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Politics

A Quick and Queer Guide to the Democratic Presidential Primary

Posted on February 25, 2020
A photo of voting in the Democratic presidential primary.

Texans (and American voters everywhere), the presidential primary election draws near! Although we are no longer contending with a whole circus of Democratic candidates, there are still a lot of people running in hopes of beating Donald Trump. It can be difficult to sift through the endless articles, advertisements, and heated debates to get to the true heart of these candidate’s issues. That’s why I have created this quick and easy guide to understanding each of the candidates’ stance on…

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A Decade in Review: Reflections on the Last 10 Years of LGBTQ Milestones

Posted on January 7, 2020
A photo of LGBTQ milestones.

We’re less than a week into the new decade, but the LGBTQ community is already full steam ahead in our fight for equality. But as we move forward, it’s important to take time to reflect on just how far our movement has come in the past 10 years. The 2010s brought massive wins and milestones for the queer community, but plenty of setbacks as well. Below, we’ve compiled a 10-year review of some of the most powerful LGBTQ moments of…

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A Legal History of Queer Sexualities in the Holy Roman Empire: The Constitutio Criminalis Carolina

Posted on November 15, 2019
A photo of the Constitutio Criminalis Carolina.

The Holy Roman Empire can often be difficult to talk about in sweeping terms because of its decentralized nature. But in 1530, the Constitutio Criminalis Carolina (also known as the Lex Carolina), would mark the first body of German criminal law and attempt to unite the various principalities and kingdoms in the Empire. It also set the foundation for the prosecution of queer identity and life.…

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

Posted on October 2, 2019
A photo of Félix González-Torres.

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…

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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.”…

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The Wave

Posted on August 12, 2019
A photo of Times Square panic.

It sounded like a wave breaking. When you’re watching Hamilton and a gun goes off, you expect a bit of audience commotion. You anticipate some sort of reaction to an emotional climax of a two-and-a-half-hour story—a murmur; a shifting in seats; the rustling of fabric on theater upholstery, a breeze through leaves. What sparked the red flag is when it didn’t stop.…

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The 2019 Houston Mayoral Race: Where Candidates Stand on LGBTQ Issues

Posted on August 2, 2019
A photo of the Pride Forum with Houston mayoral candidates.

On August 1, the Pride Forum, a non-partisan collaboration between several LGBTQ organizations in Houston, took the stage at Texas Southern University’s Jesse H. Jones School of Business. Though it was balmy outside, the heat of the mayoral race was nowhere to be found—yet. Seven hopefuls met with moderators Emmett Schelling and LaKeia Ferreira-Spady to discuss the issues most important to the LGBTQ community.…

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2020 Democratic Presidential Contender Pete Buttigieg Meets with Communities of Color in Houston

Posted on May 7, 2019
A photo of Mayor Pete Buttigieg in Houston.

On May 4, South Bend, Indiana mayor and 2020 presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg gave an impassioned speech and posed for photos at a campaign fundraiser at Chapman & Kirby in Houston’s East Downtown. But before shaking hands with eager fans and donors at the public event, the openly gay Democratic contender sat down for an intimate, transparent conversation with some of the city’s most notable Black spiritual leaders at the private residence of Houston community leaders Vince Pryor and Alan…

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