Fort Worth Weekly // June 12-18, 2024

Against laMáquina

Mariani

Juan R. Govea

By Kristian Lin

Something ’Bout Love

With American Idol star David Archuleta headlining, Saturday’s Trinity Pride Fest

By Maddison Simmons

By Steve Steward

DISTRIBUTION

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STAFF

Anthony Mariani, Editor

Lee Newquist, Publisher

Bob Niehoff, General Manager

Ryan Burger, Art Director

Jim Erickson, Circulation Director

Emmy Smith, Proofreader

Michael Newquist, Regional Sales Director

Jennifer Bovee, Marketing Director

Stacey Hammons, Senior Account Executive

Tony Diaz, Account Executive

Sarah Niehoff, Account Executive

Julie Strehl, Account Executive

Wyatt Newquist, Digital Coordinator

Clintastic, Brand Ambassador

CONTRIBUTORS

Christina Berger, E.R. Bills, Jason Brimmer, Buck D. Elliott, Juan R. Govea, Patrick Higgins, Laurie James, Kristian Lin, Cody Neathery, Wyatt Newquist, Steve Steward, Teri Webster, Ken Wheatcroft-Pardue, Elaine Wilder, Cole Williams

EDITORIAL BOARD

Laurie James, Anthony Mariani, Emmy Smith, Steve Steward

Y’ALL MEANS ALL!

When folk singer-songwriter John McCutcheon released a song titled “Y’all Means All,” CRWFlags.com says he wasn’t expecting the slogan to be popularized by a movement. “His lyrics tell how his grandmother called his family into dinner by saying, ‘Y’all come in, and “y’all” means “all of you.” ’ By tapping into something Southerners all have pride in — the phrase ‘y’all’ — the downhome country message has become a reminder that an inclusive community is really for everyone, not just one type of person. The use of the phrase caught on and began to spread.” This image is now used by Flags for Good to help support Equality Texas, a leading advocacy organization defending the rights of LGBTQ Texans. (Image by Pete Loeser, courtesy CRWFlags.com)

Rainbow Warriors

But first, your concerns.

BY ANTHONY MARIANI

wHeRE’s y’All’S sTrAIgHt PRiDe isSuE? Tell me next time straight people are murdered, fired/unhired, or ostracized for being straight, and we’ll happily give you your own issue. And we’ll do what we can to make sure you have your own month, too.

stOp FoRCiNg yEr LiFeSTyLe On uS! No one’s forcing anything on you, Snowflake McGee. Members of the LGBTQ community are simply saying they exist to let other, perhaps closeted members of the community know they’re not alone, because when you think you have no one to turn to, you can suffer, and quiet, isolated suffering can lead to all sorts of possibly fatal decisions like addiction or suicide or both. No one deserves to be shunted into that kind of darkness. Jesus would agree, which brings us to …

BUt mAh biBLe DOn’T LIkE iT!

You know what else the Bible says will cost you eternal salvation? Getting divorced. Charging interest on loans. Selling land. Wearing two different fabrics at the same time. Eating shrimp! And according to the tenets of the Old Testament, just looking at a photo of the cast of All American will deposit you straight into Satan’s fiery pits of semen and leukorrhea, so we might as well enjoy our time here on this glorious plane of consciousness while we can and be kind to one another. And don’t worry. None of us non-Biblical folks will hold it against you if you feel inclined to move forth on this timeline from now on agreeing to live and let live — just the way Jesus did. Except for the money changers. He couldn’t stand those grubby bastards.

BuT tHEm-tHaR BOoKs GoNNa mAke mAh cHiLd GaY …

So what. As long as our kids are happy, healthy, and nonviolent, does it really matter whom they’re attracted to if anyone at all? Anyway, that’s not how books work. Traditionally and thousands of years and my meager existence may be all we have to go on here, but stay with me — the average person selects a book they’re interested in, not the other way around. Books don’t just suddenly fly into our hands. Agh! Here I was, just stopping and starting through rush-hour traffic on I-35, and Moby-Dick landed in my lap. Now I gotta read it and turn into a fisherman! Damn you, books. A kid choosing a gay or gay-friendly tome may not indicate anything other than that they might enjoy artistic quality, the kind that can lead to a life of art

METROPOLIS

appreciation — and lifelong art appreciators are typically empathetic and compassionate. Maybe that’s more what you’re afraid of, Karen: books creating little Democrats.

We here at the Weekly aren’t looking for any sort of praise. Putting out our inaugural Pride Issue needed to happen. Conservatives are demonizing the LGBTQ community like never before to paper over the party’s lack of

policy — all they have is tax breaks for the wealthy. That’s it. The rich getting richer. The rest is just culture-war nonsense driven by the bogeyman du jour. A few years ago, it was Dr. Fauci. Then it was Critical Race Theory. Then immigrants. Now, it’s the LGBTQ community. Gotta keep that rabble fired up, and the mainstream media — from the StarTelegram to The New York Times, CNN, and the Washington Post — should be ashamed for

continuing to buy into the nonsense. There’s no “both sides” to our democracy’s story. One political party simply wants truth, justice, and equality. The other craves to be led by a dictator who’ll institute Christian Sharia law and force all of us who aren’t wealthy and white and straight — into detention camps. The time for both-sidesing issues and letting misinformation and outright lies go unchallenged

continued on page 6

ended in 2016. In the media business in this country today, you’re either for the truth, as any card-carrying journalist should be, or you’re for personal power and having things your (Biblical) way. You can’t be for both.

Pushing back against all the unfounded attacks on some of society’s most vulnerable is what every reputable publication should be doing now. Lying about obvious, provable truths and science is not welcome anywhere, anytime. Hate is not welcome anywhere, anytime. Publishing a Pride Issue in stoplight-red Fort Worth is what every local media outlet should be doing now because Fort Worth is stoplight-red. The tide needs to tilt toward sanity, acceptance, and behavior that could genuinely be described as Christlike, and we’re talking “turn the other cheek” Jesus, not the “hate your family/follow me” Jesus, who’s no doubt strapped, jacked, and wearing an American flag bandana atop his blond head. We don’t want anything to do with Y’allweh. You can keep him.

Some spots with Weekly newsstands might toss copies of this week’s issue into the trash and maybe even kick us off the property entirely. And while I haven’t

METRO

Here and YesterQueer Why Fort Worth’s LGBTQ history matters.

BY TODD CAMP

The prescient words of George Orwell have been much on my mind lately. The author of 1984 wrote, “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”

For the past several years, I’ve spent a great deal of time accumulating the remnants, rumors, and relics of Tarrant County’s LGBTQ history. During the COVID lockdown, I was delighted to find that my random posts featuring items from the archive along with often lengthy ramblings about bars, events, and people long gone found a steadily increasing audience.

