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Health+Wellness

Trans Latinx Liberation: Ana Andrea Molina Headlines Gender Infinity Conference

Posted on September 27, 2018

A photo of Gender Infinity keynote speaker Ana Andrea Molina.

Gender Infinity is a transgender- and gender-variant-focused conference that takes place annually in Houston, Texas. This year, it spans the weekend of October 5-6, with both days crammed full of programming that caters to the specific needs of the trans and gender-diverse population. Now in their eighth year, the conference offers workshops, discussions, community and health education, and keynote speakers on hot topics that are affecting the gender-diverse population, and specifically has included many spaces for the queer Black, indigenous, Latinx,…

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.”…

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…

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…

Serving Those Who Serve: New Veteran Services at The Montrose Center

Posted on August 7, 2018

I love to tell people that if it wasn’t for Texas and the Air Force, I wouldn’t exist. My parents were both service members stationed in San Antonio when they met, fell in love, and decided to make the coolest baby ever—me. On both sides of my family, I’ve had relatives serve in every branch of the armed forces dating back to the Civil War. My grandfather served as an American Legion Chaplain until his death, and my mom followed…

Talk Derby to Me: Meet Former Psych Ward Sirens Jammer MadCapnCap

Posted on July 20, 2018

A photo of Houston roller derby girl MadCapnCap.

After taking a two-year hiatus from roller derby to pursue her career as a firefighter, Sarah Harford, aka Mad Cap’n Cap, is ready to return to the rink. “I love the teamwork and comradery of the sport,” says the former Houston Roller Derby Psych Ward Sirens jammer. “I had to retire from skating for a short period time, but I never lost my passion for and love of derby. Even though I couldn’t skate for the team, I still was…

More Than His Size: Heavy Hitters Pride Empowers LGBTQ Urban Men of Size

Posted on July 18, 2018

A photo of the board of Heavy Hitters Pride.

The beauty of the LGBTQ community is that we are always able to carve out the spaces we crave to celebrate our identities. It is with grit, sweat, and much resilience that we create these spaces, but it is nonetheless exceptional to watch. From the trans folks of color who started the Stonewall Riots, to the emergence of gender-expansive icons like E.J. Johnson and Jaden Smith, to the reclamation of the word “queer,” we have excitedly watched as our community…

It’s Not in Your Head: The History and Science of Gender Fluidity

Posted on July 4, 2018

A photo of the transgender flag representing gender fluidity.

At some point in your early childhood, a well-meaning parent or teacher probably sat you down and shared what they believed to be the simple facts of life—that the world was made of boys and girls. Boys have penises and girls have vaginas, they said, and they made you think it was really that simple. We see the same sentiment reiterated in political debates over “bathroom bills” and job protection acts being contested in state and local governments all across…

The Gender Affirmative Model: APA Publishes Groundbreaking Book on Caring for Trans and Gender Expansive Youth

Posted on June 20, 2018

A photo of Dr. Colt Keo-Meier, co-editor of The Gender Affirmative Model.

Attacks on transgender and gender expansive individuals stem directly from a lack of knowledge and understanding. This ignorance has found its way into places like state capitol buildings and schools, where it affects the most vulnerable individuals—children. Education is the key to combating this issue, and—with the release of their groundbreaking book, The Gender Affirmative Model: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Supporting Transgender and Gender Expansive Children—Dr. Colt Keo-Meier and Dr. Diane Ehrensaft aim to provide such education in a way…

Talk Derby to Me: Meet Valkyries Blocker 2xForce

Posted on June 15, 2018

A photo of Houston Roller Derby Valkyries blocker 2xForce.

When Houston Roller Derby Valkyries blocker Jessica Julien, aka 2xForce, rolls onto the skate track, everything melts away and the competition of the game begins. “For me, roller derby is an addiction,” she says. “I love competition, which is why I have been with the team for nine seasons and have been captain of our travel team for the past three years."…

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