CULTURE CLASH Galveston - Mar./Apr. 2023

CULTURE CLASH

a venue for Galveston’s free thinkers

LETTER FROM PUBLISHER:

So much conversation is flying around about feminism and ‘toxic masculinity’. Our team is constantly being asked to share perspectives on what drives popular culture, why boys are dressing like girls, and if the media is making our kids gay.

We have a dialog now that didn’t exist even 30 years ago but the truth is even those of us exploring and questioning our own spot on the spectrum don’t have all the answers. We know what we like and we know what we don’t. More importantly we understand how we perceive ourselves and how society perceives us is not always consistent.

Being masculine can mean so much to so many. For those identifying as female, it can mean how you dress, how much you sweat, and that you love sports. For those identifying as male, it might look like being a good father or chopping down a tree naked. Whatever that looks like for you, we are here for that.

We hope these pages offer a bit of insight into what others are going through and hopefully allow you to reflect on your similarities. Understanding we are all on a spectrum and there is no “right” way to be is key.

But most of all we hope you read, enjoy, and share.

PUBLISHER

Janese Maricelli-Thomasson

LAYOUT & DESIGN JanMar Agency

Corinne Tamayo

EDITOR

Leslie Whaylen

CONTRIBUTORS

Robert Dean • Liesel Dell’Osso

Christopher Emmet • Juan Gonzalez

TJ Green • Robert Kuhn

Zoe Monacy

Roxy D. Hall Williamson

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BEING TOLD TO ‘MAN UP’ IS TOXIC... EXCEPT WHEN IT ISN’T.

Be A Better Human

Photo Courtesy of unsplash.com

GREATER HEIGHTS

BY TJ GREEN

WHAT IS MASCULINITY?

In my opinion, it’s an outdated term for how men are expected to act in public and private. A set of guidelines that define your manhood. Problem is, I don’t fit into that box and have friends who feel the same way.

Masculinity is a term used to stereotype men and how we are expected to act, but it is not a law and like all things in life, can be changed, but it takes all of us working together to make waves and end stereotypes. Let your son play Barbies with his sister, let your sons cry at movies, and most of all make sure they know that they are not wrong or less than anyone else because they don’t do what everyone else does. At the end of the day we all poop brown, and bleed red so let’s not let silly stuff like what makes a man a “man” divide us. Instead, let’s teach our kids love, kindness, vulnerability, and most of all, equip them to be who they want to be without worrying what someone else might think. Being a man or woman should not be decided by dated expectations, and it certainly shouldn’t only be about what equipment you’re born with. Even just two people can make a difference.

For me personally masculinity is being in touch with my emotions; being available mentally and physically to my wife, friends, and family, and being able to motivate those around me to reach greater heights. I am a man who cries at movies, calls things cute, acts incredibly silly, and wears nail polish.

I can’t pretend I have the answers or know what makes a “man”. But I know what makes a good person; a kind heart, integrity, reliable and kindness in the face of hatred. Regardless of how one lives, I don’t think as a society we should be training people to say someone is lesser because they grew up differently or lived a different life than they did. This only works to further the divide of a nation that is already at one another’s neck over every other topic.

Photo Courtesy of

Masculinity in TDCJ’s Prison System

BY JUAN GONZALEZ

I LIVE IN A COMMUNITY CONSISTING ALMOST ENTIRELY OF MEN, EACH OF WHOM IS TRYING DESPERATELY TO APPEAR MANLIER AND TOUGHER THAN THE NEXT. The only females we are around daily are guards and nurses, and they are in positions of authority over us all. What does masculinity mean and look like to us in this place? It is very complicated, conflicting, and confusing because inmates must be strong amongst each other, or at least appear to be. Some do this by working out to develop a huge upper body, while others are loud and antagonistic. Violence is always just one word away and often, the only way to avoid it is by appearing eager for it. This results in grown men cursing and yelling, trying to convince the other they are seconds away from a beating, when in actuality, neither relishes violence. Sometimes, if both were loud and dramatic enough, an officer will notice and stop it. We regress to apes, waving arms and causing a ruckus to appear dominant. If you are involved in a fight, no matter the reason, you are given a major disciplinary case with major consequences. You lose privileges such as visits, commissary, recreation, and phone usage. Worst of all, it negatively effects your already slim chance of parole. Selfdefense is no excuse. A fight is a fight and both are disciplined, victim as much as aggressor. When violence seems inevitable, you can either back down (which looks weak and unmanly in here and might lead to others being aggressive towards you) or you can fight (which may keep you incarcerated longer and unable to be a man for your loved ones out there). An altercation can occur with no warning and a split-second decision can have far-reaching consequences.

