AUGUST 2022

AUG. ’22

HOUSTON'S LGBTQ MAGAZINE

The

Music Is s u e

BEYOND THE BINARY

Queer Locals Push Gender Diversity Forward Pg.48

THE GRAMMYS’ NEWEST MEMBER

Uncle Tino Joins the Recording Academy Pg.34

HOUSTON’S LGBTQ MAGAZINE

Soulful Sounds

AUGUST 2022

THE SUFFERS’ KAM FRANKLIN EMBARKS ON A NEW SOLO PROJECT Pg.36

42

44

46

39

FEATURES

36

36 COVER STORY 39 SONGS OF HITTING LIFE S

42

Kam Franklin pours her soul into an upcoming solo album

Geoffry Muller is on the road showcasing his wide range of musical talents

SELF-REFLECTION

HIGH NOTES

’

John Holiday is taking his opera career to new heights

46 AN AUTHENTIC ALBUM

62 MENDING TRAUMA THROUGH ART

Ty Herndon’s ‘Jacob’ reflects the freedom he has felt since coming out in 2014

Gwen Flager’s new play tells the story of six older lesbians

53 AN INTERSECTIONAL

Blogger Alex Whitney practices radical self-love

Kevin Nguyen becomes the director of the UH LGBTQ Resource Center

One of Frances Zuckerbrod’s pieces is published in a queer Jewish zine

AUGUST 2022 | OutSmartMagazine.com

Isaac Niaz’s personal journey inspires his upcoming remix EP

’

51 AN ADVOCATE ON CAMPUS

FOR HIS LIFE

BLUE FLAMINGO

48 HOPEFUL

ROMANTIC

44 A SOUNDTRACK

67 SHAKIN THE

Mariah Garnett brings her first solo US exhibition to CAMH

BEYOND THE BINARY

4

A BANGO, A BASS, AND EMBROIDERY

AUGUST 2022

ARTIST

82 WIGGING OUT

Dominique Opulent Ross delivers graceful glam each weekend

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D E PA R T M E N T S NEWS & COMMENT 16 OPINION

Same-sex marriage and privacy rights are threatened in the wake of Roe v. Wade

20 NEWS

Monkeypox cases continue to rise nationwide

22 LEFT OUT 24 SMART HEALTH 26 MONEY SMART 34 AN INTERVIEW WITH...

Local rapper Uncle Tino, a new member of the GRAMMYs Music’s Bold New Generation of 2022

60 READ OUT

‘Legends of Drag’ features local icon Dina Jacobs

65 FILM

John Logan’s psychological thriller ‘THEY/THEM’

OUT & ABOUT 12 CALENDAR 31 SCENE OUT 70 OUT THERE 72 WEDDING GUIDE 75 BAR GUIDE 80 SIGN OUT

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20 years later, while organizing the first LGBTQ prom for the local high school, these non-traditional women are spun to the brink...

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AUGUST 2022

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ON the COVER SOULFUL SOUNDS The Suffers’ front woman Kam Franklin embarks on a personal new solo project (Pg.36) Photography by Paty Ramirez-Sanchez @agave_bloom_photography/

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OutSmart Media Company Publishers of OutSmart Magazine 3406 Audubon Place • Houston, TX 77006 713.520.7237 • 713.522.3275 Fax Subscriptions: $36/12 Issues, $58/24 Issues E-mail: letters@outsmartmagazine.com Website: 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 OutSmart does not imply sexual orientation. ©2022 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.

Thank you readers!

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EDITOR’S NOTE

From hip-hop to country and classical, Houston’s music scene has got it all.

The eclectic artistry of our homegrown LGBTQ musicians has something to offer any type of listener. This annual OUTSMART music issue takes a deep dive into the lives of some of our favorite local queer artists.

To kick off our August roundup, writer Jenny Block interviews cover star Kam Franklin, the front woman of the Gulf Coast soul band The Suffers, whose upcoming solo album shows off her talent in a whole new light. Writer Sam Byrd talks to John Holiday, whose opera career has continued to flourish since his appearance on The Voice. Writer Zach McKenzie sits down with pop artist Isaac Niaz and musician Geoffrey Muller, while I speak to rapper Uncle Tino, who was

recently selected as a member of the GRAMMYs Music’s Bold New Generation Class of 2022.

Elsewhere in this issue, we spotlight nonbinary and gendernonconforming Houstonians in our Beyond the Binary feature.

Writer Martin Giron introduces you to Kevin Nguyen, who was recently named the new director of the University of Houston’s LGBTQ Resource Center. Writer Lillian Hoang interviews Alex Whitney about their upcoming appearance on a local reality dating show, while writer Marene Gustin speaks to Frances Zuckerbrod about his artwork featured in a zine by the national LGBTQ Jewish organization Keshet.

And speaking of queer premieres, John Logan’s highly anticipated psychological thriller THEY/THEM debuts on Peacock this month. Zach McKenzie interviews Logan about the movie,

whose queer characters are all played by LGBTQ actors.

With this summer’s heat breaking records, you’ll want to check out some cool indoor activities happening in August.

Queer artist Mariah Garnett’s solo exhibition is at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston through the end of the month, and Gwen Flager’s Shakin’ the Blue Flamingo debuts at MATCH on August 12. Her play tells the story of six older lesbians who are planning a school’s first LGBTQ prom.

On a personal note, I will be stepping down from my position as OUTSMART’s managing editor this month to start a law school program in the fall. Getting the opportunity to help share Houston’s LGBTQ stories for the past five years has been a privilege that I am incredibly grateful for. I will deeply miss connecting with our story subjects, readers, and

the OUTSMART team of creatives who give their all each month to put each issue together.

While I’m sad to leave, I know OUTSMART is in great hands under publisher/editorin-chief Greg Jeu, creative director Alex Rosa, and copy editor Howard Maple. I look forward to seeing all that they continue to accomplish.

Thank you for everything!

Lourdes Zavaleta Managing Editor

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

For a weekly roundup of LGBTQ happenings, visit www.OutSmar tMagazine.com

QUEER THINGS to DO COMMUNITY

August 3

THE CAUCUS MEMBERSHIP MEETING

The Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus hosts a membership meeting in advance of its PAC Endorsement Meeting on August 13. In order to vote during the endorsement event, you must become a Caucus member by August 3. tinyurl.com/2p866axf

MUSIC

August 30

Kehlani: Blue Water Road Trip The queen being of cool, calm, and collected is coming to Houston for a performance at White Oak Music Hall. After a five-year break from touring, Kehlani is back on the road with songs from their third studio album, Blue Water Road Trip.

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Kehlani, a nonbinary lesbian who uses she/they pronouns, achieved initial fame in the entertainment industry as a member of the teen group Poplyfe.

Three years later, Kehlani released their first commercial mixtape, Cloud 19, which was named one of Complex’s 50 Best Albums of 2014. Their subsequent work received a Billboard award, along with a Grammy nomination.

Known for their soothing 12

AUGUST 2022

sounds and self-assured vocals, Kehlani’s Blue Water Road Trip has been dubbed their “happiest work yet.” THE CUT reports that the R&B artist’s work “has always been healing, but they’ve never been as at peace as they are right now, and it shows.”

Kehlani says they find it cool that fans are “excited about being able to tell I’m in a better place just from the music. The comments I’ve received from my core fan base about the album are that they’re so happy for me.

They’re like, ‘Yeah, the music is f–ing awesome, but you’re not depressed, you’re not beefing, and nothing is toxic. That’s the coolest transition of all of this, for sure.” tinyurl.com/4rdtvcx2

| OutSmartMagazine.com

SOCIAL

August 4

PANNING FOR LOVE PREMIERE

Davis Darusman’s local LGBTQ reality dating show debuts at the DeLUXE Theater. Panning for Love features a diverse group of queer contestants who will speed-date with each other. tinyurl.com/2dmss4e8

SOCIAL

August 6

WHITE LINEN NIGHT ON WHITE OAK DRIVE

Wear white while strolling White Oak Drive during the Houston Young Professionals’ annual private party. Check out their Eventbrite page for a VIP invite. tinyurl.com/5fbuaw3t

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY

August 5

August 6

First Friday Meet & Eat The Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce hosts its monthly lunch mixer at Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Rooftop Terrace. The casual event is open to those interested in networking and learning more about the Chamber. tinyurl.com/mrxu776v

BAEWATCH: WetHER Than Ever Lesbians of Color hosts the hottest pool party of the summer at Clé Houston. Hosted by Trinity Newman with tunes by DJ Rocabye, the 21-and-up event is largely focused on queer women of color, but is inclusive to all. tinyurl.com/3xfpk94u

August 12–14

Women’s Convention 2022 Thousands of women and their allies will gather at the George R. Brown Convention Center for this year’s Women’s Convention. Attendees will talk civic engagement and gaining the tools needed for a more feminist future. tinyurl.com/3snn7dmy

STAGE

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY

August 13

August 13

August 27

Queer Improv Jam Station Improv & Sketch Comedy Theatre hosts a Queer Improv Jam. LGBTQ comedians of all experience levels can practice onstage and bond with fellow performers. tinyurl.com/4y4xbtkw

Howl at the Neon Moon Join the Bayou City Pups at ReBar for their monthly Pup Night.

Have a doggone good time while learning more about the LGBTQ organization and raising funds for charity. tinyurl.com/2dmjbcf7

Houston Texas Leather Family Contest Join the 2020–2021 Houston Leather Family at Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church as they welcome this year’s new Mr. Houston Leather, Ms. Houston Leather, and Bayou City Bootblack. The leather pageant is free and features games, food, and entertainment. tinyurl.com/5hf5sm69 COMMUNITY

SOCIAL

August 13

August 17

Bayou City Pups Monthly Meeting Come, sit, and stay for the Bayou City Pups’ August membership meeting. The LGBTQ nonprofit will announce recent activities and discuss upcoming events. tinyurl.com/bd7ae24c

Geek Meet Gulf Coast Cosmos Comicbook Co.’s Geek Meet is back! The local Black-, Asian-, and queer-owned comic-book shop invites BIPOC and queer comic-book writers, artists, and creatives to network and collaborate in a safe space. tinyurl.com/3jtjbmbu

COMMUNITY

NIGHTLIFE

STAGE

August 17

August 4, 11, 18, 25

August 4, 5, 6

Monthly LGBTQ+ Legal Clinic Join the Earl Carl Institute for a free legal and social-policy clinic at the Montrose Center. Get advice in estate planning, securing official documents, criminal issues, and more. tinyurl.com/2p826bn7

Blackberri’s Drag It On 7 Houston bearded beauty Blackberri’s Drag It On 7 competition continues at ReBar. The winner of the 10-week-long competition will receive a $1,500 cash prize. tinyurl.com/yckpyd2h

Tamarie Cooper’s Sticky Sweet Summer Show Longtime LGBTQ ally Tamarie Cooper’s Sticky Sweet Summer Show continues at MATCH. Presented by Catastrophic Theatre, the hilarious, irreverent, all-new musical extravaganza features some of Houston’s funniest, quirkiest, and sometimes raunchiest actors, plus an original score played by a live band. tinyurl.com/y75nsh2a More Queer Things To Do ➝ OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2022

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QUEER THINGS to DO

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September 2–4

PRIDE GALVESTON 2022

Galveston will celebrate LGBTQ Pride with three days packed full of events.

On Day 1, queer locals will compete in the Mr. and Ms. Galveston Pride Pageant at Robert’s Lafitte. Day 2 features a Beach Bash on the sand. Day 3 concludes with a pool party at Robert’s Lafitte. tinyurl.com/yc2bmzpa

COMMUNITY

September 10

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Ripcord hosts the annual Puppy of Montrose contest sponsored by The Montrose Forge. This year’s event honors Pup Kota Husky, who served as the Puppy of Montrose between 2019 and 2021. This year’s contestants will compete in several categories, including a Q&A, puppy play, and speech. tinyurl.com/2p9xrttd

MUSIC

September 13

LADY GAGA: THE CHROMATICA BALL

Lady Gaga brings her Chromatica Ball tour to Minute Maid Park. Proceeds from each ticket sold benefit Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the wellness of young people by working with them “to make the world kinder and braver.” tinyurl.com/52mtt8yh MUSIC

October 11

LIL NAS X: LONG LIVE MONTERO

Lil Nas X performs at 713 Music Hall. The tour features tunes from the gay rapper and singer’s new album Montero. tinyurl.com/2bwu66yj

Submit your events at calendar@outsmartmagazine.com 14

AUGUST 2022

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HUMAN RIGHTS EQUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING HEALTHCARE LOWER DRUG PRICING

OPINION

Freedoms Are in Jeapardy Be concerned about same-sex marriage and privacy rights in the wake of Roe.

By RYAN M. LEACH

The overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that established a Constitutional right to abortion, sets the stage for potentially overturning the right for LGBTQ people to be married and even the right to be intimate in the privacy of their own homes.

This connection between abortion access and marriage equality may not be obvious at first glance. After all, what does abortion have to do with marriage equality? It actually has little to do with the acts themselves, but rather with the legal rationale upon which the Court had previously conferred these rights to all Americans—namely, the 14th Amendment.

In part, the 14th Amendment states: No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

It is the reference to liberty that is the basis for these decisions. Put simply, the Court held in Roe that when a state prohibits a citizen from the right to obtain an abortion without 16

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due process, they are violating that individual’s constitutional rights. This rationale was similarly used as the basis for Obergefell and Lawrence, the cases that granted the right to marriage equality and private consensual sex, respectively. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health is the case that overturned Roe, thus jeopardizing all other decisions with a rationale based in the “liberty” granted by the 14th Amendment.

In other words, Obergefell and Lawrence are now like houses built on quicksand; they may be standing now, but they won’t stand for long.

The conservative movement has certainly been against access to abortion for decades— an opposition based on many things, of course.

But the constitutional interpretation offered in Roe was particularly problematic for conservatives because in allowing marginalized groups full access to this concept of liberty, it weakens the political power of the conservative base.

When people start getting access to freedoms they were previously denied—some might call this “getting woke”—they tend to enjoy those freedoms and align themselves with leaders who want to preserve them.

Justice Clarence Thomas says the quiet part out loud in his solo concurring opinion in Dobbs. He writes clearly that the Court should reconsider cases like Griswold (the right to

contraception), Lawrence, and Obergefell. It is true that the other five justices that voted to overturn Roe said that the decision in Dobbs should not be interpreted to have an impact on those other landmark cases. But then again, what difference does that make?

Those five justices have placed no more value on precedent than Thomas has. This is the legal equivalent of the Wild West: anything goes—and anything can go, including marriage equality.

The 2022 platform of the Texas Republican Party has stated its intent to do away with trans health care and marriage equality, going so far as to state that marriage is between “one natural man and one natural woman.” Dobbs has provided them with a huge opening here. This is relevant because Republicans need wedge issues in order to distract and curry favor with voters. Now that abortion has been dealt with (to a degree), it’s back to their LGBTQ fear-mongering.

The question remains: should LGBTQ people be concerned about our marriage and privacy rights?

The answer is yes. Always. Especially in Texas.

Overturning Obergefell may not happen ➝

FREEDOMS | CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

tomorrow, but the prospect of it happening sooner rather than later has certainly increased with the overturning of Roe. In states like Texas, laws banning abortion remained on the books even though they were formerly unenforceable because of Roe. The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that these dormant laws (written in the 1920s) are now enforceable in light of Dobbs. The same thing applies to marriage equality. The laws prohibiting marriage equality are still there, but they are currently dormant.

In overturning Roe, the Supreme Court has indicated that it holds nothing sacred. Before, one could argue that “the horse is out of the barn” when it comes to marriage equality. The Court, they could assume, would think twice about invalidating the thousands of legal marriages that have taken place since Obergefell. To do so would cause societal and judicial chaos. It would create chaos, but the solution to chaos is to impose strict order, and Republicans are pros at seizing political power when people are feeling unsettled. Indeed, keeping non-dominant cultures unsettled is their whole game plan. If you set one house on fire, it’s easy to rally the neighbors to help put the fire out. But if you set every house on the street on fire, it’s likely they

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will all burn to the ground. Scorched-earth tactics are what the Republican Party thrives on.

If I were giving legal advice to LGBTQ Texans, and especially trans Texans, that advice would be to move out of the state. But I get it: not everyone has the ability to move away, and Texas is as much our home as it is anyone else’s.

And Texans fight for their home. To that end, what I would recommend is for LGBTQ couples to make sure all of their legal documents have caveats in the event that their marriages are invalidated. This also includes having a will in place. Under normal circumstances in Texas, if a spouse dies and there is no will in place, the surviving spouse is considered the next of kin.

If your marriage is deemed invalid, it doesn’t mean that you are no longer married, it means you were never technically married in the first place. If you’re not married and you don’t have a will, then the estate in question is divided up by the courts to various other family members rather than your partner. A local LGBTQfriendly family attorney can give you further guidance on this process.

There is great potential for life to get harder now that Roe has been overturned. I am not an alarmist, but I would suggest moving with haste to make sure your intentions are other-

wise legally secured. Whereas before there weren’t laws in place that would prevent things like trans-affirming health care, many Republican lawmakers would like to change that for both children and adults. And now they can.

If they can limit access to abortion, they can also limit access to other areas of health care and possibly even things like PrEP for HIV prevention. The guardrails are off, and we should plan accordingly.

Finally, we should also vote for leaders who support our community. If you’re not already registered, be sure to do so now because there is a lot on the line as Texas heads into the midterm general elections on November 8. To find out more about local pro-equality candidates, look into the endorsements of queer organizations like the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus and Equality Texas.

Ryan M. Leach is a native Texan and an attorney licensed in the State of Texas.

He is also a former board member for Equality Texas and the Victory Fund.

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NEWS

Local Monkeypox Cases Continue to Rise Houston Health Department raises awareness about its impact on men who have sex with men.

By MARENE GUSTIN

M

onkeypox, a viral disease that causes skin lesions and flu-like symptoms, has seen an alarming rise in America—and particularly among men who have sex with men. But it is not a “gay” disease, according to the Houston Health Department (HHD).

“Monkeypox can and does infect everyone, regardless of sex or age,” says Kirstin Short, HHD’s chief of epidemiology who saw Houston’s first case in early June. There are currently eight known people with monkeypox in Houston, HHD reports. “In the current outbreak we are seeing a preponderance of cases in men—some who have traveled overseas recently, but also some who haven’t.”

The World Health Organization reported in January that the outbreak of US monkeypox continued to primarily affect men who have sex with men who had reported recent sex with new or multiple partners. The US outbreak may be linked to certain super-spreader events overseas. Similarly, a Dallas outbreak prompted health officials to warn those who visited Club Dallas from June 22 to June 25 to watch for symptoms. An out-of-state visitor with confirmed monkeypox reported having multiple sexual encounters at the club during those dates. A similar warning went out to attendees of the annual Daddyland Festival over the July Fourth weekend, which featured gay dance parties and pool parties.

