Montrose Star, Houston’s LGBTQ+ Entertainment Newspaper since 1976 by Laura Villagran

The Frivolist

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KNOWS THE POWER IN STORYTELLING 8 INDEX Editorial 3 Crossword 19 Guide to the Clubs 22

PAGE 2 | MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday March 18, 2020

OFFICE 713-942-0084 EMAIL TheMontroseStart@gmail.com Publisher / Executive

LAURA M VILLAGRAN Business Development Manager

Copy Editor

RANDALL JOBE

NANCY FORD Scene Writers

Production

RAFA ESPINOSA

JIM AYRES JANICE ANDERSON Distribution

News Features

JOHNNY TRLICA

MIRIAM ORIHUELA ELIZABETH MEMBRILLO

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 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.

HRH Report The 611 was a winter wonderland at Christmas time with thousands of white lights, a snow village, and a fabulous collection of Santa Clauses. Potluck dinners at Thanksgiving and other holidays were like a family reunion. And by the way, who has my Crock-Pot? On sad occasions, friends gathered at the bar to mourn with and comfort each other. The 611 truthfully was our Cheers. Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. You want to be where you can see the troubles are all the same, you want to be where everybody knows your name.

In times of crisis, find comfort at a home bar e By Johnny Trlica

OMMENTARY: IN TIMES OF CRISIS, PEOPLE OFTEN

resort to what feels comfortable. While some will argue that this country has been in an eternal crisis state since the election of 2016, no one can deny that we are in crisis today. The Bayou City was dealt a dose of reality when the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was cancelled. The annual event is the largest social affair of the year, an economic juggernaut. That cancellation was quickly followed by the termination of the rest of the season for the Rockets, Dynamo, and Roughnecks. Along with sports leagues, Disney announced the closure of its resorts and most area schools and universities have shut their doors. In this era of chaos, everyone needs a safe place. To many LGBTQ people, that place is a gay bar. Dating back to even before Stonewall, gay bars are often the most accessible safe spaces available. They have been compared to churches for the LGBT community, complete with rituals, a sense of community, and a routine. Gay bars are historically the original safe space — a place where people could gather without threat — and that is still true today. Lots of people, gay and straight, have “home bars,” their “go to” venue where they feel most comfortable and welcome. My father, while he was living had Bohemian Hill in Rosenberg. My friend Derrick has George. I had The 611. The 611 Hyde Park Pub opened in March of 1984 and was a staple to the Montrose gay community until it shuttered in 2014 when the Eagle took over the location. The 611 was the home bar to many people besides me. It became the “go to” place for numerous friends. Sure, it was a dive bar, but it was our dive bar. It was the place I was introduced to day drinking since Victor opened the doors at 7 am. Night shift workers usually had the ramshackle bar stools full as they discussed the hospital co-workers they just left and waited for The Price is Right to begin. On Sunday Funday, Larry served up $1 vodkas as he worked his way around the packed serving area. If you were lucky, you’d spot an opening on his route near to where he was. Otherwise the wait might be a while, but it didn’t matter. You were home, among friends. A few cocktails from Daddy Dan were a perfect way to wrap up the weekend.

Relocation W hen The 611 closed, the regulars were left scrambling for a new home. Some of us found that in TC’s, now Barcode. While never capturing the vibe of our former hangout, TC’s offered a comfortable mix of cheap drinks, drag queens, and outstanding bartenders. Our favorites were MyKey, J.D. Sympathy, and George. Chris is the current bartender, taking care of day drinkers. He usually has my screwdriver waiting as I walk in the door. Is that a good thing?

There’s no place like home A bout a year ago, I moved to Galveston and once again found myself searching for a new home bar. There wasn’t much debate about which one it would be. Robert’s Lafitte is everything one could hope for in a home bar. Sure, it’s a dive bar, but it’s the Island’s gay dive bar. Lee who works the day shift was the first person to welcome me to Lafitte. Sunday Funday offers cheap vodkas with Cowboy Tom ready to oblige. Evenings find either Matthew or Jose taking care of a usually older but lively crowd, and I’d be remiss not to mention Chachi who doubles as bar back and drag queen extraordinaire. Luis mans the outside patio bar and keeps an eye on the sun worshipers in the pool. Curtis Mayfield calls Robert’s Lafitte his home bar. A regular since the 1980s, he said, “I’ve been coming here for years because Robert is my family.” Other regulars feel the same. In this time of crisis, gay businesses and their employees need our support. Most gay bars are privately owned entities and its employees, like so many of us, live paycheck-to-paycheck or tip-to-tip. Some restaurants have already experienced a slowdown in business. With tight profit margins, most small companies cannot endure prolonged disruptions. Now is not the time to allow fear to keep you at home, but use common sense. If you are sick or not feeling well, stay home. But if you do go out, remember when the going gets tough, the tough get going — to your home bar. Once there, pull up a stool, strike up a conversation with the queen sitting next to you, and have a drink. 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.

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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Jeannie Mustachia (left), Johnny Trlica, and Curtis Mayfield at Robert’s Lafitte

MontroseStar.com  e | Wednesday March 18, 2020 | PAGE 3

OP-ED

Creep of the Week: Trump Administration e By D’Anne Witkowski

UBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

Wash your hands – more than you already do. And get yourself a bottle of rubbing alcohol and some cotton balls and swab down your phone on the daily. As an expert on disease transmission recently said on “This Podcast Will Kill You,” there is definitely poop on your phone. You’re welcome. So. Coronavirus. Not good. But also not something to panic about. At least, not yet. Who knows? Maybe it will be the thing to wipe out civilization, but when you watch Donald Trump telling his brainwashed supporters at a rally in South Carolina that the coronavirus is a hoax, well, you can’t say we didn’t have it coming. Speaking of brainwashed supporters, on Feb. 28, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) tweeted, “Once upon a time, when politics & media was inhabited by normal people, a viral outbreak was treated as a public health matter. But now even an infectious disease caused by a virus, a submicroscopic infectious agent, is a domestic partisan political issue to exploit. Crazy.” Oh, yeah. It’s crazy all right. Self-described “mouthy gay” Steve Kenson had the perfect response. “As a gay man who came of age during the AIDS era of the 1980s,” he tweeted, “I’m intensely curious for you, a Republican Senator, to tell me more about how virus outbreaks were once handled apolitically.” It took President Ronald Reagan until 1985 to even say “AIDS” publicly. By then, according to NBC News, over 12,000 people had died. In 1982, Reagan’s press

secretary Larry Speakes laughed when asked about AIDS at a press conference. The reporter referred to it as “gay plague,” to which Speakes replied, “I don’t have it, do you?” and everybody laughed. Reagan’s religious-right supporters like Jerry Falwell were declaring that AIDS was God’s punishment for homosexuality. Reagan didn’t want to lose that sweet right-wing support by seeming to give a shit about gays, so he just let people die. Are those the “normal” people who inhabited politics and media that Rubio was talking about? I mean, I’ll give him the fact that there are people who are definitely not normal in politics right now. Chief among them is Trump, who believes that the virus will magically disappear once the weather gets warmer in April. Trump can’t assure the nation that the government has this coronavirus thing under control, because 1) it doesn’t and 2) Trump is only concerned about himself and remaining in power. And then there’s Mike Pence, Mr. Coronavirus Task Force, who exacerbated an HIV/AIDS outbreak in Indiana when he was governor because he needed to take time to pray on whether or not needle exchange programs were a good idea. He also believes that electrocuting people will turn them heterosexual and that science is dark magic. The Trump administration is actively trying to prevent the release of factual information about the coronavirus to the public and seems mainly concerned with the stock market rather than public health. Meanwhile, Trump is calling news agencies that report on the virus fake news. Not helpful!

