Happy (almost) New Year, queers! 20GayTeen has been a wonderful whirlwind for the Spectrum South team—full of transformative interviews, profound personal narratives, heartwarming celebrations of community, and our continued efforts to create a digital safe space for queer folks across the South.
We’re proud to say that, over the past year, Spectrum South has doubled our number of queer staff writers, organically built a substantial social media fan base, and continued to establish collaborative connections and partnerships with fellow queer community organizations. We’ve received love from celebs like genderqueer performance artist ALOK, queer fitness guru Bethany C. Meyers, and NBC’s The Voice singer Stephanie Rice; and our work has been highlighted by Fab Feminist Magazine, Voyage Houston Magazine, About Magazine, KPFT’s Queer Voices and Facets, and The TransAdvocate.
Outside the digital sphere, our team has thrown multiple successful events for our readers to celebrate their identities in a safe and inclusive space, to highlight local queer artists, and to dismantle the divisiveness that often exists within the LGBTQ community. In March, we hosted our first-ever Vie de Femme, a celebration of femme identity across the spectrum, which featured musical, burlesque, and spoken word performances by Dee Dee Watters, Krystal Tbl Garner, Mars Capone of Dem Damn Dames, Morena Roas Da Artist, and Stoo of BLING ST. Through generous guest donations, the event was also able to raise $500 for Save Our Sisters United, a Houston-based nonprofit working to empower and mobilize transgender and cisgender women of color. Seeing so many folks of various femme expressions gather together in one space to smash the misogyny that permeates our own queer community was an incredible experience and only reaffirmed our work and mission.
Stoo of BLING ST. performs at Spectrum South’s Vie de Femme celebration in March 2018.
Pride month marked Spectrum South’s one-year anniversary! To celebrate, Spectrum South partnered with Pride Houston as an official media sponsor of the 2018 Houston LGBT Pride Celebration. Our team greeted thousands of festival goers, gave out Spectrum South swag, and unapologetically showed our Pride.
Spectrum South greeted thousand of festival goers, gave out swag, and unapologetically showed our Pride at the Houston LGBT Pride Celebration in June 2018.
In July, we collaborated with QFest, Houston’s international LGBTQ film festival, to present the festival’s Closing Night screening of 1985. The intimate film from director Yen Tan follows Adrian (Cory Michael Smith), a closeted young man, as he returns to his Texas hometown for Christmas during the first wave of the AIDS crisis. Following the screening, queer film enthusiasts mixed and mingled at a reception of lite bites, drinks, and music by Bradley David Entertainment.
In July 2018, Spectrum South partnered with QFest to present the film festival’s Closing Night Screening.
Spectrum South’s first year brought new friendships, authentic stories, and rewarding collaborations that exceeded all expectations. That’s why, in late August, we launched a Kickstarter campaign to help us grow in Year Two. The community support we received was extraordinary; not only did we reach our $5,000 goal, we exceeded it by over $1,000. In addition to the incredible monetary support we received, our readers also rallied on social media and sent emails to friends and family—everything to ensure our campaign would be successful. We are beyond grateful to each and every person who donated and spread the word—thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.
We kept the good vibes going in October when we partnered with Stages Repertory Theatre for the Spectrum South Night performance of Emilio Rodriguez’s Swimming While Drowning. Swimming is a poetic coming-of-age story that follows the journey of Angelo and Mila, two homeless queer teens who build a fragile bond that inspires them to reach for understanding and self acceptance. The night welcomed University of Houston professor Trevor Boffone, who spoke to the play’s significance in terms of QPOC representation on stage, as well as actors Stanley Andrew Jackson III and Reginald Choyce.
Actors Stanley Andrew Jackson III (l) and Reginald Choyce at the Spectrum South Night at Stages Repertory Theatre performance of ‘Swimming While Drowning’ on October 17, 2018.
This year was an exciting time to say the least, but we’re already looking forward to what 2019 has to offer. We’re excited to announce that Veer Queer, an all-inclusive LGBTQ podcast based out of Houston, is now part of the Spectrum South family! To celebrate, we’re hosting a live event to kick off the podcast’s brand-new season. Join hosts Julien Gomez, Mai Ha, and Endesha Haynes as they sit down with special guest Jessica Zyrie for a conversation on her experience as a trans model, QTPOC activism, and southern roots. It’s all happening Thursday, January 24, 2019 at the Sharespace Preston Warehouse (2201 Preston St.) in East Downtown, Houston. Make sure to catch up on all previous Veer Queer seasons here.
We’re excited to announce that Veer Queer, an all-inclusive LGBTQ podcast based out of Houston, is now part of the Spectrum South family!
In order to grow, evolve, and keep our finger on the pulse of such a diverse community, we need your help. Feel free to contact us at [email protected] to leave feedback, suggestions, and story ideas—we want to hear from you!
Cheers, queers and happy New Year!
Xoxo, Kelsey and Megan
