PRESS
THE OFFICIAL PROGRAM OF PFLAG BEAUMONT PRIDE FEST
JUNE 2019
PFLAG Coming Out Ball Celebrates Allies, Debs
PFLAG Beaumont held their second annual “Coming Out Ball,” Saturday, May 18, at The Belmont Country Club. Guests dressed in their finest attire and celebrated six tremendously brave individuals as the came out as their most authentic selves. PFLAG also honored the 2019 Pride Fest Grand Marshal, Mo Cortez, as well as Lifetime Ally, Dr. Cate Carabelle and Ally of the Year, Olivia Busceme Pic by John Fulbright
Far right, protesting in Chicago 2017, Top, at Beaumont’s Equality Fest, Near right, phone banking to Elect Sylvia Garcia Michele, Above, Houston Pride 2017
PFLAG Beaumont Makes History With First Texas Intersex GM Olivia Busceme
Cate Carabelle
Debutantes performing with their escorts. Left, Tabitha Samuel, Destiny Bergeron, Eric Bradley Barnes-Gibson,Kristopher Hall, Juan Jesus Davalos Almanza and Azrael Black
Maximo “Mo” Cortez was crowned first Intersex Grand Marshal in Texas, making him the second intersex Grand Marshal in the world. Cortez will open the Pride Celebration at approximately 12:30 p.m. at Crockett Street Entertainement Complex. The streets of downtown Beaumont will be full of rainbows — whether there are showers or not— Saturday, June 8, for PFLAG Beaumont’s second annual Pride Fest celebration.
Maximo “Mo” Cortez describes himself as an intersex bodied trans Latino man from Houston. “It is an honor to be selected as the Grand Marshal of PFLAG Beaumont,” Cortez says. “The value of the organization really resonates with me and is embracing of all of me.”
Cortez is an advocate for intersex and trans people’s rights and visibility. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing at the University of Houston Downtown in 2012. “It is an honor to be selected as the Grand Marshal of PFLAG Beaumont,” Cortez says. “The value of the organization really resonates with me and is all embracing of all of me.” Cortez is a member of PFLAG Beaumont, the CoFounder of (THIS) The Houston Intersex Society. He is the former the interim Vice-Chair of the Transgender Education Network of Texas; on the Board of Queers with Careers; Mr. OLTT 2018, and is a found-
See MO Inside
Inside MO from Page 1 ing member of Mayor Turner’s LGBTQ Advisory Board. “Mo works tirelessly for all marginalized communities, and like so many grassroots advocates, his work is in the trenches,” Payshunz Nagashima, PFLAG Beaumont education chair, says. “This is the work that creates real change in people’s lives and is often not noticed by the larger community. “I want all of Beaumont to meet Mo Cortez, get familiar with his work, and support what he is doing for all of us.” Cortez says he first came out as lesbian, then he came out about being Intersex, then he transitioned to a trans man.
“All of these identities are already treated like family with PFLAG Beaumont,” he says. “That is something I never had back in my own hometown of San Angelo, Texas, growing up.” One of Cortez’s goals is to live in a world where nonconsensual genital surgeries are no longer performed on intersex children of indeterminate sex; and an end to other unnecessary surgeries commonly performed on intersex people. “My ultimate dream is to help found a specialty clinic in the Texas Medical Center that will serve as a Center of Excellence for intersex and Trans patients with these important stakeholders in staff as advisors,” Cortez says. Jacqueline Hays, PFLAG Beaumont president, says the organization didn’t
know they had selected the first Intersex Grand Marshal in Texas. “Mo was just nominated and was the best person to sort of ‘lead’ us into the next year,” she says. “On any given day, Mo is Austin testifying, lobbying and just plain ambushing Legislators and staff as he works for the safety and dignity of the LGBTQiA community. “One week he is in Chicago protesting and the next week he is driving around Houston distributing water and menstrual maintenance packets to those in need on the street — and he may even follow that up with a trip to Beaumont to serve on a panel or facilitate ally training and to just meet new people at a backyard concert.” The Pride Fest 2019 celebration centers around showcasing active ally-ship
and advocacy, Hays says. “We are shining a light on LGBT history,” she says. “Without those willing to rebel against oppression so many decades ago, there wouldn’t be Pride celebrations and there wouldn’t be any safe spaces for our LGBT family members and friends.” “Pride Fest 2019 has grown since last year,” Donny Avery, Pride Fest co-chair, says. “Thanks to area sponsors ExxonMobil and Triangle Area Network, we are able to add an outdoor stage and bring in some high caliber talent.” PFLAG Beaumont is a local non-profit chapter of a national organization. All proceeds will go to fund education, support and advocacy for the LGBTQiA community, family and allies, including Pride Fest 2019 and 2020.
