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Arts+Culture

The Mysterious Nicholas Nguyen: Out Fashion Designer Talks Houston, Vietnam Success

Posted on September 24, 2018
A photo of fashion designer Nicholas Nguyen.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a veterinarian. After that, I wanted to be a teacher. I even thought I might be a theatre dramaturg or production assistant for a while. But life didn’t pan out that way for me—I didn’t find my true passion of writing until adulthood. Others, like out fashion designer Nicholas Nguyen, have had their eyes on the prize from day one. “When I was a kid, I used to go into my…

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5 Southern Queer Artists That Defy Your Definition of Art

Posted on September 6, 2018
A photo of queer artists Douglas Welsh.

Queer artists are often expected to produce just that: queer art. As art lovers, we anticipate these artists’ visual masterpieces to reverberate with the queer lived experiences of their creators. Subsequently, we forget that, while queer art is an extension of the artist, it is not limited to a single facet of the maker’s identity.…

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Healthcare is a Human Right: Houston Secures Transition-Related Healthcare Benefits for City Employees

Posted on August 29, 2018
An illustration of transition-related healthcare benefits.

Senior police officer Jackie Boniaby is a staple within the Houston Police Department. For the past 26 years, she’s dedicated her life to service, holding various positions throughout the department. The last few months, however, have been a transition—Boniaby recently came out as a transgender woman and is taking steps to live publicly as her authentic self. “I just recently transitioned,” Boniaby tells Spectrum South. “I had to conceal who I was for years. It’s a journey, but I’m simply…

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‘Boy Erased’: Powerful New Film Sheds Light on the Dangers of Conversion Therapy

Posted on August 24, 2018
A photo of the film Boy Erased.

Boy Erased is based on the book of the same name by author Garrard Conley. Like his onscreen character, Conley grew up in Arkansas. “My parents were always pretty religious,” he says in an interview with British TV program This Morning. As a child, he and his parents attended church three times a week. “When I was 16, my dad decided to become a preacher,” Conley tells the hosts. “My mom and I were sitting in church at the time…

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Talk Derby to Me: Meet Houston Roller Derby ‘Super Friend’ Jason Davila

Posted on August 22, 2018
A fan of Houston Roller Derby fan Jason Davila.

Ask Jason Davila if he’s a Houston Roller Derby (HRD) super fan, and he’ll respond “no.” “I don’t consider myself a super fan because all I think of when you say ‘fan’ is someone who just goes to games and cheers on their favorite team,” he says. “I would say I am more of a super friend of Houston Roller Derby. I think that is what differentiates me from everyone else. Not only do I attend every game ([with the…

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One Man’s Ecstasy: Atlanta’s Serenbe Playhouse

Posted on August 21, 2018
A photo of Titanic at Serenbe Playhouse in Atlanta, Georgia.

We wouldn’t be the first, second, or even third to use the word “intrepid” when describing the work produced by Serenbe Playhouse. The small professional theatre company, located about 30 miles southwest of Atlanta, performs all of its productions on a large expanse of acreage attached to The Inn at Serenbe. Founded in 2009, the playhouse has made a name for itself within the Georgia theatre scene, garnering national attention and press for its bold new works and reimagined classics…

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Book Review: ‘Less Than Butterflies’

Posted on August 17, 2018
A photo of the book cover of Less Than Butterflies by Anthony Ramirez.

Sex, drugs, and the gays of Houston. Just a few characters in the zephyr of cynicism, sarcasm, and witty one-liners that makes up author Anthony Ramirez’s third book, Less Than Butterflies. Ramirez, editor-in-chief of About magazine, comes clean—as clean as he can—in the autobiography, exploring his life as it was dragged through the underbelly of Houston’s raunchy gay scene. The book jumps from Montrose to Washington Heights, Midtown to Third Ward, and never a dull moment between them.…

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Singing With Soul: Jasmine Branch on Life After Pride Superstar

Posted on August 13, 2018
A photo of Pride Superstar 2018 Jasmine Branch, aka Jassyb.

“I just can’t give up now, I’ve come too far from where I started from…” As Jasmine Branch, aka Jassyb, belts these words on stage, they come straight from her heart. She embodies them. “Can’t Give Up Now,” the song the Houston-based singer chose for her winning Pride Superstar 2018 performance, is definitive of both her journey during the competition, and within her life. No stranger to a challenge, Branch knows the importance of pursuing a goal until you emerge victorious.…

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