Nathan Maxey, MPA, an HHD senior health planner, spearheaded a community town hall on monkeypox on July 7. “As a Black gay man, it’s important to dispel all myths and rumors about monkeypox,” he says. “We don’t want to stigmatize any community.”

“I think, overall, the risk is low,” Short adds.

“But I would want everyone to be aware of your partner, or if you have a new rash. This is an evolving response, like in the early days of COVID. We are sending out education teams to community events and we have a monkeypox page on our website. We’re doing extensive education with our HIV and epidemiology teams.”

Monkeypox, unlike COVID, requires close,

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Monkeypox cells personal (often skin-to-skin) contact including sex, kissing, or mutual masturbation with someone infected with monkeypox sores.

“What we are seeing here is the West African variant,” Short notes. “The majority are isolating and recovering at home.”

Unlike COVID, monkeypox is not contagious until symptoms appear. But once they do, you should be tested and follow a doctor’s orders, Short advises. “The patients that do need hospitalization are doing so for pain management.” Most patients present with sores on their hands and face, but for those who contract the disease through sex, genital and anal sores can be very painful.

Once a positive test is confirmed, the patient needs to avoid sex or intimacy with anyone until all sores have healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. Again, most patients will recover at home by staying hydrated and taking over-the-counter medications.

The antiviral Tecovirimat (TPOXX), used to treat smallpox, was confirmed by the World Health Organization in May to be effective against severe cases of monkeypox. But, Short says, it is only available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Likewise, vaccines against monkeypox are currently available only through the CDC. There are two vaccines licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) available for preventing monkeypox infection:

JYNNEOS (also known as Imvamune or Imvanex) and ACAM2000. In the United States, there is currently a limited supply of JYNNEOS, although more is expected in the coming weeks and months. There is an ample supply of ACAM2000. However, this vaccine should not be used by people who have a weakened immune system, skin conditions like atopic dermatitis/ eczema, who are pregnant, or who have certain other conditions.

“Right now, because of the limited supply, it’s only advised for those who have been exposed through direct contact. As supplies increase, we can expand on that,” Short says.

She reiterates that most cases can be treated at home with over-the-counter drugs, but stresses that if you have a rash and develop sores, you need to see a healthcare provider and remind them that there are cases of monkeypox in our community.

“One thing I do want people to know: this is not like COVID, where businesses shut down and people were isolating at home for weeks and months,” Short says.

“With monkeypox, there is no need to isolate at home until symptoms appear.”

For more on local monkeypox cases, visit houstonhealth.org.

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LEFT OUT

By SUSAN BANKSTON

Welcome to Texas Everything is bigger in the Lone Star State— especially our problems.

W

elcome to Texas, where we lie about everything except barbeque.

Where you can’t tell a good guy with a gun from a bad guy with a gun until the bodies are hauled away.

Where everything is bigger, except human rights.

Where we blame the border for any and all of the horrifically bad decisions our governor makes.

Where Ted Cruz says the Supreme Court was wrong to legalize same-sex marriage.

(Ted’s Republican cohorts, on the other hand, want to legalize intercourse with 13-year-old girls. Instead of same sex, shouldn’t Ted be more concerned with sane sex?)

Where men are men, and goats are nervous.

Where it ain’t been quite the same since Rush Limbaugh turned out to be a mere mortal.

Where we have 1,827 more football stadiums than we actually need.

Where women’s rights and the Easter Bunny are the same thing.

Where rapists get to select the mother who must bear their children.

Where power-grid jokes can be redeemed for a free trip to Cancún.

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Where Mexican restaurants have two types of salsa: the one that burns holes in the top of your mouth, and the other one.

Where people who are opposed to Critical Race Theory don’t even know what that means. They’re afraid it’s a theory that’s critical of racists.

Where the border wall is actually meant to keep us in when our power grid fails and Mexico still has electricity.

Where visitors can enjoy time-traveling back to the 1950s during their stay.

On July 13, the Active Shooter Alert Act was passed by the House and sent over to the Senate. That’s a bill that would require an “Amber Alert” warning to go out when there is an active shooter in the vicinity so we can avoid getting in the line of fire.

Conservatives have become so Second Amendment-crazy that 168 House Republicans voted against the bill. Maybe they think it’s an infringement on a psychopath’s constitutional right to privacy while he shoots up your neighborhood elementary school.

All of which makes me think about where this country is headed—and why we’re all crowded into this funny handbasket.

And for August’s final musing from The World’s Most Dangerous Beauty Salon,

Inc., let me point out that when Trump crony Steven K. Bannon agreed to testify before the January 6 committee, he promised to “go medieval” on his political “enemies” during his appearance. That’s hardly surprising, considering that going medieval ain’t much of a leap for him.

Honey, if he leans back in his La-Z-Boy, an alligator-filled moat springs up around his house.

Bannon wants his testimony to be broadcast live on prime-time teevee. But so does Pauly Shore, and that ain’t happ’nin either.

Bannon also said he would show up to testify if they gave him “a date, a time, a microphone, and a Holy Bible.” Then he added, “We’re killing the Biden administration in the crib, and we’re proud.”

Well, I think getting sworn in on a Bible assumes you agree with at least some of what’s in it.

Have a great August, and when the heat becomes unbearable just remember how it felt when Abbott’s cronies made us freeze in the dark last year.

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

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SMART HEALTH

By DARYL SHORTER, MD

The Mind-Body Connection Maintaining your mental health in the face of physical illness.

P

assing the halfway mark in 2022 provides an opportunity for reflection—and the stark realization that it has already been quite a year.

With COVID deaths coming down as vaccinations and boosters proved to be highly effective, there seemed to be a collective sigh of relief this year. Unfortunately, with the recent increase in hospitalizations due to BA.5, the newest and most contagious COVID variant to date, awareness of our continued vulnerability to COVID has returned in full force.

To complicate matters, we’re now in the midst of a monkeypox virus outbreak that disproportionately impacts members of the LGBTQ community. Access to vaccinations and medication is currently limited, so caution is certainly warranted. And it doesn’t help that our collective COVID fatigue makes it difficult to muster up additional concern for a new health threat.

The focus on our bodies has also been heightened in the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. That Supreme Court decision also lays the legal groundwork to challenge Obergefell v. Hodges, which established the right to same-sex marriage. Substantially limiting abortion access will disproportionately impact people of color and those living with challenges related to poverty, access to insurance, or limited social resources.

These acute medical issues are superimposed on a longstanding history of health disparities impacting LGBTQ people. Studies have shown that LGBTQ folks are more likely to delay or not receive medical care due to cost, lack of insurance, or difficulty with finding affirming healthcare providers. As a result, the health of many members of our community is negatively impacted, with increased rates of chronic conditions. Taken together, the collective physical health of LGBTQ people is an area of particular concern that warrants deeper consideration, especially because of its 24

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impact on mental health.

Generally, the concept of “the mind-body connection” refers to the way mental-health conditions can manifest as physical symptoms.

For example, we probably all know someone who experiences a “nervous” or “upset” stomach in response to feeling anxiety. In this case, their mind is actually manifesting bodily sensations to let them know they are under stress.

As it turns out, the mind-body connection also works in the opposite direction where a physical illness can create mental-health problems. In truth, no one is immune to this possibility. We all get sick. And for many of us, the illnesses we develop will become chronic.

Thus, the illnesses we experience carry the potential of negatively impacting our mood, increasing our anxiety, and diminishing our overall quality of life—at a minimum.

To further complicate matters, some illnesses directly impact our cognitive function and memory, while others dampen our energy levels and make it more difficult to get motivated for tasks big and small.

Even though it’s hard to look at, what do we do with the possibility that our physical health can, and likely will, deteriorate over time?

The First Step Is Acceptance Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on breaking the connection between pain and suffering. ACT can help us acknowledge that pain is an unavoidable part of life, and that avoiding or trying to control painful experiences is the ultimate cause of suffering. Many problems related to our quality of life stem from this harmful mindset.

From this perspective, if we work to accept painful experiences and feel them completely, we can become open to the possibility of freedom—where our life choices are no longer based on our pain, but on decisions that are consistent with our values.

Try this thought experiment: think of a

negative event where you blame yourself or someone else for an outcome you’ve experienced. Perhaps there’s a job that you lost, or a relationship that ended. As you think of the person or persons you blame, ask yourself: How does that blaming motivate and empower me to live in a more vital, fulfilling, and liberated way?

As it turns out, blaming ourselves or others isn’t actually very useful, and it can often keep us stuck.

This type of self-blame can easily extend to decisions we make regarding our health. Perhaps you blame yourself for having long-haul COVID because you didn’t always wear a mask or get vaccinated. Or you regret a decision to have unsafe sex that resulted in an HIV, hepatitis, or monkeypox infection. Perhaps your behaviors around diet, exercise, or alcohol and drug use have negatively impacted your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, or liver function.

Maybe you delayed seeking medical care out of fear, only to find that your chronic medical condition has worsened significantly.

A Path Forward An alternative approach to blaming yourself for your health-related problems is to incorporate and extend grace to yourself.

Even if you are struggling with illness, you can still decide how you might respond to the pain of a particular diagnosis. As you work through this journey to acceptance, you are better able to consider your values and determine how best to live up to them.

If this seems particularly challenging, perhaps one avenue for relief is to seek a mental-health clinician who specializes in ACT. They can guide you through this process and assist with you stepping into the possibility of a life that isn’t necessarily free of pain, but is free of suffering.

The reality is that our health status will eventually change, and we will have relationships that change or no longer serve us.

Finances and work may also present serious challenges. Despite these painful situations, how can you reduce suffering?

The answer may begin with identifying your values, and discovering how you can best live up to them.

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

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MONEY SMART

By GRACE YUNG, CFP

Buying vs. Renting It has often been said that homeownership is the “American dream.” But over the past couple of years, that dream has become more difficult to obtain, given the substantial increase in realestate prices across the country.

In many cases, buyers have been getting into bidding wars and paying over the asking price just to secure a deal. Opting to rent—even if just temporarily—might not necessarily be any better, though, given that monthly rent prices have also increased significantly.

So in this economic environment, is it smarter to purchase or lease your next home?

How Buying Impacts Your Net Worth Home prices skyrocketed not long after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US in early 2020.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the nationwide median price of a home was a record $391,200 in April of 2022, up nearly 15 percent from just one year prior.

But the average rate on a 30-year mortgage also crossed over 5 percent in April, and it continues to rise. Due to the higher cost of financing, some prospective home buyers have been pushed out of the market, at least for now.

While those who are “sitting on the sidelines” and saving for the down payment on a future home will oftentimes rent, being a tenant lately has not necessarily been easy on the budget, either. Rents have risen by 30 to 40 percent or more just over the past year.

There are ways you can reduce the cost of your housing, though, regardless of whether you’re a tenant or an owner. These could include: • Splitting the cost of housing and utilities with your spouse, partner, or roommate(s). If you are the owner of the home, make sure that you have a lease drawn up in writing, and that the individuals pay you directly rather than sending their payments to the mortgage company.

• Watching your utility usage. This can include turning off lights when you leave a room and keeping the heat and air conditioning at moderate levels.

• Coming up with a larger down payment if you purchase. Doing so can lower your monthly mortgage payments.

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Is it smarter to purchase or lease your next home?

The “Cost” of Money Has Gone Up Buying a home is typically the largest purchase that you’ll make in your lifetime. Because of that, you may need to obtain a loan for some or all of the price, and this will require you to obtain a mortgage from a bank or other lender.

As many people are aware, the Fed has recently raised interest rates and there are plans to further increase them soon. One of the key reasons why rate increases happen is to help “slow down” the economy in an effort to reduce inflation.

Over the past decade or so, the United States has languished in a historically low interest rate environment, especially compared to the 1980s when rates on mortgages—as well as fixed-rate investments like CDs and bonds— were in the double digits.

But in spite of rising interest rates, the “cost” of getting a home mortgage could still be within reach. There are ways to make this even easier if you are willing to be flexible on the type of mortgage you get.

There are different types of mortgages available in the marketplace, and these can have a wide range of interest rates, depending on the length of the payment term, the amount of down payment you have, and your creditworthiness.

For instance, there are fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). As its name implies, a fixed-rate mortgage will lock in at a particular interest rate for the life of the loan.

This, in turn, can make it easier for you to budget, as the monthly payment will also remain the same.

However, with an adjustable-rate mortgage, the interest rate can change over time.

In some cases, lenders will start out with a “teaser” rate for the first few years that is lower than the current rate on fixed-rate mortgages.

But, over time, it is possible that the rate on an adjustable-rate mortgage can rise or fall, based on what is happening with interest rates in the overall economy.

Your down payment can also make a big

difference in your monthly mortgage payment. In this case, if you offer less than 20 percent down on the sale price, you will likely have to pay an added cost for private mortgage insurance (PMI). This coverage protects the lender if the home buyer defaults on their mortgage payments, and those who have smaller down payments can pose a higher risk of default since they have less money at stake if they walk away from the property.

The cost of private mortgage insurance typically ranges from 0.5 to 2 percent of your loan balance, depending on your credit score, loan term, and down payment amount. Once you have accumulated enough equity in the home, though, the lender can drop the PMI and its added cost to you.

Those considering becoming renters should know that rent prices will continue to increase in a competitive market with high demand for rentals. And in some markets, renting could even become less affordable than purchasing a home.

Considerations Before You Decide Before making a commitment to buying or renting, there are some important items to consider, such as: • Your Credit Score. Lenders typically take a close look at your credit score before deciding whether or not to approve you for a mortgage. While lenders may have different criteria, you’ll generally need a credit score of at least 620 to secure a home loan. Usually, higher credit scores indicate less risk to a bank or other lender, allowing them to offer you a lower interest rate.

• Maintenance. The type and amount of maintenance can differ between a home that is purchased or one that is rented. For instance, ➝

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if you own your home, you are typically responsible for all of its interior and exterior needs. But you can also make your own decisions regarding what you do (unless there are restrictions imposed by a homeowner’s association). In a rental, you can usually just contact the landlord and the repairs and/ or replacements are up to them.

Even though it is nice to not be responsible for these issues, you are also subject to the landlord’s rules and regulations.

Taxes and Insurance. When you purchase a home, your housing payments don’t typically end with just the principal and interest amounts in the mortgage payment.

You will also have to pay property taxes and insurance. These costs can oftentimes be rolled into your monthly loan payment so that you don’t have to make separate payments on a monthly or yearly basis.

Name(s) on the Lease or Deed.

You may consider putting the name of your spouse or partner on the lease or deed. In a buying situation, if he or she has a high credit score, this could help your chances of being approved for a mortgage and getting a lower interest rate.

There are legal implications in doing this, though. Be sure to discuss with a financial professional or legal advisor to avoid unintended consequences.

If you’re not sure whether buying or renting your next home is the best move for you, it can help to discuss your options with a financial-planning professional.

Working with someone who is also involved in the LGBTQ community can be even more beneficial, as they can walk you through the financial and tax-related pros and cons of either leasing or purchasing a home along with a spouse or partner.

Grace S. Yung, CFP ®, is a Certified finan-

Cial Planner practitioner with experience

Gay-owned business with an all LGBTQ staff

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in helping LGBTQ individuals, domestic partners, and families plan and manage their finances since 1994. She is the managing director at Midtown Financial Group, LLC, in Houston.Yung can be reached at grace.yung@lpl.com. Visit letsmake aplan.org or midtownfg.com/ lgbtqplus.10.htm.

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Real Estate Closings Made Easy Arthur Urdiales helps customers maximize their business at Patriot Title.

When you need a title company, you want “the Arthur experience.”

“At Patriot Title we’re LGBTQ-friendly and putting all of our clients first is at the core of our business philosophy,” says Arthur Urdiales, senior branch manager and senior escrow manager of Patriot Title.

Urdiales is openly gay, bilingual, and a Houston native who works out of Patriot Title’s Height’s headquarters. The company is locally owned with offices around Houston, The Woodlands, El Paso, and Dallas. He’s been with the company for two years but has been in the business for 33 years.

“I graduated high school in 1986 at age 15,” Urdiales says. “I went straight to the University of St. Thomas, graduated, and just fell into real estate. I love the business and I love seeing people smile when they buy a home!”

Urdiales not only works in the Heights, he lives there, too. He loves the fact that he can get anywhere in about five to 15 minutes from the central location, and he loves the diversity of the Heights and Houston.

And he loves Patriot Title.

“I like that I have the freedom to problems as they come up and do what needs to be done to make right on the spot, not in another our clients happy,” Urdiales says. time zone or halfway around the “And all the people I work with are world. amazing.” Urdiales oversees The Patriot Title handles Heights branch and works from 8 residential, land, and commercial a.m. to 8 p.m. He will work nights transactions. Urdiales says the and weekends, whatever is best for team is constantly learning and the client. “Not everyone can get to are always looking for new ways Arthur Urdiales a closing during business hours,” to help their customers maximize he says. “So, I’ll be there whenever their business. The teamwork they need me. Buying or selling a house can among the employees creates an be very stressful to begin with, so we’ll meet environment that says welcome to anyone with you on your schedule, and make you feel doing business with them, no matter how comfortable from the moment you walk in the large or small the transaction. door.”

“I have a great following of Realtors A title company is the neutral party in a real because of my great and friendly staff,” estate transaction, and Urdiales and his team Urdiales says. “We’ll make buying or handle all the money and keep you informed selling your home easy, fast, and friendly!” of every step of the process along the way. The knowledgeable staff also handles title searches, mobile notary services, real estate document preparations, statewide closings, and even has an in-house attorney available for consultations.

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SCENE OUT Photos by DALTON DEHART AND CREW

On June 21, 2022, the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber participated in a Supplier Diversity event with the UK delegation at The ION. Pictured are David Feldman, James Harris, Minister Mike Freer, Brian Hall, and Tammi Wallace.

On June 23, 2022, HCDLA held its Summer CLE & Clarence Darrow Award Presentation at Hotel ZaZa. Pictured are Judge Jerry Simoneaux and Judge Joellen Snow.

Rainbow on the Green was held at Discovery Green on June 24, 2022. Pictured are The Kinsey Sicks.

On June 26, 2022, the Fourth Annual After-Pride Recovery Brunch and Fundraiser was held at La Grange. Pictured are hosts, volunteers, and representatives from the Montrose Center.

The Greater Houston LGBT Chamber hosted its First Friday Meet & Eat at Momma’s at Sengelmann Hall in Schulenburg on July 1, 2022. Pictured are members of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Sengelmann Hall staff, and members of the Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce.

On July 9, 2020, Pride Sports Houston Dodgeball held Open Play at the Q&B Sports Complex. Pictured are the dodgeball players.

On July 9, 2020, Joe Melton and Bobby Bass presented the 44th Annual Christmas in July at JR’S Bar & Grill. Pictured are the hosts.

The Caucus Pillars of Pride was presented by Amanda Edwards at MATCH on July 9, 2022. Pictured are some of the event participants.

On July 13, 2022, South Beach held a private VIP event. Pictured are Charles Armstrong and some of the performers.