TAN Healthcare is a Community Health Center offering Primary and Preventive Healthcare Services for anyone from pediatric to geriatric and now has General Family Practitioners available for anyone who is uninsured or has Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance.
Music Country, Rock, Punk, Rap Music Diversify Pride
Beaumont Artist Returns Home For Solo Career
Beaumont native, MarvPharoah has been writing songs since middle school and seriously performing and recording since 2014
with a band. He has toured a;; over the Southern U. S. , but now the rapper and singer is striking out on his own bring-
ing his solo act to the Legacy Equality Stage for Pride Fest 2019. “The act is a movie, ‘Game Over, You Lose,’ in the form of an album with a couple of moments of reflection in between the set, “ the 24 year old ally says.”The goal is for the audience to open their minds and feel something from at least one of the songs.” MarvPharoah is excited to part in the Pride Fest celebration and says PFLAG is impotant because they recognize that it is votal for people to be comfortable with who they are and to recognize that our differences are what make us unique. “Everyone’s story is different, but it is up to the individual on how that story plays out,” he says.
MAXIFADS ‘Punk Up’ ExxonMobil Stage Punk Rockers, MAXIFADS are closing down the Exxon Mobil Stage with their loud and fast, Bad Redlion and Bikini Kill influenced jams. The Golden Triangle natives played their first show as a group, Christmas Night 2017 at The Art Studio, Inc. Influenced by the likes of Black Flag and The Minutemen, they say they do their best to add other elements from outside the genre as well. “Our act is full of energy,” MAXIFADS says. “We dance, pogo, head-bang and sweat so much and we hope our au-
dience does the same.” With their diverse following, the MAXIFADS are a perfect fit for a Pride Fest celebration. “LGBTQ Pride is important to who we are as a band and as individuals,” the band says. “Some members of our band identify as Bi and all the members of the band are staunch supporters and allies of the LGBTQ community. “As a band with a public voice, we believe it is vital to our community to spread positivity and speak up for marginalized groups.7p.m. ExxonMobil Stage in Dixie
5 p.m. Legacy Stage in Red Room
Pop Princes, PopGun! To Pull Trigger On Pop Hits In Afternoon Hailing from the Golden Triangle region of Texas, power pop cover group PopGun! hit the ground running in 2017, and has been growing into one of the more prominent and in-demand bands on the Southeast Texas music scene. PopGun! are bringing their passion and drive of a full=blown rock band to deliver versatile, energetic takes on pop and dance hits of the 80s, 90s and 2000s form iconic artists such as Culture Club, Amy Winehouse, Cindy Lauper, The Cars, OutKast, Devo, CeeLo Green, Rick Springfield and many more artists to the ExxonMobil stage for the second annual Pride Fest celebration. The four-pice ensemble boasts 30 years performance experience and have recently found one another. While the band plays more intimate clubs and venues, they are now taking their infectious live show experience to casinos, events, and festival like Pride. “Pride is important to us because we as a groups completely support the LGBTQ community,” PopGun! says. “Having family and friends who are part of this community solidifies our belief everyone deserves dignity, respect and inclusiveness. 4 p.m. ExxonMobil Stage in Dixie
Music Continued ______________
More & Stage Schedule
Echoed Sycamore Legacy 2:30 p.m.
Time
1 p.m. 2 p.m.
Prince Tink TAN 1:45 p.m.
3 p.m. 4 p.m.
Jared Chichester Jr
5 p.m.
ExxonMobil 3 p.m.
Jimmy Kaiser TAN 3 p.m.
6 p.m.