That said, the news media’s coverage of the coronavirus outbreak is problematic at best. The breathless coverage of every single new confirmed case and every death are much more likely to inspire panic than precautions. But even if this doesn’t become the next flu pandemic of 1917, what’s truly terrifying is that we have a woefully incompetent crime syndicate running the show. As a country we are not prepared because our government is headed by the dumbest man in America. And he’s also a liar. On “Last Week Tonight,” John Oliver took took Trump to task for ignoring or contradicting his own health experts, often in real time. “Your experts just said cases will go up and you said they would go down,” Oliver said. “You can’t just ignore real numbers and pick out ones you like better.” But, of course, he can and he does. And instead of focusing on Trump’s lies and incompetence, much of the media is proceeding as if things were still normal. But things are not normal. Are we all doomed? Well, only time will tell when it comes to coronavirus. But we can’t keep on going on as a country with this administration in charge. Trump may be fighting any connection to the outbreak response right now, but chances are if the numbers of infected and dead get huge enough that he’ll be more than happy to take credit. And at least Rubio will Tweet some more Bible verses and Pence will pray for you. Who needs health insurance with coverage like that? And, once again, wash your hands, cover your coughs and sneezes, and swab that cellphone. You know where it’s been. e

TOC MARCH 18, 2020 | VOL. X, 26

COOKING WITH PAULA DREAM Spring simple sweet treats

DEEP INSIDE HOLLYWOOD More lesbian ‘Beauty’ from Lena Waithe

The Frivolist........................................................... 1 HRH Report...........................................................2 OP-ED.....................................................................3 Out at the Theater...............................................6 Cooking with Paula Dream ............................10 The Frivolist.........................................................13 Across the Causeway........................................15 What a World......................................................16 Deep Inside Hollywood....................................18 Crossword Queeries..........................................19 Star Buds............................................................. 20 Guide to the Clubs............................................ 22 ©2019 Montrose Star All Right Reserved Montrose Star™ Newspaper since 1976, is owned by GYLP Media, a Texas minority-certified company est. in 1990. Published alternate Wednesday. Subscription rate: $54/year. POSTMASTER: Send address change to the main office. Montrose Star 1712 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006

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BACK ON TOP

Tanya Tucker brings a lifetime of performing to the Heights Theatre e By Johnny Trlica

HE’S BEEN CALLED COUNTRY’S WILD

Child, the Texas Tornado, the Madonna of Country music, and a country outlaw and legend. Tanya Tucker has a couple of new titles now: comeback artist of the year and Grammy winner. The Texas native brings her “Bring My Flowers Now Tour” to the Heights Theatre on Sunday, March 29, an event that sold out as quickly as tickets went on sale. The tour is named after the title song of Tucker’s comeback album last year, which garnered the CMA, ACM, and CMT awards, and four Grammy nominations with two wins for Best Country Album and Best Country Song. The album was collaboration with out country artist Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings, Waylon’s son. Carlile has been a Tucker fan her entire life, admiring her go-it-alone attitude and ruggedness. Speaking of life long fans (including this writer), I first saw Tanya Tucker on television on a Saturday morning in 1972. The 13-year-old was making a guest appearance on The Larry Kane Show, a local version of American Bandstand carried on channel 13. She sang the provocative “Delta Dawn” and I was hooked and have

Photo via TasteofCountry.com

followed her career ever since. In the late 1970s, Tucker took an interest in rock and roll with the albums TNT and Tear Me Apart. Country radio didn’t approve and she was pretty much banned from the airwaves for over a decade. The album cover and accompanying centerfold was scandalous in its day and is still talked about today. TNT earned Tucker a 1980 Grammy nomination in the Best Female Rock Vocal Performance category. Donna Summer won for Hot Stuff. During this era Tucker had a torrid affair with Glen Campbell, 20 years her senior, which

included countless tabloid headlines and was fueled by cocaine and alcohol. The “Texas, When I Die” singer launched a comeback that included a free concert at Miller Outdoor Theatre in the late 1980s, the first of many times I would see her perform live. My best friend took some amazing pictures that day. One of the most memorable performances Tucker gave was at Astroworld’s Southern Star Amphitheater. The stage was covered but rain at the open air venue was blown onto the stage. While singing, she slipped and landed flat on her rear end Tanya Tucker but held onto the mic and finished the song on her back. The crowd went wild, cheering her on until the end of the song. In 1992, Tanya Tucker had one of her biggest hits with “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane.” That’s the same year my younger sister lost her bout with cancer. My mother loved that song and said it reminded her of her daughter’s family and their struggles. I, along with my mom and niece, Tara, attended a Tucker show at the Arena Theatre that year. Mama was moved to tears when “Sparrows” was sung. That show was the first time I noticed a significant lesbian presence in a

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Tucker concert. Tucker does, indeed, have a large gay fan base, which she embraces. She was a judge on season two of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Since those memorable performances I’ve seen Tucker at Rodeo Houston, the Pasadena Strawberry Festival, Moe’s Place in Katy, and the Fort Bend County Fair. Being a life-long fan, I’ve introduced Tucker to as many friends as they will allow. My oldest friend Jackie is a fan and has attended several shows with me. Mychal and I drove to Lake Charles several years ago to see Tucker at the casino. He had never really heard of her but has since downloaded many of her songs on his devices, especially “It’s a Little too Late”. Last year, Eman and I attended a show at Stampede Houston, and he was impressed not only by the singer, but with the large contingent of gays in attendance. Despite the size limits of a honky tonk, Tucker entertained the crowd for over two hours. Since those auspicious early days, Tucker, 61, has become one of the most influential people in country music, amassing 23 Top 40 albums, 56 Top 40 singles and 10 number 1’s. On “Bring My Flowers Now,” Tucker’s voice has been described as a comforting mix of wisdom and weariness. It has grown raspier since her teen hits and shows the miles of a well-lived but imperfect life. Appearing with Tucker at the Heights Theatre is singersongwriter Erin Enderlin. e

MontroseStar.com  e | Wednesday March 18, 2020 | PAGE 5

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e By Chris Azzopardi

HE FIRST OPENLY GAY AC

gay series regular in a lea Cruz has witnessed firsthand TV representation. Cruz pave as Will & Grace and Ellen with Vasquez, the troubled gay La teen drama My So-Called Life 1994. Cruz was 21 when he p Now 46, the actor reflects o of the interviewees in the new part documentary, Visible: O which, along with Wanda Syk produced. Emmy-nominated White and Jessica Hargrave d Through a wide range of arc interviews with actors, journa the docuseries investigates h the American conscience. Du auditioning for My So-Called to late veteran casting directo telling her: “I don’t know if I’m again, but please tell whoeve a lot to me, that it would have I had seen this when I was 15 replied, the twist he didn’t see she said, “you’re going to be a Here, Cruz talks about the d as his own personal catharsis casting straight actors to pla

How did you get involved wit Seven years ago (political producer) David Bender, who on this project for many year because he was interested in documentary, for obvious rea long lunch and it became pre that I had a passion for this s that I had access to many of interview just because of the my relationship with GLAAD I could be very helpful to him Eventually we interviewed 6 and it became clear that this than two hours and that we w help. We came to Apple and A amazing documentary filmm Jessica Hargrave, in order to really mold it. Then I came ba continue to bring them who th to, and also to make sure tha eye on this not just being a d LGBTQ movement but really was used as an agent of chan

_Visible_ exec producer talks new LGBTQ docuseries, his groundbreaking gay teen role and what he’d tell his younger self

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How do you think Visible broa perspective of the LGBTQ ex I think that there’s a lot tha that’s the nature of the huma the series does really well is t happened just within some of yes, we have come a long wa into getting us here. A lot of p to have this conversation. It w – it was LGBTQ people and th who took up the baton when w we weren’t being hired to tell were afraid to come out and b needed people who were willi More recently, we forget tha was talking about HIV and A epidemic was incredibly prob people who were going to sav That’s when GLAAD was crea was created. It was this comm