South Beach held its VIP Ultimate House Party on July 14, 2022. Pictured are Colby Wulf, Erik Smith, and Anthony Romanoski.

On July 16, 2022, Lazarus House held a 20th Anniversary Happy Hour at Buddy’s. Pictured are staff, clients, and friends of Lazarus House.

E.R.S.I.C.S.S. hosted Empresses of the Court from around the country at JR’S Bar & Grill and Barcode on July 16, 2022. Pictured are members of the Courts.

OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2022 31

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.  Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.  Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.  Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.  Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.  The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

 Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your

healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:  dofetilide  rifampin  any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you:  Have or have had any kidney or liver problems,

including hepatitis infection.  Have any other health problems.  Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby.

Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.  Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed.

Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:  Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-

counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other.

Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. 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.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION  This is only a brief summary of important information

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 Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5  If you need help paying for your medicine,

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BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, GSI, and KEEP BEING YOU are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2021 © 2022 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. US-BVYC-0008 01/22

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BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

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Scan to see their stories.

AN INTERVIEW WITH…

Uncle Tino The local rapper is a new member of the GRAMMYs Music’s Bold New Generation Class of 2022.

By LOURDES ZAVALETA | Photo by BRENDA HERNANDEZ

Tell me about your journey to becoming a musician.

It started in high school, but I’ve always really loved music.

I picked up guitar and drums individually, but eventually I started to really tap into my creative writing. In high school I did slam poetry, which gave me an avenue to perform in front of people. It was scary as hell at first, and I was super-nervous and very shaky, but it led me into lyrical hip-hop. I started listening to it, studying it, and enjoying it. I was like, alright, this is something I want to do with my life eventually. Now I’m here, and I’ve decided to incorporate a bunch of different [styles and influences] into [my music]. I wanted to take my once-emcee persona and transform it and evolve. For me, it doesn’t just have to stay in one spot. If I want to be a hip-hop artist I can, but that doesn’t mean that I have to abide by hip-hop criteria. Even though I respect the art and the genre, I like to twist it up a bit.

What made you realize music was something you wanted to pursue professionally?

In high school, when people listened to what I would write. And it felt good to see that people were genuinely interested and enjoying what I had to say. Even then, I felt a fire under my ass when people would look at me and think, ‘Oh, this dorky, vaguely Hispanic kid, he can’t rap.’

Then I’d rap and they’d be like, ‘Oh shit!’ I liked being that element of surprise, and I really liked moving people. I had a blast—and I still have a blast performing. It’s so fun to me, and I love spreading joy. I first started performing in August 2014, and it was just great seeing everybody being happy. I loved it. Once I realized I could do it, I didn’t see why I should stop.

When OutSmart interviewed you last June, you had recently released your album Colorfool. Catch us up on what you’ve been up to since then.

I have a lot less money! [Laughs] I ended my time at a job that helped me get Colorfool off the ground. [Then I had] another job less than three months, because I decided to make music 34

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full-time. It’s been eye-opening and humbling.

Since then, I’ve just been performing the album and making it different every time. I’ve also been using the time to find my center again, because I really want to make new music. Recently, I acquired a really good microphone that allows me to actually want to work at home.

I’ve been getting back into writing, practicing a lot of self care, exercising, praying, meditating, resting, and spending time with my friends.

Right now, it’s just been a [time to reflect] on how I want to approach my next album. I also [recently got accepted] into the GRAMMYs Recording Academy, and I have a manager.

How did you become a member of the Recording Academy and the GRAMMYs Music’s Bold New Generation Class of 2022?

I knew a bunch of people who were invited last year. It was super-badass. I was so happy for everyone. [To get in], you need a couple of letters of recommendation from current members, and two of my really good friends in the industry [wrote mine]. I sent my application in, and the Academy reviewed it to [make sure] that what I do for the music industry is worthy of being invited to join.

Do you now have any special Recording

Academy privileges?

Yes, my membership allows me to vote in the Texas chapter.

You’ve performed on stages across Houston, have been featured in Billboard, and now the Academy has recognized you. What’s your proudest accomplishment?

Billboard is definitely up there. I thought that was really neat, because I got to talk shit about Greg Abbott. But I would say my proudest moment was definitely the first show I got to play at White Oak. One of my friends, who is also an Academy member, is dating someone whose son is trans as well.

He’s 12 or 13, and I had a moment to really make him feel special at my show. I created this little grid on the floor with tape to get people engaged [during different parts of the show]. I told my friend [to stand in a specific spot on the grid] so that I could dedicate a song to [the son]. That’s one of the big reasons I want to do what I do, because I get to make kids like me feel special and let them know that they’re capable.

What does it mean for you as a trans artist and activist to have your career

blow up like it has?

I really just want to help. I want to make this community visible and let people know that we are harmless. There are people who don’t “agree,” or whatever, but this isn’t something that you’re supposed to agree with. You just have to understand that this is our life, and something that we need to do. If somebody wants plastic surgery, or larger breasts—or I want none [laughs]—just be human.

I always knew I wanted to help; I just never knew in what way. Right now I’m teaming up with a couple of other people to throw a drag show, with all proceeds going to the Montrose Center. I’m also donating some money that I’m making from my hats for trans youth to Equality Texas. It’s really cool. It’s something that I’m glad to be a part of. I’m blessed that I’m able to do this, and to be a voice to people who feel like they don’t have one.

Walk me through the process of creating a song.

Sometimes, if I want to produce a song, I can sit down and play with drums or just little dumb noises. Other times, I’ll sing to myself and I’ll record a vocal for it. More recently I’ve been trying to write

What are some of your favorite places to perform in Houston?

I like to perform anywhere, as long as the stage is big enough. I have several other musicians with me on stage, so I love to be able to run around. I had a great time performing at Ripcord [during Pride]. White Oak is cool.

Axelrad is always fun. I want to do Warehouse Live and The Secret Group next.

more organically while in session, because it helps me get things done quicker. When I’m on the spot, writing with other people, we’ll only have a couple of hours. I try not to put too much pressure on myself, because that’s an easy way to lose it. Recently, I’ve just been trying to have more fun with it and express how I feel. If there’s a song I don’t think sounds good, I won’t get married to that song or the words.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a musician?

Be the least afraid as possible. Enjoy yourself.

Do not overthink shit, because that will hold you back. It sounds cliche, but have fun with what you wanna do. You’re going to make some good songs and you’re gonna make some bad songs. That’s a given. You’re not going to make a perfect song every time, especially when you’re first starting out. Don’t let the fear of being not good stop you. That’s just a part of the process of creating music, evolving, and getting better.

Who are some of your musical inspirations?

Missy Elliott, Mac Miller, Wu-Tang Clan, Gang Starr, Parliament-Funkadelic, Deftones, Incubus, The Gorillaz, Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, OutKast, Action Bronson, Isaiah Rashad, Anderson Paak, J Dilla, Madlib, the Alchemist, Freddie Gibbs, Britney Spears, Led Zepplin, and Smokey Robinson. I just like pulling inspiration from a lot of different people—especially a lot of dance and house music. Recently I’ve been pulling inspiration from my friends Dende, CA The Don, Andres Mishka, Tol Calvin, Kiran the Nomad, and Kim Koro.

In your opinion, what makes a good song?

Something that can leave a lasting impression on everybody.

Where can our readers keep up with you?

If anybody wants to find me or follow me, I’m Uncle Tino on all platforms.

Keep up with Uncle Tino on Instagram @reallyuncletino.

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THE MUSIC ISSUE

SONGS OF SELFREFLECTION Kam Franklin pours her soul into an upcoming solo album.

By JENNY BLOCK Photo by PATY RAMIREZ-SANCHEZ/ AGAVE BLOOM PHOTOGRAPHY

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ou might know Kam Franklin for her music. The pansexual singer-songwriter is the front woman of the popular Gulf Coast soul band The Suffers, as well as a solo artist in her own right. But if you don’t know her for her activism work, you’re missing out on what makes her such a powerful and desperately needed force right now.

The 35-year-old Houstonian attended both Texas Southern University and Lone Star College. “I studied the music business before diving into it,” says Franklin, adding that music has long been her calling. “I knew at 5 years old, when I got to sing on a mic for the first time.”

Still, Franklin was torn between following her dreams to be a rock star and taking an entirely different route by setting her sights on becoming a federal judge. “Growing up, we were taught [that a legal career] could make the most significant changes.

But if you’re really trying to make the most changes, you need to go for the highest of the high, which would be a federal judge or a Supreme Court justice.”

But when she tested the waters by working at a law firm, it didn’t take long for her to see that working in the legal world wasn’t the right fit. “The law and the way that exists [with so many] restrictions and all of that is really not for me at all. I know that now,” she admits.

As for which rock star made her want to pursue music, she’s quick to answer.

“Prince, for sure. We have the same birthday, so that was always a very fun thing to think about. I just loved that he played everything and wrote everything, and that he could sing. I thought he was so beautiful and just so different, in comparison to what I was seeing at the time.”

Growing up, she was also obsessed with R&B. “I was always really enamored with whatever Brandy and Monica, Destiny’s Child, Selena, and people at that level [were doing].”

The Suffers launched in 2011, and three years later when David Letterman’s show came calling, Franklin suddenly found herself working full-time on her music. The three-time recipient of a Houston Press music award for Best Female Vocalist has since performed on five continents, sung with the Houston Symphony and before an Astros game, and produced events promoting up-and-coming independent, minority, and female artists.

Franklin calls the music she does with The Suffers “socially conscious” funk and soul.

“That funk, that jazz, that Latin everything— we’re not really leaning into one genre with that, in terms of cumbia or salsa or anything like that,” she notes. “We are really, really just going wherever the flow takes us.”

In February, she released her Bayou City Comeback Chorus EP, a social-justice album funded with a grant from the Houston Arts Alliance that features the voices and musicianship of over 20 local artists.

But her musical collaborations are a bit different from her personal projects. Before the year ends, Franklin plans on releasing a solo record and is currently working on capturing her truth.

“ALL I WANT TO DO IS JUST KEEP MAKING MORE MUSIC THAT IS REFLECTIVE NOT ONLY OF MY STORIES, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT CAN’T TELL THEIR OWN STORIES.” —Kam Franklin “I’ve been hyper-focused on making what I feel is a true record, in terms of what I’m saying. But genre-wise, I think I’ll probably be thrown somewhere between Americana, soul, and country—and I’m okay with that,” she explains. “It’s a bit more than ‘socially conscious’ because I’m not just doing observational writing at that point. I’m doing a lot of self-reflection and a lot of storytelling for my family members. I’m doing work that is beyond myself.”

Franklin describes music as being healing, and a form of comfort for many. “It sounds cheesy, but it’s true. You just gotta find the right song. Music can be a vessel for change. Listen to the music of Marvin Gaye or The Staples Singers, or even Kendrick Lamar. Music has a way to communicate emotion while also encouraging people. It all depends on the message within the music.”

Franklin says The Suffers’ most recent album, It Stars with Love, which was released in June, discussed “oppression within the music industry, whether it applies to sexism, racism, pay inequity—just all kinds of things that exist there. I don’t think that necessarily only applies to music, [so] I call out a lot of different

industries.”

When it comes to her solo work, every one of her mentors has told her to just tell the truth. “[That applies] not only as an artist, but as a writer and just as an observer of humans— to know that I could write down what I’m seeing and record it and release it,” she says.

“I think it takes a lot of guts, as I’m releasing a record, to talk shit about music journalists and call out the fact that there’s not very many [trained] music journalists left,” Franklin continues. In one of her upcoming song lyrics, she sings, ‘I know this album will be fire. I can feel it in my soul, but I gotta wait for writers who don’t even like their role. They should be working on their screenplay or off finishing their book, but the budget says they’re music writers that also review the cooks.’

She’s also working on a follow-up to It Starts with Love. “On top of this, I’ll be on tour the rest of the year with The Suffers,” she says.

As for how she manages to keep working despite the state of the world, she says, “I take a lot of breaks. I smoke a lot of weed. I hang out with my friends. I hang out with my family, and I try to stay out of the bullshit. I try to stay well-informed of what is happening in the world. However, I’m not interested in news.

I’m interested in fact.”

Franklin hopes that all the violence and hate and disenfranchisement targeting underserved communities will ultimately lead to a better world for everyone.“That’s what it takes, sometimes. It takes everybody being torn apart. It’s going to take people having their rights taken away, it’s going to take people getting uncomfortable. I’ve been more focused on what I can control, because it’s very easy to spiral. It’s like, you’ve got to keep it moving. Got to keep it moving. The world’s chaotic, so I have a lot of things to write about,” she notes, adding that the state of the LGBTQ community is also one of her topics.

Queerness, she says, is “something that you just have to really normalize, because it seems as though people are working really hard to erase the work and connectivity that we’ve all worked so hard to create for one another, for [no good] reason other than hate.”

Hate is something Franklin has no time for. “All I want to do is just keep making more music that is reflective not only of my stories, but the people that can’t tell their own stories—which is probably more of a focus on my solo album. I’ve been working on it for the better part of a decade and was just waiting for funding, and I finally got that and I’m about to get started. It’s a cool time to be creating.”

Keep up with Kam Franklin on Instagram @bamitskam.

OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2022

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THE MUSIC ISSUE

Hitting Life’s High Notes John Holiday continues taking his opera career to new heights.

By SAM BYRD | Photo by SHERVIN LAINEZ

The public knows John Holiday from The Voice’s 19th season as well as his opera career. But long before that, he was just a little boy growing up in Rosenberg.

“I’ve been singing since I was two years old. My grandmother and my mother often tell me that I sang before I spoke, which I think most babies probably do—they start singing along and don’t even know what they’re singing,” he says.

His mother and grandmother were both primed to recognize this knack, as they were both involved in music. They weren’t the only ones who took a shine to Holiday’s vocals, though. As a second-grader at Travis Elementary School, one of his teachers noticed his gift and further encouraged him to explore music by auditioning for the Fort Bend Boys Choir.

And with that, his journey as a musician launched—one that would also introduce him to the world of opera.

“I often tell people that opera chose me; I didn’t really choose it. I hadn’t really heard opera until I was in the Fort Bend Boys Choir, and I just thought it was choral singing. I didn’t know that we were singing classical,” Holiday recalls.

He also loved opera for its eye-popping costumes. “Anyone who knows me knows I love a good outfit or a good costume. One of the things that I was enamored with in opera was the dresses the women would wear in performances. I was gobsmacked and taken by what they would wear!” he adds.

Holiday’s love for performance, and for opera’s vast array of musical styles, would inspire him to study at some of the best institutions in the nation. He earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Southern Methodist University, a master’s in vocal performance from the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music, and the Artist Diploma in Opera Studies from The Juilliard School in New York City. ➝ OutSmartMagazine.com

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JOHN HOLIDAY | CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

His career rocketed soon thereafter, taking him across the globe. Holiday has performed at world-renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, London’s Barbican Center, and the Philharmonie de Paris. His career highlights have included a tour with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, appearing as the Sorceress in Barrie Kosky’s production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, as Orpheus’ Double in the world premiere of Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice at the Los Angeles Opera, as Caesar in Handel’s Julius Caesar in Egypt at Wolf Trap Opera, and singing the title role in Xerxes at the Glimmerglass Festival.

While Holiday had been gaining attention in classical music circles, his appearance on The Voice caused the public’s awareness of him to grow exponentially.

However, it was a long time between his initial contact with The Voice and his audition.

“I had been asked probably five years in a row by the casting producers to do the show. I always declined—not because I didn’t want to do it, but because I didn’t have the time. I have been booked back-to-back for the majority of my career, and I consider that a really big blessing in my life,” Holiday explains.

“I OFTEN TELL PEOPLE THAT OPERA CHOSE ME; I DIDN’T REALLY CHOOSE IT.” —John Holiday

His schedule might have been packed before the pandemic, but COVID-19 changed everything.

“Everything was canceled in the art world during that time, so my window of opportunity opened. The Voice miraculously called me again, asking me if I would audition,” he recalls. “So I went on an audition just like everybody else. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I knew that I was going to give it my all.”

He ended up making the cut and joining John Legend’s team.

“I loved every minute of it, particularly the challenge of doing things that were different

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for me. But some of the songs I had listened to growing up,” Holiday reminisces.

He ultimately took fifth place in the competition, but he walked away with a bigger prize.

It was on the show’s set that he met fellow contestant DeMario Adams (aka Rio Souma), and the two started dating.

Last month, the couple tied the knot in Houston surrounded by friends and family.

Longtime family friend and Houston mayor Sylvester Turner officiated the wedding, which was themed “a celestial dream.”

Reflecting on his marriage and his career’s potential for breaking down social barriers, Holiday is enthusiastic. “I’m proud to be a part of the LGBTQ community, as I feel that one of the things that I try to do in my work is to include everyone. I try to represent all the communities of which I am a member. There are so many challenges that we have in our community, unfortunately. I hope that in my lifetime, I see the eradication of hatred toward our community. I hope that my music and my life have created a conduit in which we can create conversation. I hope that I have been an example of what love looks like, and what walking in your true, authentic self looks like.”

For more on John Holiday, visit johnholiday.com.

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THE MUSIC ISSUE

A Banjo, a Bass, and Embroidery Geoffrey Muller shares his wide array of talents in Houston and beyond.

By ZACH McKENZIE Photo by JEREMY KABALA

L

ife on the road suits Geoffrey Muller, the multifaceted musician who fans may know as @CajunBanjo on Instagram. He is currently on tour with the Houston Gulf Coast soul band The Suffers, so he talked with OutSmart from his hotel in Wyoming.

With a career influenced by a wide range of music, a personal style that caught GQ’s eye, and a penchant for creating unique, one-of-akind crafts (his Instagram features his incredible embroidery skills) Muller is an eclectic Houston artist worth watching.

“Music has been my full-time job since my

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mid-20s,” the 43-year-old musician says. “I’ve played guitar since I was 12 or 13. My dad had mentioned that he always wanted to play the banjo. I don’t know if I’d ever even heard one before then, but I asked for one and got it for Christmas. I’m self-taught, mainly by books. I’d pore over them.”

Pursuing music full-time was a no-brainer for Muller. “After college, I did some voice and stage acting in Houston and I would play music at night. After a year, I realized I wanted to do it full-time,” he says. “I made my own schedule, met cool people, and traveled the world. There’s a lot of perks to the job. You don’t get paid much at first, but it’s fun.”

He really made his stamp on Houston starting in 2002 at the Montrose bar and event space Avant Garden, where he played to large crowds of locals for four years. “I met a lot of people through that weekly gig.

It was a crazy night in Montrose every Monday night. There would be 200 people inside for those shows.”

Eventually lending his talents to artists including Robert Ellis, Joshua Ray Walker, and Ethiopian pop musician Gili Yalo, to name a few, Muller, who identifies as queer, became recognizable to audiences near and far. “I travel the world now, and people ask me if I’m Cajun Banjo,” Muller says with

laughter as he describes people recognizing his Instagram handle. “When I was starting, I didn’t know I could [also] tour and do all the things I’m doing now. I thought you just did bar gigs until you died,” the Houston native with deep familial roots in Louisiana says jokingly. “My world expanded when Robert Ellis started getting around a bit.”