ExxonMobil (Located in Dixie)
Grand Marshal & Debs
2:15 p.m. Moment of Silence
Family Friendly Femmes
Jared Chichester Jr. 3:15 p.m.
PopGun!
2:30 p.m.
Echoed Sycamore 3:30 p.m.
Stage Closes
Port Arthur Honeybees
9 p.m.
(Located Outdoor Tent)
Ukulele Avery
1:45 p.m. Prince
Tink
2:15 p.m. Moment of Silence
Scavenger Hunt Begins 2:45 p.m.
Port Arthur Honeybees
3:45 p.m.
Jimmy Kaiser
4:30 p.m.
Scavenger Hunt Ends
Equality Dancers Solo Drag Queen Storytime PA Honeybees
Sparkle Motion
8 p.m.
TAN
Equality Dancers
Glow Stix Dance Mix
TAN 4:15 p.m.
10 p.m.
2:15 p.m. Moment of Silence
MarvPharaoh
Tabitha Samuel
TAN 2:45 p.m. Legacy 4:45 p.m.
Equality Music & Singers
Glamorous Girls II
MAXIFADS
Dancers
(Located in Red Room)
Glamorous Girls I Sparkle Motion Trivia
7 p.m.
TAN 1 p.m.
Legacy
Do The
Dance Contest
Illusionists Bawdy & Beautiful Babes Alternative Angels Sexy Sirens
with Bonnie Sweetheart 4:15 p.m.
Tabitha Samuel
Stage Closes
Drag Quality Queens Included on all Three Stages Sara Cha James Spices Up Glamour Sara Cha is from Beaumont, and has only been performing for approximately 15 months. People who know Sara Cha may call her creative and crafty. Most of her acts include an elaborate outfit or numerous costume changes. She saws every one of her costumes herself. Sara Cha says her style of drag is inspired by quick change magic and runways. Her drag mom is the lovely Jessi James. Sara Cha can be seen performing at Rumors Beaumont
Alektra Fying Alternative Angels
Jaeda Secur Sexy Sirens
Avery Sins James Sexy Sirens
approximately once a month. Sara Cha will glam up the ExxonMobil stage during the the “Glam Girl I” block at Pride Fest. “Pride Fest is important because it brings our community together whether if you are into the club scene, the arts scene, being an LGBT+ advocate, or all of the above,” Sara Cha says. “This gives our community a time and place where we can just come together and celebrate as one big happy family.” 3 p.m. ExxonMobil Stage in Dixie
Bonnie Sweetheart Family Friendly Femmes
Jessi James
Bawdy&Beautiful Sexy Sirens
Sparkle Motion ‘Pops’ All Day
Kami Black
Alternative Angels
Demonica Demon Alternative Angels
Groves native, Sparkle Motion prefers to think of herself as a “Drag Princess.” “I’m a disco dancer, former Charlie’s Angel, valley girl, and I love lots of color, glamour, glitter,
Karma Khaos James
Sexy Sirens
glitz, and of course, Sparkle,” the current Beaumont resident says. The pop princess will provide trivia, a dance contest and perform with our Illusionists and
Khem Trailz Glam Girls II Illusion
Bawdy & Beautiful Babes. Sparkle says she is performing at Pride Fest because she has a lot of pride for the queer community in Southeast Texas. “I am originally from this area and it amazes me how far we’ve come as a whole,” Sparkle Motion says. “I never thought I’d be working as a drag queen in this area and it just makes me so happy that I can showcase my talents to this amazing crowd —I love Beaumont and I am proud to be me!”
3:45 p.m. , 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Legacy Stage in Red Room
Lady Elegance International Bawdy&Beautiful Babes
Larna Shay
Leah Delight
Ravenikka Knix
Rocki Bradshaw & Skai
Illusionists
Alternative Angels
Family Friendly Femmes
Bawdy&Beautiful Babes
Lady Chandelier
Maci Mirage
Olivia Gardner
Sazzie Love
Tamar J. Paris
Tisha Flowers
Glam Girls II, Illusionists
Emcee, Glam Girls I&II
Glam Girls I
Glam Girls II
Femmes,Illusion, Bawdy
Alternative Angels
Raven Storm
Bawdy&Beautiful Babes
Trouble
Glam Girls II