Once we emerged from our post-pandemic seclusion, I began a series of Gay History Happy Hours at Liberty Lounge on the Near Southside. I quickly expanded my focus, which began primarily on LGBTQ nightlife, to encompass all aspects of our community experience. Shortly thereafter, YesterQueer, the Tarrant County LGBTQ

Jesus never said anything about homosexuality, but Y’allweh is on constant watch for glittery dudes in clear heels and camisoles. #yaaasssqueen

interviewed everyone in our office, I feel pretty confident saying that none of us does what we do to become the next Hunter S. Thompson or Joan Didion or to be able to dive Scrooge McDuck-style into a mountain of gold coins every night. Gosh, I drive a 2008 Ford Escape with 141,000 miles on it and iffy brakes. I’m pretty sure I’m not in this biz for the (paltry) dough. The team and I continue

pounding out “quality” stories and informative, colorful ads every week because we think there’s greatness in this city and that success breeds more success. While we’d like to grow like any good company, we remain steadfast to documenting this greatness regardless because the stories around it fascinate us and because stories humanize and civilize all of us. In this issue, we offer more than a few humanizing, civilizing stories for sure.

One interesting piece is on pg. 6. That’s where local journalist/historian/bon vivant Todd Camp essays about creating YesterQueer, a nonprofit devoted to documenting and conserving local history as it relates to gay Fort Worth. Newsflash: We’ve been gay af for decades.

The par-tay continues on pg. 26 with a defense of Saturday’s Trinity Pride Fest as a time to celebrate while the celebrating’s good — a show by the evening’s headliner, American Idol alum and international pop sensation David Archuleta, certainly won’t hurt.

Elsewhere on the Near Southside, a.k.a. the Gayborhood, we have some snaps and a recap of the competing forces at the Fire Station Community Center and nearby park, on pg. 7. As kids and parents basked in rainbow glow while playing outside the event space, conservatives inside — no doubt wearing black, probably scowling,

History Project & Archive, was born, achieving official nonprofit status last month.

The work has been challenging. Legitimate sources are tough to come by, leaving much of the research to unreliable bar publications, scattered ephemera, and failing memories. My journalist credo of “Three sources, or it didn’t happen” was promptly dispatched, especially when assembling a chapter for the Handbook of Texas about the Fort Worth LGBT Community. Researching these histories necessitates comfort in the gray areas, in which hard facts are hard to come by.

But documenting and preserving LGBTQ history has taken on a sense of urgency of late. In today’s political climate — in which LGBTQ rights are regularly under threat, institutions of higher learning are in the crosshairs of far-right state legislators, and “alternative facts” have become media staples — archiving this history has become

definitely wagging a lot of upraised fingers told fish tales about the trans lifestyle. Speaking of old boy Herman Melville: “We talk of the Turks and abhor the cannibals, but may not some of them go to heaven before some of us?”

As I said last week (“State Sanctioned,” June 5), a taxpayer-funded location is never the right place for inciteful, intellectually fraudulent rhetoric, and unless the city offers real-time fact-checking next time (lol), the bullshit needs to be cast out into the private domain. Is Mercy Culture Church still open? Maybe the haters can go there. And stay. Allow me to be clear: As big of an LGBTQ ally as I am, and as much as I know we’re all supposed to be celebrating how great it is for you to be you and me to be me, I am never going to take the high road when lives and our American way of life are at stake and when the low road is so wide open and wonderfully plowable. This month, let’s make room for both: partying and calling b.s. on Hater Nation. Until we’re all free, none of us are. l

This column reflects the opinions of the editorial board and not the Fort Worth Weekly. To submit a column, please email Editor Anthony Mariani at Anthony@FWWeekly.com. He will gently edit it for clarity and concision.

to the one aimed at their queer forebearers. The current war on drag performers as some type of newly invented menace to society is particularly laughable considering Fort Worth’s longtime love affair with “female impersonation,” which began drawing crowds in Cowtown as early as 1899. They were regularly featured performers in the city’s multiple downtown theaters from the turn of the century into the 1920s. When Fort Worth held its own Texas Centennial celebration in 1936, four drag performers were the opening attraction in Arlington Heights at a hell-themed nightspot called Dante’s Inferno, and a celebrated traveling impersonation group called the Jewel Box Revue enjoyed a five-week holdover run at the Skyliner Ballroom on Jacksboro Highway in 1951. Drag as entertainment existed long before Fort Worth itself.

an act of resistance and empowerment.

The importance of LGBTQ history is indisputable. The experiences, struggles, and triumphs which have shaped the community also played a crucial role in shaping society as a whole. One of the most informative ways to understand the boundaries of any society is by understanding its margins. By preserving these stories, we not only honor the resilience and bravery of those who fought for equal rights and recognition, but we dispel myths and misconceptions about LGBTQ individuals and foster greater empathy and acceptance among future generations.

When speaking to groups, I often stress the role of a broader historical knowledge in shaping our future. In short, how can we know where we’re going if we don’t know where we’ve been? Whether history repeats itself or merely rhymes, as Mark Twain is supposed to have said, today’s LGBTQ community is facing a fear-based assault similar

MAGA Republican officials referring to LGBTQ folks as “groomers” is merely a warmed-up rehash of Anita Bryant’s “Save the Children” campaign from the 1970s. It doesn’t seem to be sinking in here, though. Locally, the recent uptick of hateful, anti-LGBTQ antics by Mercy Culture Church have festered then fizzled. This past weekend, the anti-trans panel titled “Protect Kids” at the Fire Station Community Center on the Near Southside (“State Sanctioned,” June 5) was easily outnumbered by the children playing with their families at the Pride in the Park celebration taking place next door, and the annual Pride proclamation by Fort Worth City Council, a ceremonial softball, was canceled by three objecting councilmembers (Alan Blaylock, Macy Hill, and Charles Lauersdorf) just days before Arlington Pride broke attendance records last Saturday, with Fort Worth’s Trinity Pride festival still to come this weekend.

Attendees at this year’s Pride in the Park celebration at Fire Station Park on the Near Southside enjoyed a sunny morning last Saturday — this, despite being next door to an antitrans panel discussion in the nearby community center.

Perhaps some Fort Worth officials have forgotten the international black eye the city received when police raided the local gay bar the Rainbow Lounge on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn riots that ignited the modern LGBTQ rights movement. It was a confrontation that started because of police raiding a gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village. There’s that nagging rhyme scheme again.

If only there was an organization dedicated to documenting these kinds of things to keep us from repeatedly stepping on the wrong side of the history rake. Oh, yeah. That’s one of many reasons YesterQueer is here.

Orwell was right to associate the ownership of the past with power in the present. We’re seeing attempts to obscure our diverse past, whether it’s “whitewashing” the teaching of the history of slavery in public schools, the continued glorification of a failed, treasonous Confederacy, or the reimagining of January 6 insurrectionists as merely tourists.