The hustle is always top of mind for Muller as he makes sure to continue fullsteam ahead. “We aren’t touring 365 days a year. I have to find other artists to work with to keep myself moving and working.”

He’s slated to play bass for Houston legend Kam Franklin’s upcoming new solo project.

Networking is the name of the game when it comes to finding his next gig. “A lot of times, I see the same people out at music festivals and we become friends. They’ll call me up and ask me to do two-week runs, or record on an album. It’s old-school shaking hands and networking.”

While he’s typically hired to play guitar or bass, Muller uses social media to display his banjo skills. “I started doing banjo videos on TikTok. People don’t usually associate the banjo with the house and ’90s

“THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE QUEER COMMUNITY WHO LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC, AND I WANT THERE TO BE MORE SPACE FOR THEM.” —Geoffrey Muller

songs I cover.”

He also dazzles crowds with his own band, Geoffrey’s Electric Banjo Band. “When I go out and play my shows, there are a lot of queer people in the audience. They hit me up online and tell me they play banjo,” he says.

“I had quit playing banjo because some of the environments [for that music] are a little more conservative and not as accepting, and that’s not a place where I want to be. [But now that I’m] playing banjo again in public, I’ve noticed things have changed a lot.”

Muller’s fashion sense has also won him some acclaim. “I was featured on GQ’s website when they were profiling the Trans-Pecos

Festival in Marfa,” he recalls. “Early on, I was really into The Golden Girls, so I would find Bea Arthur-esque robes and rocked those for a while. I found a red jumpsuit like my grandpa would wear, and it was so comfortable. That evolved into overalls, and I collected them everywhere I’d go. Soon enough, I started making bolo ties and wearing cowboy hats. I didn’t like country music growing up, but my parents always joked that I’d come around to it eventually. I don’t consider myself a cowboy, though— I grew up in Missouri City!”

The multitalented musician and maker is paving the way for other queer artists, and he encourages them to make their voices and influence known. “I wish there were more out, queer voices in the country and Americana music worlds I find myself in,” he notes.

Muller is hopeful that being true to himself will ultimately create more space at the table.

“There are a lot of people in the queer community who love country music, and I want there to be more space for them.”

Geoffrey Muller performs at Axelrad on August 6. Keep up with him on Instagram @cajunbanjo.

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THE MUSIC ISSUE

Creating the Soundtrack to His Life Pop star Isaac Niaz’s music is authentic to his own personal journey.

By ZACH McKENZIE Photo by TARA CAMPBELL

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W

hen it comes to artistry, Isaac Niaz holds all the keys to his creative kingdom. The singer, who recently performed the National Anthem at an Astros baseball game, also produces, composes, and is hands-on with all aspects of his burgeoning career.

With exciting new opportunities on the horizon, Niaz’s hustle is stronger than ever.

The Houston artist’s latest creative exercise will be a remix EP with accompanying visuals, to debut for his fans later this month.

“I started singing before I could speak,” he explains. “My grandmother would tell me that when jingles came on TV, she noticed I could sing along with them.” Niaz discovered early on that in order to become the artist he dreamed of becoming, he had to do it his own way. “I always knew I wanted to sing professionally, and I’ve always wanted to pursue it,” he says. “I auditioned for American Idol and The Voice. I’d always make it to the final rounds before the live shows, but I didn’t love it because it’s such a machine and takes the art out of it.”

In addition to feeling stunted by the status quo of the music business at the time, Niaz was also facing a harsher reality. “I was closeted, and I didn’t get to pursue music the way I wanted to. The most crippling thing was not being out. I knew I ultimately couldn’t make my authentic sound if I wasn’t being true to myself.”

His evolution transformed his music ambitions. “I’m inspired by the creative process, and being able to do something that comes so naturally to me in front of people,” he says emphatically. “That energetic exchange with people willing to listen to my music and the creative side of the industry is so beautiful when you can do it authentically. Everyone has a soundtrack to their life, and being able to create something that is affirming to me is what I’m meant to do.”

The independent artist draws inspiration from a familiar voice. “I’ve always loved pop music, and the first thing that most [of my] listeners catch is the Mariah Carey influence. She’s one of the greatest to ever do it, and I’m so inspired by how she

does it all—writing, melodies, backgrounds. I do the same thing with my music.”

Years of burning the candle at both ends by moonlighting as a musician while working full-time at a River Oaks hair studio has allowed Niaz to see his personal dreams come true. “I’ve performed hundreds of times, and my opportunities keep getting bigger,” he says. “I’ve seen a lot of my favorite artists at the House of Blues. In 2020 I was riding my bike downtown and I passed that venue, and I thought to myself, ‘I’m going to play this venue one day. It’s such an iconic venue, and I’m going to manifest this.’”

It wasn’t long before Niaz’s phone rang.

“Ten months later, I got the call to perform!” he says. “The turnout was huge, and it felt like the moment when this became real for me and that it was really happening. What I thought was impossible a year prior was now happening. My name was on the tickets and the Live Nation website. It was incredible!”

The local superstar is set to release his remix EP of some of his original songs this month, complete with accompanying visuals for each song and a Spanglish version of his

tune “Out of Love” featuring producer and creative collaborator Iris.

“As an artist, I really want to express myself creatively, but also want people to love it,” he says. “With my remix EP, I’m revisiting some songs and giving them new spins.”

It’s been a long journey, working day and night, that has led Niaz to be able to shoot for the stars. “My dream has always been to play Madison Square Garden. I want to have a platform big enough to create a safe space for people who are afraid, or who don’t have a voice—and show them that I, as a gay man, had the tenacity to go out and do it. When I look at Mariah Carey [and some of my other] favorite artists, I think about how they provided [that kind of] safe space for me to turn to.”

Indeed, Niaz sees a higher purpose in all of the career opportunities coming his way. “My goal isn’t to be famous; it’s to be successful and do what I love for a living, and hopefully save somebody’s life through my music. That would be the biggest reward ever.”

Keep up with Isaac Niaz on Instagram @IsaacNiaz.

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THE MUSIC ISSUE

An Authentic New Album Ty Herndon’s ‘Jacob’ is his most honest body of work yet.

COURTESY

By ZACH McKENZIE

Ty Herndon’s life has been marked, but not defined by, trials and tribulation. While some songwriters struggle to capture authentically relatable narratives in their music, Ty Herndon’s lived experiences have played out just like any good country song.

Herndon, who shot to stardom with his debut album What Mattered Most in 1995, has taken the lemons life has handed him and made sweet Southern lemonade in the form of his latest album, Jacob, out July 15.

The singer, who became the first male mainstream country star to publicly come out back in 2014 via an exclusive People magazine interview, has been busy promoting his new album on top of his other commitments. “I think this is the first time I’ve sat down today,” Herndon says, laughing.

Reflecting on those early days of choosing to come out to the world, Herndon says, “The gift of singing has stood strong and been 46

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| OutSmartMagazine.com

protected by a higher power. All this great stuff was happening for me and my career.” Chely Wright, Herndon’s fellow queer country friend and confidante, gave him some much-needed advice: “She said, ‘Let’s talk about how this would look to be free of this burden.’ When she said that, I knew there was a closet in this house of my body that needed to be cleaned out.

There was a lot of old shit in there, and I needed to have an update.”

To Herndon’s pleasant surprise, the reception he received was warm and overwhelmingly positive. “Coming out, for me, was a new beginning. I got to be loved by a whole big new family. I remember doing my first Pride festival in LA. They sandwiched me between Fifth Harmony and Megan Trainor, and thought the crowd was going to hate me,” Herndon recalls, laughing. “They didn’t! There were 3,000 amazing people singing along with my songs.

With all the hard stuff that’s gone on in my life, I forgot to stop and celebrate the good stuff.

Coming out was me understanding I’d done some great things that I could celebrate.”

What followed were years of both extreme

highs and life-threatening lows. Herndon, who has long struggled with substance abuse and anxiety, talks about how he recently found himself in a corner in his home all alone, depressed, and hopeless. “For 30 years, I wasn’t able to speak to my own story and own my shit,” he says. “It was time. I just wrote a whole record about it. My song ‘God or the Gun’ goes along with that story.

We start with the hard stuff and bring in the good news with this album. This record is about changing your ending, no matter how much crap you go through.”

That song informed the rest of Herndon’s album. “I went into this project to write ‘God or the Gun.’ There’s 14 writers on this album, and they had all lost someone to suicide. I sat down next to my baby-grand piano and felt unworthy to write it with them, but we wrote the song in two hours.

We finished it and, my goodness, we all went into a full-blown boo-hoo. It was like we were celebrating the lives that made it and grieving the lives that didn’t. It felt like it was meant to be written.

“I was on the journey of sobriety, and was ready for the rest of my blood and bones to catch up with me,” Herndon notes.

Having sought treatment throughout his life, including at the J. Flowers Health Institute in Houston, Herndon is once again celebrating a new lease on life with this album release. “I have the opportunity to talk about survival, and how hard it is to get there. I’m on fire for it, because I started getting my life back way later in life! I had a big birthday recently, but I feel 35!”

This 60-year-old understands the road ahead is indeed a long one, but one worth staying on. “There are good days and bad days with recovery. Sometimes a relapse saves your ass—it shows you what recovery has done for you, and the work you still have left to do. I work daily to discover what dwells within me.”

While Herndon has been in the Nashville music scene all his life, he still leans on the advice and affirmations from friends about re-entering the world of mainstream country music. “I had to go back to school with this album,” he says of the changing landscape in Music City.

“Reba McIntyre told me one time, ‘You’ll always be reinventing yourself. The one thing you can’t reinvent is that light in

“FOR 30 YEARS, I WASN’T ABLE TO SPEAK TO MY OWN STORY AND OWN MY SHIT. IT WAS TIME. I JUST WROTE A WHOLE RECORD ABOUT IT.” —Ty Herndon

your eyeballs.’ I feel like when you look at my album cover, for the first time you finally see that light. It’s clear. I’m so proud of that album cover!”

Friends of Herndon have gotten a sneak peek at what’s to come. “My friend Cody Alan was saying he was expecting a sad ballad, but then a dance romp came on and he got off his treadmill and started dancing!”

With his new album and a forthcoming podcast about mental health in the works (with guests including LeAnn Rimes, Alan, and Kristin Chenoweth), Herndon is looking ahead to the next phase of his life as he puts in the work to make sure he leaves the next generation with the resources that he didn’t have.

In 2020, he created the Foundation for Love & Acceptance to send a clear message to LGBTQ youth. “I wish that someone had told me that I didn’t have to hide who I was. I tell the kids [at the Foundation] that who you are will be celebrated. I wish someone would’ve connected those dots for me. I get into a lot of visuals with my recovery. We tore down the town that was living in me. It was a ghost town. But we kept the foundation, because the lessons are in the foundation. And anything we build on top of that is gonna be stronger.”

For more info, visit tyherndon.com.

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BEYOND BINARY

the

G

ender identity exists on a spectrum that extends beyond the rigid male/female binary.

Nonbinary or gender-nonconforming individuals often express their gender identity outside of these binary terms.

Many gender identites fall under the nonbinary umbrella, according to Medical News Now—identities such as bigender, multigender, agender, genderfluid, and genderqueer. Nonbinary people might use gender-neutral pronouns exclusively, while others use a combination of he/she/they pronouns or even neopronouns such as ze/zir. While some express their appearance androgynously, this is a personal choice and not a requirement.

Hopeful Romantic Local blogger Alex Whitney practices radical self-love.

By LILLIAN HOANG

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OutSmartMagazine.com

There is no standard narrative that captures every nonbinary person’s experience. In this August issue of OutSmart, we highlight three nonbinary locals who are pushing diversity forward within their communities. Kevin Nguyen, a gender-nonconforming person, is continuing his advocacy work as the new director of the UH LGBTQ Resource Center. Blogger Alex Whitney, a transmasculine nonbinary person, encourages others to practice radical self-love.

Frances Zuckerbrod, who is also transmasculine and nonbinary, is a college student whose artwork was recently published in a zine for the national Jewish LGBTQ nonprofit Keshet.

A native of Texas, Alex Whitney knew from a young age that they were different. But they have always celebrated what made them stand out— their gender, sexuality, and disability—because it has allowed them to weed out close-minded people, see the beauty in all bodies, and practice radical self-love.

“I definitely think my disability is the core of who I am, because without it, I don’t know how I would be myself, how I would treat others, feel comfortable in my skin,” says Whitney, who was born with only nine fingers.

The 23-year-old transmasculine nonbinary pansexual, who uses they/he pronouns, grew up in Groves, Texas, a small city near Port Arthur and Beaumont. They were one of nearly 17,000 residents, and their high school’s mascot was a racist depiction of a Native American person. In addition to the struggles they faced growing up in a conservative town, Whitney was only taught about the typical identity markers: boy, girl, gay, and straight.

Despite experimenting with both femininity and masculinity as a child, they never connected with either and dismissed the concept of gender entirely. During high school, after learning what it meant to be nonbinary, they felt freer and able to form a greater appreciation of gender. “There are no rules; you can do it however you want.

That’s what I really enjoy about gender.”

But the realization was bittersweet.

“There’s that part of gender where you have to accept that not everyone is going to accept or understand or even see you as what you are,” Whitney notes.

Early on in life, they were bullied for their appearance and disability. Growing up, Whitney thought, “You can say and do a lot to try to get boys and girls to give you attention, but you’re disabled. You’re just the class clown—the ‘friend.’ You’re nothing more than that because of your disability.”

However, now that disabled people are better represented in the mainstream media, Whitney’s view about themself and their worth has drastically improved.

They’ve not only embraced their disability,

but have encouraged other people on dating apps to share their best “thumb joke.”

“I’ve had people say, ‘I give you two thumbs up, but since you only have one, I’ll give you one thumb up,’” they laugh.

Whitney was able to realize radical selflove after going to hospitals that treated limb differences, as well as a program called Hand Camp, where they were able to connect to other disabled kids and camp counselors. “The camp showed me that it was possible to not only be happy and beautiful, but also find love,” they recall. “Seeing someone’s hand like mine with a wedding ring on it just gave me so much motivation and hope.”

Their confidence and transformative self-love also ignited their passion for community—and a desire to earn a degree in American Sign Language (ASL). As a child, Whitney visited a friend’s house and interacted with that friend’s youngest deaf sister, whose family regularly spoke to her verbally instead of through sign language.

Having experienced the support of family and friends, Whitney wanted to extend that love and learn ASL to speak with that deaf girl and others like her.

—Alex Whitney

“I love making or finding a community wherever I’m at,” Whitney says.

Invested in the Houston LGBTQ community, Whitney will be participating in a local queer reality dating show called Panning for Love. Four LGBTQ contestants from Houston will go on a series of speed dates with each other. The interactions will premiere at the DeLUXE Theater on August 4, when audiences will get to ask contestants questions afterward about their experience. Viewers will also get to watch participants ask each other out on dates, and then they’ll vote to bring back

COURTESY

“I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE THE WORLD HOW I SEE IT. IT’S SO DIVERSE—MORE THAN JUST WHITE, SKINNY, ABLE-BODIED PEOPLE. EVERYTHING IS NOT SO BLACK AND WHITE, AND I THINK BEING RAISED IN SITUATIONS WHERE I COULD SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE SO DIFFERENT HELPED ME ESCAPE THE CONSERVATIVE-TOWN MENTALITY AND FORM MY OWN OPINION.” Alex Whitney, They/He one rejected contestant, giving that player another chance to find love.

Whitney hopes their story and worldviews can help others recognize the beauty in all people. “I want people to see the world how I see it. It’s so diverse—more than [just] white, skinny, able-bodied people. Everything is not so black and white, and I think being raised in situations where I could see that people are so different helped me escape the conservativetown mentality and form my own opinion.”

Whitney loves traveling, watching others play video games, and cooking vegetarian-

friendly meals. They enjoy reading, writing poetry, and running a blog called Nine Finger Newsletter, which they update when the inspiration strikes.

With plans to relocate to Katy, Whitney recently began testosterone therapy. They often get asked if they identify as a trans man, or wish to be more masculine. “My end goal,” they conclude with a laugh, “is to be hot and happy!”

For more information, visit ninefingernewsletter.wordpress.com.

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BEYOND THE BINARY

Serving Students in Style UH LGBTQ Resource Center’s Kevin Nguyen continues his intersectional advocacy work.

W

ith over 12 years of experience working at the University of Houston (UH) and volunteering in the local LGBTQ community, Kevin Nguyen is no stranger to being a supportive resource for the people around him. That experience— both in and outside of higher education—led him to become the new director of the UH LGBTQ Resource Center.

“I’ve volunteered for local LGBTQ organizations and advised University of Houston students for several years now,” Nguyen, 37, says. “In this new role, I hope I can become a bridge between these two communities.”

Originally from Houston, Nguyen, a gender-nonconforming person who uses he/they pronouns, admits he didn’t plan on staying in the city for the long term. “I went to graduate school in California, and within that time I saw Houston evolve. The LGBTQ community has made great strides in making the city more welcoming, eclectic, and diverse, thanks to the efforts of activists like Monica Roberts, Mayor Annise Parker, the Black Lives Matter movement, the Montrose Center, and so many others that inspired me to join these initiatives while being myself.”

After returning to Houston in 2010, he served on the boards of Bunnies on the Bayou and UH’s LGBTQ Alumni Association,

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX ROSA FOR OUTSMART

By MARTIN GIRON

Kevin Nguyen, He/They as well as Mayor Sylvester Turner’s LGBTQ Advisory Board and the Pride Houston VIP committee. He also volunteered with the Victory Fund, the Diana Foundation, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Montrose Center, among others. His efforts were recognized by the local LGBTQ community when Pride Houston 365 named him their Gender Non-Binary/ Non-Conforming Grand Marshal in 2021.

Nguyen, who is Vietnamese American, is the UH LGBTQ Resource Center’s first Asian director. Though he previously worked with UH students as an academic advisor, he is excited about the opportunity to support students in a more personal way.

“I want to focus on underrepresented student populations that intersect with LGBTQ identities and cultivate safe spaces for them to

be themselves,” Nguyen says. “We’ve received feedback that some students of color feel like they cannot utilize our Center, and I want to change that. Logistically we have to reach as many students as possible, but not everything is a numbers game—we need to address the needs of each of these intersecting student populations.”

Founded in 2010, the mission of UH’s LGBTQ Resource Center is to empower students through several program initiatives and spaces to develop their authentic selves through engagement with each other and their local communities. The Center has made strides in changing the sociopolitical landscape at UH by providing scholarships, spaces for free speech and protest, peer-initiated “rainbow chats,” collaborative leadership programs, Cougar ➝ OutSmartMagazine.com |

AUGUST 2022

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KEVIN NGUYEN | CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

ally training sessions, and campus-wide initiatives to provide more resources for its genderdiverse student population, such as installing single-stall restrooms and facilitating genderinclusive housing.

