Spectrum South - The Voice of the Queer South

Posted on October 15, 2019

A photo of Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden.

If you’re a fan of Texan creators, graphic novels, or queer main characters, Austin-raised cartoonist Tillie Walden’s latest graphic novel is the fall release for you. Published in September 2019, Are You Listening? is a dreamy road trip story with modern flairs of magical realism. The book’s West Texas landscape oscillates between fantastical and familiar, and the characters will have you rooting for them to the very last page. …

Faith in the ‘Invisible’: Houston Church Debuts Film on Gay Women in Southern Music

Posted on October 11, 2019

A photo of Invisible, playing at a Houston church.

A heart must believe in something. Whether it believes in a higher power, in one’s dream, or in the strength that is exuded from one’s own gifts and talents, a heart must beat for something greater than itself. A heart beats within the halls of St. Peter United Church of Christ in Houston, Texas. St. Peter United is dedicated to the acceptance and visibility of all people. And etched within every stone, there lies a legacy. It is a legacy not…

Austin to Hold First-Ever Official Commemoration of Intersex Awareness Day

Posted on October 9, 2019

An illustration of Intersex Awareness Day in Austin, Texas.

For the first time in history, the city of Austin will officially recognize Intersex Awareness Day. The formal announcement, which will be made by Austin City Council on October 17, will declare October 26, from this year on, as Intersex Awareness Day.…

Need A Therapist? There’s A Quiz for That

Posted on October 7, 2019

A photo of Ryan Schwartz, founder of Mental Health Match.

I think the last time I took an online quiz, it was to see what kind of hot dog I was. Spoiler alert, I’m a Chicago-style dog. While these benign online quizzes, first made famous by Buzzfeed, have become popular for passing the time (and escaping from the inundation of celebrity pop culture and political scandals), Houstonian Ryan Schwartz has created one that is actually here to help.…

The Shirt Off Our Backs: The Emotional Labor of Queer Clothing

Posted on October 4, 2019

When I first came out, I had a realization that both excited and perplexed me—I could wear anything I wanted. No longer having to appeal to the male gaze, I was free to be aesthetically pleasing to a whole new audience. This is a common experience for queer people who have just come out; they realize for the first time that, because their sexuality is now beyond the normative social constructs, so are their hair and clothing choices.…

Remembering Félix González-Torres: Queer Latinx Art and the Caribbean-American ‘South’

Posted on October 2, 2019

Forty years ago, Félix González-Torres arrived in New York City from Puerto Rico, marking the beginning of his emergence as one of the most influential conceptual artists of his generation. During a brilliant career cut tragically short by his death from AIDS, the openly gay, Cuban-born, Latino-American artist produced a wide range of works that challenged spectators to participate in the creative experience and to formulate their own meanings. Through photography, billboards, and installations comprised of everyday objects, he evoked…

A Face for the Future: Taylor De La Garza On Advancing Queer Activism in the Rio Grande Valley

Posted on September 30, 2019

A photo of Rio Grande Valley activist Taylor De La Garza.

When asked about himself, the first thing Taylor De La Garza shares is that he’s from the Rio Grande Valley. The second is that, after he completes his studies in Houston, he wants to return to the Valley, where he plans to continue his journey of LGBTQ activism. “I was scared of accepting the queer part of me for a long time,” De La Garza says. “I owe a lot to my community back home.”…

Asking for a Friend: What Exactly is Queer Sex?

Posted on September 27, 2019

A photo of Dr. Laura McGuire on gender roles.

Do all lesbians use strap ons? Do all gay men have anal sex? Does it only "count" as sex if there's penetration? Dr. Laura McGuire gives us the low down on defining queer sex in this month's Asking for a Friend!…

The Hot Towel: This QPOC-Owned Barber Shop is Cutting Out Homophobia

Posted on September 25, 2019

Walk into the Hot Towel, an all-female-run, queer-owned, full-service barber shop (stylized as ‘Barb*Her’) located in Houston’s Uptown/Galleria area, and you’re immediately struck by the space’s comfortable and relaxing vibe. Even more so, you’re hit with the overwhelming sense of love among its team members. It’s clear that the Hot Towel isn’t a one-woman show centered around owner Tinisha Cox; it’s a place of genuine comradery. This feeling was confirmed when I reached out to Cox for an interview. She…

Emmy-Nominee Vera Drew on Trans Representation, Her Creative Process, and Adolescent Humor

Posted on September 22, 2019

“Please make me sound smart,” laughs Vera Drew, Hollywood editor and recent Emmy nominee for her editing work on Sacha Baron Cohen’s Who is America? We chat by phone as I sit cross-legged at a coffee shop in Houston’s Montrose District. Across the country, Drew drives to a set location in Los Angeles. I assure her that her “rambling” is, in fact, excellent, if not tender, commentary on what it means to be a newly out-of-the-closet transgender woman in the…

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Don’t Create Safe Spaces: Shift Toward Safer Spaces

How LGBTQ Entrepreneurs Can Pitch Their Business Ideas to Southern Lenders

Moving Beyond New Year’s Resolutions: Succeed in 2024

West Texas and Wonder: A Review of ‘Are You Listening’ by Tillie Walden