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Victory Fund endorses 48 more LGBTQ candidates

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MONTROSE STAR .COM

THE GAY-ETY STARTS HERE!

Wednesday October 2, 2019 e VOL. X, 14

» Houston Rainbow Herald

» Foodie Diaries

» WHAT A WORLD

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20 22 INDEX Editorial Crossword Guide to the Clubs

3 23 26

IN HER BEST LIGHT

Trisha Yearwood on her simple reason for supporting the LGBTQ community, the Nashville closet, and lesbian love

By Chris Azzopardi • p8

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PAGE 2 | MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday October 2, 2019

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HRH Report

The cult of gay Trumpsters e By Johnny Trlica

C

T H E S TA R C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R S JIM AYRES by day is an employee benefits and human resources writer. By night he turns his creativity toward the local food and restaurant scene. Do you know of a restaurant that needs a review? Info@montrose-star.com NANCY FORD has enjoyed a front row seat to the most remarkable and sparkly Cultural Revolution in the history of mankind. “What a world!” She reflects appropriately. After moving to Houston from Ohio in 1981, Ford became a highly visible player in Texas’ LGBT publishing circles as an editor and contributor to myriad other local and statewide LGBT magazines and newspapers.

RANDALL JOBE has been a fixture in the Houston LGBT Community for several decades in marketing and promotions for top nightclubs, as an actor/director/writer for dozens of theatrical productions, and is also known for his whimsical art pieces. He is the author of the 12-part series “This Old Queen”, which summarized his many experiences living in the gay Mecca, Montrose.

VIC GERAMI is journalist, media contributor and Editor & Publisher of The Blunt Post. Vic grew up in LA and has a BA in Theater Arts. He spent six years at Frontiers Magazine, followed by LA Weekly and Voice Media Group. His syndicated celebrity Q&A column, 10 Questions with Vic, is a LA Press Club’s National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award finalist.

Vic is a contributor for Montrose Star, DC Life Magazine, Out & About Nashville, Q Virginia, GNI MAG, QNotes, Windy City Times, WeHo Times, GoWeHo, Los Angeles Blade, Asbarez, California Courier, Desert Daily Guide, Armenian Weekly, GED, The Pride LA, IN Magazine and The Advocate Magazine.

FOREST RIGGS is no stranger to the adventures of life, he bills himself as a “raconteur with a gypsy spirit.” A former educator, public speaker, hospital administrator, counselor and gay B&B owner, he was instrumental in the formation of OutSmart Magazine in the early 1990s. He has written for several newspapers, magazines and other publications.

Recently he completed a collection of short stories about his beloved Galveston and is working on a novel. He currently resides on the island where he can be found wasting bait and searching for the meaning of life.

OMMENTARY: THERE ARE FIVE DEFINITIVE WARNING

signs of a cult. 1. The leader is always right. 2.

Criticism of the leader is characterized as “persecution.” 3.

No matter how harmful, the leader’s behavior is justified.

(Pay close attention to this one.) 4. Adherents are obsessed with the leader. 5. The leader has the exclusive franchise on “truth.”

As hard as it is to believe, gay Trumpsters are a real thing. You probably even know one or two, talked to them at a gay bar, or even slept with one (or two or more). Gay members of Cult45 are not unlike straight ones. Their allegiance is solid and unwavering. They have drunk the orange Kool-Aid. They are in a cult!

In the cult, to criticize the president is to persecute him.

When Trump tweets, “There has been no President in the history of our Country who has been treated so badly as I have,” they believe him. Trumpsters have short memories.

Donald Trump has attacked the Constitution, the free press, the FBI, the military, Congress and the intelligence agencies. Crickets from the cult.

More recently, Trump has used the power of his office to extort a foreign country and made efforts to cover it up. Accusations of abusing his office for personal gain, bribery, extortion, and obstruction of justice will likely be levied against the sitting president.

Those charges finally convinced House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that it was time to initiate impeachment hearings against Donald Trump. That announcement was enough to send gay cult members over the edge, a short trip for many. We found this particular tirade on Facebook from a gay Trumpster to be representative of many in the cult.

A typical Trumpster rant “ If Trump and Trump Jr. swapped with Joe and Hunter Biden. Trump would be in jail or murdered. I seriously can’t believe you fucking retards think Trump will be impeached. Biden and Hillary need to get locked up and sued!!!! Also the obamas!!!! No one should leave a government job super fucking wealthy!!! You people are complete and utter asinine trash. Trump loves this country. RECORD LOW UNEMPLOYMENT FOR LATINOS, BLACKS, ASIANS, AND WOMAN IN THE WORK PLACE. FIRST PRESIDENT EVER TO OPENLY SUPPORT GAYS. For me the economy and security is very important to me he’s doing it. Passed right to try!

Lowering drug prices! Helping Vets with vet choice so they don’t kill them selves! Creating a strong border to end drug smuggling and human trafficking you sick

fucks!!!!! People are dying and becoming homeless because you want to be PC with NO BORDER!!! He donates his President salary to various causes in the US. You are mentally f*cking ill. Democrats are the party of racism and division, open borders, drugs pouring in, endless human trafficking and killing unbabies.

Destroying our economy putting more and more people on the tits of the welfare system. Only good thing going for them is wanting to become green but only because they want to engulf the Green Party but with an approach so radical we’ll all lose our fucking cars and we’ll be waiting in a bread line!!! I don’t care if I end up with one friend on Facebook I don’t want stupid asinine people that are mentally retarded in the undiagnosable way for friends please delete. If you seriously think voting for a socialist is smart look at every other socialist nation.

It’s garbage. Look at Venezuela they promised all this bullshit, took away their guns and now they are getting ran over by tanks. Waiting for breadcrumbs and the most pathetic run down nation when they used to be one of the wealthiest. People who constantly talk about being broke, race and being apart of a stupid group then being an American votes democrat. Sad!!! End rant while driving!”

Loyal to the end Like their leader, the Trump cult has become experts at deflection, blame and changing the subject. If you have ever gotten into a discussion with a Trumpster, more than likely several of these arguments have been used to make their point.

The quotation listed above covers all five components of a cult follower. Poor Trump is being persecuted and would be jailed or murdered had he done what he is accusing Biden of doing.

Seldom can a Trump supporter defend him without evoking the names of Clinton or Obama. That’s their reliable stand-by. Calling the opposition names is another. Their leader taught them well. And of course rambling on about a million non-related topics is a prerequisite of a Trump supporter.

The realization that their leader has been caught and admitted to what are clearly impeachable offenses is surely upsetting to the Cult45. We do not expect them to admit that their leader is a fraud and is a criminal; cults do not work that way.

Long after Trump has been impeached and removed from office or has resigned, they will still be lamenting how he was a victim of the media and was treated unfairly. e Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the MONTROSE STAR. Johnny Trlica is the manager of the Houston Rainbow Herald Facebook page, your source for the latest LGBTQ news and information. Contact him at HRHeditor@gmail. com.

Photo via GQ.com

JOHNNY TRLICA has called the Houston area home all of his life. Four years ago he founded and still edits the Houston Rainbow Herald and has worked in the apartment leasing industry for the past two years. His passion is keeping the battle for LGBT rights at the forefront of today’s headlines and fighting complacency in the LGBT community.

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MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday October 2, 2019 | PAGE 3

OP-ED

Creep of the Week: Brett Kavanaugh e By D’Anne Witkowski

I

JUST READ ON NPR’S HEALTH BLOG ABOUT A NEW STUDY THAT

found that “an estimated 3.3 million [women] nationwide said that their first sexual experience was rape.”

And this is likely an underestimate! The data for the study predates the very new #MeToo movement and only women age 18 to 44 were included.

That’s a lot of women and a lot of rape. And it’s both shocking and completely unsurprising considering that we live in a country where President Trump has been accused of rape and sexual assault many times and all of his accusers have been dismissed as liars. And then, president rapist appointed Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and the Republicans enthusiastically supported him despite very credible testimony by Christine Blasey Ford that he’d sexually assaulted her in high school.

And lo and behold, what’s this trending on Twitter? Brett Kavanaugh’s penis. Because that’s the horror show we’re living in right now. To be clear, it’s not a dick pic of Kavanaugh on Twitter. It’s more allegations of him using his penis to be a sexually assaulting trash heap. The latest allegations refer to incidents that happened while he was in college and they star his penis being thrust at women who didn’t want that to be happening to them.

Trump, of course, came to Kavanaugh’s defense.

“Brett Kavanaugh should start suing people for libel, or the Justice Department should come to his rescue,” Trump tweeted, indicating yet again that he has no idea what the Justice Department does.

“The lies being told about him are unbelievable.”

Trump’s very Strange and Random capitalizations aside, Trump doesn’t know if what’s being said about Kavanaugh is true or not because the FBI didn’t bother to investigate around the time of his nomination. Of course, that’s according to the Liberal Media, so...

The next day Trump tweeted: “I call for the Resignation of everybody at The New York Times involved in the Kavanaugh SMEAR story, and while you’re at it, the Russian Witch Hunt Hoax, which is just as phony!”

That’s journalism in America, folks. The goddamn president calls for the resignation of reporters he doesn’t agree with.

Other, much smarter, people (Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris for example) are calling for resignations, too. Or, more specifically, impeachments.

“Confirmation is not exoneration, and these newest revelations are disturbing,” Warren tweeted. “Like the man who appointed him, Kavanaugh should be impeached.”

Would the Senate go for it? Well, no. Of course not. It’s still Republican-controlled (though you can help that by volunteering for a U.S. Senate race in your neck of the woods) and Mitch McConnell, who said the new allegations “felt a little like Groundhog Day,” is calling the shots.

But that doesn’t mean a full investigation shouldn’t happen.

