For decades, clubs, bars, and performance halls have been havens for queer people everywhere. They’re where heavy hearts and cheerful spirits gather together, dance in the moonlight, and come alive. It is within these spaces that p1nkstar, an Austin-based translatinx performance and pop music artist, created an instantly recognizable name for herself.…
By Kelly M. Marshall Transgender women of color have often been left out of the narratives of the collective LGBTQIA+ experience, especially when it comes to our history of liberation. It’s only recently that Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Miss Major Griffin-Gracey, Stormé DeLaverie, and others have been featured in the spotlight and honored for the sacrifice of their blood, sweat, tears, and even lives during the Stonewall Riots and the ensuing decades of our uprising for queer rights. This…
Food—it's what brings us together, a way to show our love, and a tie to our cultural roots. In this episode, Veer Queer interviewer Verniss McFarland III sits down with two special culinary guests, Bunny Woods of Honey B's Cuisine and Gianna Navarro of Somos Semillas Vegan Kitchen, to discuss how food builds community and the vital role it plays in the lives of QTPOC folks.…
Growing up, we’re all fed the same fairytale ending: We’ll find our person, they’ll offer us love and devotion, they’ll complete us, and together, we’ll settle into a life of fulfillment. From story books, to romantic comedies, to the arc of almost every book, romantic partnering is presented as the ideal. Surprise, things aren’t that easy.…
I must disclaim that I am in no way a health and fitness professional, I am a city boy who likes to be out in the city and a gym bunny who enjoys the rush of a good workout. What ever am I doing during the lockdown, then? Let me lay out some workarounds that have been good to me, physically and mentally. Perhaps, if you’re looking to get your own endorphins flowing (whether you’re a gym regular or not),…
What a crazy time we find ourselves in. March has ended (finally!) and, in just a single month, the world has changed in ways we won’t fully realize for years and decades to come. Lives have been forever altered, destroyed, or lost completely. And now the ways in which we interact with one another, the best practices in every sector, the systems that are supposed to be there when we needed a safety net, and the planet we live on…
Representation matters. The way we and our communities are portrayed matters. In observing queer characters in books, movies, and on television, we see options for who we can be and validation of who we already are. As human beings, we are in constant need of affirmation that we are not alone—that our thoughts and experiences aren’t isolated.…
Given the current state of the world, you’re probably spending a lot of time at home right now. With restaurants and bars closed, sporting events and concerts cancelled, and the world at large on pause, we’ve entered an unprecedented state of stillness. On the bright side (if there is such a thing), this is an excellent opportunity to catch up on any books, shows, or movies that you’ve been longing to experience. Whatever your social distancing mood is, we’ve got…
In this episode, Veer Queer interviewer Deondre B. Moore recaps the March 3 political primaries with guest Mike Webb, president of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus. On the presidential front, the Democrats are left with candidates Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden—what does this mean for the QTPOC community? In local Houston races, many gay, white male candidates are losing their races to Black women. What does this say about the needs of progressive and LGBTQ communities at this point in…
Every few weeks, advertising for a new “date rape prevention” product pops up in my news feed—nail polish, coasters, and straws, all claiming to be able to detect rape-facilitating drugs in your drink and, therefore, to be effective tools in preventing sexual assault. The comments section is always lit up with remarks such as “What a great idea!,” or “So needed!” But few are willing to point out the many flaws with risk-prevention efforts like drug-testing tools and the negative…
