

ClEANING S ERVICES

Perfection Plus ...........................................................713/664-9911

COMMUNITY/NON pROFIT

Bering Support Network ...............................................713-526-1017, ext.20

Diana Foundation .......................................TheDianaFoundation.org

Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce

HoustonLGBTChamber.com ........832-510-3002

KPFT Radio kpft.org ...........................................713-526-4000

Lesbian Health Initiative (LHI)

401 Branard ..................................lhihouston.org

Lesbians Over Fifty (L.O.A.F.)

............................................www.loafhouston.org

Midtown Houston ............................................midtownhouston.com

MyGayHouston.com ..............................MyGayHouston.com/discover

Pet Patrol .....................................................ThePetPatrol.org

Ryan White Planning Council rwpcHouston.org ..........................713-572-3724

U of H Graduate College of Social Work ..................................................uh.edu/socialwork

CO llEGES /Ed UCATION

Houston Community College hccs.edu

COMpUTERS /I NTERNET/IT SERVICES

Copy.com

1201-F Westheimer ........................713/528-1201

dRY ClEANERS

Up to Date Cleaners 714 W. Gray St. ..............................713/522-6626

ENTERTAINMENT/NIGHT lIF E

Arena Theatre 7326 Southwest Fwy ....................713/772-5900

BARCODE 817 Fairview St ...............................713-526-2625

Bayou City Bar & Grill

2409 Grant St.........................BayouCityBar.com

George Country Sports Bar 617 Fairview ...................................713/528-8102

Houston Eagle 611 Hyde Park........................HoustonEagle.com

Houston Media Source

410 Roberts Street .........................713/524-7700

Houston Sabercats ...........................................houstonsabercats.com

Island ETC 2317 Mechanic St, Galveston ......409/762-3556

JR’s/Santa Fe

808 Pacific 713/521-2519

Lake Charles

Visitlakecharles.org/greattimes ....800/456-7952

Miller Outdoor Theatre

MillerOutdoorTheatre.com ..........281/373-3386

Pearl Bar 4216 Washington ..................PearlHouston.com

Rich’s Houston

2401 San Jacinto ................RichsNIghtClub.com

Sherwood Forest Faire

SherwoodForestFaire.com ..........512/222-6680

Stages Theatre StagesTheatre.com ........................713-527-0123

Tony’s Corner Pocket 817 W. Dallas ..................................832/722-7658

dOORS / dOOR R E pl ACEMENT

Durango Doors of Houston Durangodoors.com .....................713/680-3435

FERTI lITY/GYNECO lOGY

Aspire Fertility AspireFertility.com ........................713/425-3003

Houston Fertility Specialists www.fertilityspecialists.net .........713/512-7900

Men Having Babies ...............................MenHavingBabies.org/Austin

FINANCIA l pl AN N ING /BAN k S

Bryan Cotton/Mass Mutual Three Greenway Plaza ..............281/960-0447

Richard Dickson/Galene Financial GaleneFinancial.com ...................713/489-4322

Shane Theriot/Edward Jones Investments ...........................................................281/391-6137

Grace Yung/Midtown Financial 3355 Alabama, Ste 180 .................713/355-9833

Wells Fargo Bank .............................................www.WellsFargo.com

FITNESS C lUBS/ pERSONA l TRAIN ERS

Club Houston 2205 Fannin ..................................713/659-4998

Stretch Montrose 2205 Montrose Blvd .....................832/426-4573

H AN dYMAN S ERVICES

My All Pro Handyman aphandyman.net...........................936/689-2252

HAIR / NAI l/ MA k E -Up SA lONS

Azur Salon

2800 Kirby, Ste A-2 ........................713/400-2987

NU-Cuts Hair Salon 515 Westheimer .............................713/524-7858

Revolt Hair 2034 A West Gray, Ste 118 ..........713/540-7383

HEAlTH CARE–COUNSElING/THERApY D. “Woodja” Flanigan, MS, LPA 2600 SW Fwy, Ste 409 .................713/589-9804

Jeffrey Myles/JM Professional Services ...........................................................713/447-2164

Denise O’Doherty, LPC, LMFT, LCDC, RN 3131 Eastside St., Ste. 435 ..........713/524-9525

Dr. Barry F. Gritz, MD 230 Westcott, Ste 210 ..................713/869-7400

Dr. Daniel Garza, MD 3131 Eastside St, Ste 4...............15281/610-8190 The Montrose Center 401 Branard ...................................713/529-0037

