Queer Voices

Send us Fan Mail Happy Pride! This is a podcast exclusive that you will not hear on KPFT!  The Barricade Boys are coming to Houston and performing at the Hobby Center on Thursday, June 6th, at 7 pm and Friday, June 7th, at 7:30 pm. Tickets can be found at: https://www.thehobbycenter.org/shows-tickets/ Brett Cullum interviews Kieran Brown and Scott Garnham from the Barricade Boys – a sensational UK...

Send us Fan Mail Kendra Walker, President of Pride Houston 365, takes us on a remarkable journey through the history and future of Pride in Houston. From the spirited Anita Bryant protests to the trailblazing activism of Larry Bagneris, Kendra shares the inspiring origins of the Houston Pride movement. She also reveals exciting plans for the 46th annual Pride Festival and Parade on June 29th and t...

Send us Fan Mail We speak with Houston Pride 365 honorary grand marshal, Sara Fernandez.  We discuss her activism and her work in creating the banner project.   Houston lesbian activist Sara Fernandez was visiting museums in New York City in the spring of 2013 when she first became inspired to bring her hometown’s LGBTQ history to life. While the exhibits she visited there were not highlighting th...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine navigating the complex and often harrowing world of Haitian politics with someone as informed and passionate as journalist and activist Anne-christine d'Adesky. That's exactly what we do in our latest episode, as Anne-Christine shares her deeply personal connections to Haiti and her experiences fighting against HIV/AIDS. The conversation illuminates the resilienc...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the vibrant spirit of community and activism as we converse with Poonam Kapoor from the Victory Fund about the exhilarating Sunday Funday event, celebrating and bolstering LGBTQ candidates. We're also joined by Texas Senate hopeful Molly Cook, as she passionately discusses the interplay of social issues from school safety to racial justice. Plus, we take a theatrical...

Send us Fan Mail As we unfurl the vibrant tapestry of LGBTQ narratives, our Queer Voices family is set to embark on a heartfelt journey, resonating with both celebration and challenge. Our latest episode commemorates the cherished Lavender Graduation, an enduring beacon of progress for LGBTQ students, and we navigate the turbulent waters of Texas Senate Bill 17, highlighting the community's r...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine stepping into the sequined boots of a pop culture icon; that's the exhilarating challenge Ella Perez takes on night after night as Babe Cher in "The Cher Show." As I sit with her, we peel back the curtain on channeling Cher's spirit without falling into imitation—no easy feat when you're portraying the Goddess of Pop. Ella's own voyage of musi...

Send us Fan Mail When love and human interaction get tangled in extremities, the heart yearns for a voice that dares to explore these infinite complexities. That's why we called upon Walt Zipprian, Houston's alternative theater virtuoso, to unravel the threads of Sarah Kane's "Cleansed" in its regional premiere. Alongside this deep dive into the transformative power of per...

Send us Fan Mail Stepping into the spotlight is Brandon Mack, a beacon of hope and relentless fighter for the LGBTQ community. As a nominee for Pride Grand Marshal, male identifying, Brandon's story is one of undying passion and unwavering commitment. Our conversation traverses the inspiring landscape of his twenty-year activism odyssey, shedding light on his influential roles, the foundation...

Send us Fan Mail Join the celebration of resilience and jubilation as we spotlight Kevin Anderson, a lighthouse of advocacy in Houston's vibrant LGBTQ community and a nominee for Grand Marshal at the city's Pride 365 Pride Parade. Kevin bestows upon us the transformative power of storytelling, emphasizing how it fosters healing and fortitude, especially among queer people of color and th...

Send us Fan Mail Odyssey Oakengrove - Grand Marshal nominee -- Kevin O'Connor, LGBTQ author --Mr. Prime Choice James Martinez We speak with Odyssey Oakengrove. Odyssey Oakengrove grew up in Houston and quickly moved back after their boyfriend broke off the relationships, saying that Odyssey was “too involved in the gay community, the trans community, and Black Lives Matter.” Not having recogn...

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...