So how does a man in prison deal with life once all that is masculine is taken from him? I try to fight becoming institutionalized and complacent with being a dependent vs a provider. I make lists and plans for the future so that I can hit the Free running, instead of with my hand out for a hand-out. I try to maintain my relationships with my friends so that I remember who I am instead of who prison tries to make me be. I avoid situations that trap you and force you to assert your supposed manhood here, so that I can focus on getting out as soon as possible and be a man out there. I served my country, raised my kids through a large part of their childhood, and provided for my loved ones up to the day I got here, and I will again. Proving my manhood to another man whose whole existence physically and mentally is behind these fences is just not that important to me. My existence is out there. My family, friends, and future are out there. That’s what masculinity is to me.

The Great Grizzly Hunt

BY ROBERT DEAN

GETTING PUNCHED IN THE FACE SUCKS. Having someone’s fist slam into your skull doesn’t feel awesome. Experiencing the pain of your lips grinding into your teeth is less than a good time. Fighting, in general, is pretty terrible. As much as we culturally love watching two greased-up, shirtless gladiators swap licks in the UFC ring, the rest of us could probably do without our half-assed Mortal Kombat moves. The feeling of your hands aching when connecting to another person’s body doesn’t feel like a silent communion but an alchemy of the internal. That’s one of those things about being a man we’re supposed to love, that we can take a punch, that we never cry, or that nothing hurts inside. We’re supposed to dig the grave and throw dirt on the casket in all aspects of our lives. We’re supposed to know how to

change oil, love the smell of napalm in the morning, know how to sear a steak for maximum flavor perfectly or be able to throw a football through double coverage and into a receiver’s hands on the twentyyard line down from the forty.

Life isn’t one-size-fits-all, though. Some men jump at the sound of fireworks or love to fiddle with their hair before going to get gas. Some dudes like to get in the kitchen and whip up a batch of blueberry scones for a dinner party, while some like to make their lawns perfect within a ruler inch. Some men hide in the bottom of a bottle, the silent sips of beer at a bar in resolve to break whatever’s howling inside. Some cry alone in their car at the far end of the parking lot. Men drop from heart attacks, a goner from keeping the hurt buried within

their bellies - they’re taught that if they show anything but rage, they’ll never be able to feast on the weak around them as they dance upon a parade of skulls, clawing toward their goals, looking for that hot tub of chaos in the sky.

Being a man is patience when the kids want to know your secrets: how to execute a perfect grilled cheese with just enough butter-to-bread ratio, always using American cheese, or how you can get the lawn mower to pull on the first start. It’s telling your kids jokes they’ll remember fifteen years later randomly at the gas station as they’re filling up the gas tank.

Masculinity is more complicated in a world of changing optics. In this era of everything happening, live and in vivid technicolor, highlighting your mistakes at every turn. Masculinity is at least owning yours and helping lift others when the train goes off the tracks. It’s not just opening the door for others at the restaurant or putting your cart back but being open to hearing about what you’ve done wrong or how you could be better. Being masculine isn’t being able to open a Miller Lite with your teeth but the ability to admit you don’t know something. It shouldn’t be, “Watch how I throw a strike,” but instead, “Let me show you how to throw one, too.”

Being a dude is weird. We’re not all grizzly bears or lions with puffed manes screaming at the sky. Some of us move like silent wolves, while others are turtles on their backs because the wind blew just a little too hard.

A real man doesn’t care where you pee or how you self-identify. Or who you kiss, how you kiss them, or what you do behind closed doors. A real man shouldn’t care if his kids or wife eat before he does. He should care about his community, that the guy with the scribbled sign gets a cup of coffee on a cold day and that the veteran doesn’t wind up holding his own sign on a street corner, either. He should care that people on the margins get a chance to get their paycheck.

Manhood is complex and confusing a lot of the time. A real man will never label himself an “alpha” because if he does, he’s certainly not leading the pack but begging for a spot near the rear. We don’t need to gnaw raw meat or flex for the camera but show up when it matters. Being masculine doesn’t come with instructions, but it doesn’t mean pumping your chest at the first sign of strife. Watch out for little kids in the street, not for likes on Instagram. Spread love, not an ethos of “me first.” There’s enough of that. Just ask your mom, sister, or girlfriend.