The Center’s new director plans to expand on its success in promoting further visibility and collaboration between students, faculty, and the larger Houston community. “We want everyone to have a [physical and virtual] space at the Center and be represented and catered to equally,” Nguyen says. “I want a student to get the information they need without ever having to step foot in the building.”

Nguyen envisions several ways to implement these initiatives. He wants to train a liaison at the campus Writing Center who will help LGBTQ students apply for scholarships. He also hopes that a partnership with the Montrose Center will provide students with more resources and volunteer opportunities, and that by transforming the relationship between faculty and students, UH can provide more farreaching support systems in disciplines that have historically been less accessible to LGBTQ communities.

“This has been a dream job of mine for over a decade now,” Nguyen notes. “I had seen LGBTQ resource centers during graduate school

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in California, but in Texas they weren’t as commonplace back then.”

Prior to his time in California, Nguyen attended Baylor University, which is known for its anti-LGBTQ policies. Being raised Catholic, Nguyen was aware that a few of his peers would stop supporting him after coming out. What he did not expect was the support he received from peers he considered to be the most religious.

“Some friends did disown me after I came out,” Nguyen says. “On the other side of that, I also had true acceptance from folks you wouldn’t expect, and that was encouraging to see because it meant they were being more inclusive in the practice of their faith.

We talk about loving your neighbor, and that means loving your trans neighbor, your Black neighbor, and your disabled neighbor.”

Nguyen’s experiences with acceptance from both the religious and LGBTQ communities has inspired him to live in his own truth, which includes rocking a pair of heels whenever he can. “I like to wear clothing that’s not always male-centric.

I think there’s cultural aspects of male and female expectations that can be a little convoluted with Western ideals,” Nguyen says.

In his new role, Nguyen hopes to not only meet students where they are with their needs, but to empower them in changing the foundations of their future.

“I always try to give my students a geometry lesson: if you cut enough corners, do you know what you get?” Nguyen inquires. “A circle. There’s only so many corners you can cut before you end up right back where you started.”

For more on the UH LGBTQ Resource Center, visit uh.edu/ lgbtq and follow them at @UHLGBTQ on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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BEYOND THE BINARY

An Intersectional Artist One of Frances Zuckerbrod’s pieces is published in a queer Jewish zine.

By MARENE GUSTIN

F

rances Zuckerbrod has reason to feel proud during the High Holy Days this year.

The 21-year-old Texas A&M horticulture major submitted a piece of artwork to be included in a zine for the national Jewish LGBTQ nonprofit Keshet. They liked it so much they asked to print the drawing on items they plan to sell during this year’s High Holy Days.

Keshet is a Hebrew word meaning rainbow, the symbol of LGBTQ Pride. The national nonprofit organization was founded in 1996 in Boston by Jonathan Krasner and Jared Goldfarb to advocate for LGBTQ equality in all facets of Jewish life—synagogues, Hebrew schools, day schools, youth groups, summer camps, social-service organizations, and other communal agencies.

They develop the leadership skills of LGBTQ Jewish teens, train Jewish educators to prevent anti-LGBTQ bullying, celebrate LGBTQ Jewish identity, and mobilize Jewish communities to protect marriage equality and transgender rights.

Zuckerbrod, a Jewish person who identifies as transmasculine, nonbinary, and pansexual, was thrilled to have his art chosen.

“I submitted my artwork to their zine without being sure they’d want to publish it,” he says. “Having them offer to pay me to use my artwork beyond publishing it in the zine was a pleasant surprise! The piece they selected is an illustration of a cross-section of a pomegranate with multi-colored seeds.

The pomegranate is a symbol I’ve seen a lot in Jewish artwork, and I wanted the variety of colors in the seeds to reflect the diversity within the Jewish community and the LGBTQ+ community. It was an image that came to mind when I saw the prompt for Keshet’s zine, ‘At the Intersection of Queer and Jewish.’”

How does Zuckerbrod handle that intersection?

“I tend to present myself however I feel like presenting on any given day,” he says.

“Sometimes this means I look feminine, or

Frances Zuckerbrod, He/They masculine, or somewhere in between. I use he/they pronouns, as well. When I met my girlfriend, who is a trans woman, I started to learn more about trans identities. I was also interested in Japanese street fashion at the time, and part of what drew me to it was that people in that community often experiment with different ways of presenting themselves, regardless of biological sex. I happened to like some of the more masculine or androgynous styles under that umbrella. What really solidified my understanding of myself was realizing that it was OK to identify as something besides a man or a woman, and that I felt most comfortable doing that.”

Coming out to his family wasn’t too much of an issue for Zuckerbrod.

“My immediate family is fairly small,” he says. “My dad is a single gay man, so I was pretty sure he and my sister would be accepting. Things were a little rougher with them than I expected, but that mostly came from a place of concern, and it’s getting better. I’m still working on informing extended family as it comes up, and I’m not really concerned with how they’ll react. My grandparents passed away before I was able to come out to them, and I suspect it would have been more difficult for them to accept me.”

Being queer at Texas A&M isn’t always easy. The school has a history of discrimination—specifically, a six-year long case fought in the courts when Texas A&M refused to

Frances Zuckerbrod’s illustration features a popular Jewish symbol, the pomegranate with multi-colored seeds, to reprepresent its LGBTQ community.

officially recognize the Gay Student Services Organization on the grounds that homosexuality was illegal in Texas. Ultimately, in 1984, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the students, saying the university had denied them their First Amendment rights.

Texas A&M was ranked consistently on Princeton Review’s list of “Unfriendly Schools for LGBT Students” from 2009 until 2015. People that live near A&M’s College Station campus sometimes refer to it as “Closet Station,” but things are getting better with queer student organizations being more visible and vocal.

“I don’t typically explain my gender identity to everyone I meet at my university,” Zuckerbrod admits. “I’m out to my friends in the LGBTQ organizations I’m involved with, and if a faculty member or classmate asked me for my pronouns, I do answer honestly. I just don’t necessarily look like someone who people would assume uses he/they pronouns, so usually people default to she/her. I don’t always have the willpower to correct them, and it can be hard for people to adjust even when I do. It doesn’t help that there’s a pretty vocal conservative element at A&M, but I tend to approach things that way in any situation where I’m uncertain about coming out. I’d like to be more open during my senior year and beyond that, though.”

For more on Keshet and Zuckerbrod’s merchandise, visit keshetonline.org.

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COMMUNITY

Tony’s Place Has a New Home The drop-in shelter for LGBTQ and ally youth is back in Montrose.

By MARENE GUSTIN

T

ony’s Place, a Houston dropin center for at-risk LGBTQ youth and their allies, now has a new home in Montrose.

Founded in 2016 and named after the late community leader Tony Carroll, Tony’s Place operated for its first year out of an old twostory home on Montrose Boulevard. Operations then moved into a Midtown space they shared with the Salvation Army’s Young Adult Resource Center.

“We left there early in the pandemic to focus on street outreach,” says Lindsay Konlande, communications director for Tony’s Place. “We tried to find a new space last year, but the City permitting just didn’t work out for our needs.”

The commercial property they were considering had around 5,000 square feet of space—enough for a kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, office space, multipurpose rooms for groups, and desperately needed storage space for clothes, toiletries, and other street-outreach supplies. But the task of bringing the building up to code was just too much.

After two years without its own building, Tony’s Place finally found a suitable new home and moved in during July. The stand-alone Montrose building is part of the Bering Church’s Open Gate campus on Hawthorne Street. Open Gate focuses on 18- to 30-year-old homeless young adults of any sexual orientation or gender identity, but with a fundamental commitment to provide a safe and welcoming place for the LGBTQ young adults who generally have a very difficult time at shelters and agencies.

“This is a much better facility for us,” says Konlande. “We have our own entrance; it has a kitchen space and rooms for the donations where our members can ‘shop’ for clothing and toiletries. It also has washers and dryers and showers—whatever our members need. It’s been two years in the

Volunteers from AAA Texas helped Tony’s Place set up it’s new center making, but it’s perfect. It’s a testament to our staff and volunteers, who have been doing street outreach for LGBTQ+ youth [through] pop ups at our partners’ spaces, answering phones and securing housing.”

Move-in costs have been minimal, since the space mainly needed painting and carpet cleaning. But that’s just Phase 1.

“Phase 2 will be getting new computers and kitchen appliances,” she adds. “We’ve had a lot of support from our regular donors. They never stopped fundraising during the past two years.”

This month, Tony’s Place will open for five hours on Saturdays as they work toward expanding their hours in the future. The mission is to provide unstably housed or homeless LGBTQ youth and allies (up to age 25) with day-to-day survival needs—clothing, food, hygiene needs, and resources. The nonprofit plans to work with 25 to 50 youths at a time.

“We don’t provide overnight housing,” Konlande says, “but we can get them to our partners that do, and then work on long-term housing needs. Three of our four staffers are certified to offer assistance with government-

housing options. Often, we are dealing with youth who have aged out of the foster system and have nowhere else to go.”

In the United States, 4.2 million youth experience homelessness each year, with LGBTQ youth 120 percent more likely to experience homelessness than their non-LGBTQ peers, according to the National Network for Youth.

Family conflict is the most common cause of all youth homelessness. For LGBTQ youth in particular, the conflict tends to be over their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“This new space really means we have an opportunity to help more youths,” says Konlande. “This space will help affirm them and empower them. We want to bring in partners to offer classes to them. Maybe cooking classes and budgeting—whatever they need to get them on their feet.

“In a perfect world, there would be no need for Tony’s Place,” she concludes. But until then, organizations like Tony’s Place—with the help of generous donations—are here to help.

For more information, visit tonysplace.org.

OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2022

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OUT THERE Photos by DALTON DEHART & CREW

OUT PROFESSIONALS HOUSTON LAUNCH June 9, 2022 Out Professionals launched its Houston chapter with a kickoff party at ReBar. This new networking group will help queer locals make meaningful connections with other LGBTQ professionals.

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READ OUT

‘Legends of Drag’ A Houston icon is featured in Devin Antheus and Harry Hanson’s new book.

By DAVID ODYSSEY | Photos by KEN HANSON

D

uring the surge periods of the pandemic, when many of the nation’s elderly were languishing without proper care or attention, one forgotten community was celebrating immortality, posing on the sets built in their honor for glamorous photo shoots throughout the country.

These 81 subjects of the new book Legends of Drag: Queens of a Certain Age were finally claiming the honor that they had long fought for after enduring lifetimes of homophobia and transphobia, societal and familial exile, AIDS, and beyond.

Created by Devin Antheus and Harry Hanson, Legends of Drag looks at the uncharted history of American drag that developed in the parlors, parties, dens, and nightclubs once lost to the ages, recalled now by their greatest acts.

Among the elders honored in the book is Dina Jacobs, Houston’s grande dame of drag who debuted in 1964 and still performs all over the country. “As I was considering Texas models, Dina was always at the top of my list,” Hansen tells OutSmart. “You look at her, and you see she’s a star. That face—hello? She looked like a queen who had stories to tell. Younger generations—even younger queens who are in the book—look up to Dina as a legend. Legends inspiring legends.”

As both Legends of Drag and Larry Ponder’s 2020 biography Forever Her Mother’s Son recount, Jacobs grew up in Hawaii during an era of rapid modernization and intense backlash.

Indigenous Hawaiian culture honored māhū, a class of priests and healers who existed outside the norms of traditional masculine and feminine gender assignments. As Dina discovered drag, she found a lineage of new mothers and mentors who could instruct her in the art.

But it wasn’t for the faint of heart. “There were drag teachers back then,” Jacobs notes. “There was a pecking order, so you knew where you stood. There were rules, and you had to abide by them.”

The queens had to be hard, since men performing in drag at the time were forced to wear signs saying I AM A BOY—making them targets for cruel and corrupt vice officers. As Jacobs shares in Legends of Drag, “The cops 60

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Devin Antheus (l) and Harry Hanson

were really ugly to the drags, but there were some cops who were going with the drags at the same time. As long as nobody saw, they were good with it. I want people to know what we went through in the ’60s, because it wasn’t just my life. We were fighting all of this bigotry before Stonewall.”

Hawaii would become the launching point for Jacobs’ career that spanned continents and garnered over 70 titles including Miss Gay Chicago 1975 and Miss Gay USA 1981. The blatant transphobia she experienced in Hawaii was no less severe in 1981 when, at the Miss Gay USA pageant, Jacobs was ousted from the top five for refusing to don male attire for the show’s interview portion. Decades before similar controversies would reverberate on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Jacobs faced the consequences of proclaiming herself a proud trans woman.

As gay culture shifted and morphed, she collected a vast spectrum of experiences.

She recalls with pride how she supported herself and her sisters through the AIDS crisis, sang “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” live before a young RuPaul and Lady Bunny in Atlanta, and returned to Hawaii in 1999 to help raise her nieces and nephews.

By the time Jacobs settled in Houston in the late 2000s, her legendary status cemented, she was still just warming up.

“I still get nervous every night before I go onstage. I still do.”

In the expansive new world order of drag, there are more opportunities than ever for younger queens—but perhaps at a cost to authenticity, rigor, and professionalism. “Honey, back in the day these girls couldn’t make it!” she laughs. While “attitude” is a given for queens of any age or era, Jacobs notes that when she was coming up, drag elders were to be listened to. Now, it seems, “when somebody tries to school them, they get defensive. These [younger] girls have families, but their families are not teaching them anything.”

Perhaps, then, Legends of Drag will serve as a resource and guide for a younger generation in need of perspective. Jacobs was most impressed that Antheus and Hanson only feature contemporary photography of the subjects, glorifying their power now more than ever. After reading the testimonies of performers from Atlanta, New York, Milwaukee, and far beyond, she was surprised by the vast range of experiences they’d had. “Everybody’s start is different. We think just because we’re girls of a certain age, we have the same start. But we don’t.”

Dina Jacobs

Following the launch of Legends of Drag in June, a nationwide tour is assembling the featured queens to perform all over the country, fostering what Hansen describes as “an intergenerational exchange” and creating “a platform for these queens to share their work with a broader audience—and to get them paid.” Of course, Jacobs has been locked and loaded since day one. “Dina basically told us, ‘If you’re doing events, anywhere in the country, let me know where you need me, and I’ll be there.’

There’s this mainstream perception of drag that queens touring the country is somehow a new phenomenon; the rubric prescribes that you have to get on TV first. Dina turns that paradigm on its head: she’s been touring the country since the ’70s, and she’s still doing it.”

Does that mean Jacobs is ready for some screen time? Hell yes. “I want to do television. I want to be on a series!”

Could it be that, after over five decades in the industry, we haven’t yet seen the prime of Miss Dina Jacobs?

For more info, visit legendsofdrag.org.

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ARTS

Mending Trauma through Art Mariah Garnett brings her first solo US exhibition to CAMH.

By JENNY BLOCK Photo by SEAN FLEMING

M The Pow’r of Life is Love, 2021 62

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ariah Garnett is an artist whose work is grounded in the magic of film and music. Her art explores our sense of space as well as place, and works respond to the world around her and her place in it.

Garnett, 42, grew up in the Hudson Valley of upstate New York. She holds an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Santa Clarita, and a BA from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. She is also a 2019 Guggenheim Fellow in Film and Video.

Her work has been shown all across the world, from the United Kingdom to Los

Angeles, with recent solo exhibitions that include a 10-year survey at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, the Metropolitan Arts Centre in Belfast, UK (Tate Network), ltd los angeles, and Louis B. James in New York City.

Garnett has received a number of honors and awards, and in 2021, her film collaboration with Dynasty Handbag, Weirdo Night, was featured at the Sundance Film Festival. She is currently teaching at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

This month at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (CAMH), Garnett is

exhibiting her first US solo museum presentation entitled Mariah Garnett: Dreamed This Gateway. The multi-channel installation, commissioned by CAMH, asks, “Who speaks, and who is silenced? What histories or facets of a culture do we privilege, and why? How do we acknowledge our history while also rewriting, repairing, and moving beyond our past trauma?”

To create this installation, Garnett worked in collaboration with experimental vocalist Holland Andrews, Cairo-based documentary playwright Raphaël Khouri, and professional opera singers Christopher Paul Craig and Breanna Sinclairé to create a series of operatic videos. The presentation is inspired by archival materials related to opera composer Ruth Lynda Deyo (1884–1960), who is Garnett’s great-great-aunt.

“I’ve always known about her archives and diaries from 1917 to the 1940s,” Garnett explains. “There has just been something resonating recently—more about ‘Why now?’

I wasn’t really interested in them, and then there’s this reckoning with cultural appropriation, the rise of self-help culture, mysticism, and spirituality. She wrote this opera between world wars, and it must have felt apocalyptic.

Why am I the one to make this? She is my link to these broader conversations.”

Growing up, Garnett wanted to be either a Shakespearean actor, an oceanographer, or an inventor. What she became is an artist, and more specifically, a filmmaker. “I’m a filmmaker at heart. I’m not really good with material or media. For a long time, I’ve been questioning: Am I a filmmaker? Am I an artist? I really like to work with installations and have a viewer have an experience with a work in a room.”

Her Houston exhibit demonstrates her passion for both disciplines. “I fall in between the experimental documentary film world and the art world. The most exciting conversations I’ve had about my work have been in the modernart world. I went where the warmth was,” she says. “I’m a moving-image artist.”

Garnett can’t recall a specific moment when she knew that she was an artist. “I make that decision every day. It’s a calling, [and] some people are really suited to it. But I don’t think it’s a calling in the sense that it is more important than other things that people do.”

Her partner, Jibz Cameron, is an artist as well. “I think she’s a genius. We make work together, sometimes,” Garnett says.

When asked how she defines the word art, she readily admits defeat. “I gave up trying to do that a long time ago. But art helps us access a part of our brain that is expansive. It enables us to experience different realities—aesthetically, temporally, emotionally, ideologically—from wherever we are standing, and it’s something all human beings can experience.

It’s also a means of communicating with other people—which can sometimes span eons.”

She wishes more people could understand that being an artist is a job requiring hard work. “I feel like, in this country especially, people see artists as useless, overgrown children who are so privileged they don’t have to work. I like my job most of the time, which makes me feel lucky.”

What: Mariah Garnett: Dreamed This Gateway When: Through August 28 Where: Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose Boulevard Info: camh.org/event/mariah-garnett

Mariah Garnett: Dreamed This Gateway, 2022 OutSmartMagazine.com |

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FILM

THEY/THEM Debuts on Peacock John Logan previews his highly anticipated queer psychological thriller.

JOSH STRINGER/BLUMHOUSE

By ZACH McKENZIE

THEY/THEM features an LGBTQ cast playing all of the film’s queer characters

W

hen a group of queer youth arrive at Whistler Camp, a secluded conversion-therapy site tucked deep in the woods, it’s quickly revealed to be hell on Earth—in more ways than one. In addition to the horrendous treatment they experience at the hands of their counselors (including actors Kevin Bacon and Anna Chlumsky), they’re also faced with a masked murderer who picks people off, one by one.