Robert Snellgrove, LMSW-ACP 4617 Montrose, Ste C206 .............713/522-7014

Christine Wysong 230 Westcott, Ste 210 .................713/869-7400

HEA lTH CARE– dENTISTS

All Star Dental

Allstardental.com .........................936/689-2252

Samuel A. Carrell, DDS/Bruce W. Smith, DDS 1006 Missouri ...............................713/529-4364

Bayou City Smiles/Marcus de Guzman, DDS 2313 Edwards St., Ste. 150 ............713/518-1411

Bayou City Smiles/ Cynthia Corral, DDS 2313 Edwards St., Ste 150 ...........713/518-1411

Cory Logan, DDS 530 Waugh Dr................................713/942-8598

LifeSmiles by Randy Mitchmore, DDS 1722 W. Alabama ..........................713/592-9300

Bruce W. Smith, DDS/Bruce Smith, DDS 1006 Missouri ................................713/529-4364

H EAlTH C ARE-E MERGENCY CENTERS

River Oaks Emergency 2320 S. Shepherd Dr ...................713/526-2320

SignatureCare Emergency Centers 1007 Westheimer ...........................281/709-2897

1925 TC Jester ................................832/850-4338 1014 Wirt Rd....................................832/924-0312

Additional locations ......................ercare24.com

H EA lTH C ARE /I N H OME N URSING Applied Health Care Nursing Division 6647 Mayard Rd .............................713/782-4487

HEAlTH CARE– OpHTHAlMOlOGISTS

Houston Eye Associates/Stewart Zuckerbrod, MD 5420 Dashwood, Ste 101 ..............713/668-9118

HEA lTH CARE–O p TOMETRISTS

Rivera Cromrehab.com .............................713/868-2766

HEA lTH CARE– pHYSICIANS Octavio Barrios, MD 507 West Gray ................................713/942-7546 7106 Spencer Highway ................281/542-9400 Gordon Crofoot, MD Maggie White, FNP-BC 3701 Kirby, Ste 1230 ....................713/526-0005 M. Sandra Scurria, MD 6565 West Loop South, Ste 300 ..281/661-5901

H EA lTH C ARE - pl ASTIC SURGEONS Timeless Plastic Surgery TimelessPlasticSurgery.com ........281/242-8463

HEA lTH CARE–S ERVICES Avenue 360 Avenue360.org ...............................713/426-0027 Harris County Public Health Publichealth.harriscountytx.gov.713/439-6293 Legacy Community Health Services 1415 California Street ...................832/548 5000 Ryan White Planning Council RWPCHouston.org.........................713/572-3784 St. Hope Foundation offeringhope.org ............................713/778-1300 Vitality IV Studio 535 W. 20th, Ste 100 ....................713/861-4848 Vitality IV Studio 2034-A West Gray., Ste. 125 .......713/861-4868

HEA lTH CARE–Sk IN CARE Heights Dermatology/Alpesh Desai, MD 2120 Ashland .................................713/864-2650

Skin Renaissance Laser/Octavio Barrios, MD 507 West Gray ................................713/942-7546

Sk IN C ARE & WA x ING S ERVICES Beyond Beauty Boutique Spa ..........................................................832/699-9496

H EA lTH C ARE -R ESEARCH STU d IES UT Health Substance Abuse Study ...........................................................713/486-2635

HEAlTH CARE-W EIGHT lOSS ClINICS Dr. B-Fit/ Octavio Barrios, MD 517 West Gray ................................713/942-7546

HOME FURNISHINGS/ACCESSORIES

Alabama Furniture

4900 N. Shepherd ..........................713/862-3035

Cantoni

9889 Westheimer ...........................cantoni.com

coda 355 W 19th ......................................713/864-4411

Fountains and Statuary

11804 Hempstead Rd ....................713/957-3672

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 4091 Westheimer........................832/3976-5130

HOME REMODELING/RENOVATIONS

Luria Construction LuriaConstruction.com ...............713/828-2155

HOME REMODELING/ PAINTING

Luria Construction

LuriaConstruction.com .................713/828-2155

INSURANCE AGENCIES/AGENTS

Jeffrey Bules/Insurance Associates Group

Insuranceassociatesgroup.com…713/523-9400

Dolan & Palacios

7322 S.W. Fwy, Ste. 1-1888 832/680-0332

Lane Lewis/Farmers Insurance 2200 North Loop W, Ste 136 ......713/688-8669

Patrick Torma/State Farm 3329 Telephone Road, Ste B ........832/649-4311

JEWELERS

Select Jewelers

2221 S. Voss Rd ................................713/789-221 Silverlust 1338-C Westheimer ......................713/520-5440