Masculinity isn’t screaming with a painted face, shirtless and hammered at the Bears game, but being a rock for your gay daughter in the face of bullies. It’s also knowing when to read the room and realize the club we grew up in is no longer the same club we’re a member.

LEVELS OF MASCULINITY AND FEMININITY, LIKE SEXUAL ORIENTATION, ARE SET BEFORE BIRTH. LONG STORY SHORT, HOW MASCULINE OR FEMININE A PERSON IS WILL DEPEND ON THEIR LEVEL OF EXPOSURE TO MALE HORMONES IN THE WOMB.

-HANAN PARVEZ: PSYCHMECHANICS.COM

Express Yourself

Photo Courtesy of shutterstock.com

The Natural Man

BY ROBERT KUHN

MY WOMAN GAVE BIRTH TO A BABY GIRL ONE YEAR AGO, AND IT HAS BEEN CLEAR THAT ALTHOUGH SHE LOVES HER DADDY, THERE ARE A LOT mama is busy nurturing and feeding, someone needs where the natural man comes in.

I spent some formidable years of my life in South villages (read Leaving is Returning; see below) and pretty clearly defined for a long time. Men hunt. fish for food to bring home for Mama to eat and ruff and tuff women who run around in the bush home to the village, they paddle dugout canoes rare compared with the dirty old sinewy callused-hands jungles, slashing, sweating, bleeding and burning. groups to hunt efficiently and protect themselves from dangerous bigger animals and violent competitors.

It just so happens that when dudes get together a group, all their testosterone levels rise and so do their lifespans. When they chop wood and lift heavy things, their mental/physical health stays balanced and balance is the name of this game.

Our civilization has oppressed women for thousands of years and this wave we’re riding now may very well be the natural balancing out of that [previous] wave. I look around our community and see the and greedy political corporations that the old men been pushing for so long. I also see beautiful, strong positive changes. I’m cheering for our astronauts commerce system (GOFM!) and city council reps Yang deficiencies are healed by yin medicine. “Respect

Read more about Robert’s adventures

Now available on Amazon.

The Feminization of Men or Liberation from Traditional Masculinity?

BYLIESELDELL’OSSO

OF VIEWED AS FEATURES OF CLOTHING TOPS, JEWELRY DANGLY, example of depictions tutorials on popularized owner Jeffree issue musical artist first man to and he dress paired cropped in the the many features of the abundant ruffles bows. His wearing the tolerance, away from message that does not femininity.

and Rolf hair paired pronounced goatee androgynous seemed more pioneering; Tweet that look was response to fan she wasn’t eyelashes in the Swarovski laden so much artistry. intent, I such as these thought-provoking; when images and triggers an inner which I find evaluating my own construct of what masculinity and Does our own really define gender? And even need it just exist approved each and encompasses qualities in regardless of Therefore, femininity spectrum much many our

Looking further back in time, there have been many examples over decades and centuries of feminine attire making its way into men’s fashion often as a reverberation of underlying shifts in gender roles. More recent figures like Prince and David Bowie come to my mind or as far back as the ancient Greeks who wore long, draped dresslike togas. Then it could be that what I am noticing today are just examples of the inevitable ebb and flow of fashion trends and societal norms. Maybe we are not truly in a cultural flux, but these are just depictions media uses as a tactic to catch our attention. Conversely, it could be a true reflection of the mainstream with intent to blur the historical definitions of masculinity as an outright rejection of the historical gender norms and particularly traditional masculinity. If it’s the latter, masculinity and conversely femininity could merely be obsolete social constructs that are no longer relevant to modern society. While I have posed these many questions that may or may not have clear answers to any given person, I do think it is clear that biology does not define masculinity, femininity or lifestyle.

THE BALANCE OF MASCULINITY

BY ROXY D. HALL WILLIAMSON

The patriarchal institutions that have historically defined American life are being confronted with new ideas of what masculinity could look like. The archetypal ideas surrounding masculinity are undergoing serious analysis and appraisement. Many voices call for the dismantling of masculinity, especially those parts thought to be toxic and out of balance. These ideas pose many challenges and we are better off healing our collective traumas by striking a balance between our masculine and feminine selves. We need both, in tandem, to be whole. The goal of finding balance is to heal from within and strive for healthy and divine ways of envisioning our spaces in the world.