MontroseStar.com  e | Wednesday March 18, 2020 | PAGE 7

TOR TO PLAY AN OPENLY

ading role on TV, Wilson d the changing tides of ed the way for shows such h his portrayal of Rickie atino high schooler on the e, which ran for one season in played Rickie. on the role as one w Apple TV+ fiveOut on Television, kes, he also executive filmmakers Ryan directed the series. chival footage and alists and activists, how TV has shaped uring it, Cruz recalls d Life and turning back tor, Mary Goldberg, and m ever going to see you er wrote this that it means e made a difference if 5.” Then, as Goldberg e coming: “Don’t worry,” able to tell it yourself.” docuseries’ evolution, Rickie s, and his issue with studios ay gay as awards bait.

th Visible? l activist and Visible o had been working rs, reached out to me interviewing me for the asons (laughs). We had a etty clear really quickly subject matter, but also the people he wanted to nature of my career and for over a decade, and so m. That’s how it happened. 60 people on our own, was going to be more were going to need some Apple brought on two makers, Ryan White and finish the film and ack on to help them hey needed to speak at we always had an documentary about the about how television nge by the movement.

adens the historical perience? at we forget just because an experience. But what to remind us of what f our own lifetimes – that, ay and a lot of work went people risked a lot in order wasn’t just LGBTQ people he people who love them we were unable to, when our own stories or we be public about it. We ing to take on those roles. at the way the network news AIDS during the height of the blematic, and that the only ve us at that time was us. ated. That’s when ACT UP munity that really started

to say, “If you’re not gonna save our lives, we’re gonna have to save them ourselves and we’re going to have to demand that we be seen.” We could no longer afford at that time to be invisible and that’s where visibility started to really begin in earnest. In the doc, you talk about how playing Rickie helped you reconcile with your father. Your experience with him – being kicked out of the house after you came out to him – was written into Rickie’s story, and he watched that storyline play out. How did that moment illustrate to you the power TV can have? I talk all the time about how television is an intimate medium: We are in your bedroom, we are in your living room; we come into your homes and you invite us in and we tell you our stories. In my personal experience, it was an invitation to my father to see me because Rickie Vasquez was very much who I was when I was a teenager, and his life parallels mine in many ways. My father and I didn’t speak for a year, but within that year he was able to turn on the television and I was able to have a conversation with him that I couldn’t have physically and he learned a lot about me and about what my life had been like. He was moved to a new place and it gave him permission to reach out to me, and I have that series and that character to thank for the supportive father that I have today. That’s no overstatement. So it is a testament to the intimacy of television and the power of storytelling. Looking at the work that you’ve taken on, from Noah’s Arc on through Star Trek: Discovery, the transformative power of representation seems to be something you still believe in. Whenever I take a project on, one of the first things I ask myself is, “What is the message that this is going to leave an audience member with? What are we offering through this?” The other thing that it is for me is that so many actors are like, “Oh, I don’t want to play too many gay roles (laughs) because I just don’t want my career to be about that.” Whereas I have gone out of my way to look for roles that I feel will add to the conversation. I’ve wanted to have those opportunities. Why do you think that is when so many other actors go in the other direction? Because, with the first role I had on My So-Called Life as Rickie, I got to see how powerful that story could be and I wanted to continue to tell stories like that, and I felt like there were few people who were willing and excited to take on those roles and here I was. As for your part in Hulu’s The Bravest Knight, the first children’s animated series to have openly gay characters, what about that spoke to you? My brother who’s also openly gay and married to his husband had just had a baby or was pregnant when they approached me to do The Bravest Knight. I thought it was a great opportunity for me to give a little gift to my nephew. On top of that, I think there aren’t enough children’s programs that depict families like the one we do on The Bravest Knight, because there are thousands of LGBTQ families in this country who would love to see their lives reflected back at them and their children so they know they’re not alone and that their families are just as valuable as anybody else’s. Have you been able to gauge what it means to Star Trek fans to have a more LGBTQ-inclusive Star Trek? Yes. For 52 years people have been clamoring for real LGBTQ representation on Star Trek, and to be a part of the couple who actually gives that to an audience is overwhelming. People reach out to us all the time, and I’m excited for people to see season three because we’re expanding it in a very special way. In a very special gay way? That’s all I’m gonna say. (Laughs.) I want to keep my job! But there is a lot to look forward to in season three for LGBTQ fans, that’s for sure. You’ve known Anthony Rapp since Rent. Rapp originated the role of Mark Cohen on Broadway, and you later joined as Angel Dumott Schunard. What’s been the best part about getting to work with Anthony, who plays your lover in Star Trek, all these years?

Well, first of all, he’s one of the most supportive actors that I’ve ever worked with. We are a team, we are a unit. But the best thing about working with him is that, because we find this couple in the middle of their relationship, there was very little work we had to do in order to get to know each other. We brought with us a 22-year history of friendship, and so I feel like it comes across on screen that these two people know each other and genuinely love each other, because we do. Since you’re both gay men playing gay men on Star Trek, I wonder: Do you think LGBTQ roles should go to exclusively LGBTQ actors? No, I’m not going to say that we should only be the ones allowed to play them. But I will say that I think what an LGBTQ actor brings to an LGBTQ role is different; there’s just something innate and lived-in that comes across, but that’s not to say that a straight actor cannot give a powerful performance. What is worrisome to me is when a production will hire a straight actor to play that role because of some notion that because they’re a straight actor that it’s that much more difficult to take on this role. So it’s awards bait. These are our lives. These are experiences for a lot of people. And if you’re a straight actor playing these roles, I think it’s important that you acknowledge and understand that. I will say that in terms of trans actors playing trans roles, I think that is incredibly important because there are so many trans actors out there who are just waiting for the opportunity to be able to tell their own stories. Especially in terms of trans people of color and trans women of color and trans men of color, we need to see more of them. In the doc, actor Ryan Phillippe, who played a groundbreaking gay character on One Life to Live, reads a letter from someone changed by his character. Where do you keep the letters you’ve received? Well, seeing how I live out of a suitcase these days (laughs) … actually, I don’t have a lot of the stuff from the old days anymore. I have to tell you that most of the young people who watched My So-Called Life back in the day didn’t really reach out to me until years later when I would see them out publicly and in person, when they were adults, because so many people were processing their own stuff when that aired. But the onslaught (laughs) and the daily messages I received from people who felt and feel it necessary to reach out to me to tell me how powerful it was for them is very real. It happens almost daily on social media. It’s just a trail of tears. When was the last time you revisited episodes of My So-Called Life? It’s been a while. I think it’s hard for me to watch myself, and I think the last time I watched it was about 10 years ago with my brother at home, but I think that was it. I ask because I’ve noticed that Rickie is so embedded in your identity that you get choked up just talking about him. What about him gets you emotional even now? (Sighs.) I think what’s important to me about it is he was a way for me to process my adolescence, which wasn’t easy. I think that’s probably why I haven’t watched it too, because when I did it I literally saw it as a way to walk through those experiences again and leave them there on that stage and then be able to walk away from them and move on. But for me, when I think about him, and if I do see an episode every now and then, it’s visiting your teenage self. You just want to hug them. You just want to say to them, “It’s going to be all right.” And I just want to grab him and say, “I’m gonna be fine.” But he does – he means everything to me because without him none of this would have happened. He set the trajectory for my career and also gave me my life’s passion of making sure our stories are told, and part of his legacy is Visible. e

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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.