Award-winning screenwriter John Logan (whose screenplays include The Aviator, Gladiator, and Skyfall) makes his directorial debut with a new take on the horror genre. The psychological thriller THEY/THEM (pronounced They Slash Them) will premiere exclusively on Peacock

on Friday, August 5. Logan sat down with OutSmart to chat about his film.

The original setting for THEY/THEM was not a conversion camp, Logan explains.

“It started with wanting to write something about horror and gender. Horror cinema has a really complicated relationship with gender and sexual identification. When I was growing up, queer characters mostly didn’t exist on screen. If they were in horror movies, they were victims, jokes, or killers, but they were never the hero. There was never a queer character you rooted for.”

Longing for the film he wished he’d had as a kid, Logan put pen to paper. “When COVID happened, every writer I know (including myself) suddenly had a chance to write something for ourselves, from the heart. I had met some kids who had gone through conversion therapy in the past, and their stories about what that experience was like

really stayed with me. It seemed very natural to me to write a movie where the greatest horror isn’t necessarily the masked killer, but what’s going on in the conversion camp.”

In addition to writing the film, Logan directs and executive-produces THEY/THEM, steering the ship as he taps into his favorite film genre. “I could have written a very serious indie movie on this subject, but I’m a popular writer. That’s what I do,” he adds. “I want to write for (and appeal to) audiences, and I love horror movies. I take every trope of the slasher movie—from it being set in a camp in the dark woods to having a killer with the mask—and use all of those parts and subvert it in an interesting way to tell a story that is about queer empowerment in, of all things, a slasher movie!”

Authenticity is the name of the game for Logan, as THEY/THEM features an LGBTQ cast depicting all of the queer characters ➝ OutSmartMagazine.com |

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THEY/THEM | CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

in the fi lm. “It’s a movie about the power of belief in yourself, protecting your identity, and proclaiming who you are with glory. It was important to me that those seven actors could embody that. I wanted LGBTQ+ actors who were associated in some way with those roles.”

An exhaustive casting search ultimately led to some on-screen magic. “The actors were incredibly generous and straightforward with me, talking about language, issues, and things they had experienced that were either like the character or unlike the character,” Logan says. “It was joyous to watch on set, because they were so proud of the story they got to tell. I think that comes through in the movie.”

Logan doesn’t shy away from scenes that are oftentimes erased from cinema. “We’ve had 100 years of straight sex in mainstream movies, so it’s about damn time we embrace the joy of queer sex in a mainstream movie.”

The gay creator even adds an unexpected musical moment in the fi lm. “At an important point in the movie, we do a proper song-anddance number, partly because I’m a show queen and I own that. But more importantly, ‘Jordan,’ our hero, is at a very low point. They

have to rediscover their pride and their power.

Pink’s song ‘F’ing Perfect’ was the song to do that with, and I know how much it would have meant to me when I was a kid to hear someone tell me I was perfect just the way I was.” He adds, “That was the best day on the set, because I got to be Martin Scorsese and Bob Fosse on the same day!”

With his proven ability to create spaces that keep viewers entertained and engaged, Logan set out to create a thought-provoking fi lm that also sends a message. “The movie fails utterly if it is not emotional. If you just want to have

a sensation of ‘Oh, I had a good scare,’ then go take a roller-coaster ride. That’s not art,” he emphasizes. “What cinema can do is give you characters you fall in love with, that you can’t help rooting for.

My (and everyone’s) intention was to try to make a moving human story within the shell of this incredibly entertaining horror movie.”

THEY/THEM premieres August 5 exclusively on Peacock. For more info, visit peacocktv.com.

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STAGE

Shakin’ the Blue Flamingo Gwen Flager’s new play tells the story of six older lesbians planning a school’s first LGBTQ prom.

By JENNY BLOCK

COURTESY

Shakin’ the Blue Flamingo cast

G

wen Flager is a playwright who knows how to tell a story and capture an audience. She tried her hand at writing a novel, but she wasn’t comfortable with the end product.

“I discovered that I loved writing dialogue to tell a story.

I had more fun writing dialogue,” she says.

“Playwriting was the logical vehicle to get me down that road.”

The out Shreveport, Louisiana native, who says she’s “old enough to remember 8-track tapes,” is currently living in southern Nevada after having moved to Houston following graduation from the University of South Alabama in Mobile. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, and her full-length plays Waiting to Be Mended and Shakin’ the Blue Flamingo were produced in Houston, as were her 10-minute plays In

Flight and Jornada del Muerto.

Houstonians can now see Flager’s Shakin’ the Blue Flamingo, produced by Dirt Dogs UNLEASHED in association with Sweet Darlin’ Productions, August 12–20 at the Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH).

Shakin’ the Blue Flamingo “tells the tale of six older lesbians planning the first LGBTQ prom for local high school seniors, whose jealousies, resentments, and regrets are fired up when the successful sorority sister returns to romance the woman she has loved all her life,” Flager says.

Director Bonnie Hewitt sets the show’s tone and the mood “almost before you’ve sat down,” according to Flager. “She’s phenomenal. There’s a feel. Before you even hear the first line, you are guided to a place to be receptive, to be curious. It gets you ready to be vulnerable, to exhale, to get to that place of

once-upon-a-time.”

Flager chose the subject matter of the play to tell the stories of older lesbians like herself. “This story, to me, is about that sense of purpose for a woman to return to the love of her life. It’s about that passion to love someone you’ve loved all your life.”

Flager wants audiences to know that her play is inspired by women that she’s known and loved. “Most of the characters are composites of old friends, old loves. These women are your sisters, aunts, mothers, cousins,” she emphasizes. “These women are family.”

Flager’s work reveals the lives of lesbians who grew up in a time when it was neither fashionable nor safe to claim such an identity.

“These stories reveal the courage of these nontraditional women to love one another, to claim happiness, to defy hatred. My characters are bound and determined to enjoy life,” she says.

“I hope this will bring a light into our lives.” ➝ OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2022

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Despite her success in the field, Flager is not sure that playwriting is her calling, even though writing certainly is. “I love to write,” she says. “I feel a satisfaction, and perhaps a sense of accomplishment when I tell a good story through dialogue. I really think of myself as a storyteller.”

She even loves writing things as simple as someone’s résumé. “I love finding the right word to convey the right feeling. There are a gazillion words, [but I] try to find the precise word to convey the feeling I want to convey. My favorite book is the thesaurus.”

Flager took several writing courses at Rice University to get her career off the ground—in addition to reading many books. “Then you just start. Crazy me, I started with a full-length play.”

She submitted that very first play to a festival, and it was selected for their reading series.

“They assigned a director who cast the roles. It was like, ‘Wow!’” Then a friend suggested she send it to Theatre Suburbia, and she did.

“They decided to produce it during their next season. It was the most extraordinary

Playwright Gwen Flager feeling. It’s one thing to hear it read; it’s a whole other adventure to see it onstage. It’s always been better than I imagined. I’m always fascinated when lines I don’t think are funny end up being funny. I feel like I can capture how people talk,” Flager explains.

Fortunately, there have been more festivals that featured her work, and she’s also dabbled in ten-minute plays. “The thing I love about a ten-minute is that it’s like you drop someone in hot grease. That’s nine pages, including stage directions, so you better have captured your audience by page one. It’s fun—I enjoy writing a 10-minute. It’s really compressed. You don’t have time for long-winded exposition.”

The central question for every writer, and certainly for every playwright, Flager notes,

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is “How do you tell a good story? How do you hold their attention?” Flager’s sister, Kathy Summers, describes it as being all about that “lean in” moment when you know you have them. “If you go to a play and watch the audience, they lean in,” she notes.

One of Flager’s favorite things about playwriting is the ability to share stories with people who might not otherwise see themselves onstage—stories that tend to reveal themselves to Flager. “Playwriting is a solitary art. If one is patient enough, the characters of the play will appear as they see fit. Then, if the playwright has a bit more patience, the characters will whisper their story. The key is to listen, get out of the way, and write as fast as you can. Some days I listen better than others.”

What: Shakin’ the Blue Flamingo When: August 12–20 Where: MATCH, 3400 Main St. Info: matchouston.org

BUSINESS

Word of Mouth Dr. Marcus de Guzman opens a second dental office in Montrose.

By KIM HOGSTROM | Photo by AISHA KHAN

No one likes going to the dentist. Even now, you’re probably admitting to yourself that you’ve been ignoring a dental issue for just that reason. But what if there were a dental service that could change your perception of those dreaded trips to the dentist?

Look no further than Houston’s Bayou City Smiles.

“Today’s work environment demands that everyone put their best foot forward,” states Chelsea Flack, Bayou City Smiles’ office manager. “A smile is your first ‘handshake,’ and we will ensure you have your best possible smile.

That is exactly what we do here.”

Bayou City Smiles was founded by Dr. Marcus de Guzman, a proud member of the city’s LGBTQ community. Coming from a long line of medical professionals, he received his dentalmedicine degree in 2000 from the Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry in Philadelphia at the age of 25.

“My grandfather and three of my greatgrandfathers were doctors or dentists,” De Guzman explains. “I guess my path to medicine was pretty much set, but I wasn’t sure of what direction to take. At the ripe old age of 19, I took the dental aptitude test and started attending dental school a month after my 21st birthday. There was no turning back from there.”

After graduating and working as an associate dentist for nine years, De Guzman opened Bayou City Smiles in 2009, when the space had just two chairs and one employee.

Today, his office at 2313 Edwards Street is an 8-chair, 22-person operation. De Guzman and his team have served over 10,000 individuals during that time, and his base continues to grow.

Bayou City Smiles is opening another office this month, housed in the stunning new Montrose Collective on Westheimer Road near Montrose Boulevard.

While his professional passion is dentistry, this doctor also cares deeply for his community and has initiated many charity dental programs over time. He spearheaded free oral-

health screenings in local public elementary schools, HIV clinics, and even nightclubs. He was an invaluable volunteer at ASIAC (AIDS Services in Asian Communities). To this day, De Guzman provides his services to those less fortunate throughout Houston.

He is also an active member of many professional organizations, including the Greater Houston Dental Society, the Texas Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the American Association of Public Health Dentistry.

As a result of this dedication, there is virtually nothing Bayou City Smiles can’t do. “We

are committed to treating each individual with respect and integrity, and we work hard to stay on top of the most up-to-date techniques in dentistry,” De Guzman explains. “Our mission is to deliver uncompromising excellence in dentistry, to the very best of our abilities.”

So just how does Bayou City Smiles help patients who are nervous about their visit?

“I think that fear and anxiety are manifested when people don’t understand what is about to happen,” De Guzman notes. “I take time to guide our patients through the procedures in advance and explain the importance of the treatment being rendered. I’ve found that the more patients are informed, the less fear and anxiety they have.”

Helping patients feel comfortable is a team effort at this doctor’s office, where the committment to assuring a pleasant visit starts at the front door.

“We greet every patient with a smile,” Flack says. “The entire team here is excited to come to work each day, because we like each other and we genuinely care about our patients. Forming good relationships with our patients helps us to meet their needs.

They can tell the difference, and they really appreciate it.”

“Many of my patients have been coming to me for over a decade, and many of them have become friends,” De Guzman says.

“Knowing that I have played a small part in their well-being and developing friendships within my practice makes it all worthwhile for me. The bonds I have developed with the people I treat are my greatest reward,” he concludes with a smile.

Dental hygienist Hilda Garcia, who has worked with De Guzman for 16 years, says there is nowhere else she would rather be.

“The crew here is wonderful in all ways.

The dental services this team offers are excellent. Working with nice, caring people who produce outstanding results makes all the difference in the world.”

Well said, Hilda.

For more information, go to bayoucitysmiles.com.

OutSmartMagazine.com |

AUGUST 2022

69

OUT THERE Photos by DALTON DEHART & CREW

SOUTH BEACH GRAND RE-OPENING July 13, 2022 After COVID and four years of remodeling, South Beach is finally back in Montrose. The grand re-opening night of Houston’s premier LGBTQ dance club kicked off with a packed VIP party. Attendees pulled out all the stops and danced the night away.

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AUGUST 2022

| OutSmartMagazine.com

Health Care Reimagined

James Carroll, MD

Maggie White, FNP

Wellness Bar, a spa-like health center right in the middle of Montrose, offers easy access to rapid testing services, wellness support, and immediate connection to primary and specialty care.

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Walk in or call (713) 814 3730 to make an appointment!

120 Westheimer Road Houston, TX 77006 For hours, visit WellnessBarByLegacy.org Wellness Bar accepts most HMO/PPOs, Medicaid, and Medicare, and we have sliding scale fee and programs to help reduce the cost of services.

WEDDING GUIDE

Anna Kolomytseva (l) and Larisa Ivanova

FROM RUSSIA, WITH LOVE Anna Kolomytseva and Larisa Ivanova got married in Houston after fleeing their country.

By RYAN M. LEACH Anna Kolomytseva, 37, and Larisa Ivanova, 43, were married in a Harris County Courthouse on June 17, 2022. The ceremony was a simple one, as they were not in any position to afford a more formal wedding after fleeing to Houston from Russia only one month before. They only had three guests—their young daughter, Eva, and Anna’s brother Sergei and his husband, Tony.

And for now, that is all they need as they settle into their new home, finally able to live openly as a married couple.

“We met in person on January 12, 2013— our first date since meeting on social media.

Our first date was at a coffee shop in Moscow, after which we went to see the recently 72

AUGUST 2022 | OutSmartMagazine.com

released movie Anna Karenina with Keira Knightley, followed by dinner at an Italian restaurant. Before meeting each other for the first time, we spent two weeks talking on the phone.

It felt very special,” Anna says.

In Russia, LGBTQ couples are consitutionally prohibited from being married or even publicly acknowledged. President Vladamir Putin’s regime is notorious for targeting LGBTQ Russians and persecuting them with violence and even imprisonment. Putin’s treatment of LGBTQ citizens are clear human-rights violations that have been called out by many countries, including the US. Larisa, Anna, and their daughter had to be granted humanitarian parole in the United States before they were able to apply for asy-

lum. Since arriving in Houston, they have moved in with Sergei and Tony in Montrose while they get settled. After being together for nine years and having a child together, marriage was at the top of their to-do list after arriving in America.

“It felt incredible to hear the judge declare us spouses. We know that this will become the foundation for our new life in the United States. The feelings of being equal, validated, and protected were very special—something we’ve never felt in Russia,” Larisa says.

The irony of the couple’s enthusiasm for the freedoms they are now experiencing in America is likely not lost on Texans who live in a state where Republican leadership regularly creates laws that target and marginalize

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LGBTQ people. No form of discrimination or oppression is acceptable, whether it be blatant and violent, as in Russia, or more undermining and demeaning, as in Texas and many other states.

Anna was born in the town of Weimar, East Germany, where her father served with the Soviet military. She grew up in Borisov, Belarus, before going off to a Russian college in Kazan. Larisa was born and grew up in the town of Borovichi, halfway between Moscow and St. Petersburg. She attended college in Moscow. The women lived with their daughter in St. Petersburg before moving to Houston. They are now living in Montrose and still exploring Houston and all it has to offer.

Although they come from Russia, they point to some aspects of their lives that are very stereotypically American—or maybe just stereotypically lesbian, the couple jokes.

“After our first date, we both became certain that we wanted to continue dating.

We’ve recently learned of a half-joking, halfserious perception in the LGBTQ community in the US that lesbians tend to jump into relationships head-first, and I guess we are stereotypical lesbians in that regard,” Larisa laughs.

There were two moments in their relationship that they agree were the most romantic. The marriage proposal was one, but for Larisa there is a second. “The most romantic thing that Anna has ever done for me was when she showed me her positive pregnancy test,” she says.

“When we decided to have a child, we realized that we’ll be going from a couple that dates to a couple building a family,” Anna adds. “This was two years into our relation-

ship. At that time, we didn’t equate marriage with building a family. We didn’t even consider marriage as an option for us, since same-sex marriage was not (and still isn’t) legal in Russia.”

Larisa proposed to Anna on their sixth anniversary in January of 2019. “We had just come back from visiting friends with our daughter, Eva, sound asleep during the car ride.

Larisa took out a ring and whispered—so as not to wake Eva up—‘Will you be my wife?’ It was a surprise for me, not because I doubted the depth of our love, but because marriage didn’t seem like a viable option for us.”

What changed their minds about the possibility of marriage was the marriage of Anna’s brother Sergei to his husband, Tony, in May of 2018. The couple attended the wedding in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and were very touched to see Sergei and Tony being celebrated by their friends and family. It was then and there that they decided that marriage could also be a real possibility for them. Despite the political climate in the US, the freedoms offered in America, even when under constant attack, can still inspire people in other places who are longing for their own freedom.

Now that they are Houstonians, the couple has much to accomplish.

“Of course, now we are focused on learning the language, building careers, buying a home and, hopefully, having a second baby,” Larisa says. “These are big challenges, since we’ve only been in the US for a couple of months. But all of it will be easier to accomplish knowing that we have rights as a married couple.”

WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY? Email us at letters@outsmartmagazine.com

Chef David Alcorta

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Mussels in a lemongrass ginger broth with herbs

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1601 W. Main St. Houston, TX 77006 (281) 846-6405 HOUSTON’S PREMIER RECORD BAR OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2022 73

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www.facebook.com/Flanigan.psychotherapy 74

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Lynette Lew • 713.582.2202

Residential and Commercial Realtor Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene Gary Greene Commercial Properties

Lynette@LynetteLew.com | www.LynetteLew.com

617 Fairview • Houston, Texas • 713.528.8102 HOURS: Mon-Sat 7am–2am • Sunday 12pm–2am

BAR GUIDE

HOUSTON 2.0 Montrose’s newest dance club is open Thursday through Sunday and features a daily Happy Hour from 7 to 10 p.m.

2320 Crocker St, Houston TX 77006 Barcode With the longest daily Happy Hours in Montrose from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., this neighborhood watering hole is a popular spot. Drag shows occur Wednesday through Sunday, and the bar hosts karaoke on Mondays and Wednesdays.

817 Fairview, Houston TX 77006 Blur Bar This multi-level dance club features an upstairs lounge and balconies, with weekly events including Travesura Thursdays and Latin Saturdays.

710 Pacific St, Houston TX 77006 BUDDY’S “EveryBUDDY’S welcome” at this modern LGBTQ bar with “events as diverse as Houston.” The bar features cocktails, beer, karaoke, pool, DJ’s, and more.

2409 Grant St STE A, Houston TX 77006 Club Crystal With roots going back to the iconic club Inergy, Club Crystal is Houston’s original LGBTQ Latino nightclub. Find some of Ingegy’s décor (and former staff members) at this two-room Latin/ hip-hop club.

6680 Southwest Freeway, Houston TX 77036 Crocker Bar This comfortably remodeled Montrose nightspot offers karaoke on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and extended Happy Hour prices throughout the week.