STEPPING OUT OF THE PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS OF MASCULINE AND FEMININE CONSTRUCTS THAT SEEM TO SHACKLE AND STIFLE WESTERN SOCIETY, IT IS NOW TIME TO STEP INTO THE PRESENT AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE WITH A MORE OPEN, BALANCED APPROACH TO A HEALTHY LIFE. Our biology as human participants of the earth dictates that we find ways to diminish negative, unbalanced energies, speech and behaviors and lean into positive, balanced vibrations, language and action(s). Biological characteristics of humans contain a mix of masculine and feminine energy. We all have estrogen and testosterone. In order to attain and maintain balance, we must learn how to listen to our own inner selves.

‘YOU FIND PEACE NOT BY REARRANGING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR LIFE, BUT BY REALIZING WHO YOU ARE AT THE DEEPEST LEVEL’ - ECKHART TOLLE

Recognizing that masculinity is different per ethnicity, culture and generation, the standards for traditional manliness vary tremendously. In the interest of

combatting the violence typically attached to masculinity, learning and practicing self-guided balance is essential to illustrating why healthy masculinity is so important. Masculinity can be fluid and not reserved for males only. Human traits such as courage, leadership, independence, fearlessness, strength and assertiveness are all traits everyone could possess. Though patriarchal history has centered men as the prism through which to experience normality and rationality, the overall aim is to remove the pressures of forcing men and boys to suppress and shy away from their feelings and provide safe spaces for males to express themselves openly. Teaching selfcare, showing self love and instilling compassion are key building blocks for healthy masculinity.

‘‘IT’S EASIER TO BUILD STRONG CHILDREN THAN TO REPAIR BROKEN MEN” - FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Biological and cultural factors play significant roles

in human development. These factors come into

play when grappling with masculinity in reference

to broken men and boys in the judicial system.

News headlines are full of ways our current judicial

systems exacerbate the issues of masculinity and developing spaces for healthy masculine growth. These encounters often thrust young men

rehabilitation. The solutions are not easy fixes yet the solutions

and boys into circumstances that only highlight personal deficiencies and offer no solid avenues for

are varied and doable. Reimagining community policing, Transformative justice and healthy rehabilitation seems overwhelming and impossible.

This is hard community work. Fortunately for the

state of Texas we have hope. A strong voice

on this front is Savannah Eldridge, whose fight

for the men in her family highlight these issues poignantly. Though her list of legislative work is extensive, her passion project is befrank4justice.org. This platform was developed in 2016 to provide support and services for incarcerated individuals and their families impacted by their confinement. Repairing broken adults can be overwhelming work. Ms. Eldridge makes it look effortless.

and boys emotionally.

She delved into this work as a response to her own family member’s stories that forced her to become acquainted with the intimate details of our flawed judicial system as a matter of survival. She is a staunch advocate and activist that understands that balancing healthy masculinity is essential to tackling the issues that plague men

Beyond community programs, she is a powerhouse at the Texas State capitol and works

tirelessly to develop legislation that will tackle these

issues head-on. She heads several initiatives in Texas.

Her community work provides examples of how

various platforms can inform legislation, build better communities, and care for the citizenry as a whole.

the island community.

These programs could offer Galveston a template

that can be used to confront the issues unique to

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MS. ELDRIGE, HER WORK, AND PROGRAMMING TO MAKE SPACE FOR MEN AND BOYS VISIT THESE LINKS:

befrank4justice.org

abolishslaverytx.org

abolishslavery.us

tifa.org

texascjc.org/statewideleadership-council

Yoga in a Yang-Oriented World

BY CHRISTOPHER EMMET

YOGA IS A PRACTICE THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MILLENNIA, BUT ITS EVOLUTION AND UNDERSTANDING HAVE BEEN SHAPED BY THE CULTURE AND SOCIETY IN WHICH IT IS PRACTICED. Historically, there was a period in Indian history where women were not allowed to practice yoga and schools were filled with men. This raises the question of whether yoga is inherently a feminine practice or if it is meant to be accessible to all individuals regardless of gender. In this article, we will delve into the relationship between the masculine and the feminine in yoga, exploring the concepts of “yin” and “yang” and the balance and harmony they represent. We will also examine the role of the body as a tool for deeper self-discovery.

