For those who don’t know, October is LGBTQ History Month—a win for the Gay Agenda as we attempt to take over the year one month at a time. To honor this auspicious observance, which includes National Coming Out Day (October 11), Spectrum South is taking a moment to look at some of the organizations that help our community thrive.…
When large activist movements take the national stage, we tend to think of places like Washington, D.C., Berkeley, California, or, in terms of the LGBTQ equality movement, Stonewall in New York. More than likely, Houston, Texas isn’t the first city you think of as being on the front lines of activism. While a healthy 22,000 protesters took to the streets of Space City during the 2017 Women’s March following Donald Trump’s election, this number paled in comparison to New York…
I went to college at UNC-Chapel Hill in the early 1990s. To my recollection, only one of the professors I knew was ever “out” in the classroom—we’ll call him “Cecil.” He and a woman colleague co-taught “Gender and Sexuality in the Ancient World,” and I confess, I enrolled mostly because it had “gender and sexuality” in the course title. I wasn’t alone, either. A clump of us queer kids sat in the front row of that auditorium, eager to learn…
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…
We will never achieve real progress unless we move beyond our own, often limited, perspectives. It is only when we open our eyes and minds to identities, cultures, and relationships different than our own, that we can find true strength in our togetherness, both as a community and as a force to be reckoned with. On July 26-30, QFest, Houston’s annual international LGBTQ film festival, will bring those stories and experiences to audiences across the city as it celebrates its…
Verniss McFarland III is tired of queer Black and Brown stories taking a backseat. For the past year, McFarland has worked to uplift these voices through their work as founder of The Mahogany Project, a Houston-based nonprofit focused on bridging the gap between empowerment and education in Black and Brown LGBTQ communities. McFarland now seeks to bring these narratives to the forefront with the launch of the organization’s new visibility campaign, Dear Somebody: The Voices Once Unheard.…
I don’t know you personally, but I know what you’re going through. As your social media walls fill up with rainbow flags and public displays of wonderfulness, the word “Pride” dominates all month long. But, as a queer person, for whatever reason, you don’t feel like you have a part. Maybe it’s because you don’t feel “queer enough,” struggle with imposter syndrome, tell yourself that Pride isn’t for someone like you, that it’s only for the “real” queer people. Maybe…
Comedy as a catalyst for change. Laughter as a social conversation starter. These are the tools openly gay artist and comedian Sampson uses in his daily work—and he loves every minute of it. “I’ve been doing it for over two decades now,” Sampson shares. “I was one of the first Black, openly gay stand up comedians in the country and I’ve used [my work] to bring awareness to a lot of our issues as LGBTQ people. It’s about visibility, dispelling…
Does this make me queer? Dr. Laura McGuire talks queer fantasies, finding the right label, and more in this month’s Asking for a Friend!…
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! We’re a week into Pride Month, and while cities across the globe prepare for their festivals and parades, Pride Houston is looking back on the last 40 years, gearing up for their Ruby Anniversary.…
