AUG. ’21
HOUSTON'S LGBTQ MAGAZINE
INSIDE
BEYOND the
BINARY The evolving awareness of gender diversity Pg.47
s r a t s r e p u S c i n o S THE
M U S IEC I SS U
CONTEMPORARY-POP ARTIST SUGAR JOIKO
PLUS
LOCAL QUEER ARTISTS ON THE RISE Pg.34
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Houston’s LGBTQ Magazine
FEATURES AUGUST 2021
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30
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34 COVER STORY 36 MIXING MASTER FINDING HER GROOVE Sugar Joiko’s international influences inspire her signature sound
DJ GNDRBNDR’s versatile career is breaking barriers for other trans artists
40
42 SHATTERING
MINDFUL MUSIC
Cory McGee looks ahead to an active career on the opera stage
INDUSTRY BARRIERS
48 ADVOCATE IN
51 SALVADORAN
54 LIFE OF
Juliann Losey helps UH students embrace their LGBTQ identities
Moe Penders uses photography to explore their turbulent family history
DJ Mel is proud to be part of a diverse community
62 COURAGEOUS
64 A PLATFORM FOR
82 WIGGING OUT
New film honors Bill T. Jones’ gripping response to the AIDS crisis
Briahn Hawkins uses broadcast journalism to uplift LGBTQ people
CHOREOGRAPHY
AUGUST 2021 |
38 VOICE OF POWER
Uliya’s electro-acoustic songs heal and inspire listeners
ACADEMIA
4
42
OutSmartMagazine.com
Curtis Braly pushes the boundaries of country music
ODYSSEY
THE PEOPLE
THE PARTY
La’darius Mirage Jackson is Houston’s mover and shaker
40
Care you can trust. “ Over the years I’ve
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Houston’s LGBTQ Magazine
AUGUST 2021
Join us for our
GRAND OPENING on August 23!
DEPARTMENTS NEWS & COMMENT 12 NEWS
Two LGBTQ veterans appointed to top military posts; Texas GSA groups create safe spaces for students
26 LEFT OUT 28 SMART HEALTH 30 MONEY SMART
Know Your Pharmacist by Name!
Scott Read, B.Pharm.
32 AN INTERVIEW WITH...
Easton Santos, creator of Houston’s first independently operated LGBTQ online station
Pharmacist in Charge, owner
536 Waugh Drive (832) 649-3142 Scott.Read@ScottReadRx.com
S COT T RE A D RX .CO M
57 COMMUNITY
The Galveston Island Esports Summit is Aug. 27–29; ‘Seany’s Next Top Model’ is Houston’s online modeling game with an international following; Miss Gay Texas USofA returns to Houston for its 35th-anniversary pageant, August 24–27.
66 DINING OUT
MFAH’s new restaurant sprouts fresh, creative fare
69 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
artFACTORY announces a diverse new season of live theater productions
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ON the COVER SONIC SUPERSTARS
Contemporary-pop artist SUGAR JOIKO + local queer artists on the rise. Photography by Jazmine Watson Instagram: @jazmineimaginesphotography
Give yourself every advantage. When you want to aim higher, choose a more powerful partner.
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OutSmart is published monthly. Estimated readership in Houston and surrounding areas is 60,000. OutSmart Media Company is not responsible for claims and practices of advertisers. The opinions and views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the staff or management of OutSmart. Inclusion in OutSmart does not imply sexual orientation. ©2021 by OutSmart Media Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Unsolicited material is accepted. No manuscript returned without SASE.
EDITOR’S NOTE
W
ith homegrown artists such as Beyoncé, Megan Thee Stallion, Lizzo, and Travis Scott, Houston is on the map for producing some of the nation’s top talent. Just last month, Rolling Stone spotlighted Space City musicians in its annual Hot List. The critically-acclaimed music magazine noted that up-and-coming Houston performers were following in their predecessors’ footsteps by sharpening their craft locally before their worldwide fans take notice. And since Houston’s rising LGBTQ stars might be one of the city’s best-kept secrets, OUTSMART readers will want to check out some of these local artists in our
annual August music issue. To kick off our artist roundup, writer Ryan Leach introduces you to cover star Sugar Joiko, a multi-talented singer, producer, and performer who is on track to become Houston’s next pop supernova. Leach also gets the spin on DJ GNDRBNDR, while writer Lillian Hoang chats with indie singer-songwriter Uliya about their electro-acoustic tunes. Then writer Connor Behrens sits down with country artist Curtis Braly, and writer David Webb interviews operatic bass Cory McGee. You can also listen to many queer artists on OUT & PROUD LIVE, Houston’s first independently owned and operated online LGBTQ music station. Writer Marene Gustin speaks with founder Easton Santos about creating a new media outlet for
the queer community. Another local broadcaster, who uses KHOU-TV’s popular platform to uplift LGBTQ voices, is Briahn Hawkins. Lillian Hoang talks to the nonbinary journalist about using storytelling to spotlight trans and gender-nonconforming people. To celebrate our evolving awareness of the issues that gender-expansive individuals face, this issue of OUTSMART also highlights local advocates whose identities extend beyond the traditional male/female binary. Writers Sam Byrd, Andrew Edmonson, and Marene Gustin interview Juliann Losey, Moe Penders, and DJ Mel, respectively. Finally, with nearly half of Harris County’s population vaccinated, several LGBTQ events are back in person this fall. We’ve got
the latest rundown on these local happenings, including the 35th annual Miss Gay Texas USofA pageant and the Galveston Island Esports Summit. Because the nation has currently lost its momentum in defeating COVID-19, we urge everyone attending these outings to continue following the latest CDC pandemic safety recommendations. Stay safe, and see you next month!
Lourdes Zavaleta Managing Editor
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NEWS
Pentagon Pioneers Out veterans Shawn Graham Skelly and Gina Ortiz Jones appointed to top national-security posts. By LISA KEEN, KEEN NEWS SERVICE
D
espite behind-the-scenes objections, the U.S. Senate on July 22 confirmed the nominations of two openly LGBTQ appointees to top Pentagon posts. The vote, by voice vote without objection, confirmed transgender woman Shawn Graham Skelly of Virginia to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense and lesbian Gina Ortiz Jones of Texas to be Under Secretary of the Air Force. Skelly, 55, a retired U.S. Navy pilot and former deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Pacific Command, served as a special assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics during the last three years of the Obama administration. She was also part of the Biden transition team and the co-founder of an LGBTQ national-security group called Out in National Security. Jones, 40, a former intelligence officer and captain in the U.S. Air Force, served in Afghanistan and as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. She recently ran two campaigns for a U.S. House seat representing San Antonio, where she lost by close margins. Annise Parker, president of the LGBTQ Victory Institute, said the confirmation of Skelly and Jones to “key leadership positions” will not only “transform perceptions of LGBTQ people within the ranks of the U.S. military, but also among the leaders of militaries we work with around the world.” “While they were confirmed because of their unquestionable qualifications and experience,” said Parker, “they symbolize our continued progress and will further disrupt any lingering notion that LGBTQ people are somehow unfit to serve.” Jennifer Dane, executive director of the Modern Military Association of America, a pro-LGBTQ group, praised Skelly’s “exceptional military career” and work for the Obama administration. She noted that Jones “represents diverse intersections of minority groups, and her visibility at the top echelons of leadership is exactly what our communities need. “We look forward to working with them 12
AUGUST 2021
|
OutSmartMagazine.com
Shawn Graham Skelly
Gina Ortiz Jones
both, to ensure that honor, dignity, and respect are extended to all military members,” said Dane.
high school. She shares the experience she had when one of her parents was paralyzed in an accident and had to struggle with rehab before she could walk again for her wedding ceremony with Malonelord’s other mother. The Malonelord video was one of five the U.S. Army began posting on YouTube to encourage enlistments from a wide range of people. It focuses on five service members— three women and two men, animated in a kind of superhero action-figure presentation. An Army press release says the video was intended to make clear that the Army is comprised of “real people with hopes and dreams, fears, aspirations, families, friends, and obstacles to overcome.” But the Army Times reported that the video was heavily “disliked” on YouTube, prompting the Army to shut down the comment section on all five. Cruz, who has not served in the military, posted a message on Twitter May 20, showing the U.S. Army recruiting ad along with one from Russia. The Russian ad depicted its military as an all-white, all-male group of buff soldiers doing push-ups, parachuting, and looking somber and ominous. Cruz’s Twitter
Disrespect in the Background
There were no voiced objections to either Skelly or Jones during their June 16 confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. But ahead of the hearing, at least one Republican senator derided President Biden’s more pro-LGBTQ military as an “emasculated” force that promotes “pansies.” And several of his Republican colleagues said they were concerned about “far left” agendas. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) stirred controversy in May when he took issue with a U.S. Army recruiting video that featured a female soldier who has two moms. The two-minute video features Corporal Emma Malonelord, who operates Patriot Missile Defense weapons. In the mostly animated video, Malonelord explains what inspired her to join the Army. She describes having a “fairly typical” childhood, noting that she had two moms who served as “powerful role models,” and says she finished at the top of her class in
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post commented, “Holy crap. Perhaps a woke, emasculated military is not the best idea,” implying, apparently, that he sees the Russian images as superior. Cruz’s post got 33,500 “Likes” but also many stinging criticisms. Some included photos of Cruz kowtowing to President Trump and suggesting Cruz is an expert on emasculation. Most criticized the senator for expressing a preference for the Russian Army. “It’s incredibly frustrating to have a sitting Senator degrading the service of a woman who raised her hand, volunteered, and is currently serving honorably,” said one Twitter response. Another called Cruz’s post “disgusting,” saying he was “actively cheering for an adversary to make a domestic political opponent look worse.” U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) posted a Twitter message in response to Cruz, saying, “Holy crap. Perhaps a U.S. Senator shouldn’t suggest that the *Russian* military is better than the American military that protected him from an insurrection he helped foment?” She was referring to the January 6 mob attack on the U.S. Capitol which forced the evacuation of Congress as it was about to certify the election of President Biden. Cruz was a big promoter of then-President Trump’s claims that the 2020 presidential election had been “stolen” from him. Cruz quickly attempted to answer his critics, saying they were “lefty blue checkmarks” and that he wasn’t attacking the U.S. military. “We have the greatest military on earth, but Dem politicians & woke media are trying to turn them into pansies.” “Ted Cruz is a bigot and a joke and has no business questioning the strength of LGBTQ service members or veterans when he hasn’t served himself,” said Elliot Imse, a spokesman for the LGBTQ Victory Institute. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told CNN that service members “represent the United States of America” and “ought to look like America.” He criticized Cruz’s remarks as enabling Russia and China to “capitalize on talking points like that.” A group of 30 Republican members of Congress also targeted the Malonelord video. In a May 25 letter to Austin, the group said the Defense Department’s post-insurrection efforts to eradicate “extremism” within its ranks is, instead, rooting out service members “who will not affirm far-left doctrines.” They specifically criticized the Malonelord video because it “features a lesbian wedding” and “depicts ‘two moms’ raising a child.” © 2021 Keen News Service. All rights reserved.
14 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
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No Drama ...Just Results
Empowered Education Texas GSA groups create safe spaces for LGBTQ students. By DAVID WEBB
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N
onbinary high-school senior Hayden Cohen is looking forward to graduating from Houston’s Energy Institute High School next spring. But first, there will be some unfinished extracurricular activity that requires attention. As the founder of the East Texas Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), which covers an area from Northeast Texas to the Gulf Coast, Cohen sees a need for the creation of new GSA clubs (and the rebuilding of existing ones) as LGBTQ students head back to the classroom after a year of pandemic disruption. The East Texas GSA’s ultimate goal is to influence students in smaller school districts in rural areas to connect with students in urban districts that already have active GSA groups. “When there is a GSA active in a school, it makes for a safer place,” Cohen emphasizes. “It’s also given me a sense of leadership and community. I have definitely learned a lot.” Cohen joined the Energy Institute magnet school’s GSA after coming out three years ago as a freshman, became its president the next year, and quickly realized that involvement with the club made school life a more productive experience.
Virtual Tours Available At the Emery/Weiner School, a private Jewish middle school and high school in Houston’s Willowbend area, students will be focusing on getting back on track with set schedules and routines for both academic and extracurricular activities. Diane Hursch notes that her 12 years as Emery/Weiner’s GSA sponsor has shown her how important it is to create a safe place with comfortable associations for students. “The past year was particularly challenging, with club meeting times being moved around. It was uncharted territory,” she says. Hursch has observed how many new students feel safe coming out as the GSA has grown at her school. The GSA has about 30 members, which is around 10 percent of the school’s student population. “It’s really beautiful to see. I think where we have gone is only in the right direction.” Cohen also sees more students coming out at the Energy Institute magnet school, and notes that the GSA club is helping increase acceptance of LGBTQ students. The school’s Pride Day saw students bringing Pride flags and stickers to school that were placed on backpacks. “It was really cool to see how much support we were able to spread in the school,” Cohen recalls. The upcoming school year will be more ➝
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CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2021 17
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difficult for LGBTQ students, according to Frederick Heather, coordinator for the Austinbased Texas GSA Network that is sponsored by Out Youth. Studies show that bullying and violence increase when politicians engage in the kind of verbal gay-bashing heard during the Texas Legislature’s recent session. “I’ve had more individuals reach out to me in the first few months of 2021 than I did in all of 2020,” Heather notes, adding that the network is gearing up for big demand this fall.
“WHEN THERE IS A GSA ACTIVE IN A SCHOOL, IT MAKES FOR A SAFER PLACE.” —Hayden Cohen
Out Youth provides tool kits for students and sponsors on its website, outyouth.org, as well as information on regional GSA coalitions. There are five in Texas. All active GSA clubs throughout the country are encouraged to register on the Out Youth website. Out Youth also offers the Be a Beacon program, which helps K–12 instructors create supportive learning environments for their students. Level One discusses how to intervene in bullying and harassment, Level Two covers school staff rights and how to deal with students who are coming out, and Level Three focuses on integrating LGBTQ content into lesson plans and how to be an effective offcampus ally. The Central Texas GSA Coalition, Out Youth, and the Texas GSA Network have teamed up to sponser an annual educational symposium known as Q+ EDU. This year’s symposium will run Aug 2–27. Last year, there were about 80 speakers in 40 sessions aimed at meeting the needs of LGBTQ students. Material from last year’s symposium is available on the Q+ EDU website.
Cohen plans to attend college in the Houston area next year, and to stay involved in GSA networks to help train younger people who want to establish safe school environments and foster camaraderie for LGBTQ students. That includes involvement with Hatch Youth’s steering committee at the Montrose Counseling Center. “I want to stay involved with GSA and see it expand,” Cohen adds. “It helps so many students to socialize, grow, and learn.”
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For more information on Out Youth’s Texas GSA Network, visit outyouth.org/txgsa.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS By Adriana Salazar
QUEER THINGS to DO
Resolve to stay involved with the help of our weekly planner. Visit OutSmartMagazine.com
NIGHTLIFE
August 2, 9, 16, 23
THEME QUEENS
BUDDY’S Houston presents Theme Queens with Muffy Vanderbilt III every Monday night. This weekly event includes camp drag, comedy sketches, themed numbers, and a cast of colorful characters. tinyurl.com/vr6cc6tm
COMMUNITY
August 24–27
Miss Texas USofA Pageant The Miss Gay Texas USofA Pageant is back in Houston this year after canceling its 2020 events due to COVID-19. The groundbreaking drag queen pageant is celebrating its 35th year with preliminary competitions at Neon Boots and the finale at The Ballroom at Bayou Place. In honor of the contest’s coral year, the events 22
AUGUST 2021 |
will feature 35 former winners— including Houston’s own Tommie Ross and the reigning Miss Gay USofA Kennedy Davenport, who was the runner-up on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 7. Tables for the events are already sold out, but $50 individual tickets will be sold at the door. tinyurl.com/23n73t94
See more on page 60
OutSmartMagazine.com
COMMUNITY
August 5
LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY FORUM AT THE MONTROSE CENTER
The Montrose Center SPRY seniors program and the Alzheimer’s Association present the LGBTQ+ Community Forum to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and memory loss. The Alzheimer’s Association is increasing its presence in Houston so it can better serve the local LGBTQ community. tinyurl.com/nvt9esny
Comicpalooza
MUSIC
SHOP
August 6
August 7
OG 713—an apparel, art, and accessories brand founded by husbands Anthony Ferrell and Alan Lett—is debuting its second location at 15555 Southwest Fwy. in Sugar Land with a grand-opening event this month.
Gay smooth-jazz saxophonist David Koz is bringing his tour to Houston’s Arena Theatre. Jazz artists Kirk Whalum, Mindi Abair, Kenny Lattimore, and Vincent Ingala will also be featured, and tickets are on sale now.