LANDSCAPING/GARDENING

Joshua’s Native Plants & Antiques

502 W. 18th St ................................713/862-7444

Windswept Landscaping Windsweptlandscape.com ...........713/263-7771

MARKETING/PROMOTIONAL ITEMS

Big Frog Custom T-Shirts 5104 Cedar St. Bellaire .................713/470-2600 Inktify ...........................................................281-557-6200

MASSAGE THERAPISTS

Ryan Fugate, RMT

RyanMassageWorks.com .............713/269-7926

Joel Leal, RMT ..........................................................713/397-8808

Chris Munguia LMT ...........................................................832/296-1141

MED SPA

Vida & Health Day Spa 2116 Bissonnet, Ste A ...................832/804-6182

MOVERS

All My Sons Moving & Storage AllMySons.com/Houston..…..…281/612-7973

PEST CONTROL SERVIC

Andy’s All Star Pest Control ...........................................................713/732-7742

PET SERVICES& SUPPLIES

Last Wishes www.lastwishes.com ....................713/452-0474

Midtown Veterinary Hospital MidtownVetHospital.com............713-528-4900

Molly’s Mutthouse 3407 Montrose ...............................832/581-2453 3410 N. Shepherd ........................713/426-6888

2755 Vossdale.................................281/501-9062

Spay-Neuter Assistance Program

Snapus.org. .....................................713/862-3863

West Alabama Animal Clinic 2030 W. Alabama...........................713/528-0818

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dalton DeHart Photography DaltonDehart.com .........................713/622-2202

Yvonne Feece Photography yvonnefeece.com ..........................832/876-1053

PHOTOGRAPHY

Houston Camera Exchange 5900 Richmond Ave ......................713/789-6901

PLUMBING

Nick’s Plumbing & Sewer Services

Nicksplumbing.com ......................713/597-8624

U-Plumb-It Plumbing Supply 1424 Montrose ...............................713-942-2277

Village Plumbing & Appliance 5403 Kirby ..........................713/224-DRIP(3747)

POLITICOS

Fran Watson Campaign for State Senate .....................................FranWatsonForTexas.com

POOLS & POOL SERVICES

Tranquility Pools ...........................................................713/447-9201

PRINTING/COPY CENTERS

Copy.com

1201-F Westheimer ........................713/528-1201

PSYCHIC READERS

Readings by LA readingbyLA.com ..........................832/856-2188

REAL ESTATE - INVESTORS

Shenice Brown/EXP Realty ...........................................................281/819-0055

REAL ESTATE–MORTGAGE/TITLE

Chicago Title –Inner Loop 3700 Buffalo Speedway................713/418-7000

Interlinc Mortgage/Cody Grizzofﬁ 3815 Garrott St, Ste 202 B ............832/541-1103

Michael Caballero / Stewart Title Post Oak 1980 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 120 ....713/625-8626

REAL ESTATE–REALTORS

Jared Anthony/NextHome Realty Center ichoosejared.com .........................832/570-5726

Brooks Ballard/Engel & Volkers

309 Gray ..........................................713/522-7474

Taylor Black/Nan Properties 2200 Post Oak Blvd., Ste. 1475 ..915/999-6364

David Bowers/The House Company/Galveston David@DavidBowers.com .........409/763-2800

Mike Copenhaver Remax Metro mikecopenhaver@remax.net ....713/528-4963

Thomas Eureste/Nan Properties

2200 Post Oak Blvd., Ste. 1475 ..832/866-3206

Jeremy Fain/Greenwood King Properties ...........................................................713/677-4337

Rene Ibarra Camiba/Karen Derr Realty

Karenderr.com ...............................713/446-8331

Karen Derr/Karen Derr Realty

karenderr.com ...............................713/875-7050

Joey Garza /Front Street Properties Frontstreetproperties.com .........713/516-0060

