Queer Voices

Send us Fan Mail Grand marshal finalists 2024 As we unfurl the banners of Pride and allyship, I'm thrilled to bring you heartening conversations from Queer Voices that not only celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community but also highlight the relentless support of our allies. We engage with State Representative John Rosenthal, whose journey from the energy sector to a beacon of advocacy in public offic...

Send us Fan Mail Dylan Forbis - transgender activist, Jimbo - Drag All Star, Late Night Catechism Nun As the vibrant hues of Houston's Pride rainbow unfurl, we're joined by Dylan Forbis, a transgender man whose tapestry of activism has positioned him as a candidate for Houston Pride 365 Grand Marshal. Dillon's story is a beacon for the LGBTQIA community, a testament to resilience am...

Send us Fan Mail As we sit down with the remarkable Atlantis Narcisse, her story unfolds, revealing the heart and soul she pours into Save Our Sisters United and her crucial role as a house mother. This week's conversation is nothing short of inspiring as we honor her nomination for Grand Marshal at Houston's Pride 365 Parade and delve into her commitment to offering stigma-free spaces f...

Send us Fan Mail Join me, Bryan Hlavinka, as I sit down with the insightful Brandon Mack to peel back the curtain on the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus's intense endorsement process. Discover the weight such an endorsement carries and the grueling scrutiny candidates endure to secure this emblem of progressive support. We navigate the significance of Dr. Cody Pyke’s historic appointment and...

Send us Fan Mail As the curtains rise on another episode of Queer Voices, we're whisked backstage into the world of "On Your Feet," where the effervescent Gaby Albo lets us in on the subtleties of channeling Gloria Estefan's spirit. Gaby’s anecdotes about her journey from the gymnastics vault to the theatre stage are not only inspiring but brimming with revelations, like her as...

Send us Fan Mail On tonight’s Queer Voices , we speak with Allison Mathis, a candidate for 338th Judicial District Court Judge of Harris County. She is a native Houstonian who grew up in Spring Branch. When she was a teenager, she watched her brilliant, funny aunt struggle with a crack cocaine addiction that destroyed her life and sent her in and out of prison for years. She also watched several f...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the transformative power of a life fully embraced as Leah Lax joins us to recount her incredible journey from Hasidic Judaism to living openly as a lesbian. Leah's narrative is a testament to authenticity, captured in her memoir ‘Uncovered’ and its subsequent adaptation into an opera. Her tale is not just about self-discovery, but also a profound look at the intersec...

Send us Fan Mail Embark on a journey through the remarkable life of Fran Watson, a beacon of hope and an emblem of resilience, who has risen from personal adversity to become an out-candidate for a probate court judge. Her candid conversation with us illuminates the path from a GED to the heights of legal practice, showcasing the power of determination and compassion in her quest to serve Harris C...

Send us Fan Mail Step into a world where the pulsing heart of America's nightlife intersects with history, culture, and the stars. As we sit down with Dr. Lucas Hildebrand, author of "The Bars Are Ours," we illuminate the profound legacy of gay bars in American society, from their role in the 1960s as bastions of community to their modern-day struggles and triumphs. Delve into the v...

Send us Fan Mail Tony Award-winner Renee Elise Goldsberry graces us with the story of her theatrical journey, from Houston's bustling stages to the bright lights of Broadway, most notably as Angelica in "Hamilton." In an intimate conversation, Renee reveals the profound influence of the LGBTQ+ community on her and the theater world at large, and reminisces about her Houston upbringi...

Send us Fan Mail As we convene in the vibrant city of New Orleans, Kathy Renna from the National LGBTQ Task Force reminds us that the fight for equality is steeped in both struggle and jubilation. This week's episode is a mosaic of our community's resilience, as we examine the intersection of queer joy and activism at the Creating Change Conference. We're marking half a century of p...

Send us Fan Mail Are you curious about the intersectionality of being Black and Queer? Then let the captivating voice of Joelle Espuet wash over you as they share their experiences as a program director for the Normal Anomaly, a Black Queer-led nonprofit. They're not just breaking barriers; they’re establishing norms for communities often misunderstood and sidelined. Discover their groundbrea...

Send us Fan Mail This week Deborah Moncrief Bell has a conversation with Carrie Rai, the Executive Director of Tony's Place, talking about the organization, and the services it provides for Houston LGBTQA+ youth. Tony's Place is a safe haven for marginalized youth. Tony’s Place opened in 2016 in loving memory of Robert Anthony “Tony” Carroll. Tony Carroll was a pillar of the Houston comm...