2312 Crocker, Houston TX 77006 Houston Eagle As part of the worldwide Eagle family, Eagle Houston is the definitive home of the man’s man. Leather, bear, or jock, you’ll find them all here. This neighborhood bar has multiple levels and outdoor decks, and regularly features DJs and male dancers.

611 Hyde Blvd., Houston TX 77006

George Country Sports Bar Regulars rule at this comfortable neighborhood sports bar with dart boards and pool tables. Sports fans can watch games on televisions (inside as well as outside on the newly renovated patio), and Steak Night with chef Michele Free is on Thursday nights.

617 Fairview St, Houston TX 77006

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Hamburger Mary’s Houston This drag-queen themed restaurant serves up the best in entertainment, delicious food, and gloriously yummy drinks.

1008 Prarie St., Houston TX 77006 JR’s Bar & Grill Proudly serving Montrose for 40 years, JR’s Bar & Grill offers drag Sunday through Thursday, karaoke Wednesday through Sunday, and daily Happy Hour specials on a spacious New Orleansstyle courtyard patio.

808 Pacific St, Houston TX 77006 KIKI Coming soon.

La Granja Disco y Cantina One of Houston’s favorite Latin LGBTQ bars, La Granja Disco y Cantina is open Wednesday through Sunday and features daily Happy Hour prices, DJs, drag shows, and karaoke nights.

5505 Pinemont Dr, Houston TX 77092 Michael’s Outpost The only piano bar in Montrose offers great drinks, award-winning drag shows, and a roundup of talented musicians taking turns on the keys seven nights a week.

1419 Richmond Ave, Houston TX 77006 Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon Houston’s only LGBTQ country dance hall is open Wednesdays through Sundays and hosts dance classes, steak nights, bingo, and karaoke.

11410 Hempstead Hwy, Houston TX 77092 Papi’s Houston’s newest Latin LGBTQ club offers dancing, drag, and game shows all week long. Visit Papi’s and experience the spicy side of Montrose!

570 Waugh Dr, Houston TX 77019

There’s always something going on at TONY’S CORNER POCKET!

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817 W. Dallas 713.571.7870 Tues. and Thurs, – Sunday Nights

THURSDAY Bites & Bingo FRIDAY Trivia then Rotating Weekly Drag Shows SATURDAY Brunch, ReBarlesque then Joe Ross

FOOD, COCK TAILS, NIGHTLIFE 202 TUAM STREET HOUSTON, TE XAS 7 7006

SUNDAY Brunch then Sunday Service

Where the Tops Hang Out!

2312 Crocker St. OutSmartMagazine.com

| AUGUST 2022

75

BAR GUIDE Pearl Bar Houston’s only lesbian bar—one of just 21 left in the nation—is home to a wide variety of events including weekly drag-king shows, nationally known LGBTQ DJs, and a queer farmers market on the patio.

4216 Washington, Houston TX 77007 ReBar This full-service venue offers distinctive food with Southern flair, a popular patio, multiple bars, VIP bottle-service areas, a large dance floor, and some of Houston’s most acclaimed resident DJs. 202 Tuam St, Houston TX 77006

| OutSmartMagazine.com

23rd St. Station Piano Bar The piano bar features daily drink specials and weekends are filled with pulsing music, hot dancers, drag shows, and piano tunes.

1706 23rd St, Galveston TX 77550 Robert’s Lafitte Texas’ oldest bar has been open for over half a century, and is home to Galveston’s original drag show.

2501 Avenue Q, Galveston TX 77550 Rumors Beach Bar Located at the historic Seawall Boulevard on 31st Street, this Galveston spot offers dancing, food, drinks, drag, and a wide variety of themed nights.

3102 Seawall Blvd, Galveston TX 77550

RIPCORD Since 1982, this leather bar has been a fixture in Houston’s LGBTQ community.

It’s where the wild, the weird, and the kinky gather on a nightly basis and everyone is embraced for who they are—no pretense, no gatekeeping, just pure camaraderie and debauchery.

715 Fairview, Houston TX 77006

Ranch Hill Saloon The first (and only) LGBTQ bar in Walker County offers DJs, dancing, drink specials, and drag shows.

1000 12th St, Huntsville TX 77340

Viviana’s Nite Club This weekend-only LGBTQ Latin dance club is home to a variety of DJs, singers, talent shows, and

AUGUST 2022

GALVESTON

South Beach Montrose’s favorite dance club has re-opened to rave reviews. South Beach’s state-of-the-art sound, laser light show, and world-class DJs make the club a must-visit destination.

810 Pacific Street, Houston TX 77006

Tony’s Corner Pocket If you love a friendly bar staff, sexy male dancers, and entertaining showgirls, Tony’s Corner Pocket is the perfect spot. The bar is open seven days a week and hosts shows like Tornado Tuesdays, Wepa Wednesdays, and Sassy Saturdays.

817 W. Dallas, Houston TX 77019

76

Sunday strippers.

4624 Dacoma St, Houston TX 77092

HUNTSVILLE

SPRING The Room This bar and video lounge has a laid-back atmosphere and features daily drink specials, karaoke, free pool, drag shows, and live DJs several nights a week.

4915 FM 2920 #148, Spring TX 77388 COLLEGE STATION Halo The only LGBTQ dance club in Bryan/College Station is this sleek spot located smack in the middle of Aggieland.

121 North Main Street, Bryan TX 77803

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We have immediate openings for experienced advertising executives at OutSmart Media Company.

Salary, commissions, and benefits.

A creative, fun environment.

APPLY TODAY! Send your cover letter and resume to employment@outsmartmagazine.com

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Right now is the perfect opportunity TO BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE TO BE COMPASSIONATE TO YOURSELF AND OTHERS

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AUGUST 2022

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ADVERTISERS INDEX ACCOUNTANTS/BOOKKEEPERS/ CPAS

CATERING SERVICES

Gary Gritz, CPA

David Alcorta Catering

230 Westcott, Ste 210................................... 713/784-3030

davidalcorta.net .............................................832/439-0224

ADOPTION/FOSTER

CBD PRODUCTS

11500 NW Fwy #465.......................................832-620-7204

1138 W 20th St .....................................................713/661-0091

ADVERTISING/MARKETING

CHURCHES/SPIRITUAL CENTERS

Vanguard Youth Society

Ashkan Media

..........................................................................Ashkanmedia.com

Hydroshack Hydroponics

Bering Church

1440 Harold ................................................beringchurch.org

Society For The Performing Arts

SPAHouston.org ................................................713/227-4772 Stages Theatre

StagesTheatre.com .........................................713-527-0123 Sweet Darlin’ Productions

..................................................sweetdarlinproductions.com Theatre Under The Stars

800 Bagby, Suite 200 .....................................tuts.com/out

Tony’s Corner Pocket

817 W. Dallas.......................................................832/722-7658 White Oak Music Hall

Mat Hat Maven Creative

Resurrection MCC

madhatmaven.com ......................................832/460-6263

2025 W 11th ........................................................... 713/861-9149

............................................................. whiteoakmusichall.com

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

FINANCIAL PLANNING/BANKS

OutSmart Magazine

3406 Audubon ....................................................713/520-7237

5501 Main ..............................................................713/528-0527

ADVERTISING PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

PromoPrint Group

1805 W. Alabama .......................ststephenshouston.org

3200 SW Freeway Ste 1800 ........................210/425-2130

newportac.com................................................281/808-8630

Aidshelp.org ........................................................713/623-6796

888-A Avenue D, Katy......................................281/391-6137

APARTMENTS/HOUSING

Bering Connect

Dawson at Stratford Apartments

419 Stratford......................................................346/388-8457

ART/ART GALLERIES

Bill Arning Exhibitions

604 W. Alabama ....................billarningexhibitions.com The Menil Collection

1533 Sul Ross ...............................................................menil.org

Gonzalez Olivieri LLC

Katine & Nechman LLP

1834 Southmore.................................................713/808-1001 Walker Kirkpatrick

..........................................................................................713/552-1117 James S. Walker ....................... Walkertexaslawyer.com Eric Kirkpatrick ...................................Kirkpatricklaw.com The Office of Sam Trey Yates

2900 Weslayan St Suite 350 ....................713/ 932-7177

AUCTION HOUSES Gallery Auctions

galleryauctions.com.......................................281-931-0100

AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRS Active Auto

6427 Washington ............................................7 13/861-1000 Eurocar-Werk

5103 Gulfton Dr ................................................7 13 - 661- 642 8 Ryan Automotive

716 Fairview...................................................... 7 13/52 2-3602 Tech Auto Maintenance

37 Waugh Dr. ...................................................... 713/863-8244

Diana Foundation

.......................................................... .TheDianaFoundation.org EPAH

............................................................................................... EPAH.org Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce

1806 Westheimer, Ste. A ............................. 713/528-2010

KPFT Radio

floorcoveringsinternational.com ....... 832/280-6646

1806B Westheimer ........................................... 713/523-1279 1700 Post Oak Blvd, Ste 110 .........................713/622-7470

kpft.org..................................................................713-526-4000 Lesbian Health Initiative (LHI)

401 Branard.......................................................lhihouston.org Lesbians Over Age Fifty (L.O.A.F.)

lesbiansoverage50.org................................713/907-5378 Pet Patrol

..............................................................................ThePetPatrol.org Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast

..................................................................ppgulfcoast.org/lgbtq Ryan White Planning Council

David Alcorta Catering Dessert Gallery

COMPUTERS/INTERNET/IT SERVICES Copy.com

1201-F Westheimer............................................713/528-1201

EDUCATION

Lone Star College North

HN-Info@LoneStar.edu..................................lonestar.edu

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

Chipman’s Services

......................................................................................713/376-0323

ENTERTAINMENT/NIGHT LIFE

78 78

502 W. 18th St ..................................................... 713/862-7444

GLASS SERVICES Lone Star Glass

H-E-B

Multiple locations ......................................................heb.com

HAIR/NAIL/MAKE-UP SALONS

Harriet Reynolds – Singer Songwriter

.....................................................................Harrietreynolds.com

D. “Woodja” Flanigan, MS, LPA

2600 SW Fwy, Ste 409 .................................713/589-9804 Denise O’Doherty, LPC, LMFT, RN

......................................................................................713/524-9525 Dr. Daniel Garza, MD

3131 Eastside St, Ste 4 ....................................281/610-8190 Dr. Barry F. Gritz, MD

Jeffrey Myles/JM Professional Services Cheryl Rhode

4545 Post Oak Pl #370 ................................. 713-203-0495 The Montrose Center

401 Branard..........................................................713/529-0037 Christine Wysong

HEALTH CARE–DENTISTS

Miller Outdoor Theatre

2313 Edwards St., Ste. 150 ..............................713/518-1411

Out & Proud Live

2313 Edwards St., Ste 150................................713/518-1411

507 West Gray ....................................................713/942-7546 7106 Spencer Highway ................................281/542-9400 Gordon Crofoot, MD/Crofoot MD

One Medical

M. Sandra Scurria, MD

Derek Smith, AGPCNP-BC/Crofoot MD

3701 Kirby, Ste.1230........................................713/526-0005 Maggie White,MPH FNP-BC AAHIVS/ Wellness Bar by Legacy

120 Westheimer .................................................713/814-3730

HEALTH CARE–SERVICES AIDS Foundation Houston

afhouston.org.....................................................713/623-6796 AIDS Healthcare Foundation

......................................................................................... HIVcare.org Avenue 360

Avenue360.org ..................................................713/426-0027 Harris County Public Health

Publichealth.harriscountytx.gov ......... 713/439-6293 Houston Health Department

................................................................................... houstontx.gov Legacy Community Health

Bayou City Smiles/Cynthia Corral, DDS

RWPCHouston.org .......................................... 713/572-3784

Cory Logan, DDS

offeringhope.org ...............................................713/778-1300

LifeSmiles by Randy Mitchmore, DDS

HEALTH CARE–SKIN CARE

530 Waugh Dr. .................................................. 713/942-8598

ReBar

AUGUST 2022 | OutSmartMagazine.com

HEALTH CARE–PHYSICIANS

Octavio Barrios, MD

LegacyCommunityHealth.org ...............832/548 5000

1722 W. Alabama .............................................. 713/592-9300

| AUGUST 2022 | OutSmartMagazine.com

Scott Read Pharmacy

540 Waugh Drive ............................................832/649-3142

Bayou City Smiles/Marcus de Guzman, DDS

Pearl Bar

202 Tuam ...............................................................346/227-8613

Legacy Pharmacy

..........LegacyCommunityHealth.org/services/pharmacy/

6565 West Loop South, Ste 300 ..............281/661-5901

Midtown Houston

4216 Washington ..................................PearlHouston.com

............................................................ AvitaPharmacy.com/HIV

MyConnectionsWellness.com ..............888/580-5995

Connections Wellness/Dr. Tracy Carlson

230 Westcott, Ste 210....................................713/869-7400

..................................................................Midtownhouston.com

HEALTH CARE/PHARMACIES

Avita Pharmacy

3300 Kirby, Ste. 1A ..........................................888/663-6331

JR’s/Santa Fe

808 Pacific ............................................................ 713/521-2519

Montrose Eye Care/ Paul Lovero, OD

520 Waugh Dr.....................................................713/352-0974

HEALTH CARE–COUNSELING/THERAPY

....................................................................................... 713/447-2164

Discount Video

Eye Gallery

3701 Kirby, Ste.1230........................................713/526-0005

DNVRMX PRIDE PARTY

1319 Cypress Creek Pkwy Ste 190........832/754-6024

Boutique Eye Care/Juliet Farmer, OD

NU-Cuts Hair Salon

515 Westheimer ..............................................7 13/524-7858

230 Westcott, Ste 210....................................713/869-7400

...................................................................outandproudlive.com

1125 W Cavalcade ............................HoustonCiderTx.com

Joshua’s Native Plants & Antiques

Colette Houston

BEVERAGES

Houston Cider Co.

Hydroshack Hydroponics

1138 W 20th St .....................................................713/661-0091

GROCERY STORE

MillerOutdoorTheatre.com ........................281/373-3386

941 W. 18th ...........................................EurekaHeights.com

Fountains & Statuary

11804 Hempstead ..............................................713/957-3672

The Woodlands PRIDE

..........................................................thewoodlandstxpride.org

DessertGallery.com .......................................713-522-9999 Eureka Heights Brewery

GARDENING/LANDSCAPING

3804 Bissonnet ..................................................713/661-0091

730 Hwy 6 South .............................................281/728-4509

davidalcorta.net .............................................832/439-0224

Floor Coverings International

rwpcHouston.org ............................................713-572-3724

BANKING/FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS BAKERIES/CUSTOM CAKES

Facet Seven Fitness

FLOOR COVERINGS

DNVRMX.com ....................................................281/883-6546

Houston Federal Credit Union

................................................................facetsevenfitness.com

Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus

Planet Lincoln

HoustonFCU.org .......................................... 866/OUR-HFCU

HEALTH CARE–OPHTHALMOLOGISTS

Stewart Zuckerbrod, MD Greater Houston Eye Consultants Humble ..................................................................... 281/454-2056 Clear Lake...................................................................281/484-1186

HEALTH CARE–OPTOMETRISTS

615 Texas Ave ................................................alleytheatre.org

204031 I-45 Spring TX 77388 ..................888/242-5059

John Aaron Online Fitness

www.jaofit.com .............................................832-649-8422 Felicia Lee-Sexton Fitness Coaching

Fred Haas Toyota World Planet Ford

Club Houston

2205 Fannin ......................................................713/659-4998

Legacy Community Health

13645 Murphy Rd .......................................... 832/752-5805

Alley Theatre

20403 I-45 Spring TX 77388 ................... 866/879-9328

HEALTH CARE-HIV/STD TESTING

Avenue 360

Harris County Sheriff’s Office

AUTOMOTIVE SALES FredHaasToyota.com ..................................832/764-8914

Grace Yung/Midtown Financial

.................................................LegacyCommunityHealth.org

................................................................................... thecaucus.org

gonzalezolivierillc.com ................................ 713/481-3040

Shane Theriot/Edward Jones

FITNESS CLUBS/PERSONAL TRAINING

............................................................BunniesOnTheBayou.org

ATTORNEYS/LEGAL SERVICES

lawsonlegal.net ................................................. 713/478-2618

Monalisa Maldonado/Equitable Advisors

SignatureCare Emergency Centers

Avenue360.org ..................................................713/426-0027

.................................................................................... hcsojobs.com

Houston-bankruptcy-attorney.com ... 713/526-5220

Montrose Emergency Room 24 Hour ER

3355 Alabama, Ste 180 ................................ 713/355-9833

......................................................................................713/529-5842

deborah Lawson

HEALTH CARE-EMERGENCY CENTERS

Bunnies on the Bayou

HoustonLGBTChamber.com.....................832/510-3002

The Fealy Law Firm, PC / Vicky Fealy

Houston Health Department/COVID

houstontx.gov.................................................. 832-393-4220

........................................................................713-526-1017, ext.20

ASTROLOGER

Lilly Roddy Astrology

Houston Health Department/HIV

3209 Montrose Blvd .......................................281/709-2897 1925 TC Jester ...................................................832/850-4338 1014 Wirt Rd ........................................................ 832/924-0312 Additional locations......................................ercare24.com

COMMUNITY/NONPROFIT

AIDS Foundation Houston

HEALTH CARE-/HIV/COVID TESTING .......................................................................houstoniamlife.com

Richard Dickson/Galene Financial

thebroughtoninvestmentgroup.com..........713/337-4500

AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING Newport A/C & Heating

Polish Dentistry/Daniella Farias, DDS

215 Westheimer ................................................. 713/942-0101

1110 W. Gray St., #101 ........................................713/242-1436

520 Post Oak Ste 780 .....................................713/489-4322

1015 Holman St........................ www.trinitymidtown.org

Montrose DDS/Austin T. Faulk, DDS

620 W Alabama ................................................ 713/529-4364

Broughton Investment Group

Trinity Episcopal Church

PromoPrintGroup.com .................................713/234-7006

Montrose DDS/Samuel A. Carrell, DDS

620 W Alabama ................................................ 713/529-4364

Ryan White Planning Council

St. Hope Foundation

Heights Dermatology/Alpesh Desai, MD

2120 Ashland...................................................... 713/864-2650

ADVERTISERS INDEX SkinCeuticals/Skin Lab

2800 Kirby, Ste. B21 .......................................713/559-9300

MET Plumbing

...................................................................................... 832-221-7628

VJ Tramonte/Joe Tramonte Realty

SPORTS

1802 Broadway/Galveston ........................409/765-9837

HoustonSabercats

507 West Gray ....................................................713/942-7546

1424 Montrose .....................................................713-942-2277

Martha Turner Properties

Marthaturner.com .............................................713/520-1981

...............................................................Houstonsabercats.com

HEALTH CARE-WEIGHT LOSS

POOLS & POOL SERVICES

Jessica Wahlquist/NAN Properties/Christie’s

.......................................................................HoustonAstros.com

517 West Gray .....................................................713/942-7546

....................................................................................... 713/447-9201

Andy Weber/Sotheby’s International Realty

...................................................................HoustonDynamo.com

HOME FURNISHINGS/ACCESSORIES

PRINTING/COPY CENTERS

Christopher Williams/Gary Greene-Post Oak

....................................................................milb.com/sugar-land

Skin Renaissance Laser/Octavio Barrios, MD

Dr. B-Fit / Octavio Barrios, MD

Bliss on 19th

235 W.19th ...................................................blisson19th.com

coda

355 W. 19th ............................................................ 713/864-4411 EKLEKTIC Interiors

1300 Shepherd ................................................ 832/804-6300

U-Plumb-It Plumbing Supply

Venture Pools

2daypostcards.com

621 Richmond .................................................... 713/224-8808 Copy.com

1201-F Westheimer............................................713/528-1201

REAL ESTATE -ARCHITECTS

......................................................................................972/971-6742 520 Post Oak .......................................................713/724-4306

1177 W. Loop South, Ste 1200.....................713/885-4419

RESTAURANTS/COFFEE/WINE BARS

Houston Astros

Houston Dash & Dynamo

Sugar Land Space Cowboys

STORAGE

Morningstar Storage The Heights

4495 Katy Fwy .................................................. 281-728-4509

Chapultepec Lupita

813 Richmond .....................................................713/522-2365 Dessert Gallery

TELEVISION STATIONS KHOU/Channel 11

Morningside Architects

WorthHP.com.....................................................713/660-0025

4229 Bellaire Blvd............................................713/529-2630

DessertGallery.com .......................................713-522-9999

INSURANCE AGENCIES/AGENTS

REAL ESTATE –HOME CONSTRUCTION

1985 Welch St .....................................................713/807-8883

Sabocustombuilders.com............................713/344-1241

......................................................................................832/419-0165

MisterMcKinney.com ....................................713/364-8674

Giacomo’s cibo e vino

TRAVEL/TRAVEL AGENCIES

Harold’s In the Heights

4920 Mimosa ......................................................... 713/661-2117

Houston Cider Co.

