5/29/24 Queer Voices - Kendra Walker, Bryan Cotton/Andrea Simonton and Christina Wells

05/30/24 • 59 min

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 teases new initiatives for 2024, like a seniors' corner and a star-studded lineup of entertainers. Dive into the heart of Pride Houston 365's RISE program, which is dedicated to supporting grassroots organizations and fostering year-round community involvement.
Meet the passionate volunteers behind Pride Houston 365 as we highlight their rigorous training sessions and preparations for upcoming Pride events. We clear up misconceptions about the so-called "dueling" Pride parades by emphasizing the importance of unity within the LGBTQ+ community. Bryan Cotton and Andrea Simonton of Houston's New Faces of Pride discuss their mission to uplift smaller nonprofits, previewing their first-ever Pride Parade and Festival on June 22nd with headlining acts like Chris Hausman, Lauren Sanderson, and Billy Gilman. Their efforts aim to give back to the community while bringing everyone together for a memorable celebration.
We wrap up with the inspiring story of Christina Wells, who shares her journey as a plus-size, older, openly gay performer. Christina reflects on her powerful performances in "Newsies" and "Hairspray," her 22 years of being out, and the challenges she has faced in the entertainment industry. Her story is one of resilience and authenticity, reminding us of the importance of embracing diversity and inclusivity in theater. Join us for an episode brimming with history, passion, and a celebration of the vibrant LGBTQ+ community in Houston.

Queer Voices airs in Houston Texas on 90.1FM KPFT and is heard as a podcast here. Queer Voices hopes to entertain as well as illuminate LGBTQ issues in Houston and beyond. Check out our socials at:
https://www.facebook.com/QueerVoicesKPFT/ and
https://www.instagram.com/queervoices90.1kpft/

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5/22/24 Queer Voices - Sarah Fernandez, LUCK OF THE DRAW and Ron Jones

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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 the LGBTQ community, LGBTQ history was included in both. One exhibit documented queer life on the Lower East Side in 1993. The other featured a permanent display of 20th-century activists that included suffragettes, civil-rights icons, and gay-liberation pioneers.

Then we discuss The Luck of the Draw, a fundraiser for DiverseWorks. Luck of the Draw, DiverseWorks’ famed fundraising event, returns to the MATCH. This year, the theme is Ecosystem – reflecting DiverseWorks’ commitment to our forthcoming Climate Action Plan and the exhibition and performance series, River on Fire, opening this fall. Luck of the Draw attendees provide crucial sustenance to DiverseWorks and Houston’s creative ecosystem. More than 200 works on paper, each one 7 x 9 inches, will be available for purchase at this year’s event. Participating artists include Trenton Doyle Hancock, Preetika Rajgariah, Kaneem Smith, James Surls, and Lillian Warren, to name just a few.

Finally, we speak with Ron Jones regarding his play “Appropriate”. The estranged members of the Lafayette clan have returned to their crumbling Arkansas plantation home to settle the estate of their recently deceased patriarch. As they sort through a lifetime of their father's junk and hoarded mementos, a disturbing and horrifying discovery surfaces, confronting the family with more than what to do with a house full of stuff. Can a lifetime of clutter disguise the true nature of what lies beneath? Ron Jones returns to the helm for his fourth production with Dirt Dogs Theatre Co. He previously directed White Guy on the Bus, as well as Clybourne Park and August: Osage County, for both of which he was a finalist for best director in the Houston Theater Awards. With more than 45 years in the industry, Jones has directed nearly 150 productions and acted in well over 100. He spent the bulk of his career teaching theatre for HISD and Lone Star College before retiring. Ron currently serves as Producing Artistic Director for On the Verge Theatre and is the former Artistic Director of New Heights Theatre and Celebration Theatre.

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6/2/24 Queer Voices - Podcast Bonus Episode: The Barricade Boys with Brett

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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 theatrical singing group – who weave their stories from the West End's Les Miserables to American stages. Tune in to hear about their journey, their expansive musical repertoire, and the genuine friendship that elevates every show. From Kieran's powerful "Music of the Night" to Scott's unique "Defying Gravity" rendition, discover how these performers captivate audiences worldwide and get a sneak peek into their upcoming Houston performances as part of the Beyond Broadway series.
https://barricadeboys.com/

Queer Voices - 5/29/24 Queer Voices - Kendra Walker, Bryan Cotton/Andrea Simonton and Christina Wells

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:00.661

Hello everybody , this is Queer Voices , a home-produced podcast that has grown out of a radio show that's been on the air in Houston , Texas , for several decades . This week , the last Wednesday before Pride Month , 2024 , we're featuring something old , something new and something newsies .

Speaker 100:00:20.239

Starting with something old , though they'd prefe