PAGE 8 | MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday March 18, 2020

Out at the Theater

Tears, fears, and downright craziness e By Randall Jobe

HE ALLEY THEATRE PRESENTS 1984. A

modern retelling of George Orwell’s futuristic novel, 1984, brings us the story of Winston Smith and a stark vision of a world in which the freedom of action, word and thought are controlled by Big Brother. How far are we from realizing Orwell’s nightmare? Are we already there? As the story of Winston’s fight for individual identity unfolds, the vision grows increasingly terrifying as the world it depicts grows uncomfortably familiar. Suited for 18 and Up. Through March 29. 615 Texas Ave. Tickets: AlleyTheatre.org or 713-558-8887. 4th Wall Theatre Company presents Between Riverside and Crazy. Audiences who loved 4th Wall’s production of Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train will be thrilled at the addition of Guirgi’s later work Between Riverside and Crazy to the season. A new American classic, this play follows a retired New York City cop fighting down forces much larger than himself from within a collapsing, rent-controlled apartment. Swirling around him are a host of larger-than-life characters sure to captivate audiences. This Houston premiere is deeply funny, but like his other works, moving and dramatic as well. Four-time Emmy winner Bill Pruitt directs. Through April 4. Spring

Street Studios, 1824 Spring St. Tickets: 4thWallTheatreCo.com or 832-767-4991. The Music Box Theater presents Broadway at the Box 2020, an all-new edition of some of the best of Broadway, audience favorites, and their usual brand of zany humor with selections from such classics as Mame, West Side Story, The Book of Mormon, Godspell, Hello, Dolly! and Wicked. Through April 18. 2623 Colquitt St. Tickets: TheMusicBoxTheater. com or 713-522-7722. Stages Repertory Theatre presents Roger Bean’s Honky Tonk Laundry. The creator of The Marvelous Wonderettes brings us a brand new boot-scooting’ musical! After inheriting the Wishy-Washy Washeteria from her aunt, Lana Mae hires Katie to help run the business, but the two soon join forces to convert their good ol’ laundromat into the town’s hottest honky-tonk. This hilarious musical is packed with a country song list that spans decades of classic and contemporary hits from “I Fall to Pieces” and “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” to “Take it Back” and “Wide Open Spaces”. Through April 19. Stages also present Sensitive Guys. At a small liberal arts college, two student-led support groups work to mitigate sexual assault on campus. But a shocking allegation divides both the Men’s Peer Education group and the Women’s Survivor Support group as they struggle

to take effective action against the toxic culture of the school. Five women perform all the roles in this compelling satire about society, gender roles, and contemporary college life. March 20 through April 5. 3201 Allen Parkway. Tickets: StagesTheatre.com or 713-527-0123. Ensemble Theatre presents preeminent playwright, screenwriter, and New York University professor Richard Wesley’s Autumn. It tells the story of Franklin Langley, a veteran big-city mayor who is in line to become the first black governor of his state. He suddenly finds his place in history threatened when his party decides to throw its nomination behind a dynamic young politician who is also Black and just so happens to be the mayor’s protégé. This political drama explores the conflicts that arise when aspirations collide across a generation divide marked by sharply different political agendas. March 19 through April 12. 3535 Main St. Tickets: EnsembleHouston.com or 713-520-0055. Main Street Theater presents Cry It Out. On maternity leave for the first time, Jesse and Lina tiptoe to their shared backyard for a precious cup of coffee and a chat during naptime. This new comedy takes an honest look at the absurdities of being home with the baby, the dilemma of returning to work, and how class impacts parenthood and friendship. A whip-smart

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Stages Repertory Theatre presents Roger Bean’s ‘Honky Tonk Laundry’ exploration od “the fourth trimester” from Molly Smith Metzler, Cry it Out captures the belly laughs, raw rage, and secret confidences that come with the early days of parenthood. March 28 through April 18. 2540 Times Blvd. Tickets: MainStreetTheater.com or 713-524-6706. Theatre Under the Stars Pure Country: The Musical. With a long history of developing new musicals such as Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Phantom, TUTS is excited to stage a brand new Texas-themed musical, Pure Country, based on the beloved 1992 film starring George Strait, the musical tells the story of a jaded country music megastar who suddenly walks away from his successful yet joyless career to return to his roots and rediscover his passion for life, love, and music. Including the chart-topping hits “I Cross My Heart” and “Heartland”, as well as new music written for the stage, this theatrical event is a hot ticket to the lone Star State! April 14–26. Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Bagby St. TUTS.com or 713-558-8887. e Editor’s note: Please check with individual theaters before planning to attend these performances. Some performances may be canceled or postponed due to COVID-19.

MontroseStar.com  e | Wednesday March 18, 2020 | PAGE 9

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Cooking with Paula Dream

Spring simple sweet treats

1/2 cup butter, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 cups powdered sugar 1/2 cup pecans, chopped

e By Paula Dream (A K A K A L E HAYGO O D)

ELL, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH SPRING

has sprung. The azaleas are busy blooming and, of course, my black car is bright yellow, the white one is yellow, and the yellow one is brighter yellow. Spring has also got my sweet tooth going crazy so it is only fitting that I share the simplest of the simple sweet treat recipes in this issue. My philosophy is: If its got cream cheese in it, it has to low calorie. Right? I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I enjoy making and eating them. Time to go run my traps!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bottom and sides of 13”x 9” baking dish. In a large bowl, beat pudding mix and milk with whisk for two minutes. Stir in cake mix, carrots, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Spread evenly in in baking dish. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until it passes toothpick test. Cool completely. In a large bowl beat cream cheese and butter with mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally until smooth and creamy. Beat in vanilla and powdered sugar until well combined. Spread frosting evenly over cooled cake.

2 7 10 Montrose Blvd. Houston, T X 7 7 006

713.526.0202 Order Online www.pepperonis.net

NO BAKE PEACH PIE

6 packages crunchy granola bars a1/4 cup melted butter 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese 3 containers (6 ounces) peach yogurt 1/4 cup powdered sugar 1-1/2 cups sliced peaches, fresh or frozen Place granola bars to blender or food processor and blend until crumbs are fine. Remove to a bowl, reserving one tablespoon for topping. Stir melted butter into crumb bowl and mix until well combined. Press mixture in to a sprayed nine-inch pie late. Using the backside of a tablespoon, firmly press crust on bottom and up sides of pie plate. Freeze for 10 minutes. Place cream cheese in microwaveable mixing bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds to softened. Add yogurt and sugar to mixing bowl and beat one minute until smooth and creamy. Fold in peaches, saving a few for topping. Spread filling evenly over piecrust. Top with peaches and crumbs. Refrigerate for two hours before serving. MORE THAN EASY CARROT CAKE

1 box vanilla instant pudding 1-1/2 cups milk 1 box yellow cake mix 2 cups carrots, grated 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (or more, to taste) Pinch of ground cloves and nutmeg 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

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RASPBERRY-LEMON CREAM CHEESE COBBLER

6 cups frozen raspberries 1/2 cup sugar 1 package (8 ounces) cold cream cheese, cut in 1/2” cubes 1 box lemon cake mix 3/4 cup butter, melted 2 tablespoon powdered sugar Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, toss raspberries in sugar and spread evenly in a sprayed 13” x 9” baking dish. Top evenly with cubed cream cheese, then sprinkle evenly with dry cake mix. Pour melted butter over top, covering as much of the cake mix as possible. Bake 50 to 60 minutes until cake is light brown and bubbling on edges. Cool 10 minutes, and then dust top with powdered sugar. e Paula Dream, AKA Kale Haygood, owns Beyond Service, a Montrosebased, home-cooking catering company. For more information, call 713-805-4106 or email barrykale@yahoo.com