OG 713 GRAND OPENING
DAVID KOZ & FRIENDS AT ARENA THEATRE
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COMMUNITY SOCIAL
August 7
HOUSTON GAYMERS MEETUP
The Houston Gaymers present the return of their Main Meetups at BUDDY’S. The bar will be set up with a variety of consoles to provide a lively environment for gaming and socializing. tinyurl.com/thjetb5c
SOCIAL
August 8
TONY’S ROYALTY REVIEW
August 8
Tony’s Corner Pocket hosts Tony’s Royalty Review, a fundraising event for Tony’s Place, a dropin shelter that serves homeless LGBTQ youth. The drag event is hosted by the reigning Mr. and Mrs. Tony’s pageant winners Mykey Whitney and Angela Mercy. tinyurl.com/m2ue8new
WTF (WOMEN, TRANS, & FEMME) RIDE READY CLINIC
EaDo Bike Co. hosts the WTF (Women, Trans, & Femme) Ride Ready Clinic this month. The free bicyclemaintenance event will be led by Jackie G and Angie Cabrera. Come and learn about bike safety, bike components, and how to perform a pre-ride safety inspection. Pre-registration is required via Eventbrite. tinyurl.com/2t78c792
COMMUNITY COMMUNITY
August 10
PRIDE HOUSTON BOARD MEETING
Pride Houston hosts virtual monthly board meetings to keep the organization on track with their 2021 goals. This meeting is open to the public, and suggestions for fundraising and future strategic plans are welcome. tinyurl.com/55vwpbum
August 14
COMMUNITY
GLBT POLITICAL CAUCUS CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT MEETING
August 20
BUDDY’S INK
Get tattooed at BUDDY’S Houston during this BUDDY’S Ink event. Artist Megan Medina will be offering her tattooing services, which range in price from $80 to $150. Food provided by Tacos Orlando.
The Houston GLBT Political Caucus will conduct this year’s General Election Endorsement Meeting via Zoom. During the meeting, members vote on the candidates that will be endorsed on the November ballot. This meeting is open to all, but only those who obtained a Caucus membership prior to July 14 can vote. tinyurl.com/ca79j7ed
tinyurl.com/5b6pnffw STAGE
August 28 MUSIC
August 21
KESHA AND BETTY WHO
Kesha and Betty Who, two openly bisexual musicians, visit Houston for a performance at the Bayou Music Center. Kesha is touring for her 2020 album High Road, and tickets are on sale now.
artFACTORY 2021–22 SEASON PREVIEW
The performing-arts theater artFACTORY previews its 2021–2022 season with a Grand Re-Opening Celebration. Attendees will enjoy an evening of complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres, short performances from the upcoming season, guided tours, behind-the-scenes glances from the creative team, and more. $40 tickets to the preview event are available at artfactoryhouston.com. See more on page 68
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
QUEER THINGS to DO
SAVE the DATES
MUSIC
September 23
BROTHERS OSBORNE
The country-music duo Brothers Osborne visits Houston’s White Oak Music Hall for their We’re Not for Everyone tour. The band’s lead vocalist, T.J. Osborne, is the first out country musician signed to a major record label. tinyurl.com/sytc6p8k
STAGE
September 10
PROUD TINA
Miller Outdoor Theatre presents PROUD Tina, a musical tribute to Tina Turner. The legendary artist’s hits from the ’60s through the ’90s will be staged with a full band, dancers, and backup vocalists. Tickets will be available two weeks before the event at milleroutdoortheatre.com
COMMUNITY
October 30
THE WOODLANDS PRIDE
This year’s Woodlands Pride celebration will be held in October at Town Green Park. Help make this year’s LGBTQ celebration possible by volunteering, donating, or signing up to be a vendor. To get involved, contact media@thewoodlandstxpride.org.
https://tinyurl.com/yydkdhnu
Submit your events at calendar@outsmartmagazine.com 24 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
LEFT OUT By SUSAN BANKSTON
Way Out West Utah and a governor’s race are in the news.
I’m going to share two news items with you this month. Both of them are certified true, and you might want to take notes because some of the names are going to resurface in the coming months. First, let’s trot up to Utah, the homeland of men living on the corner of Nowhere and Remote. They’re the ones who didn’t have enough gas money to make it all the way to Alaska. They live in homemade cabins, and when they accidentally blow themselves up with homemade bombs, the local newspaper politely describes them as “loners.” Darlin’, you would not be living in Utah unless you were a loner. Recently, a 19-year-old Utah woman was charged, booked, and jailed for stomping on a pro-police sign and throwing it in the trash. This happened right in front of the county sheriff’s deputy who had just given the woman’s friend a speeding ticket. That deputy who filed charges described the brutal crime scene in his affidavit: “I observed one of the friends stomping on a ‘Back the Blue’ sign next to where the traffic stop was conducted, crumple it up in a destructive manner and throw it into a trash can, all while smirking in an intimidating manner towards me.” She smirked. He felt intimidated. OK, so now who’s the snowflake, Wilbur? I have never been intimidated by a smirk. Pissed off, yes. I’ve even been embarrassed and disappointed, but not intimidated. Given the choice between being smirked at and having an angry mob hurling bricks at you, most police officers would go with a smirk most of the damn time. Please tell me: how is it possible to be intimidated by a smirking 19-year-old? That’s all 19-year-olds do. It’s their last year to be a teenager, so they smirk, they eat, they shrug, and then they start all over. I gotta tell ya, if that smirking teen had trashed a Black Lives Matter sign, they would have given her a medal, an AK-47, a cute camo hat, and a free license to hunt down liberals and shoot them in the ass. I guess I need to study Utah law to find out 26
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if rolling your eyes is also considered a terrorist threat. If so, I’d have to keep a bag over my head whenever I visited. For our next news flash, I need to introduce you to Allen West. Honey, this child is a shiver just looking for a spine to run up. West is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. He was asked to retire after being fined $5,000 for beating an Iraqi policeman. (Are you listening, Utah sheriff’s deputies?) West also fired a gun near an Iraqi’s head during an interrogation. West retired to Florida, where he accidentally got elected to Congress by riding the wave of Republican victories in 2010. He served one term, and was soundly defeated the next two times he ran. After doing some talk-radio gigs, West suddenly up and moved to Texas to run for chairman of the Texas Republican Party. He won because the job description for that position includes the words weird, wacky, and preposterous. But that job didn’t last long, because West gets antsy if his name isn’t on a ballot somewhere, somehow. So of course, he’s now running for governor. Of Texas—a state that he’s just visiting. Sadly, West is running a campaign that ignores our biggest problem in Texas—an elec-
trical grid that’s about as dependable as gas-station sushi—and focuses instead on demonizing the gays. “We have a new religion that’s being put forth. It’s the religion of same-sex marriage,” he said, talking about a Colorado baker who refused to sell a wedding cake to a same-sex couple. My friend Thelma was not as upset about that “new religion” statement as you might suspect. She figures it means that with Governor West in charge, she and her wife, Juanita Jean, can declare themselves a church and never have to pay taxes again. Thelma says that she’d probably vote for the guy if it weren’t for all that stuff about beating people up and firing weapons. I want you to take a good look at Allen West’s campaign sign. I looked at it five times, and four of those times what I saw was Worst, not West. And that’s exactly what a West victory would be, Cupcake. Sorry, conservative Christians, but spending eternity with y’all is not the selling point you think it is. Susan Bankston lives in Richmond, Texas, where she writes about her hairdresser at The World’s Most Dangerous Beauty Salon, Inc., at juanitajean.com.
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S M A R T H E A LT H By DARYL SHORTER, MD
Coping with Complex Feelings Overcome imposter syndrome by combatting your inner saboteur.
Progress is an interesting thing. For some members of the LGBTQ community, things are definitely better. LGBTQ people are out in their families of origin and have found acceptance while living authentically. Partnered or married couples have built families of their own. There are vacations and dinner parties and community volunteering and social events. At work, their co-workers appreciate their contributions to the team. Unfortunately, this is only one side of the story. For many LGBTQ folks, family is still far from a safe space, and familial relationships are characterized by rejection, abandonment, the secrecy of the closet, or an unspoken agreement to “never ask, never tell.” For others, meaningful romantic connections are fleeting and, despite a few friendships, an inner struggle with loneliness or emptiness is pervasive. At work, there may be a variety of experiences ranging from judgment to isolation to frequent microaggressions. In some cases, staying in the closet may feel like the only way to remain employed—particularly in a state like Texas, where antidiscrimination protections are not extended to LGBTQ people. Defining Imposter Syndrome Regardless of where you may land along this spectrum, we have all experienced complicated feelings about belonging. And despite the markers of progress, we live and operate within a society that sends both implicit and overt messages that we are not fully accepted. At our core, it can be hard to feel like we’re part of “something bigger” when we have still never been fully accepted. When these negative experiences frame your upbringing and your primary relationships, it can be hard to feel secure in the world—and in yourself. This lack of confidence can make one feel like an imposter or a fraud, 28 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
even in situations where you might have experience or expertise. Imposter syndrome, as it is sometimes called, can show up particularly in places related to work or community, and trigger some of our deepest insecurities and fears of not being good enough. Not only can imposter syndrome attack our sense of self, but these feelings can impact our work performance and our job satisfaction. Instead of focusing on work, battling the feeling of not truly belonging can take up much of the space in our brains and become the main thing we focus on. This feeling can be further exacerbated in those with intersectional identities, since racism, sexism, and ableism also contribute to exclusion and complicate our sense of belonging. Recently, there has been a growing move-
ment to throw off the shackles of imposter syndrome and call it what it is. The feeling that you may not belong in a particular setting may be rooted in the actual experience of being LGBTQ. Systemic homo- and trans-phobia are real forces that contribute to the perpetuation of bias and stigma within institutions. If you’re picking up on the messages that are being sent to you by your peers or supervisors, perhaps you have a heightened sensitivity and awareness of this exclusion because of past experiences. Either way, placing the burden of addressing imposter syndrome entirely on the individual misses the huge role that society and culture plays. Responding to Your Inner Imposter To combat the voices of your inner saboteur, two battles must be waged. The first
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battle involves recognizing when imposter syndrome is rearing its ugly head. Are you not speaking up in meetings or at work because you feel that your contribution isn’t good enough? Is this part of a more pervasive pattern rooted in the sense that your contributions are inadequate? Wrestling with these questions can expose the need to seek out honest feedback from peers or colleagues regarding your performance. The second battle requires you to assess your environment. Has it been communicated to you that perhaps your ideas or work are not thought of in the same light as non-LGBTQ co-workers? Does your team, supervisor, or workplace contribute to your feeling of not belonging and being unable to be your authentic self on the job? Question the origins of these feelings. When feeling like a fraud at work or in the community, ask yourself where that feeling is coming from. Is this something that I believe because others tell me that I am not good enough? Or is this being generated by my own feelings of inadequacy? If it is difficult to tease this out, practicing vulnerability with a close friend and talking it out could be helpful. This is also an issue that aWILLIAMS-OCQUE counselor or therapist GROUP could help you examine more closely. If you determine that your work environment is contributing to the feeling that you’re not good enough, this opens another road for you as you reflect on this particular job and its importance to you. Are there co-worker conversations that need to be held? Is it time to look at other options like going back to school or getting back in the job market? WILLIAMS-OCQUE Thinking through your options in the GROUP workplace can perhaps create a spark that leads to action and the potential for greater job satisfaction. If, however, the feelings of inadequacy you have at work carry over into your relationships with family and friends, then it might be a good idea to explore this further in therapy. Although it can be uncomfortable to look at, the need to confront imposter syndrome actually represents an opportunity. Think of it as a great excuse to honestly appraise the quality and value of your work, the openness of your workplace, your deeper sense of self, and your overall competency.
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MONEY SMART By GRACE S. YUNG, CFP
Here for All of Life’s Ups and Downs Helping a dying client is the most difficult part of a financial planner’s job.
While medical professionals deal with “life or death” issues on a regular basis, professionals in many different fields—including financial services—must also deal with serious client situations. For example, the other day a longtime client contacted me just as I was expecting another important call. I made the conversation brief, and asked if one of my assistants could help him. His reply shocked and saddened me when he said, “I don’t think they can help me with this.” As he went on to tell me that he was now in a hospice facility, thoughts of the 26 years he and I had worked together flooded my mind. As a financial planner, I help clients with a variety of issues. While most things have to do with monetary objectives, the majority of these matters are surrounded by emotional factors. For example, the goal of generating ongoing retirement income is to help people feel confident about their finances so they can focus on spending more quality time with their loved ones. Unfortunately, planning ahead for a client’s final days is also one of the “financial physical exam” tasks that I must handle. And while it’s nice to see a good plan helping loved ones replace income or pay off debts, it still doesn’t make losing a client any easier. The Hardest Part of the Job If I asked people to guess what my biggest challenges are, they might mention something about dealing with different client personalities, making sure investments and strategies fit a clients’ goals and objectives, or helping clients make good decisions (instead of emotional decisions) when the stock market is volatile. But the reality is, the toughest part of being a financial advisor is saying goodbye to someone who has become a friend over the years—and in some cases, even like family. Going through the “journey” with a dying client and their loved ones—and remaining strong so 30 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
that their family has someone to lean on, even when you want to fall apart—is really the most challenging part of the job. How Will Loved Ones Fare Without You? While most people don’t like to talk about it, death is a part of life. And because everyone deals with it differently and in their own way, I think what is important here is to ask the people we care about how we can help them prepare for their final days. In my experience, in addition to the financial details that should be taken care of, there are other things that are often overlooked, given the more pressing focus on physical and medical issues. For instance, what loose ends do they need to tie up? Should they satisfy their annual required minimum distribution(s) from retirement and/or IRA accounts now? Are there any funeral and burial arrangements that still need to be planned or funded? Have they asked a friend or family member to deliver their eulogy? If they want an open-casket viewing as part of the funeral, which clothes do they want
to be buried in? What about assets or personal items they want to pass on to loved ones? Should some of these be gifted while the individual is still alive so that they can see the excitement on the recipients’ faces? In some instances, early birthday or holiday celebrations may be in order. Because all situations are different, not all strategies and plans will be right for everyone across the board. But as difficult as having some of these conversations can be, they are well worth it and provide peace of mind for everyone involved. Is Your Financial Plan Current? If you have dependent family members or friends who will struggle financially upon your passing, this should ideally be addressed in your overall plan now. This doesn’t only refer to a spouse or partner and/or children who might have to drastically change their lifestyle if your income or financial support disappeared. This also applies if you have unpaid debts at the present time. It is important
That is our PASSION, that is our PURPOSE, that is our PROMISE! to make sure that this debt won’t have to be taken on by parents, siblings, or other loved ones after you pass. For example, there needs to be a plan to pay any final medical and/or hospice costs that aren’t covered by insurance. If you already have a financial and estate plan in place, it is a good idea to review it on a regular basis. It is also wise to make sure your plan is still relevant throughout the various phases of life—marriage or divorce, the birth or adoption of a child or grandchild, the death of a spouse or partner, the purchase or sale of a home or business, and retirement. Working with a financial-planning professional to make sure your financial plan has all of the bases covered, including details about your final wishes, is highly recommended. That way, you can be more assured that things will move forward in the way you intend them to. Grace S. Yung, CFP ®, is a Certified Financial Planner practitioner with experience in helping LGBTQ individuals, domestic partners, and families plan and manage their finances since 1994. She is the managing director at Midtown Financial Group, LLC, in Houston.Yung can be reached at grace.yung@lpl.com. Visit letsmake aplan.org or midtownfg.com/lgbtqplus.10.htm.
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AN INTERVIEW WITH…
Easton Santos Meet the creator of Houston’s first independently owned and operated LGBTQ online station. By MARENE GUSTIN Photo by FRANK HERNANDEZ
When and how did the idea for OUT & PROUD LIVE come about? After living in Houston for a few years, I noticed the lack of broadcast and entertainment media for our community. [That’s when the] idea for an independent, local, involved radio station, app, and all-around interactive platform was born! But what to call it? After weeks of brainstorming, we came up with OUT & PROUD LIVE (OPL). Because we wanted to involve the community in more than just a jukebox of great music, the concept is to unite our community through live entertainment and events, as well. With the launch of specialty shows, community events, special fundraising events, and more, [it will be] so much more than just a radio station. We want it to be where the community goes for fun, education, music—and the best parties, of course! What has the response been like? Overwhelming, to be quite honest. We weren’t sure how it would be received. I’d like to say I try not to ever underestimate the community here, but I definitely did this time! As our first event was about to start at Ripcord (one of our partner clubs), my business partner and best friend, Christopher Triezenberg, and I stood with Ryan Allen (Ripcord’s GM) patiently waiting. (OK, me not so patiently waiting!) We’d already seen great numbers and app downloads, but I know that doesn’t [always] translate to listeners coming out to support the station/platform. As the event’s start time rolled around, more and more people walked through the door. By 10:45 p.m., there was a line around the building with people waiting to get inside. We were, in a sense, sold out. People not only from Houston, but also from Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio came to show love and have a great time. Ever since then, we’ve taken things a little more seriously after realizing the impact that this is having. After that event, we were happy to welcome our third partner to the business, Ryan Swenson. With the team we have now, the sky is the limit. Tell us about the programming. We have a wide variety of programming and 32 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
Easton Santos (center) next to OUT & PROUD LIVE’s Ryan Swenson and Chris Triezenberg.
“WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON INCLUDING LOCAL TALENT IN OUR PROGRAMMING. YOU’LL HEAR MANY LOCAL ARTISTS AND DJS ALL THE TIME.” —Easton Santos content, from Top 40 and dance to talk shows like That Lil’ Gay Talk Show with Joel Tatum. We were very proud to be a part of Wendy Taylor and ReBar’s Raise the Bar competition this year. The grand-prize winner will get heavy airplay on the station. That leads me to our local talent. We pride ourselves on including local talent in our programming. You’ll hear many local artists and DJs all the time, on both stations. Some of our DJs, other than myself, include the amazing DJ Aracely, appearances by DJ Melle Mel, DJ Brad Turney, DJ Hustle Cry, DJ JD3, and more. There is really something for everyone.
What is your favorite type of music? I’m blessed to have a giant span of music tastes, but if I absolutely had to pick only one genre to listen to on a deserted island for the rest of my life? Yacht Rock. Yeah, I know, don’t laugh at me too hard! With the high-energy club bangers that the station and I play, it’s nice to relax to some Michael McDonald now and then. My favorite artist is my friend Walt Wilkins. If you don’t know him, and you like “feel good about life” music, look him up. I have the lyrics of his song “I Chose This Road” literally tattooed on my arm. How can people listen to OUT & PROUD LIVE? OPL and the new OPL: Country (America’s first-ever LGBTQ+ country station) can be accessed from almost any smart device, including iOS, Android, Apple TV, Amazon Alexa, Apple Watch, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay— the list goes on. To use the old saying, “There’s an app for that!” Learn more about OUT & PROUD LIVE at outandproudlive.com.
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THE SOUNDS OF H-TOWN
Finding Her Groove Houst-Orleanian Sugar Joiko delves into the musical influences that inspired her signature sound. By RYAN M. LEACH Photo by JAZMINE WATSON
S
ugar Joiko, 33, is a bisexual Houston singer and musician with the makings of a superstar. Her contemporary-pop vibe is infused with a New Orleans groove that shows the influence of some of her favorite artists. She’s on track to be Houston’s next pop supernova, so audiences had better start taking notice before she explodes. Joiko, whose real name is Joi Keeling, got her sweet-sounding name from her brother. “My stage name was thought up by my brother, D KEELA. I’m very into Japanese culture, and I used to visit Japan often over the summer. My friends would call me ‘Joiko,’” the artist says, noting that adding “ko” to the end of female names is a Japanese tradition. “One day, my friend said ‘Sugar, Sugar Joiko!’ and immediately my brother thought, ‘That’s it! That’s the one! That should be your stage name!’ So that’s how I got the name Sugar Joiko.” Joiko made her way to Houston after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005. She has been here ever since, remaking herself into what she refers to as an official “Houst-Orleanian.” But the Crescent City still influences her Bayou City sound. Joiko describes her musical style as contemporary pop. “To me, contemporary pop is pop that has no bounds. It gives me freedom to be soulful and dancey. Pop, to me, is both culture and creating that new trend. Pop will always pave mainstream music,” she says. Joiko was first drawn to music during her childhood in New Orleans. “Music started for me when I touched my first piano at 8 years old. I wanna say music chose me—my mom couldn’t keep me away from the old upright piano in the back of my grandmother’s daycare center. As soon as I could distinguish tones, I would produce a song just about every single day. It was when I graduated college that I decided to make a career out of my craft. 34
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“New Orleans definitely influences my music—the soul, the syncopation in rhythms. Dance music is where my heart is at, but I always have to have groove in my work. Groove is where my soul is at, and all of that is learned from New Orleans,” Joiko explains. Today, Joiko’s work might be described as “synth and wave meets ’70s and ’80s soul.” Her career started out as an EDM singer, but nowadays she feels freer and unafraid to be her authentic self—while still paying homage to her cultural roots. Her newest album, due out next spring, promises to reintroduce her as an artist with a sound that she describes as “sassy, unapologetic, and filled with love.” Perhaps some of her newfound artistic liberation can be attributed to her coming out as bisexual. “Since my coming out, something came out of me with it. Doubt, fear, and selfconsciousness all faded away, as now I feel brave and completely secure in my own skin,” she says. Joiko spends most of her time in Houston’s Montrose and EaDo neighborhoods, and she loves the culture and the people who frequent those areas. These eclectic neighborhoods also help influence her sound. “I gather musical influences from just about anything. From my favorite artist, Sade, to the sounds of a random drum circle on a corner. Music finds me, and when I’m inspired enough, I work real hard to bring it to life through songs,” she explains. Joiko’s favorite venues are some of the better-known ones within Houston’s livemusic community—venues like Axelrad, Secret Group, and Warehouse Live. Joiko’s short-term goal is to perform a set at Discovery Green someday, so perhaps the next Rainbow on the Green event will offer her that opportunity. Eventually, she hopes to go on tour and perform in Japan, a country that has greatly influenced the artist. “I like that the Houston music scene is
forward-thinking. There’s so many types of music artists here. I just wish the gatekeepers and venue owners would give other [artists] outside of rap, rock, and country more opportunities to perform and share their work. With so much talent grown here and moving here, Houston has so much room for growth and expansion in music, I believe,” Joiko says. Indeed, Houston is known for producing some top artists, but Joiko plans to carve out her own path. “Two of my favorites are definitely Lizzo and Beyoncé, but I hope that I can create my own name by representing Houston proudly. I’ve been called ‘the female Prince’ from time to time, because I incorporate playing a bunch of instruments on stage when I perform,” she notes. Joiko is prolific in the number of instruments she has mastered. Aside from the piano and the keytar, she can also play the bass guitar, drums, and clarinet. The artist is always up for more collaborations to expand on her ongoing working relationship with the Texas soul band The Suffers. “I would love to collaborate with Tobe Nwigwe and (OMG) Lizzo! Can you imagine a keytar vs. flute battle? It would be epic!” she says. Contemporary pop is just the starting point for this multi-talented artist. Eventually, her goals include making music beyond the dance floor. “You only get one life. The least I can do is try to live out my dream as a worldtraveling musician and songwriter. I even hope to produce movie scores with other prominent artists someday. I just want other individuals that want to be artists to keep pushing. What comes from the heart, reaches the heart,” she concludes. Check out Joiko’s current work on Instagram @SugarJoiko and at SugarJoiko.com. You can also find her at Youtube. com/SugarJoiko, Facebook.com/SugarJoiko, and Twitter.com/SugarJoiko.
“CONTEMPORARY POP IS POP THAT HAS NO BOUNDS. IT GIVES ME THE FREEDOM TO BE SOULFUL AND DANCEY.” —Sugar Joiko
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THE SOUNDS OF H-TOWN
Mixing Master Get the spin on DJ GNDRBNDR’s versatile career. By RYAN M. LEACH
S
ylas Draco, 27, (a.k.a. DJ GNDRBNDR) is a transgender musician who has his hand in almost every aspect of the industry. He can play multiple instruments. He’s a songwriter, a producer, and of course a DJ who can be found spinning late into the night in Houston’s dance clubs. He’s also making space for other trans musicians and artists to share their talents with the world. “Honestly, I think the name DJ GNDRBNDR is iconic. I am clearly trying to create transgender representation in the music industry, and I’m being loud and proud about that fact. There is no one else like me in the EDM community. I am breaking barriers and unapologetically showing others that you can be a successful trans [artist] if you work hard enough,” says Draco. Indeed, there is no subtlety with a stage name like his, and that’s just fine with this ambitious musician who hardly has time for anything else. When approached by OutSmart for this interview, he had just worked three days in a row at various DJ gigs. He describes literally coming home to crash, waking up, and going back to work again. His stage name also reflects his versatility in that regard. “People also call me The Genre Bender because I play and produce so many styles, so I think that really fits my brand, as well. Although I am trans, I do not want people to just label me as that, because my music really speaks for itself. I want them to say first, ‘OMG, his music is amazing!’ and then, ‘Oh, did you also know he’s trans?’ It’s just a part of me, but not what I solely want to be recognized for,” 36 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
he emphasizes. Draco is originally from New Orleans, where his passion for music developed. He moved to Houston to work with a major railroad before quitting to pursue a career in music. “My grandmother taught me to sing in both English and French at the age of 4. When I turned 9 or 10, I was given a guitar and started songwriting and playing. I even won multiple music awards in school for my poetry. I still play classical guitar, lead guitar, and even a little bit of piano. It has made my production values improve tremendously,” he notes. Eventually, his love for playing music
evolved into a talent for producing it. “After playing guitar for some years, I realized that I wanted to be able to perform without the anxiety of messing up. Classical guitar can be extremely technical and difficult, and I found myself shying away from performing for others on stage. A friend of mine introduced me to a program called Ableton, where you could make your own music from the computer while incorporating live elements as well. Being that I had always had a passion for electronic music, I knew this was for me. I could incorporate my skills on the guitar into it, as well.” “After learning the program and releasing a few tracks, I began having people approach me
to do it for them. At first it started off small— one here, one there—and now I have a full-scale business doing professional production, songwriting, and even production lessons. Draco admits that a career in music requires a great deal of hustle, but overall it has been extremely rewarding for him as he focuses primarily on raw creativity. One day he hopes to open his own concert venue and music studio, where he hopes to showcase LGBTQIA artists. His goals also include gaining experience producing for television and film, which he hopes will lead to a Grammy award. As for now, Draco has several different projects in the works. “I’m doing a remix project with Lijah Lu from American Idol, and an original composition with Sugar Joiko. Check out my most recent release, “Love Me Now,” featuring the Grammy award-winning producer and singer LAB OX.” Coincidentally, Joiko is a bisexual Houston artist who is also featured in this August issue of Outsmart. Joiko originally hails from New Orleans, as well. “Sugar and I actually grew up not too far from each other in New Orleans. We met each other through a mutual friend of mine and became really good friends. We realized pretty quickly that we had to work together, so you
“I AM BREAKING BARRIERS AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY SHOWING OTHERS THAT YOU CAN BE A SUCCESSFUL TRANS ARTIST IF YOU WORK HARD ENOUGH.” —Sylas Draco should expect a really cool pop/EDM track before the end of the year,” says Draco. As Pride Houston’s newly appointed entertainment coordinator, Draco is in charge of handling all of the entertainment bookings. It’s a task he relishes, since a focus for him is to make space and elevate other LGBTQ artists. He wants to turn his positive experiences into opportunities for others. “I have had nothing but love and good responses to my being trans. I am very open about it, because I want to create awareness in the community that transgender people can be in the media and be just as successful as
anyone else. “I also make room for any LGBTQIA performer who wants [music production help]. My mission is to provide reasonably priced music for our community. I will always provide a platform for this,” says Draco. As Pride Houston’s entertainment coordinator, he has the opportunity to do just that with his co-chair Krista De La Rosa. However, the details of what to expect in Pride Houston’s entertainment lineup are still under wraps. “I’ve been in the role for about nine months now. I can’t really speak on much yet, but I am trying to work with them to bring more events focusing on transgender and nonbinary individuals,” he says. You can find Draco and his music on all social-media platforms including Instagram, Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Music, and more, all at the handle “GNDRBNDR.” Or if you are looking to make some sweet music of your own, Draco is always open to collaborations. “If you enjoy my music and would like to work together in some fashion, please don’t hesitate to reach out, especially if you are involved in the LGBTQIA community. Don’t be shy!” For more information on DJ GNDRBNDR, visit linktr.ee/gndrbndr.
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THE SOUNDS OF H-TOWN
Voice of Power Singer Cory McGee looks ahead to a demanding opera career. By DAVID WEBB Photo by YEVHEN GULENKO
H
ouston Grand Opera singer Cory McGee muses that any kid who aspires to sing on an opera stage needs the strength of a long-distance runner and the mind of a seasoned linguist to meet the physical and mental demands of an opera career. The 25-year-old bass, who identifies as biracial and pansexual, appears to be up to the strenuous task before him. This summer, McGee is in New Mexico rehearsing for the role of Theseus in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Santa Fe Opera. There will be four different performances in August, and they’re all being learned simultaneously. Two of the shows will be in English, and the other two will be performed in Italian and Russian. Next March, he will be headed to Detroit to sing the role of Colline in Puccini’s La Bohème with the Michigan Opera Theater. McGee’s musical journey began in his hometown of Stafford, Virginia. He played the viola in middle school and also joined the school choir, which soon led to an interest in musical theater. In high school, an instructor suggested he consider classical voice training, which sent him on the path he is following today. “I immediately fell in love with it and decided that’s what I wanted to do.” The performer notes that some of the most important training for his career came from his athletic pursuits as a youth. Playing soccer, running track, and bowling helped him develop the determination and stamina he would need onstage. “Opera is very active. People compare it to sports all the time.” Of equal importance to physical strength is the ability to memorize lyrics in multiple languages, McGee notes. His familiarity with five languages has given him an edge in a highly competitive career. He studied Spanish 38 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
for seven years in grade school, Italian for three years as an undergraduate at Oberlin College in Ohio (which included two summers in Italy), and Russian and French as part of his opera training. “It requires a good memory,” he emphasizes. The production of a major opera is an enormous undertaking. There are about 400 people involved in the staging, including the stage crew, orchestra members, and the cast of singers—who must be heard without microphones over a full 60-piece orchestra. Movements on the stage and many pages of lyrics must be memorized and delivered with confidence. “It is very much a challenge, but it is absolutely worth it.” McGee credits three opera singers of color with inspiring him to pursue his goal. Soprano Leontyne Price, who was the first Black opera singer to achieve international fame, “paved the road for people of color,” he notes. She was the first African American soprano to sing a leading role at the Metropolitan Opera. “For her to have such a prominent voice in the field, it [convinced] people like me that we could.” Black bass singers Eric Owens and Morris Robinson, who have also starred at the Metropolitan Opera, further inspired McGee to develop his own voice. McGee is passionate about making sure that opera remains popular in a changing world, and he sees the need to adapt classical European operas for today’s society. “We like to show people it is a different form of art, but it is still relevant.”
At summer’s end, McGee will be returning to Houston from New Mexico with his two cats, Lupo and Percy, who accompany him on the road. During his three years in Houston, he earned a master of fine arts degree from Rice University and was accepted into the Houston Grand Opera’s Young Artists’ Vocal Academy— one of only five singers chosen from among 1,200 applicants. McGee says the Houston Grand Opera training program is considered one of the top three in the country, along with programs at New York City’s Metropolitan Opera and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The appointment includes a salary, making it both an opportunity and a gift for the talented bass. “It’s a big thing. I’m very grateful to be a part of the studio and the long lineage of singers that have come out of it.” With Houston serving as his home for now, McGee hopes to someday travel the globe as he develops his singing career. He is single, has a large group of friends, and loves to go out to Houston’s many restaurants. The singer also has a few family members in Houston, so he enjoys spending holidays with them. “I love Houston. I’m a bit of a socialite. I like to meet new people, and there’s a ton of people here to meet.” But above all, McGee loves preparing for a career on the opera stage. “Doing what you love and getting paid for it—that’s such a joy to me.” Follow Cory McGee on his website at corymcgeebass.com.