Good history is not a morality play. It is our collective attempt to understand why

METRO

Peace Police

Rejecting

potentially dangerous right-wing rhetoric is what Near Southsiders do.

BY ANTHONY MARIANI AND JUAN R. GOVEA

The 50-ish souls who gathered last Saturday to protest a panel discussion predisposed toward hate (“State Sanctioned,” June 5) made their point: that no one can just show up in the middle of the most progressive neighborhood in town, the Near Southside, and peddle questionable information, or misinformation, without pushback.

The discussion “Protect Kids” at the Fire Station Community Center was focused on “the impact of LGBT ideology, the social contagion of transgenderism, and the dangers of pornography,” as advertised on social media earlier in the week by hosts LUCA (Latinos United for Conservative Action) and

As part of YesterQueer’s Gay History Happy Hours at Liberty Lounge on the Near Southside, the nonprofit’s executive director, this story’s author Todd Camp, recently interviewed Mat Wenzel, a writing instructor for the Women’s and Gender Studies Affiliate Faculty at TCU. The two spoke as part of the program “Alternative Storytelling: New Approaches to Documenting LGBTQ history, from Chapbooks to Zines.”

things happen. If we don’t include every aspect of the past in our understanding of the present, we come up with poorly written, wholly inaccurate history.

As we celebrate Pride Month, my work with YesterQueer remains hyper-focused

on ensuring that the creative resistance and resilience of LGBTQ individuals are not erased or forgotten. These are stories that are worth telling, and they make us more cognizant of the context of our current struggles.

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co-hosts Tarrant County Citizens Defending Freedom and Texas Coalition for Children.

Kat Valentine, who’s been living on the Near Southside for the past 17 years and is a queer parent, said, “When we see things like this trying to move into the neighborhood, we try to make our presence known that it is a safe space here. We don’t want their misinformation and inflammatory remarks and hatred that they are trying to incite when [they say] a ‘contagion’ of transgenderism. I feel like I need to speak up and show that I’m a giving and accepting person.”

Several protestors wondered aloud why Mayor Mattie Parker and Fort Worth City Council allowed an anti-LGBTQ event into not only a public venue but the Near Southside in particular in the first place.

For generations of LGBTQ people, including an entire generation lost to HIV/ AIDS, it’s crucial that their stories form part of collective memory. Through this process of learning, we move forward. And for the new generation of LGBTQ youth, this work exists to remind them that their experiences are part of a larger, ongoing narrative that can provide solace and validation.

At multiple YesterQueer events, attendees have stated that this work makes them feel less isolated, knowing that others have faced and overcome similar challenges. As good history does, these stories can also teach us about the tools that work. It helps to know that no matter how dark things may get, we’ve faced these challenges before, and we’ll live on to tell the tale.

And some of us will be there to keep those stories safe. l

Todd Camp is executive director/founder of YesterQueer. Learn more at YesterQueerFW. com or on Facebook or Instagram.

This column reflects the opinions and fact-gathering of the author(s) and only the author(s) and not the Fort Worth Weekly. To submit a column, please email Editor Anthony Mariani at Anthony@FWWeekly.com. He will gently edit it for clarity and concision.

Neighbor Kat Valentine: “When we see things like this trying to move into the neighborhood, we try to make our presence known that it is a safe space here.”

Ally Amy Ramsey thinks Mayor Parker made a “huge mistake,” and “the message that this is sending to the gay and trans community of Fort Worth brings a dangerous element to a really kind, loving, and inclusive community. As a cisgender straight woman, I love coming to this neighborhood because everyone feels welcome. These groups like LUCA come to the school board meetings and spew hate and ban books. They’re not based in inclusivity and kindness.”

The community center’s adjacent park accommodated various ages, genders, and colors, a ton of rainbow imagery, multiple slogans on placards, and some groovy sidewalk chalk art. “ ‘Y’all’ means ‘all’ ” was just about everywhere. Two cops guarded the doors to the community center.

“A bunch of us who are allies or in the LGBTQ neighborhood decided to have a Pride event to show how much this community supports everybody,” said neighbor Michele Massaro. “It wasn’t necessarily in response to what was going on inside because we didn’t want to confront them or make anything aggressive. We wanted them to see that we welcome everybody.” l

This column reflects the opinions of the editorial board and not the Fort Worth Weekly. To submit a column, please email Editor Anthony Mariani at Anthony@FWWeekly. com. He will gently edit it for clarity and concision.

YesterQueer

Around

peaceful protestors gathered outside a Near Southside community center to protest inherent misinformation inside.

SCREEN

Pride Movies Recent trends in cinema are promising for the LGBTQ community.

BY KRISTIAN LIN

One of the funniest parts of Venom: Let There Be Carnage was when the man-eating antihero (Tom Hardy) has a falling out with his host Eddie Brock and leaves his body to show up at a gay pride party. Instead of going on a murderous rampage as usual, Venom instead finds common cause with the gay people who accept him as he is, undoubtedly because they think he’s wearing a badass costume instead of actually looking like that.

That throwaway gag from the 2021 superhero movie throws light on just how far mainstream gay sensibilities have come at the multiplexes. LGBTQ subjects and characters are flourishing in such numbers that a viewer might not realize that real-life gay people are facing a wave of resistance from politicians who want to roll back many recent legal and legislative victories for the LGBTQ community. Yet they are there.

For quite a long time, gay characters were consigned to figures of tragedy, like the closeted U.S. Senator (Don Murray) who commits suicide when a blackmailer outs him in Advise & Consent or the lesbian protagonist of The Fox, who is killed by a falling tree. (Oh, the heavy-handed symbolism!) The AIDS crisis gave rise to a new wave of gay tragedies that included Longtime Companion and Philadelphia and

even comedies such as Jeffrey. An overdose of these films led to a concurrent boom in gay comedies such as The Birdcage where gay protagonists were given happy endings. Recently, the pendulum has started to swing back to acknowledging that bad things happen to gay people and following them as they deal with them, in films ranging from the terminal illness of Spoiler Alert to the childhood trauma of All of Us Strangers and the hate crime of Femme

In the past, Hollywood filmmakers such as George Cukor, Dorothy Arzner, and James Whale could operate with a certain kind of freedom since most moviegoers neither knew nor cared what directors did in their private lives. Such was not the case in places like the Soviet Union, where both Sergei Eisenstein and Sergei Paradzhanov served lengthy prison times for their homosexuality and other

perceived crimes. These days, gay filmmakers such as Pedro Almodóvar, Todd Haynes, Gus Van Sant, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Tsai Ming-liang, and Céline Sciamma are acknowledged among the world’s best. Of the many filmmakers trailing in their wake, Luca Guadagnino looks closest to joining that company.