MontroseStar.com  e | Wednesday March 18, 2020 | PAGE 11

Foodie Diaries

Indianola and order them all. That’s because a recent ODERN AMERICAN FARE IN Sunday brunch at Indianola the East Village was one of the best I’ve Houston’s East Village, that had in ages. There isn’t Indianola much street parking, but I is. The recently christened Pacific Jet Lag found a spot and made my entertainment district borders St. Emanuel and Polk on one side way in. (There are plenty and BBVA Compass Stadium on of pay lots in the area.) the other. It’s where you’ll find such trendy Now, Agricole “hospitality” has a bistros as Nancy’s Hustle and Rodeo Goat. reputation for, let’s say, being a little Right in the center of it all are a aloof. I’ve experienced it myself. And trio of eateries operated by Agricole I thought I was about to suffer again Hospitality, of Coltivare and Revival when the haughty host directed me Market fame. Their three East Village to a stool at the chef’s counter. spots include Vinny’s, a pizza joint; But a quick word with my far more Miss Carousel, a cocktail lounge pleasant server and I was in one of with bar grub; and Indianola, the Indianola’s comfortable banquettes. restaurant you will read of now. They’re padded in an appealing pinkDescribed as an American Everyday tinted beige. If you entertain, and want restaurant, Indianola offers modernist your guests to look fabulous, this is cooking that I’d classify several the shade you want for your walls. notches above “every day.” Around the rest of the space, whites and At dinner, you might fancy a light browns evoke… nothing in particular, but Rainbow Trout served with a tomato it’s all stylish, nonetheless. And the brunch salsa, olives and capers, or maybe a menu has serious style and substance. Mushroom Stroganoff or a Blackened I started with a Lemon Poppy Dip. Cauliflower vegetarian entrée. Small Citrusy heaven as crisp vegetables and Plates include Barbeque Shrimp and a sesame seed crisps are dunked in and Wood Roasted Grape Toast on sourdough scooped out of what’s basically lemon with ricotta and sunflower seeds. olive oil, herbs, and finely crumbled There’s a burger, a cheese board, and goat cheese. I’m not a numerical rating a luscious-sounding Pecan Caramel kind of guy, but this dish ranks a full Tres Leches Cake. I want to go back five out of five spots on my shirt! e By Jim Ayres

Indianola Lemon Poppy Dip Indianola Moroccan Eggs Just like wedge salads, if I see shakshuka on a menu, I’m ordering it. Indianola’s Moroccan Eggs are baked in a spiced (not spicy) tomato sauce and served with garbanzos and English Pea falafel that’s brown on the outside, a dazzling green within. This is my favorite egg dish so far this year. Brunch wouldn’t be the same without a cocktail, and while Indianola has a brunch selection, I chose one from Miss Carousel: Pacific Jet Lag, with pineapple rum, coconut, curaçao, cold brew concentrate, and lime. This mix flew me to Morocco just as my eggs did. It smells and tastes of patchouli, if you can imagine that, and it’s sublime. e

Indianola

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≈ Crossword Queeries ................................ 19

The purpose of homosexuality MONTROSE STAR .COM

≈ Star Buds .............................................................. 20

≈ Guide To The Clubs ................................... 22

Why you can’t overdose on cannabis

Section B

THE GAY-ETY STARTS HERE! Wednesday March 18, 2020 e VOL. X, 26

Looking for head in Galveston from Galveston, Durst was seen a few times, in and out of drag, while EAL ESTATE HEIR ROBERT DURST IS ONCE AGAIN A shopping or dining on the Island. hot topic, at least in the news, as Many people wondered if the “jinx” his (most recent) murder trial dominates would ever pay for the things he the legal scene out of California. had done and not been charged. It Durst, you might recall, lived in Galveston for a while is alleged that he murdered his first and among his many “shenanigans” — aside from wife Kathie while living in New York. occasionally dressing in drag and presenting himself Several years later he was living in as a mute female — he murdered neighbor Morris California and involved with Susan Black and disposed of the dismembered body parts in Berman. During the relationship, Galveston Bay. It took five plastic bags to contain the it is alleged that Durst confided in severed body parts (he used a bow saw and an axe). Burman about the murder of his wife, However, a sixth and empty bag was also found. As Kathie. Later Berman agreed to testify the head of Morris Black has never been recovered, against Durst in the murder trial, his it is assumed the sixth bag once contained Black’s having been finally charged with head. For years Galvestonians have speculated and the murder of wife Kathie. However discussed, usually in the form of some offbeat bar she, too, was murdered before the comment, about the location of Black’s head. Ideas trial could begin. It is generally range from “crab bait in the Gulf” to “buried under assumed that Robert Durst, in order that house on the avenue.” Wherever Durst “hid” the to silence Berman, killed her, as well. head, it remains there to this day, undiscovered. The latest trial now taking place in The Robert Durst story is a fascinating California once again finds Robert Rich boy one and has drawn curiosity and armchair Durst being charged with murder gone bad, sleuth work for many years. Born the son of a (Susan Berman) and again being Robert wealthy New York real estate tycoon, Durst was defended by esteemed attorney Durst. destined to inherit a fortune from his family. Dick DeGuerin. The current trial has Photo via Once a fairly handsome bon vivant around garnered much attention and interest Newsweek.com New York, Durst was well known in elite social as the Robert Durst saga has been circles of the time. His childhood was not an a curiosity for many years. Galvestonians love a easy one and his mother committed suicide good story and even more if it involves murder and when he was young. The story is so fascinating mystery. Durst was not a Galvestonian; however, that in 2015 HBO produced a well-received he has certainly left his mark on the little island. docudrama The Jinx: The Life and Deaths Speaking of marks, as an interesting side note, of Robert Durst, revealing many facts and in 2014 while free and living again in Houston, theories on what led little Robby to go bad. Durst exposed himself and urinated on a rack of Bags containing butchered remains of Morris Black, minus his head. Back to Galvetraz. While living on the Island, candy at a Kirby Drive CVS. Admitting his guilt, Photo CBSNews.com the wealthy heir lived in a low-rent Galveston the real estate heir after turning himself in to apartment house where he met fellow resident Morris authorities, was fined $500 for his actions. Alleged apartment. An argument ensued and Durst felt his life Black. Like Durst, Black was a gun enthusiast and murderers with money sure do strange things. was threatened. The two fought and a gun discharged, the two became friends — good friends, according It will be interesting to watch as the current killing Black. Durst claimed he panicked and in effort to Durst’s trial testimony. No one really knows the trial unfolds and DeGuerin does his best to to “hide” things, sawed the body into pieces and facts for sure, but it is assumed that during their obtain another murder charge acquittal for placing the parts in plastic bags, tossed them in to conversations Durst admitted something or told too Robert Durst. Island eyes, as well as the rest of the bay. In his own words, Durst described the seen much about two previous questionable deaths in which as a “bloody mess with blood everywhere.” To the the world’s, will be on the trial. Stay tuned. e he might have been involved. Regardless of who knew shock and dismay of many following the case, famed A resident of Galveston where he can be found wasting bait and searching for the meaning of life, Forest what and when, Durst admitted that he came home Houston defense attorney Dick DeGuerin represented Riggs recently completed a collection of short stories about his beloved island and is working on a novel. one evening and found Black rummaging through his Durst and won an acquittal in 2003. Though banned e By Forest Riggs

Across the Causeway

PAGE 14 | MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday March 18, 2020