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AUGUST 2021 39
THE SOUNDS OF H-TOWN
Mindful Music Singer-songwriter Uliya’s electro-acoustic songs heal and inspire listeners. By LILLIAN HOANG Photo by DeANDREA CARROLL
I
ntelligent, intentional, and introspective is how friends and fans of Uliya would describe the singer-songwriter’s electroacoustic music. “One of my guiding principles is to create culture that envisions change and brings about abundance and authenticity,” Uliya says. “Music is a vehicle I use to bring about community and intentional, inclusive spaces that are liberatory.” The gender-fluid Indian American musician, who uses they/them pronouns, writes and performs vocally driven and relaxing ambient music that can inspire self-love and togetherness—especially in the LGBTQ community. Many of Uliya’s dreamy, melodic songs have resonated with LGBTQ listeners, including their gentle, transportative tune “Greener” and its message of resilience. “When we released ‘Greener,’ many people shared how the song was bringing peace to our queer and trans community. [Hearing] even one of those stories is literally the biggest gift I could ever receive,” Uliya admits. Uliya co-wrote “Greener” with their friend Anju, a Minneapolis-based genderqueer folkpop musician. Anju explains that much like Uliya’s friendship and company, Uliya’s songs help them feel safe and cared for. “Their music makes me feel softer. I think the softness and tenderness that they’re able to tap into comes through in their music.” New York City-based pop and R&B singersongwriter Xav A agrees. Xav A is currently collaborating with Uliya on an indie-pop song called “Ocean,” which comes out August 7. He says working with Uliya is always a breeze, and he admires the artist for creating songs that 40 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
send listeners on epic, emotional voyages. “I think Uliya stands out because you can tell that they put significance and meaning into every lyric, note, and sound in each song,” Xav A says. “When music is made so purposefully, it just feels so grand.” The lyrics of “Ocean” use waves as a metaphor for haunting, triggering experiences. Xav A says Uliya wanted to highlight how people can overcome their past through mindfulness and self-acceptance. “We contain multitudes of experiences, and our experiences and memories can’t control us [even though] they are a part of us,” Uliya explains. Uliya is also working on an indie-pop song called “What Do You Want?”—a question they were rarely asked growing up as the child of South Asian immigrants. “I’ve found, in talking to other people, we don’t often get asked what we want as children. The music I create isn’t only about the collective bringing people together, but also about how we can turn inward and reflect on ourselves.” Uliya grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, surrounded by music. Their mother sang and performed for her friends, and their dad loved blasting his go-to song, Lenny Kravitz’s “Fields of Joy,” while driving around with his car windows rolled down. Even so, despite being lovers of music, Uliya’s parents did not envision their child as a musician. Uliya’s parents immigrated from Bombay in search of stability and prosperity, and they wanted the same for Uliya. Their mother wanted them to become a medical professional, and their father wanted them to be a businessperson. Both parents encouraged them to
go to college, and they attended the University of California, Berkeley, to major in environmental economics. Although Uliya’s degree prepared them for a well-paying job, they decided to devote their attention to becoming a musician—even if they had to go against their parents’ wishes and do it alone. “My parents are not roadblocks, but I had to cultivate my musical career all on my own, with the help of my chosen family and community,” Uliya says. The pandemic has made it difficult for Uliya to work and sing in-person, which remains a huge issue for all musicians who depend on live performances as their main source of exposure and income. Even so, Uliya is committed to promoting their music by composing, performing virtually, and recording performances for their YouTube channel. Over 1,500 Spotify users listen to Uliya’s music each month, and their hit indie-pop song “Greener” has attracted over 120,000 listeners since it debuted in 2019. They’ve performed at several shows throughout their career. In 2020, they sang at a Black Lives Matter fundraiser hosted by Isadora Records, an independent record label. They also performed at the 2021 Digital Desi Pride event by Gay Gaze Bombay and Queer Art Exchange. Uliya hopes that all aspiring musicians can continue to develop their craft and share their creations with others as much as possible. “You don’t always see results,” they admit. “Sometimes you feel like you’re singing into a void. It takes a lot of patience, so just hang in there.” Listen to Uliya’s music on Spotify (at Uliya) and buy their songs at uliya.bandcamp.com.
“MUSIC IS A VEHICLE I USE TO BRING ABOUT COMMUNITY AND INTENTIONAL, INCLUSIVE SPACES THAT ARE LIBERATORY.” —Uliya
OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2021 41
THE SOUNDS OF H-TOWN
Shattering Industry Barriers Curtis Braly pushes new boundaries in country music. By CONNOR BEHRENS
G
ay country singer Curtis Braly has one goal when it comes to his music: healing listeners’ hearts. “I want to share stories that are super relatable to people,” he says. “I want to put out songs on the radio that completely turn your day around. You are happy, you are dancing in your car. I want to bring out an emotion in people that either makes them happy, or heals them from a negative place they are at in their life.” The Houston-area singer, who recently released a new music video for his latest single “That Should Be Me,” has shared the stage with a multitude of artists, including country icon Dolly Parton, Tanya Tucker, and Daryl Singletary. He is excited to observe that country music fans are starting to accept LGBTQ country artists. “Country music’s demographic is much wider and much broader than people thought,” he notes. “There is a place for a diverse recording artist in the genre. Country music fans are kind, loving, and compassionate. At the end of the day, they just want to hear good music.” ➝
42 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
CURTIS BRALY | CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
It was not always like that, however. Initially, Braly’s emergence in the country music genre was met with mixed reactions. “When I was trying to get my foot in the door, I received a ton of pushback for being gay. I was told that there was no place for a gay artist in country music,” he recalls. “For a while, I believed that. But when I started getting out on the road, doing national tours and getting out in front of people, I realized that was not the case at all.” With a quarter of a million Spotify streams alone, country music fans have wrapped their arms around Braly, and he hopes his music can continue to be a breath of fresh air for the country music scene. “From a young age, the reason I loved country music was because it told real-life stories,” he says. “People joke that country music is all about losing your wife, your car, your dog. That is reality, though. People go through these things every day in this world. That is why people who like country music are so drawn to it. Country music is full of experiences that people have been through in their own lives.” Those real-life experiences are what guide
his own music, particularly his latest single and its thought-provoking music video about a gay man’s experience out at a bar. “What my reality is may not be what someone else’s reality is, and that is perfectly OK,” he explains. “We can all live in this world together. The flirtiness and attractions you experience as a straight person when you are out at the bar is not much different from the experience a gay person may be having out at the bar. We all desire to go out and have a good time. In that regard, we are not that different. That is the motive behind having this video unfold the way it does. I wanted to stir up the conversations, because that is how we continue to progress.” Going forward, Braly has some lofty goals, including performing at the iconic Grand Ole Opry country music concert stage in Nashville. “There are so many things I want to tackle,” he says. “I would love to be able to play at the Grand Ole Opry. It has been very uncommon to see a gay artist stand on that stage. I think that would be an amazing accomplishment. I would also love to do a duet with Reba McEntire.” Braly also has some surprises planned for
the remainder of the year, including his annual “Cruise with Curtis” Carnival cruise that sails from Galveston in October. “It is a way for me to get to know my fans on a more intimate level,” he says. “We do a show on the ship, and we do shore excursions together. It is a great time, and it was sadly postponed twice because of COVID. I am really eager to get out and socialize with the fans again and perform for them.” At the end of the day, Braly understands the significance of gay artists in the country music scene, and he wants his career to become a roadmap that other artists can follow. “I want my career to be about more than just music,” he says. “I want people to look back at my life and my career and see it as a journey that I went on with everyone watching. I just want to leave the world a better place than it was when I got into it. I want to do my very small part in paving the way for the next gay kid who wants to be in country music, and is told he cannot be.” For more on Braly’s music and tour dates, visit curtisbraly.com.
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BEYOND the BINARY
MANY SOCIETIES—INCLUDING OURS—HAVE LONG BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO THINKING ABOUT A PERSON’S GENDER AS EITHER MALE OR FEMALE. BUT GENDER IDENTITY EXISTS ON A WIDE SPECTRUM THAT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THAT. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR TRANSGENDER EQUALITY, SOME PEOPLE HAVE A GENDER THAT BLENDS MALE AND FEMALE ELEMENTS, OR THEY MAY EVEN REJECT THE TRADITIONAL MALE/ FEMALE BINARY. SOME PEOPLE DON’T IDENTIFY WITH ANY GENDER. SOME PEOPLE’S GENDER IDENTITY CHANGES OVER TIME.
To celebrate this evolving awareness, our August issue of OutSmart highlights three local nonbinary activists— Juliann Losey, Moe Penders, and DJ Mel. They are part of Houston’s large community of gender-expansive folks who also identify as genderqueer, agender, bigender, and more. None of these terms means exactly the same thing, but all speak to the importance of affirming and supporting those who look at the world from a perspective that is not simply male or female.
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BEYOND THE BINARY
Advocate in Academia UH LGBTQ Resource Center’s Juliann Losey helps students understand intersections of identity. By SAM BYRD
G
rowing up in Alabama, Juliann Losey, 32, always leaned toward more masculine qualities, and as often happens, they didn’t quite understand the complexities of gender or identity. After all, how does one identify when there isn’t quite a language to express it, or a science to explain how one feels internally? “In my days as a younger queer person, I ended up finding a lot of community with trans men, and I really connected with some of their stories of their gender and exploring masculinity. Once I accepted and embraced that side of myself, I was a much happier, healthier person,” Losey says. “My [identifying initials] have evolved over the years. I currently identify as nonbinary and queer. Some of what I love about that is that those identities give me some freedom to be playful. I’m not super-rigid in those identities. I have always enjoyed being playful with my gender expression. Once I started meeting other nonbinary people and learned what that was a few years ago, I realized that’s what I’ve been experiencing this entire time. And now I have language for it.” After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional writing from the University of North Alabama and a master’s degree in leadership and ethics from Spring Hill College, they stayed in the higher-education field—where all of that experience with questioning identity and sexuality was put to good use. “I have been thinking about gender since I was a little kid. I was raised in a conservative part of Alabama, but I knew I had a connection with masculinity. My dad was pretty supportive of me—he wanted me to be a ‘tomboy,’ as he puts it. He was somewhat supportive of that expression, and because of that, I’ve been very aware of gender. The way it impacted me is I have started to think of gender as some48 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
thing that is nuanced for everyone. Whether someone is cisgender or transgender or binary or nonbinary, it’s connected to our identity just like race, religion, or region. We make interpretations about what we think of our gender internally, and it comes together to form our very complicated identity with gender. I often get asked to explain my identity, so that practice has become, in an informal way, helpful for me to navigate those conversations [in my job],” they explain. Losey spent 10 years working in campus student-affairs programming. During that time, they worked with identity and leadership development, social justice and, in particular, gender and sexuality topics. They have developed experiential programs for students around the history of gender, and how intersectionality and culture can affect a person’s views about gender. They have also presented talks on LGBTQQIA identities and how to treat people with dignity and respect. “Up until now, I have worked in residencelife settings on campus. A lot of times, I’ve been the only nonbinary person or queer person on staff or in the Division of Student Affairs. Being the only person means students seek you out more often. Sometimes they’re struggling with their own identities, or they need to have a tough conversation to figure out LGBTQ issues. I like putting myself in the place to have conversations with those folks,” Losey adds. “I’ve been the first person that some people have come out to, and it’s such a privilege to be that person and to be a safe space for folks. It’s also certainly challenging sometimes when you’re the token nonbinary person, because it also carries the weight of taking on the education of your peers who sometimes don’t understand why pronouns matter. I’d rather be the person doing that explaining, [rather than forcing a new freshman] to explain themselves in a system where they might feel powerless,”
they say. Losey is now the University of Houston’s Gender and Sexuality Education Program Manager in the school’s LGBTQ Resource Center. Their previous experience meshes perfectly with the new tasks they will undertake. In their current role, Losey will oversee the LGBTQ+ ambassador/leadership program, bring in campus-wide speakers to expand LGBTQ+ awareness, as well as conduct gender and sexuality workshops to engage with students on a variety of issues relating to identity, inclusion, and allyship. “The ultimate goal for my work is always to create a space for students who need it the most so they can feel safe, find friends, build community, and get connected with resources of support if they need it,” they emphasize. “My dream goal is to help find ways to give others the space to do that same thing. The LGBTQ Resource Center is the place we wanted to create for LGBTQ students, but I’d also love to make other spaces as LGBTQ-friendly as possible.” Understandably, Losey’s job will sometimes be a tough one. But the thing that helps them get through trying times is a sense of humor. They have been taking virtual classes with Chicago’s famed comedy school, The Second City. “Sometimes I end up in environments where folks, including myself, take things too seriously. The humor helps us to lighten it up and remember that we’re human and we’re having fun. I really love making people laugh. It’s one of my favorite things. Any time we can lighten the mood and have a good time with what we’re doing, it makes people happier, in general. I think it helps others get more comfortable to open up as well.” For information about the UH LGBTQ Resource Center, visit uh.edu/lgbtq
ALEX ROSA FOR OUTSMART MAGAZINE
“THE ULTIMATE GOAL FOR MY WORK IS ALWAYS TO CREATE A SPACE FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED IT THE MOST SO THEY CAN FEEL SAFE, FIND FRIENDS, BUILD COMMUNITY, AND GET CONNECTED WITH RESOURCES OF SUPPORT IF THEY NEED IT.” —Juliann Losey
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AUGUST 2021
49
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BEYOND THE BINARY
W
hen Moe Penders first came to Texas in 2009, the nonbinary photographer envisioned quickly completing veterinary paramedic and zookeeper courses at Houston Community College, and then promptly returning to their native El Salvador. Twelve years later, Penders, 32, has built a life in the Bayou City by embracing their passion for photography, building up a vibrant studio practice, and coming out publicly as nonbinary. Throughout those years, they have won acclaim for their art and worked to uplift Latinx trans and gender-nonconforming artists in the city.
The Beauty of El Salvador
El Salvador has served as both an emotional and creative anchor for Penders. “All of my work is about home, and different aspects of home,” they explain. “I think it’s also informed by the fact that I’m not there, but I have the desire to be there. As a country, it’s beautiful. I love the people. I love being there. There’s this constant desire of wanting to go home, but at the same time not feeling that I can live safely or freely there in my identity.” In 2018, Penders presented Cultura, a photography exhibition at the Alabama Song art space that featured their photographs of a series of objects representative of El Salvador, ranging from candies to stamps to flip flops. Reviewing the show in Glasstire, critic Reyes Ramirez observed, “Penders subverts [the stereotypes] of Salvadorans as only being miserable, but instead [presents them] as a people of vibrancy, sustenance, and leisure. What happens are thoughts and questions and revelations that go beyond the images: Can a culture be both old and new? Both ancient and evolutionary? These photos are.” Having grown up in a conservative family, it was not until Penders arrived in Houston at age 20 that they had the freedom to explore their identity. “Over time, I understood more about my gender and identifying as nonbinary,” they recall. “Being here in Houston has given me the space to grow more into myself—to have the language for it.”
Creating Opportunity
Penders’ artistic journey in Houston has not been without struggles. The need to generate enough income to pay the rent resulted in a constant battle to carve out the time to create photography. For two years, they lived in a tiny artist studio east of downtown. Penders has striven to provide a platform
Torn Between Two Countries Artist Moe Penders dives into a turbulent family history. By ANDREW EDMONSON Photo by MUJERES MALAS COLLECTIVE
for promoting other queer Latinx artists, most notably in 2019 by curating the Sabine Street Studios exhibition El Chow: Mango Verde. “As queer people, we tend to be overlooked and cis hetero people are given opportunities before we are allowed to,” they told Glasstire at the time. “It is a constant conversation I have with my trans and non-binary peers. El Chow was created with the intention of creating space for my peers—for the people who don’t get the opportunities, and who don’t usually have support. We make it happen however we can.”
Connecting with Family
Penders was born in El Salvador in 1988, the child of an American mechanic and a Salvadoran mother, toward the end of the country’s long and brutal civil war. A stark emotional void was created when Penders’ father died suddenly and unexpectedly in a car accident in
1992, when Penders was only 4 years old. “I was so young that I barely have any memories of my father. I only have short, little flashbacks of him,” they explain. “When I was 10 or 11, someone had a video of him, and I heard his voice. Now that I’m older, I want to be able to hear his voice. It has a lot to do with remembering, and being able to remember.” One tangible connection to Penders’ father was a cache of photos that their grandmother and mother had collected and stored in a suitcase. Yearning for contact with him, the young Penders would pull out the photos of their father and examine them frequently over the years. They credit that experience with helping to nurture a deep love of photography. Penders’ artistic studies continued at the University of Houston, where they focused on film-based photography while earning a bachelor’s degree in photography and digital media.➝ OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2021 51
MOE PENDERS | CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
Memory and Metaphor
In 2019, Penders decided to delve deeply into the memories of their father when they created a dramatic and moving series of works entitled Volver, or “Going Back.” Penders was eventually told by several acquaintances that their father had actually been murdered, but their mother and grandmother refused to discuss the matter. “When I started the body of work, I wanted to know exactly what had happened,” they remember. “In reality, I don’t think anyone knows but him and, if anyone else was involved, that person. Creating the work entailed a lot of processing of his death, which as a child I wasn’t allowed or able to do.” Penders found the headlights of a Volvo P1800 sports car, the model driven (and frequently worked on) by their father. The artist created a sculpture out of the headlights, which could be turned on and off to haunting, dramatic effect. “The presence of the car and the light is very important, regarding memory as well as metaphors in the work,” Penders explains. “[The work] also marks a time in Salvadoran history [when] the U.S. funded the war. This is
Moe Penders created Volver to explore the death of their father.
important, as the only period when my father and I were alive at the same time was the last four years of the war. “Like many Salvadorans born during the war who lost parents, I never found concrete answers. My father’s death marks a moment in the history of El Salvador’s political turmoil. My research focuses on materials and memory [of] a moment in the nation’s history that continues to impact countless individual lives in El Salvador.” Veteran gay Houston artist Michael Golden, who taught Penders watercolor painting at Houston Community College, has collected several pieces of Penders’ work, and has
watched as the artist evolved over the years. “Moe’s work is strong because it is so personal,” he observes. “It’s a visual struggle to come to terms with duality—of country, of gender, of seeing things as black or white. “Moe uses both memory and ‘forgetting’ to create works that are open-ended and poetic. I feel that the simpler the image, the more Moe has come to terms with the subject matter. The more ethereal, narrative works are the ones that still bring up deeper emotions in Moe, at both ends of the spectrum.” For more information on Moe Penders, visit moependers.com.