Dolan & Palacios 7322 Southwest Fwy, Ste. 1-1888 832/680-0332

Martha Turner Properties

Marthaturner.com .........................713/520-1981

Ashton Martini/Martha Turner Properties 832/878-7686

Jason Nguyen/Nan Properties 2200 Post Oak Blvd., Ste. 1475 ...713/703-0217

Wade Knight / Martha Turner

Wadeknight.com...........................713/582-0264

Debbie Levine/Greenwood King Properties ...........................................................713/942-6857

Lynette Lew/Better Homes and Gardens

LynetteLew.com. ......................713/582-2202

Vinod Ramani/Urban Living Realtors 5023 Washington..........................713/868-7226

Red & Co. Real Estate

redunlocked.com ..........................832/654-3293

Tom Schwenk/Tom’s Galveston Real Estate Tomsgalvestonrealestate.com .....713-857-2309

Tim Surratt/Greenwood King ...........................................................713/320-5881

VJ Tramonte/Joe Tramonte Realty 1802 Broadway/Galveston ..........409/765-9837

Andy Weber/John Daugherty Realtors 520 Post Oak..................................713/724-4306

Christopher Williams/Heritage Properties HeritageTexas.com 713/855-4419

RESTAURANTS/COFFEE/WINE BARS

Acadian Bakers 604 W.Alabama .............................713/520-1484

Auntie Chang’s Dumpling House 2621 S. Shepherd, #290 ...............713/524-8410

Danton’s Gulf Coast Seafood Kitchen 4611 Montrose Blvd......................713/807-8889

Dessert Gallery

DessertGallery.com.......................713-522-9999

Free Grillin’/Chef Michele ...........................................................832/419-0165

Giacomo’s Cibo e Vino 3215 Westheimer ...........................713/522-1934

Gloria’s Latin Cuisine 2616 Louisiana ...............................832/360-1710

Hamburger Mary’s 2409 Grant ......................................713/677-0674

Jenni’s Noodle House 3111 S. Shepherd............................713/523-7600 602 E. 20th St. ...............................713/862-3344 2027 Post Oak Blvd .......................713/621-4200 3773 Richmond ..............................713/714-8258

La Sicilia Bakery 515 Westheimer ............................713/636-2900

Raising Cane’s 1902 Westheimer ..........................713/528-9020

Riva’s Italian Restaurant 1117 Missouri St .............................713/529-3450

Urban Eats 3414 Washington Ave ........feasturbaneats.com

T-SHIRT PRINTERS

Big Frog Custom T-Shirts 5104 Cedar St. Bellaire .................713/470-2600 Inktify ...........................................................281-557-6200

TELEPHONES/CELL/WIRELESS

Premier Wireless 12220 Murphy ...............................281/575-8500

TANNING SALONS

Darque Tan ........................................................Darquetan.com

Why give your money to a business that does not support diversity?

Whether you’re looking for the butcher, the baker, or the candlestick maker, OUTSMART can help you ﬁnd equality-minded businesses that appreciate you and provide vital community support.

TanSpire tanspire.com...................................713/955-1232

TRAVEL/TRAVEL AGENCIES

Aquafest

Aquafestcruises.com ....................800/592-9058

BK Cruise Planners Your Land & Cruise Experts Bkcruiseplanners.com .................832/963-8523

Concierge Travel, Inc 4920 Mimosa ...................................713/661-2117 Lafayette Travel LafayetteTravel.com .....................800/346-1958

VACATION RENTALS Casa Azur CasaAzurCosta Rica.com .............832/541-3704

WEDDING SERVICES - BAKERS

Acadian Bakers 604 W. Alabama.............................713/520-1484

David Alcorta Catering davidalcorta.net ............................832/439-0224 Dessert Gallery DessertGallery.com.......................713-522-9999

WEDDING SERVICES - CATERERS

David Alcorta Catering

davidalcorta.net ............................832/439-0224

Jim Benton of Houston Catering 2811 Eastman ................................713/802-2860

WEDDING SERVICES-PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dalton DeHart Photography DaltonDehart.com .........................713/622-2202

Yvonne Feece-Tran Photography yvonnefeece.com ..........................832/876-1053

WEDDING SERVICES - SERVICES

Harmony Strings String Quartet ....................................www.harmonystrings.com

Thank You for supporting our advertisers!

Why would you buy a cake from someone who doesn’t want to sell you one?

Read OUTSMART, so you can have your cake and equality, too.