The next wave undoubtedly belongs to gender-fluid and trans filmmakers. We’ve already experienced the thin end of the wedge, with Nick Bruno and Troy Quane’s Nimona faithfully adapting a trans author’s graphic novel and Jane Schoenbrun’s I Saw the TV Glow commenting on trans identity via a fictional fantasy television show. Compare these with earlier movies about trans people such as Transamerica, 3 Generations, and The Danish Girl, and the older films look hopelessly dated and limited by their

outsider perspective. On a lighter note, Emma Seligman’s Bottoms plays out like an even gayer and funnier version of Fight Club. Then, too, we see actors who are gender-fluid and trans impacting the movies as well. While Asia Kate Dillon portrays characters who are nonbinary like themself to promote the visibility of such people, the similarly nonbinary Emma Corrin portrays straight and cisgender women who chafe against the strictures imposed on them by male society. Then there’s Elliot Page, who has not acted in many films since his transition from female to male. I, for one, would be tickled if he became the first person in history to be nominated for both the Best Actress and Best Actor Oscar. What this new wave of gender-nonconforming talent will bring is impossible to predict. That’s why it’s exciting. l

Trans and nonbinary director Jane Schoenbrun (foreground) brought her sensibility to I Saw the TV Glow.

Whether the City of Fort Worth makes an official proclamation or not — check out our news section for more — June is indeed Pride Month. The monthlong world party began in June 1970 with Gay Pride Week, a public demonstration and celebration marking the first anniversary of the violent police raid at the New York gay bar the Stonewall Inn. Locally, our LGBTQIA+ community and their many allies put on a lot of special events to show support and par-tay.

Today is the day! The annual Trinity Pride Fest at Magnolia Green Park (1201 Lipscomb St, Fort Worth, @TrinityPrideFW) is 6pm-10pm with live music by international pop sensation David Archuleta plus Britton & The Sting, drag performances by Deja Dubois, JT Davenport, Sapphire Davenport, Salem Moon, and more, plus DJ CP spinning throughout the night. Hosted by Kylee O’Hara Fatale, this event is free to the

public. Read more about it in this week’s Music feature.

Later in the evening, Halo’s Bar & Grill ft Rainbow 2.0 (3500 Alta Mere Dr, Fort Worth, 682-250-2923) will be the site of the after-party. Bad Bishes Unite presents An Evening with Roxxxy Andrews, featuring the Halo’s Angels: Dulce Srutts, Kristi Davenport, Loretta Armani Mack, Sapphire Davenport, and Salem Moon. Doors open at 10pm, and the show starts at 11pm. Tickets start at $30 at XOXO-Sofia.TicketLeap.com/. You can also get this party started with a sweet transvestite from Transssssexual Transylvania. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is screening at the Ridglea Theater (6025 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-7389500) with a live shadow-cast by local theater troupe Los Bastardos (@LBCast). Doors open at 8pm, and the movie starts at 9pm. No outside props or drinks will be permitted, but audience participation and costumes are encouraged, as is the tradition with this cult classic. Prop packs with all the necessary items will be available for $7. Tickets start at $7 on Eventbrite.com. This event is strictly 18+.

Whether due to inevitable life losses or having cut ties with toxic family members, not everyone has a loving father to visit with on Father’s Day today. Higher Purpose Emporium (505 W Northside Dr, Fort Worth, 682-207-5351) invites you to celebrate with a welcoming “found family” instead. The free Not-aFather’s-Day Queer Meet-Up & Found Family Gathering is 7:30pm-9:30pm. Enjoy a “free mom hug” from owner Ivy Garcia, along with activities and divinations. For more information on Pagan Pride events, visit ShopHPE.com.

continued on page 12

do the Time Warp again at the Ridglea Theater on Saturday.

Love will be in the air at Trinity Pride Fest this Saturday.

The volunteer team at the Fairmount Community Library (1310 W Allen Av, Fort Worth, 682-710-3223) promises a “vibrant celebration of love, equality, and diversity” at their Pride Social 7pm-9pm. This free all-ages event includes pride swag giveaways, face painting, queer history, and trivia. Those 21+ can BYOB it with a valid ID. For updates and more details, follow Facebook.com/ FairmountCommunityLibrary.

Across town, the Dallas Arts District (2001 Flora St, 214-744-6642) invites you to its Pride Block Party 6pm-midnight. Three museums — the Crow Museum of Asian Art (2010 Flora St, 214-979-6430), Dallas Museum of Art (1717 N Harwood St, 214-9221200), and Nasher Sculpture Center (2001 Flora St, 214-242-5100) — have partnered to create a free family-friendly event with Pride-centric activities, artwork, a community mural, gourmet food options, museum tours, and special programming. For more, visit Facebook.com/DallasArtsDistrict.

Higher Purpose Emporium (505 W Northside, Fort Worth, ShopHPE.com) wants you to “come with your wyrdness and best bird call” to the Rainbow Crow Party from 8pm to 11pm. Let your inner freak fly, embrace your inner “wyrdo,”

divination and readings for fun. Admission is $5 or a donation of four canned goods for the “love cart.” To RSVP, visit ShopHPE.com.

Another nonprofit is helping LGBTQ youth by tackling homelessness. As 40% of all homeless young people in this country identify as LGBTQ+, national

Fort Worth, 817-446-4792) raise awareness and funds throughout the month with its Stride for Pride program, in which people are encouraged to move together 40 minutes a day — walk, run, bike, swim, dance, and more — today thru Sun, Jun 30, in recognition of that fact. To become a challenger and set up your personal fundraising page, visit CovenantHouseEvents.org.

Vinyl Lounge (314 E Hickory St, Ste 121, Denton, 940-218-6987) would like to wish a happy Pride Month to all the vamps, ghouls, and goblins out there. Join them at their second annual The Pride of Frankenstein party at 8pm. The crew will be outside spinning EBM, dark dubstep, dark wave, goth, and industrial music until 2am. Artists will sell jewelry, objets d’art, paintings, posters, and more on-site. Cover for this 21+ event is $10 at the door.

Shannon Osbakken wants everyone to feel welcome at all three of her businesses, this month especially. The Bearded Lady, Fade to Black Tattoo Studio, and her newest endeavor, Tropic Lady, are all hosting Pride parties today. From 11am to 3pm, The Bearded Lady (300 S Main St, Fort Worth, 817-349-9832) offers its annual Pride Brunch. Then from 8pm to 11pm, it’s time for a drag show at Tropic Lady (2719 Race St, Fort Worth, 817349-8034), and from noon to 10pm, there’ll be Flash Day specials at Fade to Black (209

Patrick Mikyles, creator of Drag with Me! The Show and last year’s readers’ choice for best Drag Performer in our annual Best Of issue, hosts his fourth annual Pride Night Lights event at Club Reflection (604 S Jennings St, Fort Worth, 817-819-5277). Starting at 7pm, seven local DJs will spin EDM at this epic rave to close out Pride Month. Tickets are $10 at PrideNightLights4.Eventbrite.com.