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BEYOND THE BINARY
Life of the Party DJ Mel is proud to be a part of a diversifying community. By MARENE GUSTIN Photo by FRANK HERNANDEZ
Y
ou may know Mel Frausto best as DJ Mel, the entertainer who spins sounds at clubs and bars around town and on Out & Proud Live radio. “I’m always looking for new sounds and new music,” Frausto admits. “Countless hours of listening to various genres of music to bring to the masses—that has always been a goal of mine, to share music and possibly make an everlasting connection with my audience. After all, ‘Music makes the people come together,’ as Madonna says.” The 50-year-old single, nonbinary, and gender-fluid DJ (who uses they/them pronouns) has been living their best life for the last 20 years. “I identified as gay/queer for most of my younger years,” they say. “I’ve expressed my gender through my style of clothing, behavior, posture, mannerisms, and activities. Always embracing the androgyny I embodied, mostly on the masculine side. However, I also learned to accept my feminine characteristics such as having naturally long eyelashes and a softspoken voice. While their gender identity has a huge impact on how they present themself, Frausto says it does not limit their music choices. They love to spin not only gay pop, but everything from EDM (such as house music and circuit music) to Top 40, Latin pop, alternative rock and, of course, anything ’80s. “I always knew music was going to be a major part of my life. I just never thought it would turn out to be my career of a lifetime,” they say. Frausto was born in the small town of Weslaco, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. They 54 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
moved to Houston at age 6, and then to California to attend the College of Alameda and become an auto technician, following in their father’s footsteps. Although a repair-shop accident ended that path for Frausto, the incident pushed them to pursue a career as a DJ, which they initially did as a hobby for house parties. However, before their DJ career took off in
“I WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THE NONBINARY COMMUNITY IS SIMPLY BEING THEMSELVES. IT VARIES FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL. IN THE END, WE ARE HUMANS.” —DJ Mel
California, Frausto moved back to Houston to help their ailing father, who later died of cancer. After their father passed, they decided to become a full-time DJ in Houston, and they haven’t looked back since. Their stage name is based on Grandmaster Melle Mel and a love of old-school hip hop from the ’80s. They love performing at ReBar, BUDDY’S, and Rosemont, but their favorite club has
to be Numbers, which was the first venue that embraced them. They also enjoy donating their time to local nonprofit events such as Bunnies on the Bayou and the Montrose Softball League Association. DJ Mel’s performances are loved by many. They were voted Favorite DJ in OutSmart’s Gayest & Greatest awards for 2019. However, due to the pandemic their opportunities to perform and the number of DJ gigs declined last year. “During the pandemic, my work came to a complete halt, with everything being completely shut down,” they say. “I was able to do the livestreaming for a while, until the bars and clubs were able to reopen slowly but surely.” Now back in demand, they still find time to hang with their Siamese-mix cat named Jacques, which they say acts like a dog. They also relax by socializing with fellow bikers at the annual Pride Bike Ride Houston event. They say Houston is the the right place for them as a nonbinary DJ. “Houston is gaining awareness that people are more complex than male or female, thanks to the many activists that protested for our right to have Houston’s first annual Pride parade 42 years ago.” Frausto is proud to be a part of a diversifying city, and hopes people become more accepting of nonbinary people and artists. “I would like people to know that the nonbinary community is simply being themselves, [no matter which] parts they may have been born with. It varies for each individual. In the end, we are humans.” Keep up with DJ Mel on Facebook at facebook.com/melfrausto.dj.
OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2021 55
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COMMUNITY
Gayming in Galveston Johnny Steverson previews this year’s Island Esports expo. By ZACH McKENZIE
When thinking about a typical gaming expo, scenes of large exhibit halls packed with guests come to mind, with everyone clambering to get their hands on the latest pieces of technology. The Galveston Island Esports Summit co-owners Johnny Steverson and Mary Jo Naschke are breaking that mold as they aim to create an inclusive and empowering space for all who attend the August 27-29 event. “First and foremost, we wanted to create a home for all the people who love video games,” says Steverson, an openly gay esports enthusiast. Naschke adds, “I had been following esports for a while, and it wasn’t as mysterious as I thought. I started looking around and reading magazine articles about esports, and realized you didn’t have to be a professional to be into it. Everyone plays games on their phones and iPads. This event is a way for people to network socially with like-minded people, as opposed to being isolated and by themselves.” The Esports Summit’s theme of inclusion is one that the two entrepreneurs have intentionally created. “We are all about [removing] boundaries when it comes to diversity,” says Naschke. “Special Olympics Texas is putting together a team that will come and compete, and the U.S. Army is also going to bring a team.” The dynamic duo is also focused on encouraging personal and professional development opportunities for attendees. “We focus on female empowerment, and [promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers] for females,” Steverson adds excitedly. “We align with other organizations that help us promote that cause.”
Getting esports incorporated in the gradeschool curriculum is another priority for Steverson and Naschke. “On Friday, there will be a teachers’ esports workshop sponsored by Galveston ISD, and we’re thrilled to partner with them,” Naschke says. “I’m a huge gamer, and this whole esports and gaming thing has come to the forefront during the pandemic,” Steverson adds. “When I was in school, there were no esports departments, but today more schools are incorporating it into their curriculum. Our teacher workshops [will also help] educators incorporate STEM programs into their school districts. It’s going to give them the opportunity to earn continuing-education credits and find the tools to educate their students in new and exciting ways.” “NASA will have a strong presence at our Esports Summit, and we are going to introduce robotics to this event, ahead of our Robotics Summit in November,” Naschke notes. Guests are encouraged to buy a day pass so they can play games—new, old, and retro—all day, in between the short, informative panel discussions with celebrity guests. And it all happens in a cool and calm environment that encourages personal interactions. “We weren’t interested in an event with 50,000 people roaming around and standing in long lines,”
Naschke says. “[We chose Galveston because] we wanted an intimate environment that was fun, next to the beach, and allows guests to get up close to the exhibits without being rushed,” Steverson adds. “Guests will be able to go up to the panelists and ask questions, and that’s what this event is all about. The networking at our event is unparalleled, compared to what else is out there right now. You can get one-onone time and really feel part of this community.” Naschke puts it simply: “We wanna be the best, not the biggest.” Robot battles, surprise guests, virtual reality, a visit from the Mars Rover, and lots of educational opportunities are all sure to make this event a huge success. “This event is for anyone that loves video games, not just competitive players,” Steverson adds. “[We have lots of] things to do for people that aren’t interested in competing in esports tournaments.” LGBTQ players should feel especially welcome at this event, according to Steverson. “It means the world to me to give a home to ‘gaymers’ who aren’t necessarily the type to go out in groups—people like myself who are more internal and like to play video games. It means so much to give people the opportunity to come and network in a safe and fun environment.” For info: visit galvestonesports.com. OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2021 57
COMMUNITY
S
eany Smiles just wanted a way to pass the time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little did he know that the online modeling game he created would spread far beyond Houston, gaining a worldwide following of thousands. “I really never expected this,” he says. “It has been absolutely amazing to see this grow.” Smiles, who has lived in Houston for more than five years, is the creator of Seany’s Next Top Model, an online modeling competition similar to Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model. The game, which is in its fourth season, has around 15 players (“models”) who compete in weekly photo challenges until a winner is eventually crowned. Smiles’ own modeling and professional photography experience began when he was approached by a prominent LGBTQ photographer in Houston. “I was honestly shocked that someone would ask me to model for them,” he recalls. “The project I was a part of was called As Is, and the photographer really did just that—he photographed all types of guys as is, regardless of how their body looked.” The photo shoot changed his outlook about modeling, and he realized that anyone can have a positive experience as a model. “It made me realize that you don’t have to be a perfect 10 by Hollywood standards to be a model,” he emphasizes. “I always thought in order to be a model or be in magazines, you had to be this stereotypical gorgeous, muscular man. But it turns out that is not the case at all.” Soon after the As Is project, Smiles started exploring modeling and creative photography. That’s when ideas for creating a competitive online modeling game quickly started swirling in his head. “I wanted to find a way to stay in a creative headspace during lockdown, and to help my 58 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
Model Maker Seany Smiles’ online modeling competition garners an international following. By CONNOR BEHRENS
friends do the same,” he says. The first season of Seany’s Next Top Model had a more casual feel to it, with Smiles mainly casting Houston locals and a few online friends. By the third season, however, the photo challenges became more advanced as the overall competition structure became more regimented. “Originally, I made it so that the game was very quarantine-friendly, and all the photo challenges could be done at home without spending much money,” he says. “I obviously did that so people would have easy access to playing, and nobody was putting themselves at risk by going out in public. Now that things are mostly back to normal, though, I am no longer limited on what kind of photo challenges I give
my models each season.” When it comes to the players who participate, Smiles makes sure the casting process is open to anyone. “I have cast people of all types of backgrounds, ages, races, gender identities, and body types,” he says. “I have even cast people with disabilities. This competition is really open to anyone and everyone, and my casting process is entirely based on a person’s commitment and the willingness to learn and grow, rather than what they look like or where they come from.” With the competition gaining international attention and close to 3,000 members on the official Facebook page, Smiles is still in shock over how far it has come.
“I am very surprised, but very happy,” he says. “This all began as a simple idea to keep me and my friends occupied during quarantine. I never thought it would catch on the way that it has and become a widespread global sensation. Each season keeps getting bigger and better, too. I am extremely humbled.” Smiles believes the best aspect of his competition is watching the models gain more self-confidence and loving who they are—inside and out. “You can be a model, no matter who you are,” he says. “I personally believe everyone has an inner model just waiting to be released.” Going forward, Smiles has plans to expand the game into a live local event featuring new and existing players who travel to Houston and do competitive photo challenges in person. “I am really interested in doing a live version of the game,” he says. “It would basically be a whole weekend [with all the players working on] various photo shoots around Houston. I am very curious to see how that would turn out.” Smiles is also working to make the online viewing experience more accessible. “One of
The Cycle 4 cast of Seany’s Next Top Model. my goals is to find new ways of attracting viewers,” he says. “I would love it if I could create a YouTube channel, or just expand the game past the Facebook group so that more people have the ability to follow along and celebrate the photos my models create.” As the recently crowned Mr. Gay Pride Houston 2021, Smiles is positively impacting both the Houston community and communities across the world with his online modeling game.
“The most beautiful thing about all of this is that I have created a unique platform that empowers people of all backgrounds to break out of their comfort zone and release their inner model,” he says. “I am so grateful that the game has such a positive impact on players and viewers alike.” To learn more about Seany’s Next Top Model, go to the official Facebook page at facebook.com/groups/seanys.next.top.model
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OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2021 59
COMMUNITY
The Glitz and Glamour Returns Miss Gay Texas USofA Pageant celebrates 35 years this month. By MARENE GUSTIN It’s time for the 35th anniversary of the Miss Gay Texas USofA pageant. All the glitz, glamour, and fun will be right here in Houston August 24 through 27, with preliminary competitions at Neon Boots and the final event at The Ballroom at Bayou Place downtown. Looking back over the decades, state pageant promoter Craig Henderson marvels at how far we have come in 35 years. “Back then, some gay bars wouldn’t let drag queens in. Now every gay bar has drag shows. As for the pageant, the talent portion has certainly progressed. The dance performances are choreographed, and they spend months rehearsing them. They’re like Las Vegas reviews, and it’s not uncommon now to see contestants in the gown competition with three-, four-, five-thousand-dollar gowns.” Henderson took over the state pageant duties 25 years ago after he met Pearland native Jerry Bird and fell in love with drag-queen pageants. Bird produced the first Miss Gay Houston pageant and then expanded it to the rest of the state before buying the entire Miss Gay USofA pageant in 1985. That franchise now includes Mr. Gay USofA, Mr. Gay USofA at Large (for contestants over 200 pounds), Miss Gay Black USofA, Mr. Gay Black USofA, and Mister USofA MI (with the MI standing for Male Impersonator). “What I really love about it is the people I meet in the pageants,” says Henderson. “I’ve met almost all my friends there. I just like to make people smile and have a good time for a few hours.” The Miss Gay Texas USofA contest is open to any Texan over 21 years of age who was assigned male at birth. Henderson notes another big change over the years: some 40 percent of today’s contestants are transgender women. There will be thirty contestants this year (the winners of regional contests across Texas), and Henderson expects a few hundred spectators for the preliminaries at Neon Boots and 800 for the final night at The Ballroom at Bayou Place. Tables are already sold out, but there will be single tickets for $50 available at the door. “I think that’s pretty fantastic, coming off 60
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of COVID,” says Henderson. “We had to cancel all the state and national pageants last year. I didn’t really know if we would have pageants ever again.” Also onstage this year will be 25 former winners, including Dallas-born Kennedy Davenport, the current reigning Miss Gay USofA and runner-up in Season 7 of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2015. Houston’s own Tommie Ross, the legendary performer who has won multiple titles including Miss Black America, Miss Gay of USofA, and Miss Continental, will also make an appearance. There are three components of the Miss Gay Texas USofA pageant: the interview portion, the evening-gown competition, and the talent segment (which counts the most in judges’ ratings). So, what kind of talent can you expect to see onstage? “Dance routines to remixes are the most popular,” says Henderson. “They are very professional. But really any kind of talent—[except acts] containing racial slurs and vulgar,
obscene, or insulting language.” Another thing you won’t see are contestants twirling flaming batons—an old-time staple of Texas beauty queens. “No fire of any kind,” says Henderson. “No glitter, water, or liquids of any kind. Most of the preliminary competitions are held at gay bars, and they have very strict safety measures. “I guess the oddest talent I’ve seen over the years was a contestant inside a glass box who sang a song while painting the inside of the box white. By the end of the song, you couldn’t see the contestant anymore. Some others do movie scenes, and a recent one did a Mary Poppins takeoff.” So who knows what you’ll see this year—but one thing is certain: there will be plenty of over-the-top glitz, glamour, and fashion that should make up for the last year of sitting around at home in your sweats and fuzzy slippers. For more information, visit texasusofapageants.com
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FILM
COURTESY
Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters chronicles the creation of Bill T. Jones’ seminal 1989 work.