Impeach Trump. Impeach Kavanaugh. Let the proceedings begin because Democracy is heading toward an iceberg and if we don’t do something this ship is going down.

Americans deserve the truth. Granted, a number of them will choose only to believe their dear leader. But winning over the mindless isn’t the point. It’s taking seriously charges of sexual assault and saying, “Gosh, maybe men who have credible accusations against them shouldn’t be allowed to hold the most powerful positions in the land.”

Look, it’s clear that Kavanaugh wasn’t a good person before his confirmation hearing. It’s also clear that he wasn’t a good person during his confirmation hearing. Which means he isn’t a good person now that he’s a sitting Supreme Court Justice.

This is a man who, for the rest of his life, will be making decisions that govern the bodies and lives of women and LGBTQ people in this country. This man who thought that pushing his penis into a woman’s face was a funny joke in college.

I can’t stop thinking about those 3 million women in this country were raped as their FIRST sexual experience. Their first!

This doesn’t count the many more were raped after that.

And still, our default is to not believe women. To dismiss them as liars, especially when they accuse powerful men. The idea that there are all these women out there who will stop at nothing to destroy a good man’s life is absurd. Sexual assault isn’t something the majority of women lie about.

The idea that there are all these men out there who will stop at nothing to destroy a good woman’s life by assaulting her and then calling her a liar? We see that played out over and over again. And it has to stop. e

TOC OCTOBER 2, 2019 | VOL. X, 14

COOKING WITH PAULA DREAM A little chicken for your pot

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D’Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBT politics for over a decade. Follow her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD Cyndi Laupern wants a ‘Golden Girls’ reboot

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HRH Report.......................................................... 2 OP-ED.....................................................................3 Community........................................................... 4 The Frivolist.......................................................... 6 Celebrity Feature................................................ 8 Cooking with Paula Dream........................... 10 Foodie Diaries.....................................................11 PFLAG Houston News..................................... 12 Deep Inside Hollywood................................... 14 Across the Causeway........................................17 What A World...................................................20 Out At the Theater...........................................22 Crossword Queeries.........................................23 Star Buds.............................................................24 Guide to the Clubs............................................26

October 2, 2019. None as of press time.

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Community

Last round of 2019 candidate endorsements

Victory Fund endorses 48 more LGBTQ candidates A

S OF SEPTEMBER 24, LGBTQ VICTORY FUND, THE ONLY

national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, has endorsed 48 new openly LGBTQ candidates in its last round of endorsements for the 2019 election cycle. The organization has endorsed 172 candidates for 2019 — the most candidates ever in an oddnumbered election year — and six candidates for 2020.

Since 1991, the Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections. This is Victory Fund’s tenth round of endorsements for the 2019 and 2020 election cycles.

Eliz Markowitz is among the endorsees in her race for an open seat in the Texas state House. The race is receiving outsized attention because it is held by a retiring Republican and is key to Democratic efforts to take back the state House in 2020. U.S. Senator Ted

Cruz won the district by just three points in 2018. Victory Fund also endorsed Shawn Terry in his 2020 race for the Texas state House, also considered critical to securing a Democratic majority. He is off to a strong start — raising more in contributions than any other 2020 Texas state legislative candidate in a red-leaning district that is shifting rapidly toward Democrats in recent elections.

While Victory Fund is non-partisan, the Republicanled Texas state legislature has introduced dozens of antiLGBTQ bills in the past several years. A Democratic majority in the state House would almost certainly kill any anti-LGBTQ legislative efforts.

“The surge in qualified, viable LGBTQ candidates running for office is staggering, with more people running in 2019 than ever before in an odd-numbered election year,” said former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, now

president and chief executive officer of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “The floodgates were opened by the Rainbow Wave of 2018 and other historic victories over the last few years.

Now, we know we can run and win anywhere, and more LGBTQ people are deciding elected office is the best vehicle to bring positive change for their communities.”

“The political winds are changing in Texas — and openly LGBTQ state legislative candidates will play a significant role in determining whether Democrats take back the (Texas) state House in 2020,” Mayor Parker continued. “After years of relentless attacks on the LGBTQ community by this state legislature, we are on the verge of electing a historic number of LGBTQ leaders who will fight on behalf of Texans, not against them.”

More information about the candidates is available at VictoryFund.org/OurCandidates. e

VICTORY FUND

Candidate endorsements —* Eliz Markowitz

Kenmore City (WA) Council, Position 7

Houston City Council, District J

Albemarle County (VA) Board of Supervisors, Scottsville District

—* Nelvin Adriatico —N.J. Akbar

Akron (OH) Public Schools Board of Education, At-Large

—Chauntyll Allen

St. Paul (MN) Board of Education (ISD 624), At-Large

—Sheena Barnes

Toledo (OH) Public Schools Board of Education, At-Large

—Karen Bolton

1

Bremerton (WA) School District No. 100-C

—Merisa Bowers

Gahanna City (OH) Council, At-Large

—Robert Case

Framingham City (MI) Council District 5

—Alison Coombs

Aurora City (CO) Council, Ward V

—Benjamin Dickens

2

Roeland Park (KS) City Council, Ward 2

3

—Philip Du

Dutchess County (NY) Legislature, District 15

—Andrew Gilchrist

Perinton Town (NY) Supervisor

—Joseph Geierman

Mayor of Doraville (GA)

—Sophia Hawes-Tingey

Midvale City (UT) Council, District 2

—Justin Gould

4

University Heights (OH) City Council, At-Large

—Meredith Hegg

Upper Darby (PA) School Director, At-Large

—* Nick Hellyar

Houston City Council, At-Large 4

—Jason Hoskins

Southfield City (MI) Council, At-Large 5

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—Meghan Huryk

Neptune City (NJ) Borough Council

—Amani Johnson

Southfield City (MI) Council, At-Large

—* Shelley Kennedy

Houston City Council, District C

.1....Shelley Kennedy

—* Isabel Longoria

Houston City Council, District H

2 ����������� Isabel Longoria .3 ���������� Nelvin Adriatico .4 ������������������Nick Hellyar .5 ���������� Robert Gallegos .6 �����������������Shawn Terry .7 ������������� Eliz Markowitz

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—Corina Pfeil

Texas House of Representatives, District 28

—Mike McFall

Hazel Park City (MI) Council, At-Large

—David Neill

Upper Darby (PA) School Director, At-Large

—Zachary Niemiec

North Tonawanda (NY) Common Council, Ward 2 (* indicates Texas candidates)

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—Donna Price —Jerred Price

Memphis City (TN) Council, District 7

—John Rach

University Heights (OH) City Council, At-Large

—Air Rhodes

Beacon (NY) City Council, Ward 2

—Holly Ryan

Newton (MA) City Council, Ward 8

—Beth Salkind

Pennsylvania Magisterial District Judge, District 32-2-52

—Greg Smith

City and Borough of Juneau (AK) Assembly, District 1

—Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews

Glen Cove City (NY) Council, At-Large

—Cesar Stewart-Morales

Framingham City (MI) Council, District 2

—* Shawn Terry

Texas House of Representatives, District 108

—Lori Trent

Upper Arlington (OH) Board of Education, At-Large

—Richard Trojanski

Maple Heights (OH) City Council, District 6

—Damien Warsavage

Upper Darby (PA) School Director, At-Large

—Andy Yeoman

Doraville (GA) City Council, District 1, Incumbent Candidates

—P.J. Brennan

College Park (MD) City Council, District 2

—Jane Campbell

Davidson Town (NC) Council, At-Large

—Jane Cera

Clinton Township (OH) Trustee

—James Demetriades

Cromwell (CT) Town Council, At-Large

—* Robert Gallegos

Houston City Council, District I

—Mitra Nelson

St. Paul (MN) City Council, Ward 4

—Ryan O’Malley

Malden (MA) City Council, Ward 4

—Henry Schwaller

Hays (KS) City Commission, At-Large

—Jordan Sears

Gold Bar (WA) City Council, Position 5

—Deb Steele

Clinton Township (OH) Fiscal Officer

MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday October 2, 2019 | PAGE 5

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The Frivolist

AT TARGET

5 Tech-savvy ways to stack your savings e By Mikey Rox

F

ACT: YOU CAN’T GO TO TARGET

without spending a hundred bucks.

You know how it goes: You enter the store armed with a list that you plan to stick to, yet this, that and the other thing (thanks, Hunter for Target!) ends up in your cart because you have to have it.

There’s nothing wrong with treating yourself every now and then, but this habit can seriously affect your financial well-being and put a sizeable dent in your budget if you’re not careful.

There’s hope, however – in the form of savings that are hiding right on your phone and computer. All you have to do is harness the power of these money-saving tactics to keep more cash in your pocket.

1. TARGET MOBILE APP

On the Target mobile app, which is available for free download on iPhone, iPad and Android devices, there’s a section labeled Mobile Coupons within the Deals & Coupons menu that features select items available for discounts.

Some items are reduced by varying dollar amounts while others qualify for a percentage off. Typical sale items include kitchenware, apparel and Targetbrand foods. Consult the Mobile Coupons section before you shop to see what you have on your list that matches the available deals. At checkout pull up the app so the cashier can scan the preset barcode, and watch the savings subtract.

Another tip I’ve learned over the years is to always scan your items via the mobile app as you’re shopping.

You wouldn’t believe the amount of price discrepancies I’ve uncovered

between what’s listed on the tag versus the online price. Target will honor whichever is lower. I’ve cashed in like this dozen of times, which made me realize that most shoppers are probably overpaying on multiple items per trip on a regular basis. Put in the extra bit of time and reap the savings.

2. TARGET CARTWHEEL APP

Target’s Cartwheel feature in its mobile app provides a more comprehensive listing of items that are available for discounts.

