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Happy July! All of us at O utSmart were so happy to have the chance to celebrate Pride Month with our readers, advertisers, and the Houston LGBTQ community.

In this issue, we mark the 20th anniversary of Lawrence v. Texas, the landmark Supreme Court decision that invalidated sodomy laws nationwide and established the groundwork for marriage equality and a new wave of LGBTQ activism.

We also note the new Montrose memorial honoring Monica Roberts, Houston’s beloved and prolific trans-rights advocate. Sam Byrd writes about that mini-mural by local artists Brad Pritchett and Katherine Ligon, close friends of Roberts who wanted to create a fitting memorial to her tireless activism, both locally and nationwide.

July is National Disability Awareness Month, which columnist Dr. Daryl Shorter highlights in his call to confront our own biases and become better advocates for individuals living with disabilities.

Once again, our July issue spotlights the vibrant LGBTQ community on Galveston Island. Musician Lucio Nieto speaks with writer Connor Behrens about his journey from New York City and Los Angeles to Galveston, where he has found new inspiration that has energized his many creative endeavors. Then Behrens sits down with Island bar owner Michael Cassavaugh, who has been busy redefining Galveston’s LGBTQ nightlife scene with his Island Time Beach Bar & Grill. Writer Zach McKenzie visits with shamanic practitioner Anthony Rios, who serves the Island’s queer community with his spiritual and emotional healing practices. And finally, NASA flight controller Lauren Maples shares her love of scuba diving and space exploration with writer Marene Gustin.

Over at the Hobby Center, Theatre Under the Stars brings us a provocative new Broadway touring production of 1776 this month. The show’s multiracial cast of female, trans, and nonbinary actors puts the dramatic story of the nation’s founding “in the hands of the humans who were left out the first time around.”

Also in this issue, we meet three local LGBTQ TikTok stars who are using the platform to promote and connect with Houston’s queer community.

Did you miss this year’s Pride parade? Or do you want to relive a few highlights from Pride Month? Either way, you’ll love community photographer Dalton DeHart’s colorful photos documenting the many ways that Houstonians were celebrating Pride in true Texas style. Like they say, everything is bigger in Texas, Pride celebrations included.

As our longtime readers know, O utSmart ’s Gayest & Greatest awards honor our readers’ favorite LGBTQ and ally businesses, personalities, and community leaders each year. Don’t forget to vote online (until August 28) for your top picks in dozens of categories, and then watch for the announcement of all the winners in our October issue.

Until next month, we wish you the best for a safe and festive July!

Greg Jeu Publisher

STAGE

July 20–22

1776

Theatre Under the Stars brings a fresh Broadway touring production of the Tony Award-winning musical 1776 to the Hobby Center this month. The collaboration between the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University and New York’s Roundabout Theatre Company produced this bold reexamination of a pivotal moment in American history. Watch as two dozen powerful, passionate, complicated, and “all too human”