Choreographer Bill T. Jones is a true American master—the winner of two Tony Awards for his choreography on Broadway, and the recipient of a 1994 MacArthur Genius Award and a 2010 Kennedy Center Award. He is also an inspiration for people living with HIV as an openly gay Black man who has been living, and thriving, with HIV for decades. A deeply moving new documentary, Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters, examines a watershed moment in Jones’ life and career. In 1988, he lost his partner, Arnie Zane, to AIDS as the entire New York City arts world was reeling from that devastating health crisis. The film chronicles the creation of his seminal 1989 work, D-Man in the Waters, a piece for nine dancers created in response to the AIDS crisis and Zane’s death. Set to Felix Mendelssohn’s Octet in E, the work went on to win a prestigious Bessie Award for choreographic excellence, and has been performed by two dozen companies and universities across the country. A second, parallel narrative in the documentary follows a group of young college dancers learning the work in present-day Los Angeles. Can You Bring It screens during the month of August as part of the Museum of Fine 62 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
Courageous Choreography New film honors choreographer Bill T. Jones’ gripping response to the AIDS crisis. By ANDREW EDMONSON
Arts, Houston’s Virtual Cinema Series at mfah. org/films. A couple for 18 years, Jones and Zane founded two dance ensembles, including the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company in 1982, which achieved renown as a postmodern dance troupe in the 1980s. Jones was a towering figure with electric magnetism who easily commanded the stage, while Zane was small and wiry—a choreographer and dancer with his own compelling charisma. They frequently performed together, and sparks flew. “Arnie and I were a couple,” Jones explains in the film. “We were a continent of two: wife/
husband, business partners, on the great adventure.” In a 1987 report on the PBS MacNeil/ Lehrer NewsHour, Zane came out as an artist living with AIDS in an era when many public figures living with HIV fought to keep that information private. His death at the age of 39 was a devastating blow for Jones, and it presented an existential crisis for their dance company. Could Jones continue to create new work and sustain the company? At one point during the late 1980s, when so many around him were dying, Jones questioned if he himself would make it through
ROSALYNDE LEBLANC
The great American choreographer Bill T. Jones coaches young dancers preparing for a recent performance of D-Man in the Waters. the company’s next season of performances at the fabled Joyce Theater. “We were very abandoned, lost, and afraid,” observes Jones in the film. “We were hurting. But work was a way to keep going. It was a place to grieve.” Jones created D-Man in the Waters in response to the trauma of Zane’s death, just as the company was losing another dancer to HIV: Demian Acquavella, whose nickname in the troupe was D-Man. But far from being a somber dirge, the ballet is a joyous explosion of energy. Under the headline “Athletic Rapture in Quirky Metaphorical Waters,” New York
Times Chief Dance Critic Anna Kisselgoff praised the work at its premiere as “the kind of piece that sets audiences cheering.” D-Man’s vibrant beauty and kinetic power are exquisitely captured in the documentary, thanks to the cinematography of the film’s co-director, Tom Hurwitz. Three decades after its premiere, D-Man has lost none of its visceral, emotional impact. This becomes clear in another narrative strand of the film focusing on a group of young dancers at Loyola Marymount University as they set out to learn the work. The piece is staged by Rosalynde LeBlanc, a charismatic
former dancer who performed D-Man with the Jones/Zane company in the 1990s. (She also serves as co-director and a co-producer of the documentary.) “I became a dancer because I saw D-Man in the Waters when I was 16 years old,” LeBlanc recalls. “It is the most grueling dance I have ever performed. But it is probably the most exhilarating.” In teaching the work, we see LeBlanc struggling to convey the enormity of the AIDS crisis to a group of mostly teenage dancers who have no memory of the devastation wrought by HIV in the 1980s. To truly bring the work to life, the budding young artists must somehow recreate the fierce sense of emotional urgency that gripped the dancers of the Jones/Zane company three decades earlier. “What is our AIDS now?” LeBlanc asks the dancers. “What is going to make this piece more important than anything you do?” Can You Bring It bears vivid witness to the transformative power of art in times of social crisis. What: MFAH streams Can You Bring It When: through August Info: mfah.org/films
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PRIDE IN THE MEDIA
A Platform for the People KHOU-TV journalist Briahn Hawkins wants to give the LGBTQ community a voice. By LILLIAN HOANG
64 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
ALEX ROSA FOR OUTSMART MAGAZINE
K
HOU-TV’s Producer in Residence Briahn Hawkins is a nonbinary journalist who uses the high-profile local platform to uplift LGBTQ people. “I pay extra attention to the transgender and gendernonconforming community because it’s still a new voice that people either haven’t listened to or actively ignore,” says Hawkins, who uses they/ them pronouns. They want to cover more stories related to LGBTQ people and strengthen KHOU-11’s connection to the community beyond June Pride Month because, in their words, “Pride Month is every month, every day, every second, every moment.” As a producer in residence, Hawkins writes stories for the station, takes notes during news conferences, and pitches stories. Although they mainly work in TV production and writing, Hawkins helps co-produce shows by pairing visuals with audio. They also go over stories with the anchors, making sure the newscasters are familiar with the content before airtime. “It depends on the day,” Hawkins says. “My position is all over the place. We could produce for television, digital, or switch over to the marketing side of news.” In June, they reviewed a script for a story about Q-Patrol, a Montrose volunteer group that was formed to protect members of the LGBTQ community after the brutal 1991 murder of Paul Broussard, a gay man who died after suburban teenagers attacked him outside a Houston nightclub. “Up until that point, I had never heard about it,” the Houston native notes. “It was nice to read the script and see that [LGBTQ Houston history] come to life.” Hawkins has always loved storytelling, and they found their calling in journalism at
Trinity University in San Antonio. While they pursued a bachelor’s degree in communication and theater, they joined Trinity’s campus television station and discovered a passion for broadcasting. “I thought doing TV would be more of a hobby,” Hawkins admits. “A few years later, I fell in love with working in TV because of all the magic.” They loved conducting research for the campus TV station and figuring out how to write stories that viewers could understand
and enjoy. They also loved giving others the spotlight to share personal experiences. “I wanted to be the platform people can use to speak out. I’m a human megaphone.” Hawkins cemented their decision to become a journalist and platform for others during senior year, when they created a mini documentary about the experiences of Black students at Trinity. Hawkins wanted to capture the issues Black students faced, as well as educate people who were considering attending the college.
“It was not my intention to throw dirt on the school’s name, but to show people what it’s really like,” Hawkins notes. After graduating in 2020, they applied to work at KHOU, Houston’s CBS network affiliate. They started working at the station right after the pandemic began, so they have only recently met their coworkers in person. Although there is a lot to learn about producing for local television, they’re excited to work in broadcast journalism. “What I like the most about KHOU-11 is that even if we focus on a specific person, we also try to find ways to make the story helpful for all of our viewers,” Hawkins says. For example, KHOU-11 recently covered a series of stories about people who were followed home and robbed after stopping by upscale businesses such as banks. As part of these stories, KHOU-11 discussed how viewers could protect themselves if they feel they’re at risk of being assaulted.
“I PAY EXTRA ATTENTION TO THE TRANSGENDER AND GENDERNONCONFORMING COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT’S STILL A NEW VOICE THAT PEOPLE EITHER HAVEN’T LISTENED TO OR ACTIVELY IGNORE.”
Be Sexy.
—Briahn Hawkins
In the future, Hawkins wants to produce a show about pop culture, to better understand what society prioritizes or neglects. “I’m obsessed with pop culture in general, because I feel like pop culture is a reflection of our society,” Hawkins says. For now, Hawkins wants to continue helping Houstonians however they can as the city recovers from the pandemic. “I want to help people find opportunities and jobs,” Hawkins says. “I want to help get information out there as best as possible.” Follow Briahn Hawkins on Twitter @briahnH and KHOU @KHOU.
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Rescued Pets Movement, Inc. (RPM) is a Houston-based nonprofit providing a second chance for thousands of homeless dogs and cats through rehabilitation and transport to forever homes in communities throughout the country that have a need for adoptable pets.
You can help by becoming a temporary foster home partner.
Rescued Pets
Movement
RescuedPetsMovement.org/Foster-Us
OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2021 65
CLAUDIA CASBARIAN
DINING OUT
A Garden of Delights MFAH’s new restaurant sprouts fresh and creative fare. By KIM HOGSTROM
Gone are the days when Houston was known as the land of steak and potatoes. Still, our city had been missing something—in spite of its current reputation as a dining destination rich with regional and global flavors and experiences. Absent from our dining scene was a garden of delights. Welcome to town, Le Jardinier. Located in the landmark Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), the new restaurant offers visitors fresh, creative fare, served in the comfort of a soft, welcoming interior. With its prestigious museum address, one might imagine Le Jardinier to be stuffy or intimidating. Add to that the restaurant’s Michelin-starred, French-trained chef Alain Verzeroli, and you might guess that reservations are hard to come by. Not so. The dining environment is absolutely fresh, yet strangely familiar—both awe-inspiring and warmly embracing. And the prices allow for more than rare visits on special occasions. According to Chef Verzeroli, the restaurant’s culinary director, the average 66 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
all-inclusive check is about $110 to $120 per person. Le Jardinier complements its museum host perfectly. Floor-to-ceiling windows draw one’s attention to the magnificent Cullen Sculpture Garden just beyond. Lush banquettes and soft chairs invite one to sit for hours and watch the evening light change. Mirrors behind the lengthy bar reveal the animated faces and excitement of the guests. Many shades of greens, browns, yellows, pinks, and blues emerge from a large tapestry by Houston artist Trenton Doyle Hancock. Art and nature blend here, as the textile is the artist’s impression of a forest. It was commissioned specifically for Le Jardiner, and seems to be a perfect choice for this beautiful botanical garden. The menu echoes nature, as well. Le Jardinier features a refined, vegetable-forward concept rooted in modern French culinary technique. Seasonal ingredients work with the rhythms of nature, taking full advantage of the Texas growing seasons. The restaurant sources the highest-quality seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh herbs and greens, sustainable
seafood, poultry, and meat in close relationship with local suppliers. Chef Verzeroli brings to Houston his culinary artistry and decades of experience in some of the world’s most prestigious restaurants. Paris-trained, he spent 10 years in Japan prior to becoming Le Jardinier’s culinary director. “The Japanese are very attuned to nature,” the gracious chef explains. “They have learned how to wait for every ingredient to arrive at the very peak of its flavor. This ability presents so many options for the menu we have at Le Jardinier. It makes all the difference.” “That’s for certain,” adds Houstonian Gracie Cavner with a chuckle. Cavner has become the city’s leading authority on vegetable gardens after founding her nonprofit Recipe for Success Foundation 16 years ago. The agency, which now has a global reach, is dedicated to combating childhood obesity by changing the way children understand, appreciate, and eat food. She was even invited to the White House when First Lady Michelle Obama launched her Let’s Move children’s nutrition initiative. Cavner and her husband have been out of town since the opening of Le Jardinier, but
they are looking forward to their first visit. “When we eat vegetables that were picked just hours before, when they have arrived at the height of their growing season, that’s the ultimate in dining,” Cavner emphasizes. “Each vegetable has its own flavor profile, but if they are prepared properly, at the proper time, there are so many wonderful things we can do with them. They are one of nature’s perfect foods.” While Le Jardiner is plant-centric, there are other delights not to be overlooked. Verzaroli is pleased with what he has discovered in Houston, in terms of fresh seafood and meat options. And his pastries are already making waves.
“I’M NOT REFERENCING ANYTHING BEYOND THEIR UNDERSTANDING. I MADE THIS ART FOR THEM. IT’S A BIT LIKE A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE. I’M ATTEMPTING TO COMMUNICATE.”
CLAUDIA CASBARIAN
—Heyd Fontenot
Texas Gulf Shrimp
“I had never visited Houston, so I spent many months here before we opened,” Chef Verzaroli says. I got to know the suppliers, and I am happy with the wonderful produce and products available in this city. I’ve also spent a lot of time learning about what Houstonians crave, and developing a menu that incorporates the unique terroir of the city.” Verzaroli’s unusual menu is indeed a work of art that blends healthy options and indulgences without compromise. Guests will find dishes such as Texas Gulf shrimp with Homestead Gristmill grits and a spicy bisque for $36. The Ora King salmon with courgettes and lemongrass emulsion is $46, and who could resist the $48 Wagyu bavette au jus with broccolini, charred eggplant mousse, and chips? For more information about Le Jardinier, go to lejardinier-houston.com. Recipe for Success information is at recipe4success.org. When: Dinner served 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Lunch service will begin later this year. Where: Nancy and Rich Kinder Building, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 5500 Main OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2021 67
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Colton Berry as The Emcee in artFACTORY’s upcoming production of Cabaret.
Luke Hamilton dances on the artFACTORY stage. Luke Hamilton (l) and Colton Berry (r) in rehearsal for their upcoming world premiere musical Gatsby.
Art with an Edge The upcoming artFACTORY 2021–22 season has a lineup worth watching.
H
By SAM BYRD Photos by HEATHER HALL
ouston is a theater-lovers’ best-kept secret. While we may not have the prestige of Broadway or the star power of Los Angeles, we do have the second-largest theater district in the country, and we’re one of only five American cities with permanent professional resident companies in all the major performing-arts disciplines (dance, theater, symphony, opera). Better yet, the performing arts are made even more accessible by the
68 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
many smaller stages located throughout the city. One of those hot spots is artFACTORY, and they’re eager to raise the curtain and welcome audiences to their 2021–22 season. Operated by gay couple and theater buffs Colton Berry and Luke Hamilton, artFACTORY is located at 1125 Providence Street near the University of Houston-Downtown campus. The organization has operated out of this location in The Docks (formerly occupied by another Houston gem, The Catastrophic Theatre) since 2018. Before artFACTORY, Berry and Hamilton ran another beloved
venue, EaDo Playhouse. Berry’s involvement in theater actually started at a tender young age. “I have three older brothers, and my father has a degree in physical education. We were a very sportscentric family, but it wasn’t my thing. I got a flyer in elementary school in second grade for a youth theater. I did a production of The Emperor’s New Clothes and never stopped. In middle school, my dad and I built an outdoor theater. I started producing at 13 years old, and I’ve been producing my whole life,” Berry says. Hamilton’s story is quite similar. He began extracurricular drama programs in elementary school, and then found himself heavily drawn to dance in high school. His performance as Harold Hill in Clear Brook High School’s The Music Man in 2011 earned him attention from Theatre Under The Stars’ Tommy Tune Awards, where he was nominated for Best Leading Actor. He later attended Texas State University to study musical theater. The powerhouse couple first met a decade ago through Houston’s performing-arts circuit. “We saw each other across the room and said, ‘Okay, this is it,’” Berry recalls. Their relationship has been a boon for Houston’s performing-arts scene, with their artFACTORY vision of offering Houston theater-creators a unique outlet for their artistry through the development and production of new works and the reinvention of existing works. “We endeavor to continue producing musical theater and grow. We hope to provide interesting new programming for Houston. We don’t replicate [traditional forms of] musical theater; instead, we look at everything from a new perspective. We also try to do new Houston premieres. We want to write and produce original work. We’d like to continue growing in that direction and make artFACTORY a staple in Houston,” Berry explains. The duo notes that their upcoming season will resemble much of the pre-pandemic season they had finalized before COVID-19 shut down the performing-arts world. “This was originally our 2020 season, [since] we decided that we’d hold on to the titles we had already licensed,” Hamilton says. “We’re mounting three productions in 2021 and five in 2022. Our regular patrons can see that’s a spaced-out season, compared to how we normally operate. It gives us more time in the rehearsal process, and to see how the shows run.” The pause in production during COVID-19 also afforded the couple lots of time to write new material. One of those projects will be
MELISSA MURRAY Platinum Realtor®
their 2021 season opener, and it should give audiences a taste of what the rest of the season offers. “The Great Gatsby went into public domain in 2020, so Colton got the idea to adapt the book into a musical. Our first show will be Gatsby, with a full original score by the two of us,” Hamilton adds. Their world premiere of Gatsby, based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, runs September 10–26. Appropriately timed for Halloween, Monster: The Music of Lady Gaga will run October 22–31 and give Houston’s little monsters a chance to witness a Vegas-style concert event bursting with dazzling visuals and show-stopping live music. Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning Company will then run December. 3–19. In the new year, artFACTORY will transport audiences to the questionable and turbulent world of Sally Bowles and Cliff Bradshaw with Cabaret, running February 11–27, 2022. Another Sondheim favorite is the twisted musical haunt Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which will run April 22– May 8, 2022. The Houston premiere of Head Over Heels, featuring songs by The Go-Go’s, will run July 15–31, 2022. This show holds a special place in LGBTQ history, as the original Broadway run cast RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Peppermint as the oracle Pythio. That casting decision made her the first openly trans woman to originate a principal role on Broadway. “Oh my God, you guys!” Mark your calendars for the return of Elle Woods, her chihuahua, Bruiser, and the Delta Nu sisterhood in Legally Blonde: The Musical, running September 16–October 2, 2022. Rounding out the season is a tale as old as time—Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, a Broadway staple that originated in Houston and will play on the artFACTORY stage December 2–18, 2022. For those wanting a closer look at artFACTORY’s offerings before buying tickets, Berry and Hamilton will host a Grand Re-Opening Celebration on August 28. Tickets are $40, and attendees can expect an evening of complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres, short performances from their upcoming season of live theater, guided tours, behind-the-scenes glances from the creative team, and more. artFACTORY is located at 1125 Providence St. Visit artfactoryhouston.com or call 832-210-5200 for individual show tickets or season subscriptions.
In Memoriam
Eva Janice “Jan” Summer February 13, 1944—June 25, 2021
O
n June 25, 2021 Eva Janice “Jan” Summer passed away. Jan was born February 13, 1944 in Cherryville, North Carolina but spent the rest of her life exploring the many worlds and adventures that life presented. A brilliant lawyer, faithful friend, loving partner and loyal family member, Jan lived her life joyfully, responsibly and with humility. Her home, whether in Austin, Houston or in the mountains of North Carolina was full of good food, music, arts and crafts, acceptance and joy. In 1993, Jan became the founding director of The Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution at the
UT School of Law. There she mentored community leaders, aspiring arbitrators and elected officials in their roles as facilitators for consensus. She served in that capacity for 17 years, retiring in 2010. She leaves behind three brothers Larry, Garry and Oren Summer and their wives, nieces and nephews, two godsons, many dear friends and her loving wife, Kay Little of Houston. Memorial contributions in Jan’s memory can be made to: annrichardsschool.org; Travisaudubon.org; or Penland.org. There will be a celebration of life in Austin at the Chez Zee Gallery on September 14, 2021 at 3 p.m.
OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2021 69
OUT THERE Photos by DALTON DEHART & CREW
FOR MORE EVENT PHOT OS, PLEASE VISI T
TINYURL.C OSMPHOTOOM/ S
Mint Julep Watch Party July 18, 2021
Legacy Community Health hosted a watch party for its virtual Mint Julep event at La Griglia. Emceed by Ginger Grant and Domenic Cusano, proceeds from the online fundraising celebration went to Legacy’s HIV/AIDS programs and services.
70
AUGUST 2021
|
OutSmartMagazine.com
PrEP is an FDA-approved medica�on that, when taken once daily, offers people who do not have HIV a powerful way to protect themselves. PrEP significantly reduces the risk of contrac�ng HIV.