Enjoy free admission to three museums and special nighttime programming at the Dallas Arts District Pride Block Party on Fri, Jun 21.

Courtesy Dallas Arts District

Winging It

The local WNBA team balls big-time on and off the court.

BY ELAINE WILDER

Thanks to Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese going pro this year, women’s basketball college and WNBA — is more popular than ever. In the preseason, when Clark’s Indiana Fever played Tarrant County’s own Dallas Wings — I mean, they do play in Arlington (at least through next year before leaving us for Dallas proper) — it was kind of a big deal. (Our team won, by the way.) These two squads face off again at College Park Center at the University of Texas-Arlington (600 S Center St, Arlington, 817-272-5584) 6:30pm Wed, Jul 17. The Wings will be pretty busy in the meantime.

resources about their programs and services with community members in a nonthreatening, welcoming environment as an arm of the organization’s foundation.

“The Dallas Wings Community Foundation aims to convene spaces for diverse and inclusive organizations to synergize,” Wilson said.

The foundation is big on social justice, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity with an emphasis on representation of fairness and protection to all, regardless of gender, race, religion, disabilities, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

The team’s programs help empower girls and women through education, health and wellness efforts, and youth sports programs, including summer camps. Girls of all skill levels are welcome to attend the Official Dallas Wings Youth Basketball Summer Camp at College Park Center Mon-Wed, Jul 15-17. Sessions are 1pm to 4pm, and the girls are divided into groups by ages 7-10 and 11-14.

The camp includes hands-on coaching from Dallas Wings players and/or coaches, a complimentary ticket to a 2024 home game, autograph and photo ops, a camp T-shirt, and many giveaways and prizes. Girls will learn elite-level strategies and techniques and leave with a sense of empowerment and motivation for the next step of their basketball journey. The cost is $200 per camper at on.nba.com/3JDcGJr.

Several upcoming games are themed, including the next one against the Connecticut Sun at noon Sat. It’s African-American Heritage Day in celebration of Juneteenth Attendees will receive free rally towels while supplies last. (For more Juneteenth events, see our Summertime 2024 issue at FWWeeklycom.) The home team will celebrate Pride but not until July. That’s when the Dallas Wings Pride Celebration is at 2:30pm Fri, Jul 5, when they play the Los Angeles Sparks. Attendees will receive free light-up Pride bracelets. Fans can purchase tickets to the game at DallasWings.com. Celebrating Pride is more than a theme day for this organization. As a member of the local LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, Wings vice president of Social Responsibility and executive director of the Dallas Wings Foundation, LaDondra Wilson recently organized the Wings’ LGBTQ+ Champions of Change inaugural AmpliFair & Mixer at Sue Ellen’s in Dallas. This event allowed nonprofits to share information and

All Wings games will be broadcast nationally on CBS. For the complete 2024 Dallas Wings broadcast schedule, visit Wings.WNBA.com/where-to-watch/.

As the executive director of the Dallas Wings Foundation and the team’s vice president of Social Responsibility, LaDondra Wilson champions change.

Courtesy Dallas Wings

Lightning, the Dallas Wings’ mascot, recently helped the team kick off Pride Month at the City of Dallas’ annual flag unveiling/declaration day.

Courtesy Dallas Wings

Arike Ogunbowale just set a new WNBA record. As of this past Sunday, she has the longest streak of 20-point games to start a season (10).

Courtesy Dallas Wings

LOVING LOCAL

Y’all Means All at Celebration Community Church

Living Local Feature by Jennifer Bovee

In a conservative city in a conservative state, not all area churches welcome the LGBT

community. Second only to the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, the largest area church with such outreach is Celebrations Community Church (908 Pennsylvania Av, Fort Worth 817-335-3222), led by Jorene Taylor Swift. Yes, you read that correctly. (Fabulous coincidence, right?)

Paster Jorene, as she’s known, thinks of Celebration as a church for all people.

“Our congregation is made up of people from many different faith traditions, and our worship style has aspects of those backgrounds,” she says. “We offer tradition without judgment.

One of their newest members describes their experience at their new church home as just that…home. “I grew up in a wonderful church. When I walked into Celebration the first time, I knew I was at home.”

Jorene says her prayer is that each person who enters our doors will sense the “extravagant hospitality” that is offered here and that they will know they have indeed found a home — a family of faith.

Celebration is a vibrant part of the LGBTQ+ community in North Texas. In addition to participating in groups that support and encourage people, they also provide food for children with weekend food insecurity, participate in the Tarrant County Justice Network, and are a distribution site for Meals on Wheels. The calling is simple: Let the light of God’s love shine through all they do and say.

Whether you are traveling to Fort Worth for Trinity Pride Fest or live in the area and are just seeking a welcoming church to visit, consider stopping in. Jorene and her

congregation extend an on-going invitation to visit with them. “We want you to know that we will always save a seat for you.”

Join them for services on Sundays at 10am. If you cannot attend in person but want to check out a nonjudgmental, inclusive church, all services can also be viewed on YouTube (@ CelebrationCommunityChurch130).

Read more promotional features from other local organizations at FWWeekly.com in the Blotch section.

Come break the rules and say “yes!” to new art experiences at the Carter’s Second Thursdays! Every Second Thursday is different than the last — mingle with fellow art lovers, make art, and meet visiting artists, sometimes with live music and always with themed cocktails inspired by the Carter’s collection. You’ll never think of museums in the same way again.

SECOND THURSDAYS ARE

THURSDAY JUNE 13 | 5–8 P.M.

Journey through artist Dario Robleto’s exploration of history, the universe, and how we as humans tell our story throughout time and space.

Paster Jorene thinks of Celebrations as a church for all people.

Celebrations Community Church wishes you a Happy Pride Month!

Celebration is a church for all.

MISS OUT!

TEXAN MUSICIANS

Unique venues. Local artists. And NO driving. Ride the bus, TEXRail or ZIPZONE to the Near Southside on June 15 for Lost ‘N Sound –a massive, not-to-be-missed new music experience!

STAGE

Get Ur Freak On

Every first Friday at The Cicada belongs to the lovely creatures of Nightshade Burlesque.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MADISON SIMMONS

Vivienne Vermuth has produced burlesque shows in North Texas for 15 years.

She has some thoughts.

“It’s like a slow trainwreck but in a positive way,” she said of the artform. “There’s a weird pull, and you can’t look away, but it’s a good thing.”

Nightshade Burlesque, co-founded and -produced with friend Violent Lavender,

Vermuth makes it clear that burlesque is not only about the nudity bit.

days ago, I felt excitement with a shadow of apprehension.

began in May 2023 and takes place the first Friday of every month at The Cicada on the Near Southside. Unlike perhaps some other, similar troupes, Nightshade fits right in with Pride Month.

Vermuth said, “I wanted to create this vibe that celebrated all of these elements — dark, goth, art, queer art, BIPOC art — [for] people who never really felt they had a place to really shine.”