Eugenie Peterson, who later became known as Indra Devi, was admitted into Krishnamacharya’s “Yogashala” or yoga school in India in 1937, making her the first female pupil and the first western woman to attend an Indian ashram. Despite evidence of women informally practicing yoga in India’s rich and diverse history, in the early 1900s, it was rare to see women in formal yoga study. This seems to be a little-known fact in the west as it contradicts the common misconception that yoga is a feminine practice, with U.S. classrooms often filled with mostly women. Yoga is an ancient and diverse practice, with origins dating back thousands of years before Jesus Christ. Although the actual practices of yoga were rarely documented before modern times, its philosophies were documented in texts such as the Yoga Sutras and the Baghavad Gita. The endorsement by the Mysore India royal family for Krishnamacharya’s yoga school played a pivotal role in the modernization of yoga. Photographs from Krishnamacharya’s yoga classroom show that it was regularly filled with only men or adolescent boys. The privilege of studying yoga at the Mysore Palace was often reserved for the upper class. It was used for both physical and

spiritual advancement, as a tool for achieving optimal health and for reaching a deeper understanding of the divine. Additionally, it was also used to groom young aristocrats to be well-cultured, disciplined, and physically prepared for martial arts and officer military training. In short, yoga is a practice of empowerment, and if there is a system of social inequalities, such as a class system, those in power would want to keep it out of the hands of the lower class.

When exploring the relationship between the masculine and the feminine on an energetic level, the Chinese and Taoist terms “yin” and “yang” can be useful in understanding a duality of balance and harmony rather than using opposites as a divisive dichotomy. Yin and yang represent the universal complimenting opposites of the cosmos that balance each other. So much of reality relies on revolutions between these sorts of opposites, like the earth spinning on a north pole and a south pole, or the flow of electricity between the split of positive and negative charges.

In the Yin-Yang symbol, yin is represented by black and yang by white, blending together by following each other and occupying one another’s space. Humans regularly experience these energies of yin as feminine and yang as masculine. We can understand these forces as fluid regardless of our sex or gender while still maintaining one’s core sexual essence. The debate remains whether an individual should strive to be 100% balanced between masculine and feminine energies internally or simply be aware of the dance between these energies in and around us. To gain a better understanding, I recommend reading The Tao Te Ching, the primary text of the religion Taoism with more English translations than the Christian Bible.

When I began my yoga teacher training I felt a natural inclination to grow my hair out as a representation of yin energy, to balance my yang core. This choice, while considered feminine or affiliated with “hanging loose” as opposed to uptight, was influential to creating balance within myself. Through my journey, I learned my masculine essence appreciates the feminine, including the feminine or yin that I find within myself.

We live in a yangoriented culture and Americans, in particular, are dying from stress. Western yoga teachers often emphasize softness,

yin, as a means of balancing rigidity, yang. Some would say the ultimate goal of yoga is selfactualization through the yoking of the many layers of the self. In the words of Sat Purusha, “Yoga is not about achievement. It is not about competition or being better, but it is about challenge with yourself.”

For me, yoga has been a source of relief. If we consider flexibility to be yin and tension and contraction to be yang, I personally needed to work on my flexibility. This became apparent to me in high school through proverbial flashing emergency lights of sports-related injuries. I loved weightlifting. Later I realized that flexibility and strength are not mutually exclusive. In reality, strength is a skill to be practiced and strength is only relative to the movement that we are training. The generation of force relies on flexibility for range of motion. Elasticity of muscles results in resilience. Yoga can introduce individuals to a new form of strength, focused on stability and durability.

By embracing the balance between yin and yang, you can expand your understanding and experience of yoga and improve your own practice. Many people have migrated to the beaches of Galveston to escape the stress of daily life, but true contentment can only be found when we address our internal reality and

prioritize our physical and mental well-being. Incorporating self-care and meditation practices can help us find balance and fulfillment in our daily lives, rather than relying solely on external factors for contentment. Meditation, as a practice, can take many forms. Be open to explore different methods and find what resonates with you.

BRINGING TOGETHER ART, AWARENESS, AND ADVOCACY!