ADVERTISERS INDEX ACCOMMODATIONS/APARTMENTS Melrose Park Condominiums
712 Pinemont Dr............................................... 346/200-7228 The Parklane
TheParklane.com............................................. 713/526-8439
ACCOUNTANTS/BOOKKEEPERS/ CPAS Gary Gritz, CPA
230 Westcott, Ste 210................................... 713/784-3030
COMMUNITY/NONPROFIT
AIDS Foundation Houston
Aidshelp.org.........................................................713/623-6796 Bering Connect
........................................................................713-526-1017, ext.20 Diana Foundation
.......................................................... .TheDianaFoundation.org EPAH
ADVERTISING/MARKETING
............................................................................................... EPAH.org
..........................................................................Ashkanmedia.com
HoustonLGBTChamber.com.....................832/510-3002
Ashkan Media
Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Mat Hat Maven Creative
Harris County Sheriff’s Office
madhatmaven.com.......................................832/460-6263 OutSmart Magazine
.................................................................................... hcsojobs.com Houston GLBT Political Caucus
3406 Audubon.....................................................713/520-7237
................................................................................... thecaucus.org KPFT Radio
AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING
kpft.org...................................................................713-526-4000
newportac.com.................................................281/808-8630
401 Branard........................................................lhihouston.org
ART/ART GALLERIES
lesbiansoverage50.org................................713/907-5378
604 W. Alabama.....................billarningexhibitions.com
..............................................................................ThePetPatrol.org
Newport A/C & Heating
Bill Arning Exhibitions
ASTROLOGER
Lilly Roddy Astrology
......................................................................................713/529-5842
ATTORNEYS/LEGAL SERVICES
Lesbian Health Initiative (LHI)
Lesbians Over Age Fifty (L.O.A.F.) Pet Patrol
FUNERAL/MORTUARY SERVICES
Avita Pharmacy
.................................................................................NeftVodka.com Dignity Memorial
Katine & Nechman LLP
1201-F Westheimer.............................................713/528-1201
The Miller Law Firm Adam H. Miller & Nichole Nech
Alley Theatre
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRS
George Country Sports Bar
ENTERTAINMENT/NIGHT LIFE 615 Texas Ave.................................................alleytheatre.org
Ryan Automotive
617 Fairview .........................................................713/528-8102
Tech Auto Maintenance
611 Hyde Park..........................................HoustonEagle.com
540 Waugh Drive.............................................832/649-3142
Green Apple Salon
719 W. Gray St................................................... 713/5212-0500 NU-Cuts Hair Salon
515 Westheimer...............................................713/524-7858
3701 Kirby, Ste.1230........................................713/526-0005
Spartanhnadguntraining.com................ 281/435-2645
6565 West Loop South, Ste 300...............281/661-5901
HEALTH CARE–COUNSELING/THERAPY
3701 Kirby, Ste.1230........................................713/526-0005
Spartan Handgun Training
Connections Wellness/Dr. Tracy Carlson
MyConnectionsWellness.com...............888/580-5995 D. “Woodja” Flanigan, MS, LPA
Denise O’Doherty, LPC, LMFT, RN
................................................................................... houstontx.gov
Jeffrey Myles/JM Professional Services
LegacyCommunityHealth.org................ 832/548 5000
The Montrose Center
RWPCHouston.org........................................... 713/572-3784
Christine Wysong
offeringhope.org................................................713/778-1300
2801 N. Gessner Road....................................877/489-4707 ....................................................................................... 713/447-2164 401 Branard...........................................................713/529-0037 230 Westcott, Ste 210....................................713/869-7400
Midtown Houston ................................................... Midtownhouston.com Miller Outdoor Theatre
530 Waugh Dr.................................................... 713/942-8598 1722 W. Alabama............................................... 713/592-9300
Papi’s
620 W Alabama................................................. 713/529-4364
Fred Haas Toyota World
MillerOutdoorTheatre.com.........................281/373-3386
Planet Ford
570 Waugh Dr......................................................713/524-3559
Planet Lincoln
4216 Washington...................................PearlHouston.com
Team Gillman Subaru North
202 Tuam................................................................346/227-8613
20403 I-45 Spring TX 77388 ................... 866/879-9328 204031 I-45 Spring TX 77388...................888/242-5059 Gillmansubarunorth.com.......................... 832/564-7230
BANKING/FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Houston Federal Credit Union
HoustonFCU.org........................................... 866/OUR-HFCU
Round Top Festival Hill
Society For The Performing Arts
SPAHouston.org.................................................713/227-4772
davidalcorta.net..............................................832/439-0224
StagesTheatre.com..........................................713-527-0123
Dessert Gallery
DessertGallery.com........................................713-522-9999
CATERING SERVICES David Alcorta Catering
Stages Theatre
CHURCHES/SPIRITUAL CENTERS
FINANCIAL PLANNING/BANKS
Resurrection MCC
2025 W 11th............................................................ 713/861-9149 St Paul’s United Methodist Church
5501 Main...............................................................713/528-0527 St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
1805 W. Alabama........................ststephenshouston.org Trinity Episcopal Church
1015 Holman St......................... www.trinitymidtown.org
Richard Dickson/Galene Financial
1700 W Loop S, Ste 255..................................713/489-4322 Shane Theriot/Edward Jones
888-A Avenue A, Katy......................................281/391-6137 Grace Yung/Midtown Financial
3355 Alabama, Ste 180................................. 713/355-9833
HEALTH CARE–SKIN CARE
Heights Dermatology/Alpesh Desai, MD
2120 Ashland....................................................... 713/864-2650 SkinCeuticals/Skin Lab
Houston Health Department/HIV
.......................................................................houstoniamlife.com Houston Health Department/COVID
houstontx.gov................................................... 832-393-4220
HEALTH CARE-EMERGENCY CENTERS Montrose Emergency Room 24 Hour ER
1110 W. Gray St., #101.........................................713/242-1436 SignatureCare Emergency Centers
Sole Aesthetic/Dr. Vanessa T. Barrow
Soleaesthetictx.com.....................................713/666-9934
HEALTH CARE-HIV/STD TESTING
Avenue 360
Avenue360.org...................................................713/426-0027 Legacy Community Health
.................................................LegacyCommunityHealth.org
Skin Renaissance Laser/Octavio Barrios, MD
HEALTH CARE-WEIGHT LOSS
Alexia McClerkin, MD /Beauty & Wellness Doc
beautyandwellnessdoc.com................... 832/844-1754 Dr. B-Fit / Octavio Barrios, MD
517 West Gray......................................................713/942-7546
HOME FURNISHINGS/ACCESSORIES
coda
355 W 19th.............................................................. 713/864-4411
INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Jacob Medina
Jacob-medina.co...............................................713/242-8934 Jean Quila Interior Design
.....................................................................................832/366-1044
INSURANCE AGENCIES/AGENTS Lane Lewis/Farmers Insurance
2200 North Loop W, Ste 136......................713/688-8669 Patrick Torma/Goosehead Insurance
3420 Rusk, Ste. 22.............................................281/723-1294
INVESTMENTS Doug Smith/Hawthorne Funds
1210 West Clay, Ste. G................ HawthorneFunds.com
JEWELERS Silverlust
1338-C Westheimer......................................713/520-5440
LANDSCAPING/GARDENING
Joshua’s Native Plants & Antiques
502 W. 18th St...................................................... 713/862-7444
MASSAGE THERAPISTS
Club Houston
5420 Dashwood, Ste 101................................ 713/668-9118
RyanMassageWorks.com...........................713/269-7926
John Aaron Online Fitness
HEALTH CARE–OPTOMETRISTS
FITNESS CLUBS/PERSONAL TRAINERS
2205 Fannin .......................................................713/659-4998
CLEANING SERVICES
www.jaofit.com ..............................................832-649-8422
FOOD/SPECIALTY & SPIRITS Dripping Springs
...................................................... drippingspringsvodka.com 72 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
St. Hope Foundation
HEALTH CARE–OPHTHALMOLOGISTS
...................................................................................... 832/252-1961
Dexter’s Five Star Service/Bob Samora
Montrose DDS/Austin T. Faulk, DDS
HEALTH CARE-FOOT/ ANKLE SPECIALISTS
............................................................. whiteoakmusichall.com
Bering Church
Montrose DDS/Samuel A. Carrell, DDS
White Oak Music Hall
817 W. Dallas........................................................832/722-7658
davidalcorta.net..............................................832/439-0224
1440 Harold.................................................beringchurch.org
LifeSmiles by Randy Mitchmore, DDS
Tony’s Corner Pocket
800 Bagby, Suite 200......................................tuts.com/out
Ryan White Planning Council
507 West Gray.....................................................713/942-7546
3209 Montrose Blvd........................................281/709-2897 1925 TC Jester....................................................832/850-4338 1014 Wirt Rd......................................................... 832/924-0312 Additional locations.......................................ercare24.com
Theatre Under The Stars
Legacy Community Health
Cory Logan, DDS
ReBar
................................................................................. FestivalHill.org
Houston Health Department
2800 Kirby, Ste. B21........................................713/559-9300
HEALTH CARE-/HIV/COVID TESTING
Round Top Festival Institute
Harris County Public Health
Bayou City Smiles/ Cynthia Corral, DDS
620 W Alabama................................................. 713/529-4364
BAKERIES/CUSTOM CAKES David Alcorta Catering
Bayou City Smiles/Marcus de Guzman, DDS
Pearl Bar
248 Jaster Rd.......................................................979/249-3129
HEALTH CARE–SERVICES
Avenue 360
Houston Behavioral Healthcare Hospital
230 Westcott, Ste 210....................................713/869-7400
2313 Edwards St., Ste 150................................713/518-1411
FredHaasToyota.com ...................................832/764-8914
Maggie White,MPH FNP-BC AAHIVS/ Gordon Crofoot
3701 Kirby Dr., Ste.1230.................................713/526-0005
Publichealth.harriscountytx.gov.......... 713/439-6293
La Granja Disco Y Cantina
2520 Main St.......................................................832/981-7590
Derek Smith, AGPCNP-BC/Crofoot MD
Dr. Barry F. Gritz, MD
AUTOMOTIVE SALES Central Houston Cadillac/Tony Mcclelland
M. Sandra Scurria, MD
Avenue360.org...................................................713/426-0027
2313 Edwards St., Ste. 150...............................713/518-1411
1210 Gray ..................................................................713/289-1221
Gordon Crofoot, MD/Crofoot MD
Dr. Daniel Garza, MD
JR’s/Santa Fe
5505 Pinemont Dr.............................................713/518-6753
HEALTH CARE–PHYSICIANS
Octavio Barrios, MD
HANDGUN TRAINING
37 Waugh Dr........................................................ 713/863-8244
Advantage BMW Midtown
Scott Read Pharmacy
507 West Gray.....................................................713/942-7546 7106 Spencer Highway.................................281/542-9400
HEALTH CARE–DENTISTS
808 Pacific............................................................. 713/521-2519
Legacy Pharmacy
Studio A Salon
2411 Sunset..............................................................713/859-1591
Houston Eagle
716 Fairview....................................................... 713/522-3602
............................................................ AvitaPharmacy.com/HIV
HAIR/NAIL/MAKE-UP SALONS
3131 Eastside St, Ste 4.....................................281/610-8190
Copy.com
HEALTH CARE/PHARMACIES
..........LegacyCommunityHealth.org/services/pharmacy/
The Woodlands PRIDE
rwpcHouston.org .............................................713-572-3724
Montrose Eye Care/ Paul Lovero, OD
Jovon Tyler............................................................713/562-0004 Leslie Bonnie.......................................................281/203-7830
......................................................................................713/524-9525
COMPUTERS/INTERNET/IT SERVICES
TexasBulldogLaw.com...................................713/572-3333
520 Waugh Dr.....................................................713/352-0974
2600 SW Fwy, Ste 409..................................713/589-9804
Gonzalez Olivieri LLC
1834 Southmore..................................................713/808-1001
NEFT Vodka
Ryan White Planning Council
..........................................................thewoodlandstxpride.org
gonzalezolivierillc.com................................. 713/481-3040
1700 Post Oak Blvd, Ste 110..........................713/622-7470
Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast
..................................................................ppgulfcoast.org/lgbtq
deborah Lawson
....................................................................................... 713/478-2618
FIX Vodka
.................................................................................... FixVodka.com
Houston Eye Associates/Stewart Zuckerbrod, MD
Boutique Eye Care/Juliet Farmer, OD
1806 Westheimer, Ste. A.............................. 713/528-2010 Eye Gallery
1806B Westheimer............................................ 713/523-1279
Ryan Fugate, RMT
MUSEUMS
Galveston Railroad Museum
galvestonrrmuseum.org............................409/765-5700
ADVERTISERS INDEX PEST CONTROL SERVICES
Andy’s All Star Pest Control
....................................................................................... 713/732-7742
PET SERVICES & SUPPLIES
Lynette Lew/Better Homes and Gardens
LynetteLew.com................................................713/582-2202 Jose Ocque/Gary Greene-Post Oak Park
1177 W. Loop South, Ste 1200..................... 713/301-1136 Dan Ritchel/Keller Williams
Bayou City Veterinary Hospital
.......................................................................................214/384-1164
4720 Washington.............................................713/343-9909
Tomsgalvestonrealestate.com................713/857-2309
NULO Pet Foods
.................................................................................... nulo.com/fuel Midtown Veterinary Hospital
MidtownVetHospital.com...........................713-528-4900 Spay-Neuter Assistance Program
Snapus.org...........................................................713/862-3863 The Urban Vet
2625 Louisiana St.Ste D100.....................713/903-2364 West Alabama Animal Clinic
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ACME Oyster House
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1201 Westheimer ......................................AcmeOyster.com
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5900 Richmond Ave........................................ 713/789-6901
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1985 Welch St..................................EugenesHouston.com Free Grillin’/Chef Michele
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3215 Westheimer...............................................713/522-1934 Gloria’s Latin Cuisine 2616 Louisiana....................................................832/360-1710 Niko Niko’s 2520 Montrose...................................................713/528-4976 Niko Niko’s 1040 W. Sam Houston Prkwy. N.............. 832/981-4976 Pizza Birra Vino 544 Waugh Dr....................................................832/581-3664 Riva’s Italian Restaurant 1117 Missouri St.................................................. 713/529-3450 Urban Eats 3414 Washington Ave.....................feasturbaneats.com
REAL ESTATE -ARCHITECTS
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PHOTOGRAPHIC FOUNDATION
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WEDDING VENUES
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Get listed on this page. Call 713/520-7237 ext. 710 OutSmartMagazine.com
PRESERVING YEARS OF HOUSTON LGBTQ HISTORY! Help us fund the digitalization and cataloging of over million community photos by making a donation. Info@DaltonDeHart.com I P.O. Box 22641 I Houston, TX 77277
www.DaltonDeHart.com OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2021 73
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Thank you again to my OutSmart readers for voting me Best Astrologer for all of these years.”
TO SHOW GRATITUDE TO THOSE YOU LOVE AND TRULY APPRECIATE Voted BEST ASTROLOGER by OutSmart Readers
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What is your favorite shot to make? To drink? Favorite to make: Mexican Candy, but I like to substitute Blue Curaçao and coconut rum. Favorite to drink: Bud Light, but if we are doing shots I’m up for anything! Where is your favorite place to drink when not on duty? Right here at Pearl Bar. What is a current bar drink trend you’d like to see end? Multi-layered shots! What are you best known for? I’m best known for wearing these fun crop-tops! What is the best and worst holiday to work? Why? The best holiday has to be Pride— it’s a very festive atmosphere. I
don’t have a worst holiday yet. Maybe Easter—it was a little slow. Biggest tip from one customer? $100 Who are the hardest customers to please? The customers that may have had enough to drink already! If you weren’t a bartender, what career would you choose? The career I had before I started working here—a residency-program coordinator at UT Health’s vascular surgery department. Do you have any pets? Two fabulous cats named Lawless and Stormy, and a turtle named Crush! What is the best part about
working at this bar? I love our regulars—they can really brighten any day that I work. And my co-workers are the best. It is one big family! Favorite food: Tacos Favorite restaurant: Gringo’s Favorite travel spot: Boston
Dream vacation: Ireland Advice to a wannabe bartender in an LGBTQ bar: Be yourself, even if you are shy like me. And stay up to date on new drinks! Your superpower? I am very intuitive, even though I might not always listen to it! Theme Song: “Maria, Maria” by Santana.
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OutSmartMagazine.com | AUGUST 2021 75
SIGN OUT By LILLY RODDY
August is Active
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)
General Information: August is going to be an active month, with many people trying to get back to “normal” for the approaching school year. We’ve been in the summer doldrums, but August is the month to get prepared. The month’s planetary activity means that we will have a greater sense of urgency to get our stuff together. Mercury retrograde is coming up September 21–October 23, so plan ahead. The sun travels through Leo (the sign of love and admiration) for the majority of the month, entering Virgo on the 22nd. Mercury, our communicator, begins the month in Leo but enters Virgo, her home sign, on August 11. Mercury leaves Virgo on the 11th and enters Libra for conversations about relationships. Venus begins the month in Virgo, the sign of purity, then enters Libra, her home sign, on the 15th—when the conversation about relationships and fairness becomes more interesting! Mars will be traveling through Virgo, the sign of health and efficiency, all month. Jupiter remains in Aquarius, along with Saturn. Uranus remains in Taurus, going retrograde on the 19th. Neptune continues her swim through Pisces, and Pluto is plowing up the ground as she moves through Capricorn.
ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)
You are in a lighthearted mood as the month begins. You are more creative and adaptable as you work on getting your routines back online. This is also a great month for improving your health and diet regimen. Friends and business associates can be particularly helpful this month if you are looking for a career change. They may be able to see around some of your mental blocks. It’s a good time to start your own business. Relationships are very important in the latter half of the month. If you are single, this is a good time to meet new people. If you are involved, it’s a good time to renew those bonds. Co-workers can seem more sensitive than usual, so you may need kid gloves to handle them. It’s a busy, active month!
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20)
Things continue to be busy for all the fixed signs of Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius, and Taurus. You have three prominent energies that are influencing you. One is pushing you to expand and grow beyond your previous limitations, while the other two are focusing on your long-term career, social responsibility, and retirement options. You are more than ready to take on a leadership role. If you feel that you aren’t being 76 AUGUST 2021
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JOHN-PAUL ARREAGA
It’s finally time to get our stuff together.
Happy Birthday to the Lionesses and Lions. This is your time to review your past and set new destinations. Relationships and finances are on the menu as the month begins. You are reevaluating the success of business and romantic partnerships. If things are working, you are setting new intentions for the future that help you create more of a trusting bond. If things are not working, August should bring problems to the surface so those relationships can either be repaired or ended! You want to make some career changes to make better use of precious resources. Be careful not to overthink everything so you won’t feel stuck!
by the end of the month! This can be a great time to create a new interior look. appreciated, you may have to take your toys and find a place where you are valued. Home and family are your primary focus in the first half of the month. After that, you can look for some fun and go with the flow.
GEMINI (May 21–June 21)
This month, you are interested in getting your message out to other people. This is a great month for taking (or teaching!) classes to expand your knowledge. This is also a good month to expand your presence on social media and improve your chances to enjoy all kinds of new activities. You are taking your time, and making sure that what you focus on bears fruit. Career opportunities are very good through the end of the year. By mid-month, you are directing your energies to your home and family. You will want to make your home a more comfortable retreat, and this can be a good time for remodeling or even looking for a new place to live. Old family issues may come to the surface, but you are ready to address them.
CANCER (June 22–July 22)
Finances and personal resources take center stage for you as the month begins. This aspect of your life has been a concern since December 2020. Now it’s time to address debts and investments, and expand your client or customer base. This spark is very strong during the first half of the month, but the momentum remains through the middle of 2022. By mid-month, you are working to get yourself back into your routines and create some ease and flow in your life. The latter half of the month is better for getting your daily life more organized, sharing your views with others, and working to improve your local community and your public image. You may want to do a home makeover
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.22)
You are in a time of rest and retreat as the month opens. This is a great time to head to the beach or the lake and enjoy some meditation. This is also a great time to reconnect to your usual eating and exercise practices. You are more sensitive to your external environment until about mid-month, when you are more social and ready to interact with other folks. Mars, the symbol of health, self-care, self-protection, and taking life personally, will be traveling through your sign until September 14. Your authentic feelings will come to the surface, and you will be only too ready to express them. You can be more assertive and more defensive with Mars so active. More physical activity can help express your Mars energy in a positive way! Finances take on a bigger role by the end of the month as you seek balance there.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 23)
This month offers you more social outlets via your work or friends, but you’ll still need some quiet time to yourself. As you are more sensitive to others this month, you will also be more cautious about inviting people into your life. This is an excellent time to renew business and personal friendships that dried up during the COVID lockdown. This is a good month to turn your hobbies into something more lucrative. Your creative energies are very active, but you sense that what you do should have more of a public appeal. If you have children, you may find them needing to reconnect with you. By mid-month, your personal commitments will need some time and attention.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24–Nov. 21)
Career and social responsibilities take the lead this month. You have been exploring your career and
long-term security options this year, and this month you will feel the need to finally make some decisions and move forward. Over-analyzing things can be a problem, as it can make you doubt your confidence. Scorpio is a very psychological and intuitive sign, so trusting your choices is most important. This is a big time of change within your family as relatives age and family members move into new positions of power. You will want to have your say. Business organizations or community groups can be a great resource to tap into this month. You will want to be a part of what’s going on, and not just a spectator. Your writing and teaching energies remain strong through the end of the year.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov.22–Dec.21)
As this month begins, you are looking for a peaceful environment that doesn’t make too many demands. This is a good time for you to engage in creative and fun events. Getting away from routines and daily demands breathes new life into your soul. You have been trying to invent a more expressive workplace environment that can drive your passions instead of squashing them. This has been going on all year, but this month you will feel the need to make some choices. By the middle of the month, your career sector becomes very active. You will be ready to take on some new challenges and push forward with your own ideas. This is also a much better time for physical
activity and all kinds of exercise—even if it’s just digging in your garden.
potential new paths that the two of you will travel. If you are single, this could be a good time to meet new partners. If you are in a difficult partnership, this can be a time when things come to a head and you decide whether or not to move forward together. This is a time of personal renewal by establishing your objectives and moving forward. You are ready to let the past go so it doesn’t keep you anchored to your fears.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)
Although finances have been on your mind this year, you are feeling more pressure this month than usual. You are looking for some resolution and an end to the excessive demands on your time. This can be a very good time to make a budget that promotes careful use of your resources. Personal boundaries are being emphasized, so you may see that those old boundary lines are lacking. Use this knowledge to improve your boundaries, but skip the part where you chastise yourself for not doing this sooner. This continues to be a good time for taking classes, exploring personal interests, and improving your social-media presence. You are looking for more ways to bring creativity and fun into your life. By mid-month, you are getting back into your career mode. Clients and customers will be more open to your ideas and unique points of view!
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)
This year, you have been reviewing your life’s path, career choices, and personal relationships. You have been redefining boundaries and trying to add a new spark to your existence. Personal relationships also fall into this energy pattern. This is a time of setting future relationship goals. If you are in a positive relationship, this month you are exploring the
Getting back to your normal habits and routines is a strong theme for August. You have been busier than usual so far this year, but you are getting a bit of rest as the month begins. This is an excellent time to get healthier exercise and diet programs back in place. You have more disciplined energy available, which enables you to follow through with important tasks and interests. This is a very good month for a medical checkup, improving your work conditions, and taking more of a leadership role at work. By mid-month, paying attention to your relationships becomes more important. This would be a great time for you and your partner to get away for some couple time. If you are having problems in your current partnership, this will be a time when issues come to a head so they can be resolved, one way or another. Your energy levels are stronger, and you are taking life more personally! For more astro-insight, log on to lillyroddy.com.
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WEDDING GUIDE
Happy Lee (l) and Doug Smith
A WINE COUNTRY WEDDING Happy Lee and Doug Smith met during a memorable business trip. By JENNY BLOCK Photos by APOLLO FOTOGRAFIE
If you think the concept of successfully sliding into someone’s DMs is only a reality in a Lizzo song, think again. Not only is it as serious as the summer heat in Houston, it can also be just as steamy. It certainly was for Doug and Happy Lee Smith. Doug is a graduate of Texas Tech University and the founder and CEO of Hawthorne Capital. Happy is a graduate of National Louis University in Chicago, and a marketing strategist at Health IQ. The couple currently resides in the Montrose area near River Oaks. Doug, a Lubbock native, messaged Happy 78 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
on a dating app during a Chicago business trip in 2018. “After Happy had time to Google things like ‘Is it safe to give a stranger my number?’ we met up for a drink at a neighborhood brewery-restaurant called The Forbidden Root,” Doug recalls. It was Happy’s beautiful smile and infectious laugh that pulled at Doug’s heartstrings right from the start. “And after a few minutes of talking (and tickling), I wondered if we might be a perfect match. A few minutes later, I was certain he was—and even joked about us spending our lives together,” Doug says, noting that he is even more sure that Happy is “the one” now that they are married. And as for Happy’s thoughts on their love match? The native of Malaysia says Doug
makes him want to be married to him every day. On November 2, 2019, Doug proposed to Happy in the middle of The Forbidden Root, where they met. “We ordered a flight of beers,” Happy explains. “Little did I know, he had coordinated with the staff a few months prior to place a red rose along with a ring in the middle glass. And written on the glass was ‘Will you marry me?’ As soon as I saw that, he got down on one knee and proposed to me. At first, I was fairly clueless and even stunned. But then I got my bearings and was able to take in the moment. And of course, I said Yes!” Then Doug slipped the ring on Happy’s finger as restaurant-goers delightedly cheered them on. “It couldn’t have been any more spe-
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cial,” Doug says. “A few minutes later, Happy’s Chicago friends made a surprise entrance and we slipped off to the back room for a private celebration. It just so happened that there was a time change that night, and we got an extra hour of partying out of it. The universe was very much rooting for our gay engagement celebration.” The couple was married on May 15, 2021, in California’s Napa Valley at Auberge du Soleil. “We were most interested in having a cozy and intimate wedding, and were fortunately able to find a venue that accommodated small groups. The theme of the venue was natural, rustic, outdoor, wooden, and elegant, which ended up being perfect for us,” Happy explains. Doug says he’ll never forget watching Happy enter and walk down the aisle. “His beauty— and those high heels—radiated. His personal wedding vows touched my heart at times, and at others had me cracking up,” Doug says. The French tradition of sabering was also a highlight of their wedding day. “I wasn’t familiar with it before, but they trained me to open a bottle of sparkling wine with a saber.” And they didn’t even realize it until after the fact, but they failed to include rice tossing in their festivities. “We weren’t too concerned about it because the wedding was already so full of special moments,” Doug adds. “We also quite enjoyed not getting rice in our hair and down our shirts.” The couple also made sure to remember those who couldn’t be there in person for the celebration. “We printed out pictures of our dogs and the people we wished could have been in attendance. It was special to have them there in spirit,” Happy says. The couple chose to support the San Francisco LGBTQ community by hiring Apollo Fotografie, a gay-owned business, to take their
Chef David Alcorta
davidalcorta.net david@davidalcorta.net
wedding photos. “We were thrilled that our photographer was gay, since they made us feel totally at ease and fantastic on our wedding day,” Happy says. After the wedding, the couple spent a few days relaxing in Napa Valley and exploring San Francisco. “The real honeymoon, however, will be taking place over the coming months. Top contenders are Hawaii and Japan, but we’re certainly open to suggestions,” Doug says. The relationship may have started with something as simple as a quick DM on a dating app, but it has turned into a joyful, lifelong love. “Happy is probably the kindest, most loving, and even the funniest person I’ve ever met,” Doug concludes. “And Doug is irreplaceable,” Happy adds. I love him for who he is.”
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SCENE OUT Photos by DALTON DEHART AND CREW
On June 24, 2021, the Law Harrington Senior Living Center held a Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony hosted by the Montrose Center. Pictured are Montrose Center leaders with pubic officials.
The Harris County Democratic Lawyers Association held its 2021 Summer CLE & Clarence Darrow Award Presentation on June 24, 2021. Pictured are the Fab Five: Judges Jason Cox, Jerry Simoneaux, Shannon Baldwin, James F. Kovach, and Beau Miller.
On June 28, 2021, Pride Sports USA Dodgeball held Houston Open Play. Pictured are members of the Houston Dodgeball teams.
Pride Houston presented its pop-up swim party on June 26, 2021, at El Segundo Swim Club benefiting the Baywatch Salvation Pool Party in August. Pictured are CC Brooks, DJ Athenz, Kendra Walker, and Jasmine Young.
On June 27, 2021, Pride Recovery Brunch, benefiting the Montrose Center, was held at La Grange. Pictured are Cori Renfroe, Clark Caperton, Jason Clayden, Robert Wallace, and Alex Zuniga.
Music Box Theater presented its 10th Anniversary Show on June 27, 2021. Pictured are (back row) John Meltzer, Sal Ragusa, Luke Wrobel, Rebekah Dahl, Randall Whitmore, Cay Taylor, Alex Ramirez, (front row) Nanette Ragusa, Kristina Sullivan, and Brad Scarborough.
On June 19, 2021, EPAH held it July 2021 Dinner Meeting at Maggiano’s Little Italy. Pictured are Jody Morris, Michele Laprade, Reada Book-Stein, Denise O’Doherty, Cathy Guttentag, Deborah Lawson, and Lisetta Lavy.
The Montrose Makers Pride Market in the South Beach parking lot, hosted by Crystal Murley, was held on July 10, 2021. Pictured are Crystal Murley, Eliot Perez, Ray Stowell and Jo Crane.
Christmas in July presented its 43rd annual event hosted by Bobby Bass and Joe Melton at JR’S Bar & Grill on July 11, 2021. Pictured are the Christmas in July hosts.
On June July 17, 2021, Round Top Music Festival 2021’s Festival Hill Orchestral Institute closing concert and reception was held. Pictured are Brendan Fairleigh, Jacqueline Ditsler, James Dick, and Jacob West.
Legacy Community Health presented Mint Julep 2021 virtually with a watch party at La Griglia. Pictured are Rufus Cormier, Katy Caldwell, Jani Lopez, Tony Bravo, Yvonne Cormier, Chree Boydstun, and Richard Werner.
On July 4, 2021, Keith & Dexter presented the Freedom Party at Belvedere. Pictured are Timothy Leblanc, Jovaun Davenport, Keith Clarke, Dexter Williams, Terry King, Robert Anderson, and Deejay Ford.
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WIGGING OUT
The Dancing Divo
I was self-taught before starting formal training at 16. I am trained in ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, hip hop, and (my favorite) contemporary dance. What got you interested in pageants? When I got to dance for my gay mother in 2007, it was the first pageant I had ever been to. I saw how much went into it and the people you got to meet and the love you received. I wanted to be a part of it.
La’darius Mirage Jackson is Houston’s drag mover and shaker.
Do you hold any titles? I currently hold two titles. I am your reigning Mr. Bolt and your reigning Mr. Gay USofA at Large. My give-up for Mr. Gay USofA at Large is October 11–12, and I am so excited because I am the longest-reigning titleholder for that division. It meant the world to me after trying five times and finally winning on the sixth try.
By SAM BYRD Photo by ALEX ROSA
W
hen the needle drops and the beat hits, crowds know La’darius Mirage Jackson is about to put on a show. Those legs? They stretch sky-high. Those splits? He goes all the way down. And nobody knows how to wow the crowd like he does, with a sly twinkle in his eye and a devilish smile. His dance performances are like a simmering pot slowly heating to a boil. And just when he has you in the palm of his hand, his number ends and he walks off the stage. As they say, the trick is to always leave ’em wanting more.
Story behind the name? My gay mother told me that I needed a name, and I told her I always wanted to be named Darius. She told me to add some spice to it. Since she is Lawanda Jackson, why not be La’darius Jackson? That way, we’d have the same initials. Also, my gay father (Louis Jack) and my first gay child (Leilani Jackson) have the same initials. Describe what you do. Is it drag, entertainment, male performance, etc.? I am all of the above, because I try to infuse everything I know into my drag. Sometimes my makeup and costumes can be a little big on the drag side when I want it to be, or they can be more masculine. I love just being me, and I feel I am a little bit of it all.
Pronouns? He/him Hometown? Houston What inspired you to start performing? I’ve been a dancer for 21 years, and it has always been my escape when I am in my feelings. I love to show others it’s OK to use dance as a language. My first gay mother, Lawanda, inspired me to start performing. She saw that I had the “it” factor to be on stage and be in the front, and she told me to go for it. Talk about the costume you’re in. This costume I hold close my heart. It was my best friend/brother Kristian Dior St. James’ final costume [he wore] before he passed away from COVID-19. He always saw me as his little brother, and no one comes close to the bond we shared. He was one of my biggest role models, so I wanted to pay tribute to him for the love and confidence he gave me. Talk about your dance background. I started dancing when I was 13 years old. 82 AUGUST 2021 | OutSmartMagazine.com
#TeamWhitney or #TeamMariah? I love both, but definitely #TeamWhitney.
Follow La’darius Mirage Jackson on Instagram as theoneandonly2004, on Snapchat as Dancerboy23, and on Facebook as La’darius Mirage Jackson.
Finish this statement: “When in doubt…” “…make it work.” What’s on your bucket list? To travel overseas one day, and to buy my mom a house. Where can people see you perform? I am on three rotating casts. Catch me every fourth Wednesday at Tony’s Corner Pocket for Wepa Wednesdays, every third Saturday at Barcode for Barcode Nights, and at least twice a month at Pearl Bar for the H-Town Kings show.
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