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Welcome to the ‘Gay Shame Parade’: An HTX Queer Comedy Show

Posted on April 12, 2019

A photo of queer comedy show the Gay Shame Parade.

After the spotlight locks onto the mic and the door to the back room shuts, host Bob Morrissey steps to the front of the jet black room with a Lone Star in his hand and a relaxed grip on the microphone. The lone disco ball spins in the dark above his almost impressively unkempt hair. Within five minutes, Morrissey introduces the show with a story about how he managed to be more impressed with the Hitchcock film Strangers on a Train…

QTFriendsHTX: Find Your New Queer Bestie Using This Instagram Page

Posted on April 10, 2019

A photo of Marissa Ramos of Queer Friends Houston.

In Houston, a city that over two million people call home, finding new friends can be quite the overwhelming task. And of course when you’re queer, it feels as if your odds of meeting that special platonic someone are even smaller. Marissa Ramos, a graduate student at the University of Houston, has made the search to find a local queer bestie a little bit easier with “Queer Friends Houston,” an Instagram page where queer people can meet new fellow queer friends…

OUTsider Fest 2019 Review: A Collection of Queeriosities

Posted on April 9, 2019

This year, OUTsider Fest celebrated its fifth year with enthusiasm, collaborative spirit, and queer BIPOC avant-garde delights. Artistic director Curran Nault and president PJ Raval opened their home to morning Conferences on the Couch, casual round-table panel discussions of the previous night’s performances and exhibitions, and created a space for the different artists to discuss their views and work through the lenses of different academically salient topics. In the afternoon and on into the evening, performative works ranging from theatre…

Veer Queer Episode 25: Culinary Roots of Resistance

Posted on April 5, 2019

A photo of Veer Queer with chef Adán Medrano.

In this episode, the Veer Queer crew talks with Houston-based chef Adán Medrano about Texas indigenous cooking, the importance of food in relation to resistance, identity, and community, and his upcoming film, The Roots of Texas Mexican Food.…

‘Shenandoah’ at Serenbe: Out Theatre Director Brian Clowdus’ Civil War-Era Drama is a Triumph

Posted on April 4, 2019

Out theatre director and immersive experience extraordinaire Brian Clowdus doesn’t ask how before laying down a grand plan. The Atlanta-area theatrical pioneer first entered the national spotlight for using an actual helicopter in Serenbe Playhouse’s production of Miss Saigon; he then graced Spectrum South in August 2018 when he sank the set and sent actors plummeting beneath the waves in Serenbe’s Titanic.…

Breaking the Silence: ‘Azul’ Centers Queer Cuban Experience in New Orleans World Premiere

Posted on April 2, 2019

Telling stories about the nuances of queer female sexuality is the core of playwright Christina Quintana’s craft. In an essay about her play Scissoring, Quintana writes: “I love women, I love lesbians, I believe in stories about queer women of color more than anything.” This passion is precisely where Quintana draws inspiration for her latest play, Azul, which receives its world premiere at Southern Rep Theatre in New Orleans from March 27 to April 14, 2019. The production is a…

SB17 Threatens Texans With License to Discriminate—and It’s Happening Now

Posted on March 28, 2019

SB17 would provide any professional licensed by the state of Texas a license to discriminate based on “sincerely held religious beliefs.” The religious exemption bill is being called the latest aggression against LGBTQ Texans—as well as other individuals not protected at the federal level, such as single parents or people who practice a religion that differs from that of the service provider.…

HeART & Soul: 10 Years of Arts Merging and Hearts Emerging

Posted on March 28, 2019

A photo of HeART & Soul founder Kevin Anderson.

Imagine an artistic experience that instantly evokes a feeling of community. Imagine a stage on which no subject is too taboo, where no performer hides behind insecurities. Imagine an event that encourages true genuineness—free of shame, judgement, or expectation. Imagine a space where there are no demands to conform artistically, socially, or sexually; performers are fully allowed to own their individual truths. Yet, this space is not a figment of our imagination—it existed for 10 years as a monthly performance…

This Café and Bookstore is Creating Alternative Ways for QTPOC to Build Community in Dallas

Posted on March 25, 2019

A photo of Revolution Café and Bookstore.

Oftentimes, queer community is forged at gay bars, nightclubs, or other social gatherings centered around alcohol. And if you’re a queer person of color seeking community, it can be even more challenging to find a place or event to meet others like yourself. Niecee X, a 29-year-old community organizer and artist, is trying to change the scene in Dallas by organizing QTPOC-centered open mics, intentional conversations, and dinner parties with the hope of one day opening Revolution Café and Bookstore…

Roll Call: Queer Women in Leadership, Where Are You?

Posted on March 21, 2019

On a chilly Sunday morning, I met my editor at an East Downtown café to share a cup of coffee and swap story ideas for the upcoming months. As a queer woman and aspiring arts leader, I’d been mulling over the concept of authoring a piece for Women’s History Month that would highlight queer female leaders within Houston’s arts scene. I got the green light to move forward, and in the following weeks, I searched religiously for the female role…

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