HOUSTON PRIDE RIDERS

A new LGBT motorcycle riding group is being put together for those in the Houston area who like to get out and ride! I’d love to have group rides/social gatherings every month, possible fund raiser rides for the community, etc.. All motorcycle types welcome - From Harley’s to Hayabusa’s, crotch rockets and cruisers - all are welcome. All rider experiences welcome! Please contact jasonmwilson@sbcglobal.net or look for Houston Pride Riders on Facebook.

need completing around the home and workplace. The first week of the month can be very demanding of your time. Make sure you schedule some time for yourself so you don’t feel so resentful, because you have so much to do! This month is all about boundaries, and it will be much easier to see where your boundaries aren’t working with Mercury retrograde. Try to channel that energy into reworking those fence lines, rather than wasting energy on being mad. This is a great month to get back into your health and workout regimen.

AQUARIUS (January 20–February 18). April is a mixed-energy month for you. You are currently happier working behind the scenes, but you have so much on your to-do list that you aren’t sure where the list even stops. You are emotionally and psychically more sensitive this month. You will not want to be around rude and mean people, and you’re ready to speak up if they are in your arena. This is a good month for getting your day-to-day activities more organized. You don’t want to be responsible for some things any more! You are looking for something

new to bring a spark of excitement back into your life, and possibly reinvent yourself from the ground up. This starts in mid-May, while career and social opportunities begin to show up at the end of the month!

PISCES ( February 19–March 20).

Finances and resources are the focus as we begin our journey through April. With Mercury retrograde in your financial sector, you are reviewing your investments, monthly bills, debts, and looking in to ways to improve your fiduciary position. You have really been working hard to get rid of as much debt as you can. With Mercury retrograde, this is a very good time to look at moneymaking projects from the past. It is also a great time to reconnect with employers from the past and to see what is available there. You are becoming more outspoken, so it’s also a very good time to consider writing, teaching, or accepting a position in another country. After the 20th, you are ready to make some choices and put your plans into action. In mid-May, there could be some new money-making opportunities attached to your artistic endeavors! Reinvention is on the way!

For more astro-insight, log on to lillyroddy.com.

Bar & C luB Guide

HOUSTON

BLUR

Multi-level dance club featuring an upstairs lounge and balconies. Ladies enjoy Wet and Wild Wed., 18-year-olds welcome Thurs., Latin night on Sun. Happy hour 8–10pm; free cover before 11pm. 710 Pacific St. • blurbar.com.

CLUB 2020

Located downtown, this urban club features Clubbers Friday w ith male and female dancers. Its 6,400 square feet also offers theater-sized viewing screens and VIP rooms. 2020 Leeland • 713.227. 9667 club2020houston.com.

CLUB CRYSTAL

Find many of Inergy’s former staff and décor at this two-room Latin/hip-hop club. Sunday evening drag shows rule the roost. 6680 Southwest Frwy, next to Colorado 713.278.2582 • crystaltheclub.com.

CROCKER BAR

This comfortably remodeled Montrose nightspot also offers karaoke on Tuesdays and Thursdays and extended happy-hour prices throughout the week. 2312 Crocker • 713.529.3355.

GEORGE

Regulars rule at this comfortable neighborhood sports bar. Sports Saturdays and Sundays start at 3pm with dart and pool tournaments. 617 Fairview • 713.528.8102.

GUAVA LAMP

definitive home to the man’s man - leather, bear, jock or muscle, you’ll find them here! DJs every night, multiple patios and a leather/accessories shop inside the bar. Noon-2am every day, 611 Hyde Park, 713.523.BIRD

JR’S BAR & GRILL

This Montrose standard offers drag and strip shows throughout the week, karaoke Thurs. and Sun., plus pool tables and male dancers. 808 Pacific St. • 713.521.2519 jrsbarandgrill.com.

MICHAEL’S OUTPOST

Jerry Atwood, Clay Howell, Neil Massey, Steve Wheaton, and Roger Woest take turns at the keys at this comfortable neighborhood piano bar. 1419 Richmond Ave. • 713.520.8446.

NEON BOOTS

DANCEHALL & SALOON

Houston’s only LGBTQ country dancehall opens Wednesday–Sunday. Wednesday features Steak Night and Bingo. Free dance classes on Thursdays and Karaoke. 11410 Hempstead Hwy 713.677.0828 • neonbootsclub.com.