“The power lies in the performer,” they stressed. “We control what’s happening onstage. We control your experience. There’s an inherent enjoyment [for the audience] in showing up and not knowing what’s going to happen.”

I knew that firsthand. As a kid, I had a violent obsession with Moulin Rouge, which isn’t exactly a documentary of the artform. When I showed up at The Cicada a few

That shadow tucked its tail as soon as Buck Wylde appeared beneath the lights. The Dallas-based drag king swaggered and smized across the stage, playing a vampire from the funny FX show What We Do in the Shadows. While emceeing, he worked in anonymous confessions solicited from the audience which ranged from the fairly tame (catfishing people online as a teen) to the continued on page 19

Bela Von Gosi wielded flapper-era feathered fans to cover and reveal her body during her act at The Cicada last Friday.

Around 60% of Nightshade’s crowds are repeat customers.

raunchy (did a couple actually spend intermission hooking up in the parking lot?).

Six other performers danced, sang, and stripped the night away. Luxurious goth goodness (are plague doctor masks sexy? they might be sexy) segued to gut-wrenching soulfulness (a lip sync to sad-girl music reduced half the audience to tears) and good, old-fashioned stripteases and titty shaking (with a gender-bending slant).

Vermuth described the outlandish burlesque personas as distilling existing or aspirational parts of oneself into a concentrate.

“It’s almost like an elixir you can boil down and give to the audience, and they can drink it and be intoxicated by it,” they said.

Makes sense to me. I stuck with Topo Chico all night and still left feeling giddy, buzzed, and even drunk off the energy and passion in the room. l

Fairy Despair captivated the Cicada crowd last Friday with a lip-synced rendition of “Hot to Go” by Chappell Roan, a queer darling who recently went mainstream.

Ophelia Winter belted out “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” the Barbra Streisand classic that sometimes serves as a queer anthem, which is especially apt for Pride Month.

The cast of Nightshade Burlesque’s June show at The Cicada could not leave without a final bow last Friday.

LIVING LOCAL

Luxury Living Redefi ned: North Fort Worth Welcomes a New Community

By Paige DeBacco

In the vast sea of available properties, a beacon of luxury living emerges, a testament to sophistication and elegance. The Kessler Apartments (6761 Sandshell Blvd, Fort Worth 214-972-3067), our city’s newest addition, is a significant milestone in the realm of upscale apartment living. This architectural marvel, nestled in a vibrant community, stands as a symbol of modernity and refinement.

Kessler offers residents a sanctuary of tranquility amidst the bustling energy of modern life, with its unique features.

Strategically located right off 35 and Western Center, between downtown Fort Worth and Alliance Town Center, Kessler Apartments offer residents unparalleled convenience. With a plethora of dining, shopping, and entertainment options at their doorstep, residents can easily explore the area’s cultural scene or enjoy the natural beauty of nearby parks and trails, making it an ideal choice for those who value accessibility.

lighting to create the perfect ambiance. Select units offer private yards, providing a unique retreat for outdoor enjoyment.

The community at Kessler Apartments is designed to provide a luxurious living environment. From the resort-style pool for relaxation, and poolside grilling stations for social gatherings, to the dog park complete with a covered pet pavilion seating area for pet lovers, and private garages for added convenience, these amenities make Kessler Apartments a standout choice for individuals and families looking for a luxurious living environment.

Kessler Apartments stand out with their two distinct unit color schemes: residents can choose between sleek dark brown or crisp white cabinets, adding a personalized touch to their living spaces. Each unit is equipped with smart washers and dryers, stainless steel appliances, and dimmable

As your move-in day approaches, it is clear that the Kessler Apartments are more than just a residential community — it is a testament to the enduring appeal of luxury living in Fort Worth. With its unparalleled amenities, prime location, and commitment to excellence, the Kessler Apartments is poised to become the premier destination for those seeking the ultimate in apartment sophistication.

For further inquiries, to schedule a tour, or to learn more about The Kessler, call today or email kessler@zrsmanagement.com. Visit LiveKesslerApts.com to explore the community and begin your journey towards luxury living today.

Kessler Apartments has a resort-style pool for relaxation.

Courtesy The Kessler Apartments

All fur babies are welcomed here!

Courtesy The Kessler Apartments

Community events happen monthly, like the painting of this mural by the local school district.

Courtesy The Kessler Apartments

LIVING LOCAL

BRING THE FAMILY TO MIND YOUR GARDEN FOR GOOD,

DIRTY FUN DURING THE “LOCALLY GROWN FARM EXPERIENCE”

Mind Your Garden: Farm to Table with the Family Saturday, June 22, 2024 | 9-11 AM

You don’t have to go out to the country to give kids a real farm experience. There are a number of urban farms right here that plant, grow, and sell to the community! Spend a morning “on the farm” and learn about them

and much more during a free Locally Grown Farm Experience, presented by Texas Health Community Hope.

Load up the family and head to Fort Worth’s southeast side on Saturday, June 22, for the third event in the Locally Grown spring series, “Farm to Table with the Family.” You’ll meet Steven and Ursula of Mind Your Garden and have a blast while you learn to pick, prepare, and eat what’s

growing on the farm! Explore the farm and let the little ones run around. You’ll also take home some goodies that can help you get your family growing at home.

This event is free and open to all ages but advanced registration is required and space is limited, so sign up now at locallygrownmyg.eventbrite.com. Registration is open until June 21 or until the class is filled.

ATE DAY8 of Drag Brunches

Sashay your way to where food and fabulousness meet in North Texas this month and beyond.

BY JENNIFER BOVEE

Beyond the term “gospel brunch” — like the events at Tannahill’s in the Stockyards (122 E Exchange Av, Ste 200, Fort Worth, 817-9009300) 11am Sundays — the other word that brunch brings to mind is “drag.” Last fall, we added the “Drag Performer” category to our Best Of 2023 awards, so for the Pride Issue, I’m starting this column by exploring the

locations where critic’s choice winner Salem Moon and readers’ choice favorite Patrick Mikyles have upcoming brunch gigs.

1.) Salem Moon hosts Moondance Brunch at Red Goose Saloon (306 N Houston St, Fort Worth, 817-332-474) at noon on Sundays Menu selections include Papa Moon’s brunch plate (scrambled eggs with bacon and smoked cheddar, slices of bacon, and sourdough toast);

Mama Moon’s chicken and waffles; the Bradina Burger (Angus patty with smoked cheddar, bacon jam, applewood bacon, and a fried egg on brioche bun); Cherise’s chorizo tacos; the Lady’s BLT (thick bacon, lettuce, tomato, and a fried egg on sourdough); or Logan’s brunch migas. Brunch plates are $14 and come with a serving of roasted breakfast potatoes. For $20, add Salem Moon-Mosas with Champagne and your choice of juice, serving four people (or just one if it’s me — woo-hoo!).