Turtles About Town is a community art project that highlights the City of Galveston and the conservation efforts of Turtle Island Restoration Network to protect endangered sea turtles on the upper Texas coast. Turtle lovers of all ages have the opportunity to see 50 colorful Kemp’s ridley sea turtle statues that have been installed around the island since 2018. Businesses, individuals and organizations graciously sponsor the turtle statues while local artists are commissioned to give each one personality and Download at seaturtles.org/turtles. Be sure to tag Turtle Island Restoration Network in your images (@TIRN-Gulf on Facebook and @TIRN.Gulf on Instagram) and tag #TurtlesAboutTown!

seaturtles.org

clapcupstudios.com

Proudly serving Galveston County!

The One Tucked Carefully in His Back Pocket

By Madeline “Mattie” Morphew.

Digital drawing

COOLTURE

Madeline “Mattie” Morphew is a local illustrator, comic artist, and scriptwriter with a fondness for hardboiled 1940s men with soft feelings, strange creatures, and fantasy fables. For information on her upcoming fantasy 1940s graphic novel, visit @casualflowershopfreakshow.

GALVESTON’S HOTTEST EVENT OF THE YEAR

LA IZQUIERDA SURF & MUSIC FEST 2023

May 5, 6 & 7

Merard Park | Seawall and 28th

Get ready Galveston! The La Izquierda crew is back with another year of awesomeness. The festival goes full-scale with 3 DAYS of music, surfing, beer, friends and fun.

Now in 3D (3-days) we are able to squeeze in more music than ever before including; national sensations Bun B, and Los Skarnales. Local favorites Galvezton, India Tigers in Texas, EL Lago, and Dem Roots to name a few. The surf competition will include Men’s, Women’s, Groms, and more with prizes that are sure to impress. And as always the Galveston Island Brewing folks will be serving up the goods all weekend.

This year’s event will kick off May 5th at 5pm with Local’s Night, a curated evening specifically for Galvestonians. Saturday, May 6th, we start again bright and early at 8 am with our Surf event and a full day of festivities. The excitement goes into Sunday, May 7th with headlining acts and Sunday Funday in the park.

La Izquierda is a family-fun event. Learn more, sign-up to volunteer, and purchase tickets directly at LaIzquierdaFest.com

Bridging the Gap Between Science and the Community

Last year, the Galveston Park Board introduced a lecture series aimed at educating the public about careers in coastal science. Specifically about women’s roles in those careers. The series was a success – attracting dozens of interested audience members and even garnering a prestigious regional award.

“When we think of coastal science, many people think of marine biology or maritime business,” Galveston Park Board Environmental Coordinator Elizabeth Schneider said. “Those are certainly important career paths, but there are so many more. The Women in Coastal Science series will help shed light on some of the lesser known opportunities.”

The idea for the series originated from Park Board staff members, women, who wanted to bring attention to successes in the many fields available pertaining to coastal science. Park Board Guest Experience Manager Ann Hobing said the series aligns with the organization’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts and its mission to be stewards of the coastal environment.

“When it comes to scientific pursuits, women can be a minority in the industry,” Hobing said. “We want this series to help women share their journeys to success and fulfillment and to inspire other women to consider entering the science realm, too.”

The series caught the attention of the Houston Galveston Area Council, or HGAC. As part of the council’s Parks and Natural Areas Awards, Women in Coastal Science was the winner in the programming category. HGAC awards recognize outstanding practices across the HoustonGalveston region and the winning projects serve as models for the rest of the region to consider.

“We’re thrilled to be recognized by HGAC,” Park Board Executive Director Kelly de Schaun said. “I applaud the creative thinkers on the Park Board staff for coordinating the series and salute the women who play such an important role in conserving our marine environment.”

The Park Board will bring back the series for 2023 beginning April 28. To date, speakers include Karla Klay from the conservation organization Artist Boat; Annie Mercer from the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association, Tiffany Staten from the PEA Engineering Group, Theresa Morris with the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research, Anna Deichmann from the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, and Virgie Greb who is a student pursuing her Ph.D. in Marine and Coastal Management at Texas A&M University at Galveston.

Presentations will run through September and take place at East Beach on the last Friday of each month. Coffee and breakfast snacks will be available starting at 9 a.m., with the program beginning at 9:30 a.m.