This section provides deals on more of the everyday items you need, like groceries and cleaning supplies, at savings ranging

from 5% to 50% off. To qualify for the deals, you have to manually add them to your list before checkout; it also auto-adds in store as soon as you scan a qualifying item with the app. This app is heavy on discounts for Target-brand goods, but there are plenty of name brand items available as well. Like the Mobile Coupons on the Target mobile app, just present the app’s barcode to the cashier to save.

3. TARGET REDCARD

By signing up for the Target RedCard credit card, you’ll save 5% on all your purchases. But buyer beware: This may not be in your best interest if you’re not the

kind of credit-card user who pays the full balance before it’s due. Pay your bill past its due date and you could be slapped with a late fee that will not only negate the 5% savings but cost you more money in interest in the long run. Another perk of RedCard is free shipping on all Target.com purchases, which can save avid Internet shoppers a substantial amount of dough given the high price of shipping fees these days.

4. PRINTABLE TARGET COUPONS In addition to the generous in-app savings that Target offers, it also includes a section on its website that allows shoppers to print coupons in advance of their visit. To find these coupons, go to Target.com and enter “Target Coupons” in the search bar. Once there, you’ll find printable savings on more than 100 items in all categories, from baby and beauty to personal care and pets. Select the deals you’d like then choose whether you’d like to have your order shipped or same-day pickup at your nearest Target.

5. IBOTTA APP

If you haven’t yet discovered Ibotta, it’s time you did. This mobile app, compatible with Apple and Android devices, isn›t a direct descendant of Target, but it does have a partnership with the company (as well as many other popular shopping, travel and dining brands). Instead of instant savings, however, Ibotta pays you in real cash for redeeming the offers it has available. Ibotta also often has sweepstakes and add-on rebates to up the ante, and those are generally attached to everyday items you need, like bread and milk. Definitely worth the free download if you enjoy getting paid to shop. I’ve personally received about $800 cash back in the past five years I’ve been using it. e Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world.

He spends his time writing from the beach with his dog Jaxon. Connect with Mikey on Instagram @mikeyrox

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DPLAYERS.ORG • SEPT. 11-O T. 1 • 71 .526.2771

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Trisha Yearwood on her simple reason for supporting the LGBTQ community, the Nashville closet, and lesbian love e By Chris Azzopardi

T

RISHA YEARWOOD HAS NEVER CARED

what the country community thought of her LGBTQ allyship, so why start now?

The country music icon, who has lent her robust and emotionally resonant mezzosoprano to hit songs like “She’s in Love With the Boy,” “How Do I Live,” “Walkaway Joe” and “XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl),” sang at a Nashville gay bar two years after Ellen DeGeneres’s sexuality destroyed her sitcom and not long before the Dixie Chicks got Dixie Chick’d.

So imagine country music and the associated conservative values of 1999, when Yearwood performed for gay clubgoers at The Connection during the height of her crossover success, showing her true colors by headlining an event to raise money for her cancerstricken gay friend. Yearwood was already a major star, having soared to music stardom when “She’s in Love With the Boy,” the lead single from her 1991 self-titled debut album, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs.

In 2012, Billboard named Yearwood and her husband Garth Brooks the “Most Powerful Celebrity Couple in Music,” based on their combined album sales. (At the time, the couple, who’ve been married since 2005, edged out Beyoncé and Jay-Z.) With Every Girl, the 55-year-old, threetime Grammy winner and host of her own Food Network show, Trisha’s Southern Kitchen, returns with her first studio album of new material in 12 years and a corresponding nationwide tour. In a recent conversation, Yearwood spoke about getting a kick out of why some lesbians are relating to her new single, marrying Garth because he’s open-minded, how her concerts are a “safe place” for LGBTQ fans, and the Nashville closet.

Let’s start with the album’s lead single “Every Girl in This Town,” which I’ve renamed “Every Gay in This Town.” I hope you don’t mind.

(Laughs.) That works for me!

You sing “We keep kissin’ boys, trying to figure it out” and, I mean, story of my life. Know any single gay cowboys who are handsome, employed and emotionally available?

(Laughs.) It’s funny that you say that because we did it live the other night and one of my guys who works with me – he’s my social media guy – is gay and I saw him in the crowd and he loves the song so much and I sang that right to him. He was just laughing.

And then I had a couple of girls who came up to me when we did an album signing recently, and a girl introduced me to her wife and said, “That song speaks to me. It’s like you keep kissing boys trying to figure it out. I finally figured it out.” (Laughs.) It was pretty great. The song works for everyone!

Is it true you were the first major country artist to play a gay venue in Nashville?

I’m not sure if it’s true or not, but it was a benefit for a friend of mine who’s a hairdresser who had cancer. And he’s a friend of mine, gay or straight. So it’s like, I’m there. I didn’t even give it a thought. I’m sure there were people who thought it was great, and I’m sure there were people who thought it wasn’t great and I don’t care.

What kind of reaction did you get from the country music community and fans for performing at a gay bar?

I don’t know. I feel strangely lucky, I guess. People don’t tend to, especially during that time, tell you things to your face. You know, we’re still that way. We talk about each other behind our backs, but nobody’s gonna come up to you and say, “Hey, I think what you did was wrong,” because what do they think I’m gonna say? They know they’re wrong for even thinking that.

Somewhere deep down they know they’re wrong. But I didn’t get any flak. I’m sure there were people who, again, talked about me behind my back, but it was the right thing to do.

Was your appearance at The Connection your first time at a gay club?

No. (Laughs.)

Oh? Tell me more.

(Laughs.) Another hairdresser friend of mine asked me to come to his birthday party and I went. I can’t remember the name of the place here at the time. It was on 8th Avenue. I think it’s gone.

I’m sure everything’s gone now since I’m old. (Laughs.) But it was the first time I saw a drag queen impersonating me singing “She’s in Love With the Boy,” and I was like, “I’ve made it now.

I’m famous now. That’s happened.”

And you tipped her $5.

I did! You know that story! And I did because why wouldn’t you?

So she made a good Trisha?

She did, she did! You know, I can look like a pretty good drag queen myself.

Wait, you’ve done drag?

I do drag well. Yes, I do a good Trisha Yearwood impersonation.

It helps that you are her, so I feel like you have a slight advantage.

What was the LGBTQ community like where you grew up in Georgia?

Nonexistent. Well, probably there, but I was born in ’64, so during my teenager years, the ’70s, early ’80s, like most kids in the South, I didn’t really have an encounter with anyone who was openly gay until I was in college.

I know there were gay people in my hometown, but it was just one of those things that people didn’t talk about.

IN HER BEST LIGHT

PAGE 8 | MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday October 2, 2019

we are. I know it’s still not easy in certain circles, but I like where we are and where we’re going. We preach “love one another” and that’s what we’re supposed to do.

Do you think today’s country music community is more open to the LGBTQ community?

I think the community here as a whole has always been very open. It’s the public community, you know? So coming out and being an openly gay artist is happening, but it’s still not probably easy, but because there are more people who have come out, it’s I’m so lucky to be in an industry that’s gonna be easier. But this community really open. I was raised by a family who as a whole, as far as the town and the never made me feel like I shouldn’t be an industry that works here, it seems very open person, so I’m lucky in that way too. open. Nashville seems very open and The other day we were just talking about progressive. But I still think the artists how hard it must be to live a life where probably have a difficult time. But you can’t really be yourself. So I like where now that there are people who have Find us on P v Facebook.com & t Twitter

Celebrity Feature

come out and said they’re openly gay, somebody’s gotta start that and pave the way, and so they have the hardest time. It’s kind of the best kept secret in Nashville that when people come out as gay, no one’s surprised. (Laughs.)

Are there still closeted country stars that you know of?

I don’t know for sure. I’m sure there are.

In 1993, Garth released “We Shall Be Free,” which stirred controversy with the line, “When we’re free to love anyone we choose.” I remember how big of a deal that was.

Yeah. I live in a house that is about tolerance and love. I wouldn’t be married to a guy who didn’t feel that way, and he’s been public about that too. Like you said, it’s in that song. You just speak your truth.

MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday October 2, 2019 | PAGE 9

Country artist Chely Wright acknowledged that you were one of very few country stars to offer your support when she came out in 2010. What kind of support did you offer her?

I think it’s one thing to say, “Oh, I’m fine with that,” and another thing to show up and be a friend. And she had a benefit party every year. I had gone the year before, and that year was the year right after the (coming out) announcement that she had that party. I just went. It was kind of like going to the benefit for the hairdresser: I didn’t think about it.

She’s my friend, I’ve been before, she asked me to go and I’m going. And so I don’t ever set out to make some sort of strong statement. I’m just friends with who I’m friends with, and if somebody wants to comment about that, that’s fine.

Why do you think more country artists weren’t showing their support for the LGBTQ community like you were early on in your career?

I don’t want to give myself this positive, like, “Oh my gosh, you’re so amazing because you did that” because I don’t really look at it that way at all. I think if I was making a statement, it’s just that you should be there for your friends. And that’s not just a gay or straight statement; that’s a “just how I was raised” statement.

Are you inspired by Brandi Carlile, who is infiltrating the country arena as an out lesbian?

I’m inspired by her as a person in music.

For me, it’s really about the music. I was on a label with a diverse bunch of artists, and I don’t know how k.d. lang made it work in the late ’80s, early ’90s, because

she had enormous success. But I tend to just look at it like when I heard Brandi for the first time – and actually her voice reminds me a little bit of k.d.’s – my first thought wasn’t “she’s gay”; it was, “I like her voice.” Maybe that’s why I am the way I am, because it’s just not my first thought. We all want to be accepted for who we are inside and what we do. Even if people like our music, what I do in my personal life is 100 percent secondary.