Send us Fan Mail First, we speak with Dr. David York, the music director of the Houston Pride Chorus. We'll explore their upcoming holiday performance, "Ring it In," and get a glimpse of the rich tapestry of talent that forms the chorus. You'll feel the power of unity and the importance of allies in the LGBTQ+ community echoing through their music. And surprise, the Houston Bro...

Send us Fan Mail We're taking you to the frontlines of battle in Texas, where the LGBTQ+ rights are under a severe attack with the introduction of over 140 anti-LGBTQ bills by the Texas legislature. Brian Clusterbore from ACLU paints a grim picture of the situation, but reminds us that unity is our strongest weapon. From the drag ban to the Death Star preemption bill, we're tearing apart...

Send us Fan Mail First, we speak with gay comedian /actorJason Stuart who publicly came out 30 years ago on the Geraldo show.  We discuss how this affected his career and the work he has done since then.  Then, we discuss his upcoming projects. Guest: Jason Stuart https://www.jasonstuart.com/ Then we speak with Kenn McLaughlin, the artistic director of Stages Theater, who bids farewell after a rem...

Send us Fan Mail We speak with Bryan Cotton, the Founder and President of New Faces of Pride, LLC. in Houston, a new pride organization established in 2023. Their mission is to foster unity, inclusivity, and empowerment within the LGBTQ+ community of Houston through year-round events and fundraising initiatives. We discuss the objectives of this new organization, what it hopes to accomplish and wh...

Send us Fan Mail Co-Host Wendy Taylor has an interview with Galveston based musician and voice over artist, Ladybird.  Ladybird opened up about how her upcoming album, "A Pay to Play World," serves as her therapeutic outlet to manage chronic pain, trauma, and her interaction with luxury medical treatment in America. She shared her journey from the studio to the world through Twitch, wher...

Send us Fan Mail We speak with Amanda Rose, president of Katy Pride, and their plans for this event.  Anticipate a weekend filled with advocacy, acceptance, and celebration as she unveils a sneak peek into the lineup of vendors, riveting entertainment, and the cascading events from the kick-off party at Postino Cinco Ranch to the after-party at the First Christian Church of Katy. Guest: Amanda Ros...

Send us Fan Mail We speak with the Montrose Center's Executive Director Ann Robinson.  She will be retiring soon and we catch up with her about her 35 years at the Center and what is next.  The Montrose Center opened in 1978 as Montrose Counseling Center (MCC), after the widely successful Town Meeting I at the Astro Arena. The Center faced many financial burdens in its formative years, partic...

Send us Fan Mail We speak with Chris Bacon about the recent Supreme Court decision allowing businesses to discriminate against LGBT people. Can you imagine a world where businesses are legally allowed to discriminate based on sexual orientation? The Supreme Court's recent ruling permitting such discrimination has sent ripples through the global LGBTQ community and beyond. We invite you to sit...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready for a powerful episode as we navigate through the resonating impact of The Laramie Project, a play that touches on the harrowing murder of Matthew Shepard, and the significant legislation that it inspired. We are joined by the play's director at Theatre Suburbia, Judy Reeves who offers us an intriguing insight into this dramatic piece. Judy details how the play uniq...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered what it takes to make history and inspire a community? Join us for a fascinating conversation with Harrison Guy, the first Black male grand marshal in the history of Houston's Pride celebrations. We dive into Guy's passion for the arts, his transformative journey to Rwanda, and how it influenced his artistic language and the creation of the Urban S...

Send us Fan Mail Embark on an enchanted journey with us as we spotlight the glitz, glamour, and behind-the-scenes of the wedding planning industry with the innovative Shaun Gray of Shaun Gray Events. Passionate about celebrating love in all its diversity, Sean peels back the curtain on his trailblazing approach, leveraging social media to redefine what a 'dream wedding' can look like. Di...

Send us Fan Mail Cameron Samuels 2023 Trendsetter Grand Marshal -- Queer Podcasters -- Actor/Writer Brett Cullum We speak with with Cameron Samuels, 2023 trendsetter Grand Marshal. For Cameron Samuels, the courageous teen who battled Katy Independent School District in a 2021 dispute involving the district’s homophobic internet search filters and book bans, being recognized with the Human Rights C...