2.) Salem Moon is also a cast member at Hamburger Mary’s (4123 Cedar Springs Rd, Ste 100, Dallas, 214-377-7446). A special brunch menu is available 11am-3pm SatSun with selections in the $10 to $18 range, but you can’t go wrong with a burger. The Queen Mary is a basic Mary Burger (choice of beef or bean patty for $13 or chicken breast for $14, with lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, and Mary Sauce) but with cheddar and jack cheeses, grilled onions, and bacon for an extra $3. Join Mary and company for their weekly DAL-YASS!

Rise & Shine Drag Brunch performances at 2pm Saturdays. There is no cost for admission, but you will need a reservation at HamburgerMarys.com/Dallas.

3.) This Saturday, the drag brunch at Hamburger Mary’s is a fundraiser for the Pride Museum of Texas and its mission to preserve and promote the culture, contributions, and history of the LGBTQ community at a future physical location in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas. The Ginni & Friends Loud & Proud Drag Brunch stars Ginni Beefeater

and fellow Sisters in Action performers

Alexa de la Cruz, Aunt Marge, Coco Cheena, and Demanda Refund at 11am or 2pm Sat Tickets start at $10 on Eventbrite.com.

4.) Patrick Mikyles’ award-winning brunch has moved locations and is now a monthly lunch event. Join him at the next Drag with Me! Lunch at Club Reflection (604 S Jennings St, Fort Worth, 817-819-5277) 2pm-4pm Sun, Jul 21. Admission is $25 and includes the show and your meal, typically street taco plates, plus there are specials on margaritas and mimosas. Doors open at 1pm. Two audience members will get the chance to be part of the show, so get there early. continued on page 25

Here are eight great drag brunch ideas.

Courtesy Hamburger Mary’s

Hail to the Queens! The Queen Mary — a decked-out Mary Burger — awaits at the DALYASS! Rise & Shine Drag Brunch.

Courtesy Hamburger Mary’s

5.) Actor/musician Brad Hawkins hails from North Texas, so casting him in Boyhood (2014) as Patricia Arquette’s love interest was a seemingly organic choice for director and fellow Texan Richard Linklater. While I don’t know what acting projects Hawkins is currently involved with, if any, I do know that this phase of his life allows the addition of “restaurateur” to his ever-growing resume. Among the five area locations of Hawkins’ concept Shakertins, you’ll find one in my hometown of Arlington (1409 N Collins St, 682-248-3545). On the menu are Bites (appetizers), Belly Fillers (sandwiches, wraps, and other hand-held selections, like the one pictured), Dough-C-Doughs (pizzas), flatbreads, burgers, and more.

Why am I bringing this up now? Well, in celebration of Pride Month, the Galleria location (13675 Noel Rd, Ste 110, Midtown Dallas, 214-613-6268) will host the ShakeIt-Up Drag Brunch 11am-2pm Sun, Jul 23, with an all-you-can-eat buffet, one complimentary featured cocktail, and drag performances by the Fly Queens. Tickets start at $40 on Eventbrite.com.

Sat, Jul 13. Cocktail specials range from a sangria spritzer for $11 on up to the Bloody Brunch for $25, a Bloody Mary with bacon, jumbo shrimp, a chicken tender, and a wing as garnishes along with your celery. Nice! As for the food menu, start with Captain Crunch beignets for $13 and then maybe tackle the Southern shrimp and grits for $20, among many other delights. For the full menu, visit TwistedBarandGrill.com/ Drag-Bruch-Menu/. General admission is $10. For an update on special guests, next month’s theme, or to ensure your spot with a reservation, find them on Eventbrite.com.

8.) If, like our publisher, you enjoy watching drag on national television in the privacy of your own home (with or without food) mainly as your spouse’s viewing companion (#TrueStory), maybe live a little and join the ranks of the drag-curious at a series of watching parties for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars at Liberty Lounge (515 S Jennings St, Fort Worth, @LibertyLoungeFWTX). All the lipsync battles, shade-throwing drama, and general fabulousness screen at the Near Southside bar 7pm-8:30pm Fridays thru Jul 19.

6.) If you can’t see the Fly Queens on the 23rd, they have another drag brunch during Pride Month. Featuring Barbie Davenport Dupree, Penelope Devereaux, and Anastasia Diamon Doll, with host Liquor Mini and musical guest DJ Al Farb, they will perform at the Pride Month Close-Out Drag Brunch at Mesa Mezcal (400 W Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, 469-472-0700) 1pm-3pm Sun, Jun 30 Cover is $10 at the door, but you should plan ahead and make a reservation on Eventbrite. com. As for food, brunch will be served buffet-style, and the cost is $35 per person at the door. Alcoholic drinks are not included in the price, but I feel confident specials will be available. (Looking at you, #PrideVodka.)

7.) Drag performer Ashley Davenport hosts a monthly drag brunch at Twisted Bar & Grill (6520 Cascades Ct, Ste 200, The Colony, 214-407-7587). You can catch the next Twisted & Turnt Drag Brunch at noon

Belly Fillers, like this buffalo chicken wrap, are on the menu at any Shakertins, whose Galleria location hosts the All-U-Can-Eat Drag Brunch Sat, Jun 23.

Close out your Pride Month in Irving on Sun, Jun 30.

Drink your meal at the next Twisted & Turnt Drag Brunch.

MUSIC

Trinity Pride Fest American Idol alum

David Archuleta headlines an evening of loud-and-proud fun on the Near Southside.

BY STEVE STEWARD

If you ask me, nothing can inspire people like a huge party. And in a time (now) and place (Texas) where right-wing fearmongers and hate-profiteers are actively trying to roll back the rights of nearly 2 million Texans — a 2022 study found that Texas has the country’s second-highest population of people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transsexual — a huge, inspiring party feels pretty crucial. Of course, while no one can keep the creep of

politics out of anything these days, Trinity Pride Fest’s emphasis is on having fun and celebrating all things queer.

Since its first go-round in June 2019, Trinity Pride Fest has been a massive extravaganza for everyone to rally around the LGTBQ community and revel in the love and acceptance contained within. Each fest’s entertainment features iconic queer performers, and 2024’s headliner is American Idol alum David Archuleta, who came out in 2021 after years of trying to reconcile his identity with his Mormon upbringing and subsequent missionary work. His declaration came in the wake of his bracingly honest and introspective 2020 album Therapy Sessions, as well as a pivotal anxiety attack during a date-night with his then-fiancée that led him to break up with her. In June 2023, Archuleta announced that he was leaving the Church of Latter-day Saints, further clarifying his identity as gay, and nine months later, he released the single “Hell Together,” in which he thanked his mother for supporting his decision.