You courted a wildly passionate lesbian following at the beginning of your career. Why do you think lesbians gravitated toward you?

I have no idea! I really don’t know what it is. It’s also, you know, you guys.

Maybe because I do “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in concert. (Laughs.)

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That can’t hurt.

(Laughs.) Maybe it’s inclusion. The questions you’re asking me are not questions I obviously get asked in a typical interview and I haven’t ever thought about it in that way, but just your questions make me feel like maybe people realize it’s a safe place. You’re not gonna be judged.

Covering Melissa Etheridge’s “You Can Sleep While I Drive” in 1995 might have had something to do with building your lesbian following. You must’ve forgotten all about that.

I did forget about that. I love that song so much. The other song of hers that I just love is “Bring Me Some Water.” I think that was the first thing I heard (of hers). I remember hearing S 12

PAGE 10 | MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday October 2, 2019

Cooking with Paula Dream

A little chicken for your pot e By Paula Dream (A K A K A L E HAYGO O D)

D

ID YOU THINK FALL WOULD EVER GET

here? Still feels like summer to this old broad.

You all know how Paula loves chicken — I’ve been chasing them for years. In this issue I give to you some favorite “poultry” chicken recipes that may just put you in the fall spirit.

And here’s a little bite size dessert that’s great for after dinner or to take as a party snack.

Well, it’s time for me to go run my traps. See you in a couple of weeks. Be safe!

CREAMY GARLIC CHICKEN AND RICE

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut in bite-size chunks 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 garlic cloves, minced 3/4 cup long grain white rice 2-1/2 cups chicken broth 2 cups baby spinach 2 tablespoons heavy cream

CHICKEN ALFREDO BAKE

2 7 10 Montrose Blvd.

Houston, T X 7 7 006

713.526.0202 Order Online www.pepperonis.net

2 cups coarsely chopped deli rotisserie chicken 2 cups fresh baby spinach, chopped 1 jar (15 ounces) Alfredo pasta sauce 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1 can (8 pieces) buttermilk biscuits Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13” x 9” glass baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large bowl mix chicken, spinach, Alfredo sauce and one cup of cheese.

After separating dough, cut each biscuit into six equal pieces. Add to bowl and gently stir. Spoon into baking dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake 35 to 40 minutes until deep golden brown.

In a bowl, toss chicken in garlic powder, salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until browned, stirring often, for about three minutes. Add garlic to skillet and cook another 30 seconds.

Stir in rice and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer.

Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and place spinach over rice. Cover and let sit for five more minutes. Remove lid and stir in cream. Serve.

CRANBERRY BRIE

1 package (17 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed 1/2 pound Brie cheese 1 cup cranberry sauce Preheat oven to 375 degrees. With sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut pastry sheets into approximately 3”x3” squares. Press each square into cavity of muffin pan. Cube the cheese, about 3/4” each. Place cube of Brie in center of each pastry. Top Brie with a small dollop of cranberry sauce. Bake about 10 minutes, or until pastry corners are slightly toasted light brown. Let cool five minutes before serving. e Paula Dream (AKA Kale Haygood) owns Beyond Service, a Montrose-based home-cooking catering company. For more information, call 713-805-4106 or email barrykale@yahoo.com.

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MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday October 2, 2019 | PAGE 11

Foodie Diaries SEASONS 52

Fresh and light every week of the year e By Jim Ayres

I

WAS ALWAYS CURIOUS ABOUT SEASONS

52, a local outpost of the upscale “low calorie” chain. It’s part of the restaurant group that includes Eddie V’s and Capital Grille, so I had high hopes when I met friends on a recent Tuesday night.

According to its marketers, “Seasons 52 is your destination for seasonal cooking and 52 wines by the glass.

Our menu changes with the season to feature 100% fresh produce, and we oakfire grill and brick oven roast (without a fryer in sight) so everything we prepare is full of flavor and naturally lighter.”

They speak the truth. I thoroughly enjoyed the Seasons 52 experience.

The restaurant itself is beautiful.

Seasons 52 Bistro Steak

Seasons 52 Wood-Grilled Rainbow Trout Lighting is muted just enough to make everyone look their best. I appreciate the variety of ways you can enjoy your meal — there’s the main dining room, the bar, and then booths right off the bar where the three of us dined.

Service was smooth as silk on a shoeshine throughout the meal. My advice for a starter?

Don’t miss the Flatbread! It’s legendary and rightfully so. Tempting flatbread options include Roasted Tomato, and Lobster or Chicken Pesto with Mozzarella.

We chose the Four-Mushroom variety with goat cheese, truffle oil and microgreens. Thoughtfully sliced, each piece of this flatbread was warm, chewy and uplifting. And at 430 calories for the whole thing, divided by three we dove in without guilt.

Ah yes. The “C” word. At Seasons 52,

everything on the menu has a calorie count. They’re impressively low — at first. But when you have an appetizer, entrée, wine and dessert, they do add up. Still, these dishes are far healthier than at most chain restaurants.

Consider my main dish: WoodGrilled Rainbow Trout. The fish was simply grilled and seasoned, bringing out the trout’s naturally nutty flavor.

(And it was so large it took me forever to finish it.) Roasted garlic broccolini on the side was scrumptious.

My friends went for a Wood-Grilled Handline Tuna (keeping it local) with mint tabbouleh and preserved lemon hummus, and a Prime Sirloin Bistro Steak in red wine sauce with roasted green beans.

How in the world Seasons 52 can produce

Seasons 52 Wood-Grilled Handline Tuna such flawless dishes at 550 and 460 calories, respectively, I’ll never know.

It’s hard to say no to dessert at Seasons 52. Literally. It’s brought right to you as a flight of shot-sized “Mini-Indulgences” in a swirling stand. Flavors include Key Lime Pie, Mocha Macchiato, Caramel Pineapple Upside Down Cake, and more.

Pick one and it’s yours! Each is just the right amount for a sweet ending.

Is Seasons 52 really seasonal? I signed up for their emails, and they do add a few new dishes from time to time, but I’d wager the menu is full of favorites available year-round. I don’t know about you, but I’d hate to see my favorite dish plucked away just because it’s fall. By the way, Happy Autumn, everyone! e

4410 Westheimer Rd., Houston, Texas 77027 713-621-5452 Seasons 52 Flatbread

Seasons52.com

EXCITED FOR BRUNCH? SO ARE WE! SUNDAY BRUNCH 11AM - 3PM LAURENZOS.COM / 4412 WASHINGTON AVE / 713.880.5111

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PAGE 12 | MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday October 2, 2019

PFLAG Houston News

COMING OUT ISN’T ABOUT THE PARENTS e By Janice Anderson

“

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME?” IS OFTEN

the thought family and parents have when their loved one comes out. I thought that. I wondered how it would affect my close relationship with my child. Would he still want to go shopping with me? Would he still want to go to the same movies and watch the same television shows with me? Would we still just hang out? As parents, though, the coming out process is not about us. It is about our child. It is about what we can do to support them.

It’s not about us.

PFLAG’s October guest speaker at our General Meeting will share the coming out process from the LGBTQ person’s side.

Michael Migura will review the stages of the coming out process, a process of selfacceptance and identity development for individuals. Possible barriers to successfully navigating the process will be reviewed.

Migura will also discuss how the process might apply to friends and family as well.

Migura is a senior trainer for the Centene Corp Texas Foster Care Program. Since 2007, Migura has been building relationships with foster care stakeholders and advocating for the needs of children in foster care across Texas. In addition, Migura has over 20 years of experience as a trainer in the Behavioral Health field.

Michael currently leads the Centene foster care curriculum development committee, has trained extensively on trauma informed care and developed specialized initiatives to target specific needs identified in the community. Additionally, Migura serves as an advocate and consultant to behavior health, social work and child welfare providers regarding services to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community.

Migura is a part of a multidisciplinary workgroup working to help Child Protective Services develop and implement policies and practices to insure affirming practices for LGBTQ children and youth in CPS (Child Proective Services).

Join us on October 13 at this meeting to learn how to support your child as they come out. Doors open at 1:45 p.m. We meet

in Room 113/114 at The Montrose Center, 401 Branard Street. The general meeting runs from 2 p.m. ’til 3 p.m. followed by small groups meeting until 4:20 p.m. We have a small group for people who want support for issues of sexuality (LGB) and one for gender identity (TQI+). During small groups, folks can share their stories, share worries and receive support from other parents, family members or allies who are on the same journey.

PFLAG Houston has four other small groups which meet during the month to share support throughout the metro area: Third Thursday of each month at Bering United Methodist Church. 1140 Harold Street, Houston, Texas at 7 p.m. Use entrance beside back parking lot.

Fourth Sunday of each month at Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church, Fellowship Hall. 17503 El Camino Real Drive, Clear Lake, Texas at 2 p.m.

Fourth Tuesday of each month at First Christian Church, 22101 Morton Ranch Road, Katy, Texas at 7 p.m. Enter through front doors.

Last Sunday of the month at First United Methodist Church, 2314 N. Grand Boulevard, Pearland, Texas at 2 ’til 3:30 p.m. Use the Jasmine Strett entrance, room B211 in the Bethel Building.

PFLAG Houston is committed to supporting families and educating the public about LGBT issues, and invites all to consider the group’s numerous volunteer opportunities. PFLAG Houston is also passionate about advocacy to ensure equal human rights and end discrimination. PFLAG Houston invites all family members, parents and/or youth who are having problems with coming out issues, and welcomes everyone, regardless of religious affiliation, ethnicity or political persuasion. The group is proud of its rich history and the continued contributions of members, and invites all to learn more about the organization and join in efforts to create a more diverse, accepting society. Find a home in PFLAG. e

For information about support, upcoming events and meetings, as well as up-to-date news relevant to PFLAG Houston’s family and friends, visit PFLAGHouston.org, email janice_anderson@yahoo.com, or call the PFLAG Helpline at 713-467-3524.