Big Tuesday and beyond e By Colby Etherton

HAT A WHIRLWIND THE WORLD OF

politics has been the past couple of weeks. The Democratic Primary has quite literally done a 180 from where it was merely a week ago. Before Super Tuesday, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders had been viewed as the clear frontrunner in the quest for the Democratic nomination — having scored wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, and having won decisively in the Nevada caucuses. Yet former Vice President Joe Biden netted a triumphant win in South Carolina by nearly 30 points in what couldn’t have been better timing for his campaign, as a poor showing in South Carolina likely would have spelled the end for his presidential ambitions. The blowout victory led to billionaire Tom Steyer, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar to all drop out in quick succession — with Buttigieg and Klobuchar endorsing Biden — which undoubtedly helped him on Super Tuesday, as the moderate wing of the Democratic Party all coalesced behind him. Sanders had partly benefited from multiple moderates being in the race who split votes between each other, but with a flood of endorsements behind him and less competition for votes with the likes of Buttigieg and Klobuchar, Biden ended Super Tuesday performing far better than anyone anticipated, winning ten out of fourteen states. Sanders was partly marred by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren staying in the race, who also ran in the progressive lane and undoubtedly peeled votes away from him. Margins were close enough in states like Texas, Maine, and Massachusetts to where had Warren dropped out before Super Tuesday, Sanders could very well have netted wins in those states. Thus, the narrative of the primary would be different than it is now, where Biden is heavily favored to win the nomination. Big Tuesday on March 10 is make or break for the Sanders campaign, as six states hold their primaries and caucuses: Michigan, Idaho, Washington, Mississippi, Missouri, and North Dakota. Michigan, in particular, is make or break for Sanders — he pulled off a massive upset over Hillary Clinton there in 2016, and losing the state this time around would dramatically hinder his argument that he could perform better than Biden in mid-western battleground states that flipped to Trump in the general election. Democrats are focusing much of their efforts on key battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, as they were once perceived as reliably

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blue states that shocked the nation when they went to Trump four years ago. Democrats also have their sights set on states like Arizona, North Carolina, and Florida. Arizona in particular has shown signs of emerging as a critical purple state in the past few election cycles. Since Super Tuesday, Warren and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg have dropped out of the race, effectively making it a two-person battle between Biden and Sanders. Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard remains in the race, despite generating virtually zero traction, stirring speculation that she’s at this point aiming for a pundit position at Fox News. While it’s too premature to call the primary for Biden, Sanders is going to need to score victories in critical states just to remain viable, while Biden is slated to clean up southern states as well as delegate-rich states like Florida and Illinois. In some ways it’s an echo of the 2016 Democratic primary, though if Sanders underperforms how he did in 2016 juxtaposed with Biden doing better than Clinton’s marks, I’d be hard-pressed to see this primary lasting until the very end like it did last go ’round. It could be over in a few weeks if Sanders doesn’t find new footing soon. What’s promising is that one of his top campaign surrogates, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has said that she’ll support the Democratic nominee regardless of whom it is — a sign that perhaps there will be more unity among Democrats going into this election than there was four years ago. It will be a necessity, as Democrats can’t enact an agenda without holding the House of Representatives and retaking the Senate. There are promising signs of the Senate being in play, as polls show that Republican incumbents like Martha McSally of Arizona, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Cory Gardner of Colorado, and Susan Collins of Maine are looking vulnerable going into November. As the primaries slog on, coronavirus has dominated public discourse. As of March 9, according to NBC News, there are more than 650 confirmed cases in the U.S., including 26 deaths. NBC News also reports that containment measures are being applied to the entire country of Italy, where more than 9,000 people are confirmed to have the virus. Trump has been downplaying the virus, perhaps seeing it as a reelection hindrance should his administration’s handling of it be seen as subpar and not efficient. e For information on prevention and treatment of coronavirus, readers can visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/ preventiontreatment.html Disclaimer: the opinions in this piece are entirely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Montrose Star.

The Frivolist

5 ways to experience orlando (mostly) for free e By Mikey Rox

1. Stroll around Winter Park on a Sunday Winter Park, a swanky-ish neighborhood a short drive northeast of downtown Orlando, offers a Sunday Funday’s worth of activities that starts with a farmer’s market where you can snag just-harvested vegetables, fresh-cut flowers, local honey, and more. Afterward, cut through the area’s Central Park, featuring fountains and a rose garden, to stroll along South Park Avenue, where you’ll find a mix of high-end retailers, art galleries and restaurants, some of which offer everybody’s favorite brunch deal – bottomless and BOGO mimosas. Add some culture to your afternoon by visiting the Cornell Fine Arts Museum on the Rollins College campus, where you can enjoy a docent-led tour of the Alfond Inn at no charge; there’s no admission at the museum either. Best of all, abundant free parking is available just west of the Winter Park train station. . Hike the Disney Wilderness Preserve While not technically in Orlando, the free-to-visit-and-park Disney Wilderness Preserve, in Poinciana (one hour south of the city), is home to more than 1,000 plant and animal species on 11,500 acres. Hikers can enjoy several wellmaintained trails that range from an easy half-mile trek around an upper pond to a six-mile hike that covers a large swath of The Nature Conservancy’s land (pack your sunscreen because most of the hike is under open sky). There’s a welcome center with all the information you’ll need to make the most of your time, plus clean restrooms, and plenty of shaded lawn space to practice your bird-watching skills (I spotted a yellowbreasted chat while I was there) and throw out a blanket for a relaxing picnic.

3. Visit the swans at Lake Eola Park

There are several features you’ll love at Lake Eola Park, including the Walt Disney Amphitheater (which hosts community events and performances on occasion), a fountain, playground and Chinese pagoda (a nice backdrop

for selfies), but what you might be most surprised by is the abundance of gorgeous swans and other waterfowl that call the lake home. When I visited in February, I spotted several duckling families and clusters of eggs in nests, which signify a healthy breeding ground for these birds that can’t be found in many places.

4. Resort hop at Walt Disney World

I’m not a huge fan of Disney (don’t take away my gay card), so my trip to Orlando wasn’t going to include waiting in endless lines at its overpriced parks. But I did want to experience at least some of the “magic,” so I researched how to do Disney for free and produced two options: Disney Springs and the Disney Boardwalk, both of which offer free parking – no park pass or resort stay required. Once parked, you can explore these areas on foot, which feature restaurants and other entertainment options (I saw a movie at the AMC Dine-In at Disney Springs with a free pass I had saved). You also can travel from resort to resort via Disney’s seven-month-old Skyliner, free (and super fun!) to ride, which will zip you between five stations, including three resorts. To access resorts not served by the Skyliner – like Animal Kingdom, where you can view safari animals, like giraffes, zebras and gazelles – take one of Disney’s buses or boats (completely free) to create an entire day of fun without spending a dime. . Watch a movie with Chip ’n’ Dale Want to sing along and watch a movie with Chip ‘n’ Dale? Head to the Disney Wilderness Lodge and tell the parking attendant that you have a reservation at the Whispering Canyon Café or Trail’s End Restaurant. They’ll direct you where to park for free. Instead of going to the restaurant, however, hop a free shuttle bus to the Fort Wilderness Campfire and Movie area, where you’ll join the singalong and enjoy a visit from the beloved chipmunks. A full-length Disney movie will follow. Stock your backpack ahead of time, then sit back and enjoy the show. 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 currently lives in his van, saving money and traveling the country. Connect with Mikey on Instagram @mikeyroxtravels

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MontroseStar.com  e | Wednesday March 18, 2020 | PAGE 15

PAGE 16 | MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday March 18, 2020

