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Kentucky Born, Texas Grown: A Personal Reflection on Finding My Gay Self in the South

Posted on September 21, 2018
A photo of gay Texan Russell Etherton.

I was born and raised in the great Commonwealth of Kentucky. More specifically, Louisville, a tiny beacon of liberal hope in a state that prides itself on its southern charm and conservative values. Home of the Kentucky Derby and the biggest of hats, strong bourbon and the best Mint Juleps you’ll ever taste, tobacco, and a college basketball culture unlike anywhere else in the United States. A city where faith and religious conviction dance with sin. Most definitely not the…

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Why This Femme of Color Won’t Watch The News

Posted on September 18, 2018
A photo of queer femme of color Sasha Lamprea.

At least twice a week, I have the same conversation with several different people. It starts with them trying to talk to me about something they saw on the news, followed by me letting them know that I don’t follow the news. At this point, they try to react in a neutral manner but fail, letting just the slightest bit of judgement peek through, which puts me in the position to explain: “For self-care reasons, I don’t follow the news.”…

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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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Transouthern Youth: Meet Dominic Anthony Green

Posted on September 4, 2018
A photo of transouthern youth Dominic Anthony Green.

Dominic Anthony Green is on a journey and the universe is guiding him. “I was raised by a Christian family,” Green, who identifies as a pansexual trans man, explains. “Yet, I have different beliefs and I make them very known. I believe in more than a God—I believe in many Gods, I believe in myself, and the universe. I believe the mind is a prison and the only way out is to open your mind. That’s what I have been…

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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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