PEARL BAR

This LGBT-friendly lounge in the Washington corridor features daily highlights like open mic night, steak night, and drink specials. 4216 Washington • pearlhouston.com.

RICH’S HOUSTON

This trendy and friendly video and cruise bar gets busy during happy hour and stays busy ‘til closing. Karaoke on Wed. and Sun. 570 Waugh Dr. • 713.524.3359 guavalamphouston.com.

HAMBURGER MARY’S

Tuesday & Wednesday 4p-10p, Thursday & Friday 4p-2a, Saturday & Sunday 11a-2a

EAGLE

Part of the Eagle worldwide family, it’s the

Houston’s most iconic and largest LGBT dance club, with multiple levels featuring a video/show bar and a private VIP lounge. No cover before 10:30 p.m. 2401 San Jacinto • 281.846.6685 richsnightclub.com.

THE RIPCORD

This multi-roomed leather bar boasts a busy patio, especially on the weekends. The Forge shop located inside the club. Saturday nights with DJ Tad Dvorak 715 Fairview Ave • 713.521.2792.

RUDYARD’S

SOUTH BEACH

BARCODE

BEHIND the BAR

With BORIS GREENE

George “Your Country Sports Bar” Mon-Wed 7am-1pm; Saturdays 1pm - 7pm

The eclectic British pub is known for its craft beers as well as for the burgers. Most weekends you’ll find up-and-coming local bands rocking the house. 2010 Waugh Dr. • 713.521.0521 • rudyardspub.com.

Closed for remodeling.

With the longest daily happy hours in Montrose (8am–10pm), this neighborhood watering hole is very popular. Drag shows Wednesday–Sunday. Karaoke Monday & Wednesday. 817 Fairview • 713.526.2625 • tcsshowbar.com.

TONY’S CORNER POCKET

This comfortable club has one of the friendliest bar staffs in town. Amateur dance contest each Thurs., Fri., & Sat. at 11pm. Opens daily at noon. 817 W. Dallas • 713.571.7870 tonyscornerpocketbar.com.

VIVIANA’S

Happening weekend-only gay dance club with Latin DJs, singers, talent shows & Sunday strippers. 4624 Dacoma • 713.681.4104.

BEAUMONT

ORLEANS STREET PUB AND PATIO

The place to hang for food, fun, and booze in a newly renovated pub, in good weather or bad. Open every night from 7pm–2am. 650 Orleans • 409.835.4243.

OUTSMART’s Bar Guide is the best place to advertise your bar! BAR NONE!

What is your favorite shot to make?

Cinnamon Toast Crunch (RumChata and Fireball)

Where is your favorite place to drink when not onduty?

The Cozy Corner in Westbury

What are you best known for?

My Manhattans and my Bloody Marys!

Biggest tip from one customer?

1981 Mercedes 500 SLC!

BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION

HALO VIDEO BAR

The only LGBT dance club in Bryan/College station, this sleek spot is open Thurs.–Sat. smack in the middle of Aggieland. 121 North Main • 979.823.6174 • halobcs.com.

GALVESTON

23RD ST. STATION

The bar features daily drink specials and the weekend is filled with pulsing music, hot dancers, drag shows, and a Sunday Tea Dance. 1706 23rd St. • 409.621.1808.

ROBERT’S LAFITTE

The Island institution features a private patio with swimming pool. On Sat. and Sun. nights, the Ladies of Lafitte show takes the stage. 2501 Avenue Q (at 25th) • 409.765.9092.

RUMORS BEACH BAR

Drink specials every night and daily day drinking specials starting at Noon. Great drag shows Friday – Sunday and karaoke Sunday – Thursday at 8p. Sunday Drag Bingo. 3102 Seawall Blvd. • 409.497.4617 • rumorsbeachbar.com

SPRING

RANCH HILL SALOON

With its two pool tables, 52-inch plasma televisions, and large dance floor, this popular northside spot also offers DJs Thursday–Saturday. 247041 I-45N Suite 103 • 281.298.9035 • ranchhill.com.

THE ROOM BAR AND LOUNGE

This bar and video lounge has a laid-back atmosphere including daily drink specials, karaoke, free pool, drag shows, and live DJs several nights a week. 4915 FM 2920 • 281.907.6866 • roombarspring.com.

�� : Private Parties, Company Events & Social Mixers

TipsyPastryHouston TipsyPastry Info@TipsyPastry.com www.TipsyPastry.com

Patience!