What A World

Our Next Vice President: Who will she be? A

S THIS ISSUE OF MONTROSE STAR GOES TO PRESS,

Vice President Joe Biden is nearly assured of being the Democratic presidential nominee. Admittedly, Joe wasn’t my first choice of Democratic leaders to unseat the nightmarish electoral experimentgone-wrong that is Donald Trump. But as the saying goes, at this point, “Any Dem’ll do.” Critical to Vice President Biden’s electoral success will be his choice of running mate. Most politicos agree that picking a woman as his running mate will help him win in November. The good news is, there are many qualified women to choose from who would make excellent VP’s. Here are a few possibilities: • Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Was she not the most qualified, most articulate, most intelligent candidate hoping to be the Democratic nominee for U.S. President? Absolutely, she was. Did she not have the best plans to lift America out of the maelstrom it has suffered under more than three years of Trumpism? No question. Biggest dick? Definitely. Unfortunately, Warren’s dick was simply metaphorical. But among my friends, a metaphorical dick is far more appealing than a mushroom dick. • Barbra Streisand. What a sure-fire strategy to snag all those gay Republican votes. Surely even gay Republicans are more loyal to Babs than they are to the GOP. And wouldn’t it pull this country together if she could be persuaded to sing the National Anthem at all official events? Happy days are here again! • Ellen DeGeneres. With almost 80 million Twitter followers, Ellen could mount a get-out-the-vote campaign the likes of which this country has never seen. After she’s sworn in as VP, maybe she could have one

of those torturous Game of Games tube contraptions installed in the White House to send screaming former Trump staffers down. Ideally, it would empty out in the deep end of a water trap at Mar-A-Lago. • Hillary Clinton. Now there’s a wildcard. Wouldn’t that be karma in its purest form, in the most unfortunate possibility that Joe Biden would for some reason be unable to fulfill his duty as President? Clinton’s ascension to the Oval Office would no-doubt blow the top of Trump’s combed-over head clean off, followed by the total, World Trade Center-like implosion of the FOX News building in upon itself. • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She’s brilliant, experienced, passionate, and takes zero sh*t from the opposing party. God, I love AOC. If that makes me a godless Commie, so be it, Comrade. • Awkwafina. She’s a woman, she’s Asian, and she’s bi, so “Nora from Queens” hits all the diversity buttons we’re looking for in a vice president. Plus, she’s straight-up hysterical. After enduring the sad, unfunny punchline of Trump, this country needs a real laugh. • Michelle Obama. The former First Lady has vehemently insisted that she would never run for elected office. But now that the girls are grown, and Barack is a Netflix executive and hot windsurfing supermodel, maybe Michelle would capitulate and join the Democratic presidential ticket. The White House needs its vegetable garden back. • Michelle Wolf. Speaking of Michelles, who didn’t love Wolf’s earth-scorching performance at the 2018 White House Correspondents Dinner? Wait ’til you hear her in the Vice Presidential debate,

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versus Mike Pence. Mother, cover your ears. • Sen. Kamala Harris. Sure, she slammed Joe in one of the first Democratic debates, but can’t we let bygones be bygones? At the very least, Joe, tap Kamala to be your Attorney General. She would be the best AG this country has seen in years, Barr none. (See what I did there?) • Sen. Amy Klobuchar. What a class act. Instead of Trump serving Big Macs and chicken nuggets at White House dinners, Amy could spearhead the return of good, wholesome, nutritious potluck dinners to the People’s House.

• Stacey Abrams. She’s tough, she’s a Southern woman of color, and her nomination would also blow off the top of Trump’s head. Win/win/win. • Holland Taylor. She’s as close to Ann Richards (may she rest in peace and in power) as we can get.

AND ON ANOTHER MATTER… In the March 4 issue of MONTROSE STAR, some parts of What a World may have been interpreted by readers that coronavirus/ COVID-19 is not a serious health threat. Let me state unequivocally, that is not the case. I encourage all of our readers to take whatever precautions you deem necessary to stay healthy and virus-free. Wash your hands frequently. Use hand sanitizer. Self-isolate if you believe you have been exposed. Call your doctor if you begin to show symptoms. Be kind to your fellow shoppers as you reach for that last 12-pack of Cottonelle. And, as much as you can, continue to support our advertisers and other community businesses as we ride out this pandemic, please and thank you. We’re all in this together. e

Photo via Amazon.com

e By Nancy Ford

MontroseStar.com  e | Wednesday March 18, 2020 | PAGE 17

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PAGE 18 | MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday March 18, 2020

Deep Inside Hollywood

More lesbian ‘Beauty’ from Lena Waithe e By Romeo San Vicente

ENA WAITHE, EMMY-WINNING QUEEN

of queer-everything lately, has another movie in the pipeline. Beauty, written by Waithe and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu (Mother of George), stars up-and-comer Gracie Marie Bradley as a rising pop star in a relationship with a butch lesbian (Aleyse Shannon, Black Christmas). And in spite of the fact that that’s everything we know about the plot, that’s totally enough. There are so few romantic dramas centering black characters ( The Photograph was lovely), and even fewer with queer characters and even fewer featuring butch women, that we’re already thrilled this project even exists. Beauty co-stars Sharon Stone, James Urbaniak (Difficult People) and Joey Bada$$ (Wu-Tang: An American Saga). So when this one hits whatever platform hosts it – a theatrical experience, a streaming service, we don’t mind where – we’re going to be unavailable and very busy cheering on lesbian romance.

Drew Barrymore and Ellie Kemper Stand-In at Netflix A n actress and her stand-in trade places. Sure, why not? It’s not like anyone’s going to mistake them for each other, unless this is a Freaky Friday-style body switching scenario. Oh, wait, it kinda-sorta is? Well

now we’re on board, but we’re also getting ahead of ourselves. In The Stand-In, coming soon to Netflix, Drew Barrymore plays a famous comedic actress who yearns to live a simpler existence and decides to switch places with her stand-in, also played by Drew Barrymore. And when the celebrity version finds herself usurped of her uniquely privileged life, that’s when things go off the rails. The StandIn is written by Sam Bain (Four Lions) and directed by But I’m A Cheerleader’s Jamie Babbit, and co-stars the wonderful Ellie Kemper (The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Chicago Fire regular Charlie Barnett, Michael Zegen (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and the hilarious Holland Taylor, whose long and regal career as a character actress is the very definition of Legendary Lesbian. We’ll watch twice.

Lee Pace stars in Asi mov’s Foundation L et’s just say that ever since Pushing Daisies we’ve had a serious but not at all obsessive thing for Lee Pace – even when he was a bit caught off guard at being accidentally outed by Ian McKellen a few years back (a definite oops senior moment for Miss McKellen) and even when it seemed like we were the only ones watching Halt and Catch Fire. OK, we might have actually been the only ones. Anyway, our fandom continues stronger than ever and now Pace has

a new project, Foundation, that we’ll probably stan just as strongly. Based on a series of sci-fi novels by Isaac Asimov, Foundation is a thousand-year saga about a group of exiles battling for the survival of a galactic empire, one ruled by an emperor named Brother Day that Pace will play (this makes sense to us because he’s very tall and no, don’t ask us to explain that logically in any way, thank you). It co-stars Jared Harris ( Mad Men) is set for Apple TV+, and if it all sounds a little like Star Wars that’s because it pre-dates that George Lucascreated juggernaut by a few decades and was probably a heavy influence. In other words, respect your elders for once.

Luke Evans summons The Angel of Darkness R ight now we’re a little obsessed with Fast and Furious franchise co-star Luke Evans going adorably “Instagram Official” with his boyfriend. It could be argued that we have simple, some might say “basic” taste, but we’re just sort of thrilled that “tough guy” action stars have samesex smooching rights in public now, too. What does this have to do with The Angels of Darkness? Nothing, really, but the upcoming TV series does star Evans, along with Daniel Brühl and Dakota Fanning. If those names all seem familiar together, it’s because they’re returning to characters they played before in this

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Lena Waithe sequel to The Alienist, the series based on Caleb Carr’s psychological thriller about a serial killer terrorizing New York in the late 1800s. A disturbing and frightening thing it was, too, which is why even though we’re absolutely watching this next installment of creepy mayhem, we’re happy that Evans is balancing out the dark career choices with lots of cute online vacation photos. e Romeo San Vicente would like for you to pardon his immense beauty.