“We hope members of the Galveston community will come and meet the women who tackle the challenges our coastal environment faces,” Schneider said. “From rescuing marine mammals and sea turtles to understanding the impacts of extreme conditions on our Gulf shores, these women demonstrate the diversity of careers found here and will share their journeys in their fields of expertise.”

MUST WATCH!

THE MASK YOU LIVE IN - 2015 DOCUMENTARY BY THE REPRESENTATION PROJECT

The Mask You Live In follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true themselves while negotiating America’s narrow definition of masculinity.

Pressured by the media, their peer group, and even the adults in their lives, our protagonists confront messages encouraging them to disconnect from their emotions, devalue authentic friendships, objectify and degrade women, and resolve conflicts through violence. These gender stereotypes interconnect with race, class, and circumstance, creating a maze of identity issues boys and young men must navigate to become “real” men.

Experts in neuroscience, psychology, sociology, sports, education, and media also weigh in, offering empirical evidence of the “boy crisis” and tactics to combat it.

The Mask You Live In ultimately illustrates how we, as a society, can raise a healthier generation of boys and young men.

Learn more at therepproject.org/films/the-mask-you-live-in

March

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

March 17

SPRING SOLSTICE WINE SHARE

Regional Art and Music with Local Food and Wine

Thur. March 23rd | 5pm - 6:30pm

Galveston Arts Crenter

2127 The Strand, Galveston, TX

Must be 21+ to attend

Bring a bottle of wine to share and enjoy other shared wines.

Snack on food samplings of Chef Daya’s Oleander Dinner Series, (of Fish Co. Taco).

Requested donation of $5- GAC members|$10 non-members

ROSENBERG DAY

Sat. March 25th | 10am – 4pm

Rosenberg Library

2310 Sealy, Galveston, TX

Celebrating everything library on Rosenberg Day! This family-friendly festival is FREE and open to the public.

WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED? Email Us.

GALVESTON STEAMPUNK FESTIVAL

Apr 1, 2023 | 12pm

Galveston Railroad Museum

2602 Santa Fe Place, Galveston, Texas Step back in time through machines, performances, music, costumes, lectures, and more.

TALL SHIPS® GALVESTON FESTIVAL

Thur. April 13th - Sun April 16th

Galveston Island serves as one of three ports for the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Gulf Coast 2023 Series, which features a fleet of ships traveling across the Gulf of Mexico as they visit other participating cities.

FEATHERFEST BIRDING & NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL

April 18th - 24th | Various Times

The island’s annual birding and nature photography festival

More info: galvestonfeatherfest.com

LA IZQUIERDA FEST

May 6th, 7th & 8th

Galveston’s ONLY Surf & Music Festival www.laizquierdafest.com

WATERMELON-MINT MARGARITA

VIDA AGAVE 711 25TH ST.

Tequila, Agave, fresh lime & watermelon juice with mint. (Nice and refreshing drink perfect for Spring)

people of GALVESTON

Jacon Neasbitt New Galveston Local

I think being vulnerable is a very masculine trait that doesn’t get talked about or celebrated as much as it should. It takes a lot of strength and bravery to open up.

Men of Galveston

By: Zoe Monacy

In a world full of pink, blue, and stereotypes, masculinity is shoved to the bottom of the barrel when it comes to conversations. Feminists have stepped in the spotlight to talk about equality, self-care, and women’s health tips. However, men haven’t spoken up as much about their personal lives. This page is a dedicated space to Galveston men who were asked what masculinity meant to them.

Being a provider, emotionally strong, and taking care of others. A woman or a man can be masculine, it comes down to the soul.

Christian Vargas | BOI

Sebastian | Employed in Galveston

Masculinity means a million different things every day. Some days, masculinity means grease on my hands after fixing my car. Some days, it means doing my makeup, or painting my nails. Some days, masculinity means crying after a hard day at work. Some days, it means admitting that a task is too much, and help is needed. Some days, masculinity means opening a pickle jar for my partner. Some days, it means getting a spider out of my daughter’s room so she can sleep soundly. Masculinity, to me, isn’t about being ‘a man’s man’ or any stereotype like that, but it means being true to myself, what makes me comfortable, and at home in my own skin. Most of all, masculinity means striving to be the best person I can be, regardless of anything else.

Rodrigo Cortes |BOI

The part of masculinity that others do not talk about enough is why some men don’t talk about their feelings. To me, it’s a big deal to have someone to confide our feelings to, but it takes time to build that trust with someone.