And act more responsibly.

The first half of the month is a time to prepare, and after the 20th we are ready to act on plans and ideas because Mercury will be direct then! Our patience will be tested this month, especially during the last week. The cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn are the most impacted, but if you have planets in those signs, you will be affected as well. We are being called to act more responsibly. • Positive days this month are the 7th, 12th, 13th, 14th, and 29th. Days to be aware of your environment are the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 10th, 15th, 17th, 18th, 25th, and 26th.

ARIES (March 21–April 19). Happy Birthday to the Rams and Ewes!

This is your personal yearly cycle, a time of review and renewal. It’s an especially significant time of review with Mercury retrograde in your sign. After the 20th, it will be time to put your new plans into action. There continues to be a lot of focus on career and long-term future plans, but you are looking for something that brings out that spark of desire! Boredom with your routine is only a sign that you need to make some changes. Finances and resources are in the spotlight as the month comes to an end.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20). As the month opens, you are in a period of rest and retreat. You are more sensitive to your environment and are selecting your companions carefully. This is a very good month for self-healing and self-care. Although you are feeling very connected to your friends and associates, their demands on your time could be draining. This continues to be a good time for travel, working on your education, and improving your current relationship. If you’re involved, this is a super time to renew those bonds. And if you are single, after the 20th is your time to find that special someone! You will feel more grounded and in your element toward the end of the month. You will be breaking out of your chrysalis in May, looking for new experiences and opportunities!

GEMINI (May 21–June 21). This past month you have been reconnecting with friends and people from your past, with retrograding Mercury’s help. That trend continues through the 20th, when it’s the time to act on your new ideas. Business and community organizations can be very helpful for your career, and provide you with a new social

atmosphere. Financially, you are paying a lot of attention to your overall resources and debts. You are working to free yourself from this situation, even though you will feel more pressure. Don’t let that dampen your spirits and slow your path to the finish line. By the end of the month, you are ready for a break and will need some time for yourself.

CANCER (June 22–July 22). With Mercury retrograde in your career sector, you have been reviewing your current situation. You are looking at what is not working, and how to fix it or get rid of it. With situations that are bad, Mercury retrograde won’t allow us to avoid the problem. We have to make decisions about what is in front of us before we can move forward. This same energy is also impacting your relationships both business and romantic. It’s a great time to review your past progress and to consider new goals to bring the relationship back onto a shared path. After the 20th, it’s time to put those ideas into action. Your career continues to be very active and dominant in your life.

LEO (July 23–August 22). As the month begins, you have been giving a lot of thought to your future plans, especially around your career. You are in an incubation period, and you will be breaking out of your shell in May! Some are considering taking a new career path, while others are contemplating retiring. You are needing to reinvent yourself on some level. The first part of the month is better for planning, while action is favored after the 20th. You are more outspoken than usual and will not let others block your path. Continue to put energy into revamping your health routines, particularly in the latter part of the month.

VIRGO (August 23–September 22). Relationships continue to be your theme for the month. You are looking past your old view of what relationships “shoulda, woulda, coulda” been in your life, and opening up to the idea of having a better relationship with yourself rather than looking for someone else to complete you. As a result of this, you are looking for a relationship that enhances who you are. Deeper and more intimate values must also align this month. With Mercury retrograde here, you are ready to look at the truth and not just how you want things to be. After the 20th, you are ready to put your new emotional influences into play!

LIBRA (September 23–October 23). With Mercury retrograde in your relationship sector, you have been reviewing your relationships, relationship structure, and relationship habits! You

are paying a lot more attention to your own needs, rather than just trying to compromise and work with your partner’s agenda. Good relationships are enhanced with Mercury retrograde, while negative relationships must improve or end. You are wanting and expecting more participation from your partner, so you don’t feel that you have to do all the work. You are speaking up, and your patience is very low. You are improving your relationship boundaries, including your work relationships. Be glad you are seeing what is not working as you improve your boundaries. By the end of the month, you are looking for results.