Crossword Queeries

THE PURPOSE OF HOMOSEXUALITY Across

48 Essen exclamation

bottom of a list

1 Chef Des Jardins

49 TV spots

13 Lid problem

6 Shuttlecock

52 Baum’s good witch

21 TV trigram

10 Tops cakes

54 End of the purpose

23 Mountain pool

14 Quinn of Practical Magic

56 WKRP actress Anderson

26 It comes out of your head

15 Personal lubricant ingredient

57 Poet Kitty

27 “Scram!” to Gomer

16 South Park cocreator Stone

59 Remarkable hole

28 Goofed up

17 Public spectacle

60 Quiche ingredients

29 Bite it

18 Boys Don’t Cry character

61 Make money

30 Alternative to “Go straight”

19 Ask for it while kneeling

62 Pirate’s stash

31 Swedish import

20 Start of the purpose of

63 Enjoy an Oreo

32 Caesar’s invite to

homosexuality, per 58-Down

64 Nemesis of Tinkerbell

a threesome?

22 Sequence of unknown length

65 Return key on a PC

33 Navel adornments 37 The guys you’re seeing?

24 Suffix with profit 25 Dickinson’s howe’er

Down

38 Unrefined metals

26 Words of empathy

1 Queer Eye discernment

39 Ebenezer’s exclamation

27 More of the purpose

2 Nouveau

41 Bunch of stallions

31 Mapplethorpe’s “Dark

3 Maria’s “Do” equivalent

42 Button or Bean

Rose”

4 Relief of Lincoln

44 Like Hans Christian Andersen

34 Steed stopper

5 Staying power?

45 Polynesian woman

35 In Cold Blood

6 Weapon to use against

46 Here to Rimbaud

writer, informally

Trump in November

49 Inside tongue?

36 “Take a crack

”

7 “Now

50 Dig (into)

37 Bugs or Erin

down to sleep ...”

51 Look from Snidely

39 One with a foamy head

8 Political analyst Reagan

52 One side of Ed Wood

40 Went down on

9 Clark Kent portrayer on TV

53 HRC’s equal sign

41 Cocksure Aesop character

10 Tainted

54 Treat meat

42 Composer Copland

11 “Top of the World”

55 “Nuts!”

43 More of the purpose

singer Karen

58 Composer/lyricist Austin

47 Queens in Las Vegas

12 It comes at the

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PAGE 20 | MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday March 18, 2020

Star Buds

Why you can’t overdose on cannabis e By Rena McCain

APPY WEEDSDAY, EVERYBODY!

Let’s take a quick trip into some brain science today! No, I’m not a brain scientist or anything like that, but it sure is fascinating to know about. So here we go! I hear at least everyday a question about overdosing and dying in relationship to cannabis. And of course, there are a lot of misinformed people out there so I thought I would write about this for this issue. I have watched the opioid crisis spread like the plague. People drink and die and kill others over alcohol consumption and street drugs. People overdose on pharmaceutical pills, as well. There is a lot of stuff people can overdose and die from. But cannabis acts on the body and mind in a way that’s very different than opioids or alcohol and all this other stuff. I’m sure in the course of your life heard, as I have in mine, the tragic phrase, “so-and-so died of an overdose.” But when opioids like fentanyl, OxyContin or heroin are the cause, there’s a specific mechanism that causes that death. As Oxford University anesthesiology professor K.T.S. Pattinson has observed, “In drug addicts, respiratory depression is the major cause of death.” In other words, during an opioid overdose the victim falls unconscious and the body forgets to breathe.

The body forgets to breathe! So these opioids that are in heroin, fentanyl and the oxys don’t just suppress pain and increase feelings of pleasure, they also depress something in the brain called the pre-Bötzinger complex. This is where many opioid receptors are found and this is a major reason why opioid overdoses are so deadly. In an overdose, this complex is flooded with opioids and they attach to these receptors, which causes the breathing to become slow and irregular. Eventually, without intervention, breathing shuts down completely and death occurs due to lack of oxygen. That’s it. Also, an opioid overdose can depress the brain’s mechanism that regulates the heart and blood circulation, leading to a drop in blood pressure and heart failure. Hence, a heart attack and death. It’s a sad way to go, really. It’s a tragic spot to be in in life, especially when cannabis can help so much.

Now, regarding alcohol. Alcohol poisoning can become lethal when the alcohol overwhelms the liver’s ability to clear it, and alcohol in the blood anesthetizes those same brain systems that regulate breathing and blood pressure. They shut

down, which leads to death. Cannabis, however, is not one of those things you can die from. Cannabis still has caused zero deaths. Yes, that’s right. Zero. Cannabis does not affect the body in the same manner as anything else you put in your body. It lacks the ability to kill you. Here is why it’s impossible for cannabis to kill you. The cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant act on specific

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receptors that are not concentrated in the brain stem, where breathing and the heart rate are controlled. Cannabinoid receptors are most highly concentrated in the basal ganglia, hippocampus, and cerebellum, which is where cognition and movement are controlled. Those same receptors appear in scant numbers in brain stem areas like the pre-Bötzinger complex. Cannabis does not affect the pre-Bötzinger complex as opioids and alcohol and other drugs do. There are virtually so few cannabinoid receptors there it isn’t physically possible to effect it enough to make a difference, much less cause a death. In a 1990 study of cannabinoid receptors, researchers with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that “sparse densities (of cannabinoid receptors) in lower brain stem areas controlling cardiovascular and respiratory functions may explain why high doses of THC are not lethal.” So rest easy, my friends. Cannabis doesn’t kill. e References: K.T. Pattinson, “Opioids and the control of respiration.” Br. J. Anaesth. 2008; 100(6): 747-58. M. Herkenham, A. B. Lynn, M. D. Little, et al. “Cannabinoid receptor localization in brain.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.1990; 87(5): 1932-6. For more information, follow Rena McCain on social media: Facebook at GanjaGrrl420; Instagram at GanjaGrrl420, or check out her web page at HappyWeedsday.com. Tune in to MIXlr.com/mhx10tx for more.

MontroseStar.com  e | Wednesday March 18, 2020 | PAGE 21

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Guide to the Clubs HOUSTON

n MONTROSE - MIDTOWN

n DOWNTOWN / EADO

n NW HOUSTON

Buddy’s 2409 Grant St Ste A, Houston (281) 310-1050 Cocktails | Beer | Karaoke |Pool | DJ’s

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

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

Crocker Bar 2312 Crocker St, Houston (713) 529-3355 Large Deck | Karaoke

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

Rebar Houston 2401 San Jacinto (281) 846-6685 RichsNightclub.com

Tony’s Corner Pocket 817 West Dallas Street, Houston (713) 571-7870 • tonyscornerpocket.com Neighborhood Bar | Pool | Dancers

Barcode Houston 817 Fairview Ave, Houston

n HOUSTON - NORTH SIDE

(713) 526-2625 • facebook.com/barcode77006

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 19

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PAGE 24 | MontroseStar.com e | Wednesday March 18, 2020

Festival

APRIL 9, 10, 11 • thuR, fRI, sAt • 7:30 P.m. WORthAm CENtER • CuLLEN thEAtER

Hofesh Shechter Company (London, UK) performing Grand Finale. Choreography by Hofesh Shechter. Photo by Rahi Rezvani.

hofesh shechter Company London, uK

Royal Danish Ballet’s Kammerballetten Copenhagen, Denmark

semperoper Ballett Dresden Germany

sydney Dance Company, Australia

Hofesh Shechter

Sebastian Kloborg, Tobias Praetorius Rafael Bonachela

David Dawson

Dunia Dance theatre, Belgium / Zimbabwe

Royal Ballet of flanders Antwerp, Belgium

Harold George, Filmmaker Antoine Panier

Drew Jacoby

Donlon Dance Collective, Berlin, Germany

Dortmund Ballet, Germany Lucia Lacarra and matthew Golding

Laboration Art Company, Paris, france

Edwaard Liang

Marguerite Donlon Laura Arend

BuY tICKEts At