Celebrity Feature to find that time. So I felt that I had that luxury last year of just really focusing on the music, which was really a gift.

You recently acknowledged that you’re a big Lizzo fan. When’s the Trisha-Lizzo duet happening?

I would really have to up my game to sing with Lizzo, but I would totally be up for it. When I went to see her we were doing the cooking show, and what I do in the mornings when I’m sitting in the makeup chair for 90 minutes is, I’m listening to stuff that pumps me up for the day. Usually it’s Bruno Mars or Beyoncé. I had it on the Bruno Mars channel and (Lizzo’s) “Juice” came on and I’m a huge Prince fan and I was like, “I love this girl, who is this?”

S 9 that on the radio going, “Oh my god, who is that?” Just powerful.

As for your gay male fans: How many times have they expressed their gratitude to you for the “Walkaway Joe” video and the fact that without it we may not have been able to experience a 23-year-old Matthew McConaughey in a field without his shirt? Because thank you for that.

Well, you’re welcome. (Laughs.) Yes, I’m totally responsible for his career and he just never calls, he never writes.

I finally got a chance to thank him.

When I did that video, the b-roll was shot in Austin, Texas; I wasn’t even there. He was an aspiring actor who just came in for casting. People still don’t realize it. They’ll see the video on YouTube and be like, “Oh my god, that looks like Matthew McConaughey, but he looks 12!” And I’m like, “It is him!”

You got him when he was a baby.

Total baby.

Every Girl is your first solo studio album in 12 years. Why not release more music more regularly?

I will, I will. I think what happened was I was on an almost-four-year tour with my husband and that was a lot of dates.

When I wasn’t touring, I was filming the cooking show and I do a lot of other things, but music is what feeds my soul. I didn’t really intend for that much time to pass, and I think if I’d made a record during that time it might have been frantic and just thrown together because there was so much going on.

So in 2018, when the tour had ended in December the year before, I knew I had time and that’s when I sat down and made both albums, the Let’s Be Frank album and the country album.

I really was able to just concentrate on that, which made it fun because I could really just pour myself into really digging and finding those songs. And the result of this album – I don’t know if I’ve been happier with an album. The song choices and really getting to spend time with them and just listen and listen and listen and not settle has been good.

The luxury of making this album (was) almost in the way I made the first album, where you just listen to songs and nobody is really paying attention because you’ve slipped under the radar and you have all the time in the world, and once an album takes off then it’s hard

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She’d been around for five years, but this was right before things started to really jump for her and she happened to be playing a small club here in Nashville.

So I went and stood in the crowd with 200 people, mostly a bunch of white girls and a bunch of gay boys, and just loved it. I only knew that one song; now I know them all, so I can’t wait to go see her again. But it was so cool. And what I loved about her was just – she’s a movement.

For everybody. She is an icon for all of us in that she’s about accepting yourself and loving yourself the way you are. And that’s a message that is universal. That’s a message I need to hear for myself.

What about incorporating a “Good as Hell” or “Juice” cover into your upcoming tour setlist?

I try to stick to things I know I can do well. I could really screw that up!

I think a Trisha Yearwood rap is what the world might need right now.

I don’t think so! I’m gonna disagree with you on that one. (Laughs.)

Let’s talk food. Is there a dish your queer friends request when they come over for dinner? I’m good with anything low carb.

(Laughs.) No, there’s no specific dish. I’m the person whose house you come to when you want comfort food, so if you’re going to boot camp and you wanna take a day off, that’s when you come to my house. (Laughs.) You don’t come to my house for low carb.

Your cheat day? Come to my house.

Wendy Williams went on your show and said your set had the best lighting. Just how magical is this Trisha’s Southern Kitchen lighting?

When we started doing a cooking show, the lighting was about the food. I was like, “I understand that, but I have this whole other career and I really wanna look pretty, OK? Can we light the host a little bit?” (Laughs.) So I kind of pushed the barrier a little bit because I really did want it to be pretty.

I’m like, “I want this to be beautiful so that it’s a thing in my world.”

So are you feeling pretty on set?

Yeah. If I could take a guy with a key light everywhere I go, I’d take him to the grocery store.

As editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.

MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday October 2, 2019 | PAGE 13

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PAGE 14 | MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday October 2, 2019

Deep Inside Hollywood

Jane Lynch and Cyndi Lauper really want a ‘Golden Girls’ reboot e By Romeo San Vicente

Y

OU’VE SEEN SHARK TANK, SO YOU

know what a “pitch” is. No? OK, it’s when you’re a screenwriter and your agent gets you a meeting at a studio to tell somebody in a suit that you have an idea for a show and will they please give you money. It helps if you’re already famous and successful, such as Jane Lynch, who just won an Emmy for her semi-recurring “guest star” role on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. And backstage at those awards she spilled the beans on a project she’s pitching around Hollywood with Cyndi Lauper for a sitcom that will be inspired by The Golden Girls.

Now, attention-paying readers will feel a sense of déjà vu over that one, and with good reason: everybody wants to do some kind of Golden Girls-inspired show; this idea keeps getting pitched and then sometimes even announced as green-lit. But so far none of them have really gotten off the ground. Will this one work? We hope. We love Lynch and Lauper and we really want to see them convince Madonna to join the cast. They could even let her direct sometimes.

It’s a good idea and you know it.

Michael Urie and Becki Newton just wanna have Fun Did yvou see Fun Home? The stage musical based on Alison Bechdel’s awardwinning graphic novel about her childhood growing up in a funeral home was one of the most innovative and moving queer theater experiences of the past decade.

And that’s probably why the idea of a sitcom that has absolutely no connection to this material except for its setting and a somewhat appropriated title – in this case, simply Fun – seemed like such a cool idea to 2 Broke Girls co-creator Michael Patrick King and his co-producers Tracy Poust and Jon Kinnally. They’ll bring Fun to CBS with stars Michael Urie and Becki Newton, both so much fun themselves on Ugly Betty, and reunited here as a brother and sister who manage their family’s funeral home in Pennsylvania.

It could be cute, and we’ll probably give it a chance when it finally hits the small screen. But we’ll always be wishing someone would break into “Ring of Keys.”

Dustin Lance Black: Mama’s Boy Laurent Bouzereau, the director of Netflix’s great Hollywood-meets-World War II documentary Five Came Back, as well as of the upcoming HBO doc Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind,

has a new project. He’ll be turning Dustin Lance Black’s memoir, Mama’s Boy: A Story From Our Americas, into a featurelength documentary. It’s Black’s story, but very much centered on his relationship with his mother, who grew up disabled but possessed a steadfast optimism and strong will. Beyond that we don’t know much, only that Black says that his relationship with her helped bridge unnamed political divides. If you can’t wait for the doc, the book is out now so you can read all the film’s spoilers – here’s one: Black won an Academy Award for writing Milk, so you could say his Mom raised a strong-willed person of her own – and if you can wait, then it’s scheduled to arrive sometime in late 2020.

Gay Chorus Deep South joins hands with MTV Coming soon this fall to an arthouse theater near you: Gay Chorus Deep South, a moving documentary from filmmaker David Charles Rodrigues that’s been rolling through the queer film festival circuit, and now picked up by distributor MTV Documentary Films.

It’s about the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and their 2016 tour of America’s southern states, places where antiqueer discrimination still runs the gamut

Photo:Debby Wong

Cyndi Lauper

from polite disapproval to openly and murderously hostile, with more than enough Republican legislators trying to turn back the tide of progress for the LGBTQ community. On this journey the chorus was led by their director, Dr. Tim Seelig, and joined by the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, which made them nearly 300 strong as they sang their way through the Deep South in the middle of a rancorous election year. Obviously, you’ll need some Kleenex when you go, and you might want to refresh your memory of the lyrics to Into The Woods’ “No One Is Alone” or Wicked’s “Defying Gravity,” in case there’s a sing-along screening. e Romeo San Vicente slays all Sondheim at Broadway karaoke.

MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday October 2, 2019 | PAGE 15

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Events, dates and times subject to change without notice. Ġ Wednesday, October 2

Q Pearl Bar Houston and Sinfull Kitchen Vegan Food present ‘abundantly queer’ – everyone’s invited to a monthly queer showcase, 6p Q Smart Financial Centre presents Gloria Trevi, Diosa de la Noche Tour, with special guest Karol G, 8p, smartfinancialcentre.com Q Tony’s Corner Pocket invites all to a night of fun and entertainment featuring Hot Male Dancers at 10p

Q A.D. Players at The George Theater presents the World Premiere adaptation of the inspiring true story of unimaginable forgiveness in The Hiding Place, 7:30p, adplayers.org Q Alley Theatre presents The Winter’s Tale, the whimsical story set in Texas, about romance, tragedy and comedy, 7:30p (Thru 10/13) alleytheatre.org Q Contemporary Arts Museum is proud to present Nari Ward: We the People, the first museum survey in Texas of the work of artist Nari Ward (b. 1963, St. Andrew, Jamaica) bringing together works spanning Ward’s 25-year career (Thru 12/1) camh.org Q Stages Theatre presents Sister’s Back to School Catechism: The Holy Ghost and Other Terrifying Tales, 7:30p, stagestheatre.com Q Tony’s Corner Pocket presents ‘WEPA Wednesdays’, an evening of Drink, Divas & Dancers – hosted by Alexis Nicole Whitney, 9:30p, plus Houston’s Hottest Male Dancers 6 Nights A Week

Ġ Friday, October 11

Q Club Houston presents the Exposed Party, 10p, theclubs.com Q Miller Outdoor Theatre presents the 14th Anniversary Splendid China, feat. choreography of dancers from Houston and top international dance companies, 7:30p, milleroutdoortheatre.com Q Museum of Fine Arts Houston presents the 7th Annual Turkish Film Festival beginning with Sibel, the story of a village outsider who speaks an ancestral whistled language, 7p (Thru 10/13) mfah.org Q Tony’s Corner Pocket invites all to enjoy a night of entertainment featuring Hot Male Dancers

Ġ Thursday, October 3

Q Matchbox 3: The Catastrophic Theatre presents Tragedy, A Tragedy, a comedy by Will Eno, 7:30p (Thru 10/20) catastrophictheatre.com Q Miller Outdoor Theatre hosts the 4oth Annual Festival Chicano, a cultural celebration of Chicano music, from Tejano and Conjunto to Mariachi and Orchestra, 7p (Thru 10/5) milleroutdoortheatre.com Ġ Friday, October 4

Q Alley Theatre presents Qui Nguyen’s Vietgone, the contemporary twist on a boy-meets-girl story that the New York Times calls “a raucous, immenselymoving comedy,” 8p (Thru 11/3) alleytheatre.org Q Matchbox 1: Obsidian Theater presents Aaron Marks’ Empanada Loca, a contemporary Grand Guignol horror in the style of Spalding Gray, 7:30p (Thru 10/26) obsidiantheater.org Q Matchbox 4: The Houston Pride Band kicks off its 2019-2020 season with Game of Crowns, feat. royal music from Queen, Prince, Lord of the Rings and more, 8p, houstonprideband.org Q Stages Theatre presents Salt, Root and Roe, the ‘poetic masterwork about the nature of change, the comfort of home and the eternal bond of love,’ 7:30p, stagestheatre.com Q Tony's Corner Pocket offers a funfilled night of entertainment with Houston’s hottest male dancers, 10p

Ġ Saturday, October 12

Q Miller Outdoor Theatre presents the 14th Gloria Trevi

Q Museum of Fine Arts Houston’s special presentation of New York Times” Op-Docs, a series of award-winning short documentaries, 5p, mfah.org Q Tony’s Corner Pocket invites you to the Annual Mr. & Miss Tony’s Corner Pocket Pageant, 5p, followed by a fun-filled evening of entertainment featuring Houston’s Hottest Male Dancers Ġ Tuesday, October 8

Q Theatre Under the Stars presents the Tony® award-winning musical Spring Awakening, 7:30p (Thru 10/20) tuts.com

Q Tony’s Corner Pocket presents Tony’s Tuesday Twins, an all-male revue hosted by Princess Amanda and Queen Ashleey, 10p, feat. hot Male Dancers Ġ Wednesday, October 9

Q Tony’s Corner Pocket presents‘WEPA Wednesdays’

Ġ Sunday, October 13

hosted by Alexis Nicole Whitney, 9:30p, plus Houston’s Hottest Male Dancers 6 Nights A Week

Ġ Saturday, October 5

Ġ Thursday, October 10

Q Brenham, TX: The Brenham Fire Dept Training

Q House of Blues presents award-winning singer/

Center hosts the Real Texas Gun Show (1101 Hwy 290 W) where citizens can legally buy, sell and trade firearms. Open carry/concealed carry rules available at the show, 9a–5p, therealtexasgunshow.com Q Museum of Fine Arts Houston presents the world’s first global film festival, the Manhattan Short Film Festival since 1998 – See the 2019 finalists at manhattanshort.com Q Tony’s Corner Pocket Bar invites the community to be entertained by the fabulous (and hottest) male dancers in Houston, 10p

songwriter BANKS in concert, 8p, houseofblues.com

The Krewe of Olympus presents the 2019 Bitchy Witchy Bash

dinero y amor, a musical monologue by awardwinner César Muñoz, 8p, philanthrartist.com Q Museum of Fine Arts Houston presents the 7th Annual Turkish Film Festival’s The Pigeon, the feature-film debut of director Banu Sivaci about Yusuf, who raises pigeons on the roof of his building in an Adana slum, 3p; Serial Cook, a dark comedy in which Neslihan, a perfect cook, becomes the prime suspect when neighbors die mysteriously, 5p, mfah.org

12p, followed by the After-Brunch Party at Robert’s Lafitte feat. live Drag Show at 3p Q Tony’s Corner Pocket invites all to a fun evening of entertainment by Houston’s Hottest Male Dancers

Q Brenham, TX: The Brenham Fire Dept Training Courtesy Photos

Q Matchbox 4: Philanthrartist presents Salud,

Q Shark Shack–Galveston hosts Out 4 Brunch,

Ġ Sunday, October 6

Center hosts the Real Texas Gun Show (1101 Hwy 290 W) where citizens can legally buy, sell and trade firearms. Open carry/concealed carry rules available at the show, 9a–5p, therealtexasgunshow.com

Anniversary Splendid China, feat. choreography of dancers from Houston and top international dance companies, 7:30p, milleroutdoortheatre.com Q Montrose Center: The Krewe of Olympus presents the 2019 Bitchy Witchy Bash – Costumes encouraged, 7–10p, kreweofolympus.org Q Museum of Fine Arts Houston presents the 7th Annual Turkish Film Festival’s Ayla: The Daughter of War, the basis for the 2010 documentary Kore Ayla, which inspired the historical drama for Turkey’s entry in the 2018 Oscars, 4p; Turkish Ice Cream, one of Turkey’s most successful films this year explores comedy and action to themes of violence and war, 7p (Thru 10/13) mfah.org Q Pearl Bar Houston invites all to a special celebration of the 6th Year Anniversary of the club, 9p Q Smart Financial Centre presents romantic music idol Marco Antonio Solís, Y La Historia Continúa Tour, 8p, smartfinancialcentre.com Q Tony’s Corner Pocket invites all to fun-filled evening of entertainment with Houston’s Hottest Male Dancers

Ġ Tuesday, October 15

Q Tony’s Corner Pocket presents Tony’s Tuesday 14th Anniversary Splendid China Find us on P v Facebook.com & t Twitter

Twins, an all-male revue hosted by Princess Amanda and Queen Ashleey, 10p, feat. hot Male Dancers

» Crossword Queeries....... 23

» Star Buds................................... 24

Rainbow Connection MONTROSE STAR .COM

» Guide To The Clubs............. 26

Bullying, depression, and other complications of life

Section B

THE GAY-ETY STARTS HERE! Wednesday October 2, 2019 e VOL. X, 14

Hold the water, bring on the shoes! e By Forest Riggs

Across the Causeway

J

UST WHEN FOLKS WERE FINALLY

able to get back into their Hurricane Harvey damaged homes, the bottom fell out and along came a Tropical Storm named Imelda. The upper Gulf Coast got it again; the region was flooded from torrential rains that hovered over southeast Texas, causing extensive flooding and damage.

You don’t have to dig too deeply into your memory to recall the infamous Imelda Marcos, wife and First Lady to the former Philippine President Juan Marcos. Imelda, who is now 90 years old, along with her husband the Filipino politician and kleptocrat, are alleged to have amassed a “salted” fortune worth billions of dollars (perhaps $5 to $10 billion, according to some estimates) through a long regime of corruption, scandal, abuse, and pilfering. Eventually the brutal Juan was removed from office (upon receiving a message from Ronald Reagan to “…cut and cut completely…”) and fled to Hawaii where he died in 1989. Imelda, along with her infamous legacy and “missing” billions still resides in Hawaii. Over the years, Imelda has made a few requests for “assistance” from anyone who would listen, claiming to be completely broke.

Perhaps her greatest legacy, other than corruption, is the fact that over the years Imelda’s collection of shoes numbered in the thousands. It was her shoes she most treasured, and she wanted to keep them all. Makes one wonder if ol’ Juan had a shoe fetish! Regardless, Imelda has been linked to excessiveness and overdoing, in fact, to the point of a slang word being created: “Imeldific.”

What a legacy. Given her history and love of footwear, it is fairly safe to assume the once First Lady is probably still collecting and

Tropical Storm Imelda hoarding volumes of high-end shoes among the palms of Hawaii.

Then came the storm! People along the upper Texas Gulf Coast are used to late fall storms and even a hurricane or two, but no one anticipated the mess that was coming and with the name Imelda. Instead of shoes, this gal brought water — trillions of gallons of it.

With some areas getting over 40 inches of rain in less than 24 hours, southeast Texas was again pummeled, and hard.

The beginning of the rains stirred

flashbacks of Hurricane Harvey. As flooding began, fears, and nightmares from two years ago came to call.

Tropical Storm Imelda danced around on the maps and mostly over the Houston-Beaumont area dumped more water in day than Harvey did in several. With so much development and lack of a draining basin, the waters rose quickly, did their damage, and began to recede the next day.

After more than a year of rebuilding, fighting with insurance companies and

contractors, a switch was flicked and it all started again. So much progress was flushed out in a matter of hours.

As usual, there has been an outpouring of “thoughts and prayers” but time has proven these do little to stop rain or bullets, to dry houses, or to make bad things go away. Once again the spirit and resiliency of Gulf Coast dwellers is being tested and called upon.

One begins to wonder just how much of this scenario can people take before something gives. The folks living S 20

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Across the Causeway

S 17 in coastal Florida have grown used to such events due to the frequency, but even many of them have sold and moved to higher ground. Officials look for fixes, but are unable to stop rain and stormy weather; hands are tied. The powers that be are looking for ways to improve drainage and mitigate some of the damage, but no real answers seem to be even close, let alone possible.