SCORPIO (October 24–November 21). You have been reviewing your relationships with your coworkers this month. You are speaking up and not letting old situations repeat themselves ad nauseam. You are interested in new approaches to marketing and selling your services. You are also guarding your time closely and being selective about any events you participate in, especially those associated with family activities. You are working on getting your life organized and taking care of projects that you have been putting off. Relationship opportunities open up after the 20th. These connections can be good for both business and personal partnerships. The Full Moon in Scorpio on the 29th can make that path more accessible.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21). You are dealing with a mixed bag this month. Part of you is really having to focus on your money and resources, so you’re working on getting that part in order. You are also in a very creative period, so review old ideas that you may have discarded in the past. Financially, you are in a time of review. You may be putting yourself on a budget, wanting a raise, and reviewing your current romantic involvement. You are wanting to break away from your past and invest yourself in your projects, which should be very possible after the 20th. The end of the month is a better time for you financially. And in the creative department, you are wanting to use your talents to free yourself from old jobs so you can do what really makes you happy! There are some opportunities coming in May that can help you achieve your goals.

CAPRICORN (December 22–January 19). April continues to be an intense time for you. While your home, family, and career have captured your time and attention, you have been struggling to take some time for yourself. While Mercury has been retrograde, you are working on projects that

By Lilly Roddy

On February 25, Neon Boots hosted Decadent Desserts and Dancing, beneﬁtting AssistHers. Pictured are Lynn Schwartzenburg , Linda Arnold, and Renée Tappe

On March 9, the LGBTQ Victory Fund hosted its 2018 Houston Champagne Brunch Kickoff at the home of Annise Parker and Kathy Hubbard. Pictured are Annise Parker, Emily Hammell, Bryan Hlavinka, Jani Lopez, Sallie WyattWoodell, Bryan Cotton, and Seth Schermer

On March 11, Neon Boots hosted a Celebration of Life for Norman Salvado. Pictured are Jerry Atwood, Sharon Montgomery, Tommy Lee Bradley, George Armstrong , Julie Link , Ricky Comeaux, and Glynda McGinnis

On March 22,

On February 25, Ovations hosted Caring Cabaret Walks Again, beneﬁtting AIDS Foundation Houston and Avenue 360. Pictured are Alli Villines, Patti Barnes, Glynda McGinnis, Terry Jones, Kelly Young , Roger Woest , Katherine Engleman, Julie Stonebarger, Mark Stonebarger, Roger Woest and Aaron Reines

On March 10, the Diana Foundation hosted its 65th Annual Diana Awards at the Hilton Post Oak Hotel. Pictured are Brian Teichman, Miss Richﬁeld 1981, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg , and Dan Maxwell

On March 16, the Montrose Center hosted Bringin’ In the Green 2018 at the home of Glenn Dickson and Justin Liendo. Pictured are Justin David Dickson, Glenn Dickson, Tom Seymour, Kennedy Loftin, Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan, Bob Burress, and Meleah Jones; and (kneeling) Marco Tapia and Brian Tapia-Sacum.

On March 4, AIDS Foundation Houston hosted AIDS Walk 2018 and Rock the Walk on Allen Parkway and at Sam Houston Park. Pictured are JJ Simmons, Derrick Shore, and Kelly Young

On March 11, Kevin Beganud and David Riddle hosted a brunch to beneﬁt the Provincetown Film Festival. Pictured are Kevin Dunn, Barbara Radnofsky, Ben Rybeck , Evan Choate, Jeff Peters, and Steven Duble

On March 21, the Executive & Professional Association of Houston hosted its Spring Social hosted by David Alcorta and Marcus de Guzman. PIctured are Israel Mejia, Froi Flores, Sebastien “Mr. D” Boileau, Guzz Jensen, David Alcorta, and (in front) Liza Carlos

the Alantude 2018

On March 24,

March 26, the

Lindsay Taylor Munoz, co-chair Ernie Manouse of Houston Public Media, and co-chair Aimee Bertrand; and (front row) Carla

Amanda Edwards, Brenda Stardig , Ellen Cohen, and John Palmer

MATCH hosted

Spring-Summer Fashion Show. Pictured are Shelby Peach, Debbi Grifﬁth

Alan Gonzalez, Lanny Grifﬁth, Sandra Gonzalez, Hannah Grifﬁth, and Roland Maldonado.

OutReach United hosted OutReach Goes Vega at Jaguar Central Houston. Pictured are Brittany Cartwright , Jason Stewart , and Gary Wood.

League of Women Voters hosted a Repast Luncheon at the Junior League of Houston. Pictured are (back row) Grace White of KHOU Channel 11, co-chair Mary Benton, co-chair

Cisneros,

Photos by Dalton DeHart and Edgardo Aguilar