..................................................................... visitgalveston.com

Worth Home Products

Lane Lewis/Farmers Insurance

2200 North Loop W, Ste 136 .....................713/688-8669 Patrick Torma/Goosehead Insurance

3420 Rusk, Ste. 22 ............................................281/723-1294

INVESTMENTS Doug Smith/Hawthorne Funds

1210 West Clay, Ste. G ............... HawthorneFunds.com

JEWELERS

SABO Custom Builders

Greymark Construction

Greymarkconstruction.com ......................713/722-7226

3215 Westheimer...............................................713/522-1934

REAL ESTATE–MORTGAGE/TITLE Janet Friedman/J Friedman Mortgage

1125 W Cavalcade ............................HoustonCiderTx.com Niko Niko’s 2520 Montrose...................................................713/528-4976

JFriedmanLoans.com ....................................713-785-5626 Chicago Title –Inner Loop

3700 Buffalo Speedway................................713/418-7000

Tenenbaum Jewelers

Codygrizzoffi.com ............................................ 832-541-1103

4310 Westheimer .................TenenbaumJewelers.com

Free Grillin’/Chef Michele

350 W. 19th ..........................................................713/360-6204

Silverlust

1338-C Westheimer .....................................7 13/520-54 40

Eugene’s

Cody Grizzoffi/NRL Mortgage

93’ Til

1601 W Main St ................................................. 281/846-6405 Pho 518!

Zadok Jewelers

Cari Middaugh/AmCap Mortgage

myamcap.com/cari-middaugh/............ 281/450-2235

9330 Broadway, #416 ..................................832/736-9903

LEATHER GOODS

Lyn Sullivan /Alamo Title 4265 San Felipe, Ste 520 .....................713/228-0801 Patriot Title

2600 Travis Ste 104 ...........................................713/360-7113 Shoot the Moon 8155 Longpoint Rd ..........................................281/888-4801 Urban Eats 3414 Washington Ave ....................feasturbaneats.com

1801 Post Oak Blvd, Ste. 100............................Zadok.com Montrose Forge

3423 White Oak ................................................ 713/893-5002

www.patriottitletx.com .............................. 713/864-5335

Sir Rat Leather and Gear LLC

REAL ESTATE–REALTORS

LIQUOR/WINE & SPIRITS

309 Gray.................................................................. 713/522-7474

FIX Vodka

bayoucitypropertygroup.com................ 713/523-8609

711 Fairview .................................................sirratleather.com

.................................................................................... FixVodka.com

Brooks Ballard/Engel & Volkers

David Batagower/Compass Realty

.......................................................................................713/861-1000

MASSAGE THERAPISTS

David@DavidBowers.com .......................409/763-2800

RyanMassageWorks.com...........................713/269-7926

mikecopenhaver@remax.net ................ 713/528-4963

MUSEUMS

karenderr.com ...................................................713/875-7050

galvestonrrmuseum.org ...........................409/765-5700

TomSellsHoustonHomes.com...................713/201-5257

Ryan Fugate, RMT

Galveston Railroad Museum

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS Pure For Men

.............................................................................PureForMen.com

PEST CONTROL SERVICES & TRAPPING

Andy’s All Star Pest Control

....................................................................................... 713/732-7742

PET SERVICES & SUPPLIES

Mike Copenhaver/Remax Metro Karen Derr/Karen Derr Realty

West Alabama Animal Clinic

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Debbie Levine/Greenwood King Properties

PHOTOGRAPHIC FOUNDATION

Our Legacy Through The Lens

Lynette Lew/Better Homes and Gardens

LynetteLew.com...............................................713/582-2202 Jose Ocque/Gary Greene-Post Oak Park

1177 W. Loop South, Ste 1200..................... 713/301-1136 Thomas Phillips/City Side Properties Exp Realty

....................................................................................832/305-7848 Danny Pleason/Martha Turner/Sotheby’s Redfin Realtors

Richard Ray/Douglas Elliman

Yvonne Feece Photography

15103 Mason Rd Suite A-1 ............................832/803-9177

....................................................................................346/253-4444

PHOTOGRAPHIC FOUNDATION

KhansRugs.com ........................................... 713/960-82002

Houston Association of Realtors

........................................................................................713/416-3931

In The Loop Plumbing Services

Get listed on this page. Call 713/520-7237 or email Marketing@OutSmartMagazine.com

Richard Hill

SweetSpiritPhotos

PLUMBING

DOES ADVERTISING WORK? IT JUST DID.

Paul Gomberg/The Rock Star Real Estate Group

4000 Washington Ave #303 ....................832/529-2983

yvonnefeece.com ........................................... 832/876-1053

yvonnefeece.com ........................................... 832/876-1053

......................................................................................713-446-8810

Iris In Bloom

SweetSpirit.photos...........................................713/376-3771

Yvonne Feece-Tran Photography

William J Finnorn/Martha Turner Sotheby’s

dannypleason.com .........................................832/661-1502

IrisInBloom.net ................................................ 281/819-0006

Dalton DeHart Photography

DaltonDehart.com ...........................................713/622-2202

William.Finnorn@sir.com ..........................832/221-7628

Dalton DeHart Photography

DaltonDehart.com...........................................713/622-2202

WEDDING SERVICES/PHOTO/VIDEO

3201 Kirby Dr ........................................................713/677-4337

3201 Kirby Drive ................................................713/942-6857

2030 W. Alabama ............................................. 713/528-0818

David Alcorta Catering

davidalcorta.net .............................................832/439-0224

Jeremy Fain/Greenwood King Properties

The Urban Vet/Dr. Eric Cagle

Vergi 24/7 Emergency & Critical Care Hospital

WEDDING SERVICES/CATERERS

Rock Edwards/Rock Edwards & Associates

har.com .................................................................. 713/629-1900

8921 Katy Freeway ..........................................713/932-9589

Galveston Tourism

Rockedwards.com ...........................................713/409-1729

Midtown Veterinary Hospital

2625 Louisiana St. Ste D100 ...................713/903-2364

Concierge Travel, Inc

Tom Eickleberry/Pride Street Realty

RichardHill.com ............................................... 713/863-9494

MidtownVetHospital.com..........................713-528-4900

Khan’s Rug Washing

Mr. McKinney’s Historic Houston Tours

David Bowers/The House Company/Galveston

Bayou City Veterinary Hospital

4720 Washington ............................................713/343-9909

RUG SERVICES

TOURS

Scott Brown/Greenwood King

Spec’s Wine Spirits & Finer Foods

2410 Smith ................................................... specsonline.com

Sable Gate Winery

5718 Westheimer.......................................................khoucom

Todd Russo/Gary Greene

Tom Schwenk/Tom’s Galveston Real Estate

Tomsgalvestonrealestate.com ...............713/857-2309 LeeRoy Smith/GaryGreene

1702 W Gray St Ste 200 .................................832/221-7628

PRESERVING YEARS OF HOUSTON LGBTQ HISTORY! Help us fund the digitalization and cataloging of more than a million community photos by making a donation.

Info@DaltonDeHart.com I P.O. Box 22641 I Houston, TX 77277

www.DaltonDeHart.com OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2022 | 79 OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2022 79

SIGN OUT

By LILLY RODDY

Plan Ahead Get as many projects started as you can during Leo season.

Leo, inspired by novelist James Baldwin

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

Your energy levels remain strong. This continues to be a good time for relationships, travel, looking for a new job, and even going back to school to start a new path. It’s easy for you to spend money impulsively this month, and it’s a good time for creative activities, spending time with your children, and sharing your love with others. You will want to make your home more comfortable, and family connections are more important than usual this month. You begin to focus on improving your work environment, eating better, and getting your routines in order. Friends may be busy, and not as able to be supportive.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20)

The Bulls and Cows are very active in the pasture this month. Mars, planet of action and adventure, continues to visit your sign through August 20. This is a perfect time to invest in yourself. Family activities are very strong, and they may need your participation and leadership. You may also need to make your home more comfortable by remodeling.

Work and family demands can be very strong this month.

Boundaries are important so you won’t feel taken advantage of because of your good nature. This is a great time to take a leadership role or potentially start your own thing.

Later in the month you are looking to have more fun and enjoy life. Watch your spending habits after the 20th!

GEMINI (May 21–June 21)

It’s very important for you to communicate your thoughts and ideas this month. You are working on your boundaries and getting clear about your life goals. This is a great time for getting involved in community or business organizations. By August 20, Mars (planet of action and anger) enters your sign until March 25, 2023, and will be retrograde 80

AUGUST 2022

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SEBASTIAN GOMEZ DE LA TORRE

You should be getting as many projects as possible started this month, with Mercury retrograde coming up on September 1. Mars, our planet of action, reaction, and anger, enters Gemini for a very long stay. Normally, Mars visits each sign for about 40 days at a time. Mars will be retrograde from October 13 through February 2023, so plan ahead! This is going to be very impactful for the mutable signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. These signs will become more easily angered and ready to defend themselves at any moment. They will also have more energy to burn off through exercise, and they may not sleep as well. Good days this month are August 2, 16, 18 and 22. Days to stay aware are August 1, 7, 9, 11, 14, 21, 27, and 28.

during that time. You will want to deal with any issues that present themselves, particularly those from the past.

This would also be a great time to start a diet or exercise program. In the latter part of the month and through September, your home becomes your safe haven. Career and work are still unsettled, but things clear up after October.

Focus on you this month!

CANCER (June 22–July 22)

Values, self-worth, and financial responsibility are big on your list this month. You want to share what you have with others, but you don’t always make sure you have enough for yourself. This is a great month for taking care of tax problems, putting yourself on a budget, or brushing off neglected skills. You are more sensitive to your relationship needs this month, so it’s a good time to renew bonds.

If you are single, this is a better time to meet new people for relationships. You have less tolerance for the B.S., and that gets stronger toward the end of the month. Your career area continues to be very positive for advancement or doing something on your own. You can find support for your ideas, and particularly those that affect your career, through professional groups. This is a good time to try some of the newer approaches to business, since working from home was made for your sign!

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Happy Birthday to the Leos! This is your personal yearly cycle of review and renewal. This is a busy month, with your areas of self, home, relationships, and career all active. You are more outspoken at work and ready to take on a new role. In relationships, you are reviewing the goals you have in common. If you are unhappy, you are ready to confront problems and solve them, one way or another. If

you are single, you are weighing the rewards and costs of getting into a partnership. All of this is true for business partnerships, as well. At home, you are ready to toss out old emotional triggers that have been controlling you. By the end of the month, you are ready to chill out.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.22)

This month you’ll have some situations that require flexibility on your part. You are usually ready for an August break, but work demands are taking a lot of energy. You could be redesigning your office to respond to how business works now. This is also the month to improve your health and find some inner peace as you focus on yourself. This is a good time for getting a loan, exploring investment strategies, and being more open to help from your partner and close friends. By the 20th, the energies shift and you are ready to move forward. Your career area is very active from the 20th through March 25, 2023.

You may not have much patience, especially with co-workers as you search for a leadership role. You will not have a lot of patience, so exercise can help release the tension.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 23)

Friendships are very important to you this month.

This is an excellent time to get together with those who give you optimism about your life passions. Your career continues to be very positive, with people being more open to your ideas. You seem to have some special charm in this area in early August, when you could close some deals and generate good clients.

By midmonth, you are ready to take a step back. You

are more sensitive to your environment and trying to understand your calling in life. You can normally dismiss other people’s harshness, but that could bother you in late August. Established relationships continue to be positive through October. You are more social after the 20th. This could be a good time for a vacation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24–Nov. 21)

Relationship energies are very active through the middle of the month. If you are in a partnership, this is a time of renewal. If your relationship is not doing well, you will want to confront those problems and arrive at a solution. If you are single and interested, this is a great time to be out there! People will be drawn to your magnetic sexual energies, even if they don’t know why. You are still trying to find a balance between home and work. You may need to do some remodeling, or change roles in your nuclear family.

At work, you need to feel recognized because you have plenty of ideas and can take on a new management role. In late August, friends can be very helpful.

Finances become more important after the 20th—a good time for investments or loans.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov.22–Dec.21)

You are still in a creative cycle this month—a great time for taking or teaching a class, going on vacation, and having more fun with your partner. You are

being very clear in your communications. You are not as flexible as you normally are, and your tolerance for childish behavior is very low. You may be looking at buying a new car or considering an alternative. You want to make more efficient use of your time and energy. This month you may feel trapped by old diet and exercise habits, but you can make changes that may not have been possible in the past.

Relationships become active after August 20. Confront problems with your partnerships and remind each other why you are together in the first place. Career changes become more important toward the end of the month!

You are also redefining your partnership goals. This is a great time to have a business meeting with your partner to make sure you are both pulling in the same direction. If you are single, this is a good time for partnerships since you are clear about what you need and what you don’t need! Home and family are in your thoughts as major changes happen there. Your tolerance for family drama will be low, and you will be ready to set everyone straight. For some, relocating, remodeling, or downsizing may be on the horizon. In late August, you will want more intimacy and trust in your relationships.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Financial security is a big topic this month. You are concerned about eliminating debt and creating a greater sense of personal freedom. In personal and business partnerships, you are looking for more trust and intimacy. With home and family, you are looking at relocating and finding a good vacation spot. This is a great month to indulge your favorite activities. If you have children, they continue to push boundaries so you need to be clear with them. At the end of the month, your communication skills are much improved at work. Health and exercise take over your focus after August 20, so put this on your schedule!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

Long-term security is still the main topic this month as you look at what is working and what is not. You want to have more control over where you work and who you work with.

Self-care is your mantra this month. You are more sensitive to your environment and may need to work at home so your co-workers’ energies don’t pollute yours. You are not hesitant to tell others how you feel, since you’re not as willing to put up with messes. Boundaries are becoming more important for you. You are looking for the things in life that give you pleasure and support your spirit. On August 20, Mars (planet of action, self-defense, and initiation) enters the home, family, and roots area of your horoscope until March 25, 2023. You may be looking to relocate, and family issues come to the surface to finally be resolved. Maintain your perspective and do what is good for you!

For more astro-insight, lillyroddyshow.com.

OutSmartMagazine.com |

AUGUST 2022

81

WIGGING OUT

By SAM BYRD

A Houston Drag Debutante Dominique Opulent Ross delivers graceful glam each weekend.

The slender, elegant girl with big dreams is finally seeing those dreams come true. Dominique Opulent Ross got her first taste of drag as a child. Growing up, she played dressup with her mom’s and grandmother’s clothes while she dreamed of getting all dolled up and performing onstage. Read on to get to know more about Dominique.

Pronouns? She/Her Inner avatar? A renaissance woman.

Drag birthday? July 4, 2008

What is your life’s mantra?

Always lead every day with the intention to be the best version of you.

Any titles or pageants under your belt?

I’m a former Ms. Gay Shining Star USofA Newcomer 2014.

How would you describe Houston’s drag scene for a visitor?

I would say it’s diverse, fun, and glamorous.

What is Dominique’s ultimate goal as a performer?

My ultimate drag goal is to have longevity and success in this business.

Who is your favorite illusion to perform?

Whitney Elizabeth Houston!

Who are your favorite artists to perform?

My all-time favorite to perform is Stephanie Mills. Her music speaks to my soul.

Any advice for up-and-coming performers?

Be yourself 100 percent of the time, stay humble, work hard, show up on time, and be reliable.

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Who is your favorite RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant?

Thee Shea Coulee. That lady does it for me!

What is your secret talent? I can sing.

Describe your drag persona.

Old-school flair with a modern twist.

Speaking of dressed to the nines, talk about Dominique’s wardrobe.

She loves vintage pieces, gowns, big jewelry, and nice hair.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I’m a huge introvert.

What’s on your bucket list?

To travel to Japan and be enriched by the culture.

Hometown? NOLA, baby!

Who are your style icons?

Diahann Carroll, my maternal grandmother Theresa Swanson, and my mother, Monique Moseley. These three ladies were always dressed to the nines.

What do you do in your downtime?

I love to cook, enjoy time with my family, and online shopping. Also, I like to play with my chihuahua, Mia.

Follow Dominique Opulent Ross on social media: justin.c.williams.1232 (Facebook) and @The_kyngishere (Instagram)

What do you want the world to know about the LGBTQ community?

That we are just one large melting pot of love and truth, and we just want to have the same opportunities as others.

Have you found love?

Why are y’all being so nosey? Lol! What are your passions in life?

I love my family, cooking, and, most importantly, helping the younger generation of drag performers, because I didn’t have that when I first started.

What else might be worth mentioning?

I love performing in drag, and the art as a whole. It’s evolving and changing, allowing everyone an avenue.

Where can fans see you perform?

Catch me at Michael’s Outpost on Fridays for Modern Nostalgia and on Saturdays for Eye Cons, Houston’s longest-running celebrity illusions show.

Both shows start at 7:30 p.m.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX ROSA FOR OUTSMART

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