“Hell Together” contains this line: “You said, ‘If I have to live without you, I don’t want to live forever in someone else’s heaven, so let ’em close the gates.’ ”

As any queer person whose identity is not accepted by their friends and family knows, the kind of unconditional support Archuleta received from his mother is not to be taken for granted, especially when it continued on page 27

When he came out, international pop star David Archuleta was worried his beloved mom wouldn’t accept him — he was wrong.

Music

continued from page 26

involves rejecting lifelong religious tenets. In 2023, Archuleta’s mom, Lupe Marie Bartholemew, wrote an essay in Q Salt Lake, saying, “How can a loving God be so exclusive? I did not teach my children their whole lives to serve and love a God who is not accepting of them. God is love.”

Archuleta’s journey to self-acceptance is inspiring and offers hope for those who do not enjoy such familial support, especially now, given the ugly lurch toward MAGAworshiping extremism that has poisoned Texas’ political climate. More than ever, the LGTBQ community needs its members and allies to proclaim “ ‘y’all’ means ‘all’ ” loud and proud, not only in the month of June but all year long. Showing up in droves on the Magnolia Green Saturday evening to hear Archuleta sing won’t keep the bigots out of the Texas Legislature, but it will show that we are all in this together, no matter where one falls on the spectrum of human sexuality and gender identity.

Yet even more than it is a show of solidarity for the LGTBQ community, Trinity Pride Fest is a huge party — Archuleta is an international pop star, after all, and while he is the main event, he’s but one piece of a delicious rainbow-frosted cake. Opening for him is New York City-based alternative soul band Britton & The Sting, whose message of acceptance and empowerment comes packaged in barn-burning, gospel-limned bangers that exhort everyone “to get drunk and go to church!”

And what would a Pride Party be without some queens holding court? Dallas drag icon Kylee O’Hara Fatale will emcee the event while Miami club legend DJ CP keeps the beats moving and local drag performers

RIDGLEA ROOM

Deja Dubois, JT Davenport, Sapphire Davenport, and Salem Moon stun the Green with sultry sizzle and sass.

Trinity Pride Fest is free and open to all ages, and attendees are allowed to bring chairs, blankets, and social pets. Though outside food and drink are not permitted, there are plenty of vendors offering stuff to snack and sip on. It’s a family-friendly atmosphere celebrating love, community, and living your truth, a time to gather with your friends, drink and dance, and show the world that you’re here, you’re queer, and you just want to have a good time. No matter which stripes on the Pride Flag resonate the most with you, Trinity Pride Fest is a party for everyone. Turn up on Saturday and add your spirit to the good vibes. l

RIDGLEA LOUNGE RIDGLEA THEATER

6/15 SAINT IVY AND SUMMIT VALLEY

SAT 6/15 ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW WITH LIVE SHADOW CAST FRI 6/21 MONICA MOSER & NANCY DAINES

Miami club legend DJ CP will give all the performers and maybe you something to sashay to.

Dallas drag icon Kylee O’Hara Fatale will emcee the festival fabulously.

DOWNTOWN ARLINGTON MONTH

See Seratones this weekend at Levitt Pavilion.

From arts and culture to sporting events and everything in between, there’s something special to do almost every day in Downtown Arlington, including these events. No wonder Mayor Ross has proclaimed June to be Downtown Arlington Month!

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

As part of a “music-friendly community,” Levitt Pavilion Arlington (100 W Abram St, 817-543-4308) hosts free concerts from most Fridays to Sundays at 7:30pm. As with all shows at The Levitt, open seating is available on the lawn. Bring blankets and lawn chairs. You can also bring your own food and coolers with beverages, including alcohol, but please do not bring glass containers. For more info, visit LevittPavilionArlington.org. This weekend, see the Seratones with Patrick Pombuena Community Orchestra on Fri, Jun 14.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

The 3rd annual Juneteenth Celebration at The Levitt is Sat, Jun 15 at Levitt Pavilion Arlington (100 W Abram St, 817-543-4308), hosted by MC Howard the Second and Winfred Dalcaour. The gate opens at 4pm and music starts at 5pm with opening act, Dallas-based neo-soul/jazz-funk band Celestial Clockwork. There will also be activities, food trucks, and vendors around the lawn.

Self-described as “just a bunch of chaotic nerds sharing their love of video games and nerd culture through the power of music,” Reggie T. & The Boneheads btings their brand of hip-hop, funk, jazz, R&B, and rock fusion, plus “a side of the good ol church,” at 7pm. Then, The Sensational Barnes Brothers headline at 10pm. Does their name ring a bell? RTTB has recorded with Dan Auerbach, the lead singer of The Black Keys. Known for a musical blend of old and new, they are “a real gem in the gospel/soul scene.”

SAT-SUN, JUNE 15-16

Join the folks at Kung Fu Tea (101 E Abram St, Ste 170, @KFTArlingtonTX) for Arlington’s Crossing Into Summer noon-9pm Sat-Sun, Jun 15-16. This event features artists, food, and giveaways, including a chance to win an Animal Crossing Nintendo Switch. For more information, keep an eye on Facebook.com/KFTArlingtonTX.

For info about more upcoming events in Downtown Arlington, go to DowntownArlington.org/Events/ Calendar or follow them at Facebook.com/ DowntownArlingtonTexas.

CLASSIFIEDS

Title IX Fight

Abbott orders Texas to ignore Biden administration’s new federal protections of LGBTQ students.

BY SNEHA DEY, TEXAS TRIBUNE, OPEN CAMPUS

Gov. Greg Abbott recently ordered the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to ignore a Biden administration rule that expanded federal sex discrimination protections to include LGBTQ+ students.

The Biden administration recently revised the rules for Title IX, the sweeping civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination at federally funded colleges and K-12 schools. The new rules, which are set to go into effect in August, redefined sex discrimination and sex-based harassment to prevent misconduct based on sex stereotypes, pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation. It codifies initial guidance documents that prompted Texas Attorney

General Ken Paxton to sue the Biden administration last year.

On X, Abbott wrote, “Congress wrote Title IX to protect women. Biden, with no authority to do so, rewrote Title IX to protect men who identify as women.”

Abbott’s order came the same day Paxton announced he had sued the Biden administration to block the Title IX changes. Texas joins a growing number of Republican-led states that have berated the new rules, setting the stage for a legal fight over LGBTQ student protections. The GOP says the Biden administration misinterpreted the intent of Title IX.

In its final interpretation of the law, the Biden administration sought to extend a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court case decision related to workplace discrimination to students. The high court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII also applied to gay and transgender workers.

The Title IX changes also walk back rules set during the administration of former president Donald Trump that required “live hearings” in which students accused of sexual misconduct could question accusers in a courtroom-like setting. The Biden administration kept Trump-era provisions that allow informal resolutions and prohibit penalties against students until an investigation is complete.

A version of this story originally appeared in The Texas Tribune.

After the Biden administration extended Title IX to LGBTQ students, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the federal government.

CLASSIFIEDS

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