It is with a feeling of guilt that I report the “Island by Texas” fared very well with Tropical Storm Imelda. There was the usual high water in areas that seem to always flood and sand bags were deployed to stop water from entering stores and shops in the downtown Strand area. Broadway, already the subject of high cost drainage projects, flooded and stalled cars. Harborside became the usual lake with waves lapping at trains and storage facilities.

Locals got out their kayaks, canoes, and floaties to take advantage of the high water. As messy as it was, Galvestonians did their best to make if a party and find some smiles in the deluge. A few bars had drink specials and even watering holes along the Strand and Post Office remained opened for patrons to sit “water side” and imbibe. Other than a major inconvenience and expense for some, Imelda did little damage to the tough little island. Friends and family in other places did not fare as well and many Galvestonians are pitchingin and helping in many ways. Seems it always takes the worst to bring out the best!

Fall is coming and maybe the season

Out At the Theater

Bullying, depression, and other complications of life e By Randall Jobe

T Former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos and part of her shoes collection. will change. Beloved Galveston pal and meteorologist Frank Billingsley assures us that cooler weather will eventually arrive and perhaps sooner than we think.

Once again the Island will come alive for Halloween festivities and, of course, the annual Dickens on the Strand in December. (It is not too early to start planning your costumes and events).

Southeast Texas has had a setback and we have seen them in the past. Things will dry out and life, for the most part, will get back to normal (whatever that is). Galveston hearts go out to our friends and neighbors that got it much worse than Island residents.

As we move forward and put Imelda behind us, be kind to one another and share love and happiness. Most of all, be thankful and be safe. In the end, Imelda’s shoes might have been a little easier to take! e A resident of Galveston where he can be found wasting bait and searching for the meaning of life, Forest Riggs recently completed a collection of short stories about his beloved island and is working on a novel.

HE MUSIC BOX THEATER PRESENTS

Keep It Brassy 3, featuring songs

by Chicago, Bruno Mars, and the Temptations. 2623 Colquitt. Ongoing.

Tickets: TheMusicBoxTheater. com or 713-522-7722.

Main Street Theater presents Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan MacMillan with Jonny Donahue, and directed

by Rebecca Greene Udden. Shannon Emerick presents and performs this unique play, an honest, resilient, sometimes sad, yet hopeful and joyful look at life, and the lengths we will go for those we love. The lights are on during the performance and the audience will be asked to participate as the storyteller relives pieces of her life relating to her mother’s suicide and her own depression. Through Oct. 5.

Main Street Theater also presents Tom Stoppard’s The Hard Problem, directed by Rebecca Greene Udden.

If there are nothing but facts and matter, what is consciousness? This is what scientists have deemed “the hard problem.” Through Oct. 6. 2540 Times Blvd. Tickets: MainStreetTheater. com or 713-524-3622.

A.D. Players presents The Hiding Place, a world premiere adaptation by A.S. Peterson of the book of the same title

by Corrie ten Boom with Elizabeth and John Sherrill. During World War II, one woman fights against the darkness, deciding to hide Jews and ultimately face the consequences when they are discovered. The Hiding Place is the true story of how faith, hope and love ultimately triumphed over unthinkable evil. Through Oct. 12. 5420 Westheimer.

Tickets: ADPlayers.org or 713-526-2721.

The Alley Theatre presents William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, a whimsical tale of romance comedy and tragedy. Set in Texas, this beloved fable of hard-won joy, promise of renewal, wrath, redemption and lost and then found love is seen through the imaginative eyes of a Houstonian child. Suitable for ages 12 and up. Rob Melrose directs. Through Oct. 13. 615 Texas Ave. Tickets: AlleyTheatre.org or 713-558-8887.

Ensemble Theatre presents School Girls or The African Mean Girls Play. The hive is buzzing at Ghana’s most exclusive boarding school as Pauline, the reigning Queen Bee, has her sights set on the Miss Universe Pageant. Her glory is threatened by the arrival of Ericka, a new student undeniable beauty and talent, who captures the attention of pageant recruiter, and Pauline’s hiveminded friends. This biting musical explores the universal similarities of teenage girls across the globe who vie for a coveted social position among peers. Through October 13. 3535

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Main St. Tickets: EnsembleHouston. com or 713-520-0055.

Stages Repertory Theatre presents Denise Fennell in her uproarious onenun show, Sister’s Back to School Catechism: The Holy Ghost and Other Terrifying Tales. In this newest class, Sister puts the backbone in backto-school, celebrating the church’s approved tales of ghosts and goblins and a Catholic-appropriate Halloween costume contest. Through Oct. 13.

Stages also presents Houston favorite, Sally Edmundson in Salt, Root and Roe

by Tim Price. On the coast of Wales, 80 year-old twins Anest and Iola are determined to live out their twilight years on their own terms, even agreeing to face death together. But Anest’s daughter Menna returns home to inspire the sisters to face life instead. Oct. 4 through 20. 3201 Allen Parkway. Tickets: StagesTheatre.com or 713-527-0123.

Ensemble Theatre presents ’da Kink in my Hair by Trey Anthony. Set in a Brooklyn hair salon, the play gives voice to black women who tell their unforgettable stories in a kaleidoscope of drumming, singing, and dance.

Through Oct. 14. 3535 Main St. Tickets: EnsembleHouston.com or 713-520-0055.

Obsidian Theater presents The Feast. Matta and Anna’s relationship is going swimmingly until the sewers under their apartment open up and begin to speak. The plumber is angry, Matt’s paintings are getting stranger, and a storm is gathering. An eerie comedy about what is real, what is not, and who knows. Through Oct. 26.

Performing in repertory is Empanada Loca. Now living deep in Manhattan under an abandoned subway tunnel with the Mole people, a very hungry Delores recounts her four years selling weed with her boyfriend, her return to Washington Heights after thirteen years in prison, her fortuitous reunion with an old stoner friend who lets her give massages for cash in the basement under his empanada shop, and the bloodbath that sent her fleeing underground. Through Oct. 27. MATCH, 3535 Main St. Tickets: MATCHouston.org or 713-521-4533.

4th Wall Theatre Company presents The Glass Menagerie. Director Philip Lehl directs Kim Tobin-Lehl in this Tennessee Williams’ classic, a memory play that premiered in 1944 and catapulted Williams from obscurity to fame. Matriarch Amanda Wingfield dreams of her days as a Southern debutante while worrying about the future of her aimless son, Tom and unmarried daughter, Laura. When a gentleman caller arrives for dinner, it’s unclear if his presence will change things for the better or shatter their fragile illusions. Oct. 11 through Nov. 2. Spring Street Studios, 1824 Spring St. Suite 101. Tickets: 4thWallTheatre. com or 832-767-4991. e

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What A World

PEOPLE WILL TALK

The 2019 coming out edition

“I came back from the deployment and realized that you only get to live one life, and I was not interested in not knowing what it was like to be in love any longer. So, I just came out. I had no idea what kind of professional setback it would be.”

—Presidential candidate and South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg, sharing his coming out story at the third Democratic debate. Via NBCNews.com

e By Nancy Ford

“When people did ask us, especially early on, it was just kind of a weirdness because it was like guys in their late 20s, early 30s asking teenage girls about their sexuality.

I also think we were still finding the language as a society, but also Sara and I, to talk about ourselves, to figure out how to identify and take back words like ‘gay’ and ‘queer.’

That took time. When we really started to talk about being queer, there was this feeling somewhat in the music community, in the gay music community and media like, ‘Hey, that doesn’t have to be the whole story.’”

—Musician Tegan Quinn, discussing coming out in high school. Via HuffPost.com

Amy, you have nothing to be “ashamed of and every reason to be proud. Living open and free is a daily act of bravery — bravery that resides in your heart and in the hearts of LGBTQ people around the world. I’m proud to have you on our team. #BiVisibilityDay.” —Presidential candidate and former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, responding to Biden supporter Amy Koo who said she “still struggles with being out and proud.” Via Twitter.com

“I’ve been to so many

dinners where people are like, ‘So, what are you?

L, G, B, T, Q?’ I’m like, ‘Guys, really? This is what we’re talking about?’ I change every day.”

“In my heart, I’m so sad. I’m in mourning every day of my life, Alexis, and will be the rest of my life for you until we change the world for you until we change the world so that trans people are not persecuted. And give them jobs. Let’s get rid of this bias that we have everywhere.”

—Actor Patricia Arquette, accepting the Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role in Hulu’s The Act. Arquette’s sister Alexis died in 2016, at the age of 47, from complications related to HIV/AIDS. She came out as transgender in 2006. Via HuffPost.com

“I pitched a show to Netflix avd they bought it. I don’t know if I can even tell you, but it’s with Cyndi Lauper, so there!

We’ll see. We’re our age, I’m almost 60 and she’s 65, and we’re looking for our next act, without ever having had husbands [or] children. And there will be two other people who haven’t been cast yet. But it’s kind of a Golden Girls for today.”

—Actor and model Cara Delevingne, discussing the fluidity of sexuality. Via Net-A-Porter.com

—Actor Jane Lynch announcing that she will star in a new Netflix show.

Via HuffPost.com

“There is no going back, because I have to live my real life. It’s so sad to see people you know abusing you.

There is a long list of them (gays) in your midst and they include pastors or churchgoers. This pretense encouraged me to speak out.”

“I’m gay (and) I’m also black. What that meant for me is, I grew up navigating that there would be a different set of rules for interaction every single day.

In my house, ‘don’t be too aggressive, don’t run around at night, people will follow you in stores, if you’re gay do not flaunt it, do not offend a straight person.’ All of these rules that sort of go before I get a chance to be awesome.

Games were and have always been the only place where I get to share a set of rules, and just be. I’m a competitive player but I actually don’t care if I win or lose. I just love, so much, being in that space where I can step in with people. That’s so awesome to me in a powerful way.”

—Rwandan gospel singer Albert Nabonibo, who recently came out as gay. Although Rwanda’s penal code does not explicitly proscribe gay sex, same-sex marriage is banned.

Nabonibo said he was compelled to come out because he could no longer “live in denial.” Via Associated Press

—President and chief executive officer of Gay Gaming Professionals Gordon Bellamy, discussing how, when he played games, he didn’t have to abide by the rules of the real world. Via NWMissouriNews.com

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Crossword Queeries

RAINBOW CONNECTION Across

Randy Rainbow satire

67 Lawman Wyatt

in a tearoom

1 Top-drawer

40 De

31 Imitate Brian Orser

5 Drag queen’s shoe

(actual)

Down

9 “Yeah, sure”

41 Michelangelo’s

in Las Vegas

threesome

13 Leia’s brother

42 Palm Pilot, e.g.

14 On

43 Stuff in the closet

with (equal to)

45 Vegas opening

15 “You’re the Top”

47 A woman

songwriter Porter

named Arthur

16 Opposed to,

48 Mr. Williams,

to Gomer

as Doubtfire

17 Roman historian

50 Dick

18 Round-

55

buyer’s words

Stupid Czar (title of

19 Title for Trump in a

a Randy Rainbow

Randy Rainbow satire

satire of Superstar)

22 Way to watch

58 What computers

Moonlight

spit out

23 U-turn from SSE

60 Nightclub in a

24 ‘50s idol Hunter

Manilow song

27 Bunkmates on base

61 “Arizona”

29 Seduce

Memorial site

31 B&O stop

62 Club for Sheehan

34 Drink served

63 Mistake for Fosse

with fruitcake

64 Pansy supporter

36 Goofed up

65 Title document

37 Title for Trump in a

66 Nemesis of Tinkerbell

1 Dishes, to Debussy 2 “You to know better!”

3 Biathlete, for one 4 From this place, to King James 5 Golden stallion 6 “Breaking

Squares basis 33 Person in opposition 35 Angelina Jolie’s Interrupted 38 Bossa Nova “blamer” Eydie 39 Albee Pulitzer Prize work

Hard to Do”

40 British sitcom

7 Master 8 Hester of the A-list?

9 Click it to go to PlanetOut 10 Like a fading erection?

11 Spreading tree 12 Ball holder

Ab 44 Becomes hard 46 Gag order?

49 Seattle’s WNBA team 51 End of a Stein quote 52 Sporty Mazda 53 “My Boo” singer

20 Witch, to

54 Result of excessive

Shakespeare 21 Team bigwig 25 Train that comes quickly 26

32 Hollywood

death

(loss of interest) 28 Needing Cialis?

30 Cop flirting

circumcision?

56 Alternate date?

57 Photographer Catherine 58 Had sex with, in slang 59 “We Family”

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PAGE 24 | MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday October 2, 2019

Star Buds

Steven's Story e By Rena McCain

H

APPY WEEDSDAY, Y’ALL!

This past April, in Missouri, a jury took less than twenty minutes to convict a very sick man on felony charges for possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia. A month later, the judge sentenced him to ten years in prison — basically, a life sentence.

The man’s name is Steven Sutherland.

Even before he was convicted, the 60-year old St. Clair resident’s health was failing. He’d been diagnosed already with chronic heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and was being given supplemental oxygen to treat sleep apnea. He also has a history of seizures.

This case started in January 2015, when the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department raided Sutherland’s home. Deputies recovered about 110 grams of marijuana and 21 marijuana plants in Sutherland’s basement, according to a probable cause statement filed at the time.

Sutherland said he’s been selfmedicating by using cannabis for many years. He admitted that this included obtaining a medical marijuana card from California. He also said that he’d been ordering California cannabis products through the mail

until he couldn’t afford them anymore.

He then decided to do a home-grow operation, which eventually brought the deputies to his front door.

Think about this: This is a man’s health. Don’t we all have the right to the best health we can get or at least the choice of the health treatment we receive? This man wasn’t hurting anyone. He was helping himself be healthier. He was using a plant which is something even his doctors admitted would probably help him better than some of the pharma pills, which were not helping at all. Yet this man was sentenced to live probably most of his last days in a prison cell, suffering, and without proper medical treatment. It didn’t matter either, apparently, that during the ongoing proceedings of his trial, the state legalized cannabis. They even made it a constitutional right.

In Missouri, doctors are given discretion to qualify patients, even beyond the ten conditions specified in Article XIV (including cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, Parkinson’s Disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, and HIV, among other conditions).

Yet, Sutherland is still in prison.

It shouldn’t be a luxury to be healthy. It should be a human rights violation to not have access

Photo via Change.org

to cannabis if one chooses that.

No person should be locked in a cage for using a plant that heals.

Outraged? Go to Change.org/p/ missouri-state-senate-freesteven-sutherland-from-a-10year-prison-sentence?signed=true to sign the petition. I signed it!

With all the information we have on this plant, there is ample enough proof that it works for many medical ailments.

All cannabis use is medical. We have an endocannabinoid system for a reason.

Cannabis has been the culprit of zero

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Steven Sutherland. deaths, unlike alcohol. Cannabis is even safer than many of our groceries!

If you think stories like this are a disgrace and you too would like to see change, follow this link to Walk4Change.us/ and see how you can get involved. e Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the MONTROSE STAR. Rena McCain is a co-founder of the Cannabis Open Carry Walks. Find her on Facebook at GanjaGrrl420, or via Twitter @sassikatt24 and Instagram at ganja_grrl420. Listen to Conversations with Ganja Grrl & 420 News HQ, McCain’s broadcast on MixLR.com every Sunday morning, 11 a.m. ’til 2 p.m. CST on the MountainHighX station. To listen, download the MIXLR app for Android or Apple. Make an account.

Search for and follow MountainHigh10.

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Guide to the Clubs HOUSTON

n MONTROSE - MIDTOWN Crocker Bar 2312 Crocker St, Houston (713) 529-3355 Large Deck | Karaoke George’s Country Sports Bar 617 Fairview Ave, Houston (713) 528-8102 Sports Bar | Pool & Darts | Patio Guava Lamp 570 Waugh Dr, Houston (713) 524-3359 • guavalamphouston.com Video Lounge | Karaoke | Mixed JR’s Bar and Grill & Santa Fe 808 Pacific St, Houston (713) 521-2519 • jrsbarandgrill.com Videos | Patio | Karaoke | Shows Michael’s Outpost Piano Bar 1419 Richmond Ave, Houston (713) 520-8446 Neighborhood Bar | Pub | Piano Rich's Houston 2401 San Jacinto (281) 846-6685 RichsNightclub.com Barcode Houston 817 Fairview Ave, Houston (713) 526-2625 • facebook.com/barcode77006

Shows | Neighborhood Bar | CD/Trans The Ripcord 715 Fairview St, Houston (713) 521-2792 • facebook.com/ripcordhouston Leather | Uniform | Fetish | Men

n DOWNTOWN / EADO Lucky’s Pub - Downtown 801 St Emanuel St, 77003 (713) 522-2010 • Luckyspub.com Sports Bar | Food

n NW HOUSTON La Granja Disco & Cantina 5505 Pinemont Dr., Houston (713) 518-6753 • lagranjadisco.com Latin dance club

Moon Tower Inn 3004 Canal St, 77003 (832) 969-1934 • damngoodfoodcoldassbeer.com Hot Dogs | Beer Gardens

Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon 11410 Hempstead Highway Houston, TX 77092 (713) 677-0828 • neonbootsclub.com

Neil’s Bahr 2006 Walker St, 77003 (281) 352-7456 • NeilsBahr.com Premier Nerd | Gamer | Intellectual hangout Tout Suite 2001 Commerce, 77002 713-227-8688 • toutsuitetx.com Bakery | Cafe | Pub Voodoo Queen 322 Milby St, 77003 713-555-5666 • damngoodfoodcoldassbeer.com Casual | Po’ Boys | Games n DOWNTOWN / WARDS 1-4 Tony’s Corner Pocket 817 West Dallas Street, Houston (713) 571-7870 • tonyscornerpocket.com Neighborhood Bar | Pool | Dancers n HOUSTON - NORTH SIDE Ranch Hill Saloon 24704 Interstate 45, Spring (281) 298-9035 • ranchhill.com Country | Cowgirl | Neighborhood Bar The Room Bar 4915 FM 2920 Rd, Spring (281) 907-6866 • roombarspring.com Neighborhood Bar | Shows | Dance | Mixed

Viviana’s Night Club 4624 Dacoma St, Houston (713) 681-4101 • vivianasniteclub.com Latino | Tejano | Dance n SW HOUSTON Crystal Night Club 6684 SW Fwy, Houston (713) 278- 2582 • crystaltheclub.com Latin Dance | Salsa n HEIGHTS / WASHINGTON CORRIDOR Pearl Lounge 4216 Washington, Houston 832-740-4933 • pearlhouston.com Neighborhood Art Bar | Live Music | Women

GALVESTON 23rd Street Station 1706 23rd St, Galveston (409) 443-5678 • 23rdstreetstation.com Piano Bar | Pub | Live Entertainment Robert’s Lafitte 2501 Ave Q, Galveston (409) 765-9092 • galveston.com/robertslafitte Neighborhood Bar | Pub | Cruise | Shows Rumors Beach Bar 3102 Seawall Blvd., Galveston (409) 497-4617 • RumorsBeachBar.com Beach bar | Shows

SOLUTION FROM PAGE 23

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