TOPICS FOR TODAY INCLUDE:
- First look: Design of Austin Convention Center redevelopment revealed
- Small businesses face new deadline as court lifts injunction on ownership reporting rule
- SXSW is near! Public safety road closures and prep for festival seasonWelcome to the Austin LGBT Chamber Podcast where we chat all things local and national business. Join Tina, Colton, Amy and Fiona every Friday.
Meet your hosts: austinlgbtbiz.com/staff
Be sure to check out past episodes: austinlgbtbiz.com/podcast
Join the Austin LGBT Chamber: austinlgbtbiz.com/join
Find a local LGBTQ+ (and allied) business: austinlgbtbiz.com/directory
Join us at an upcoming event: austinlgbtbiz.com/events
Questions? Comments? Want to be a guest? Want to sponsor? Email us at info@austinlgbtchamber.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome to the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce podcast. I'm Tina Cannon, your host and CEO
(00:14):
of the Chamber. On today's pod, we're going to talk local business news headlines this
week. First look at the design of the new Austin Convention Center. And then small businesses,
deadlines just keep moving. What you need to know South by Southwest is here. We'll tell
you what you need to know. Be right back.
(00:43):
What's going on world? Amy's already laughing right now. And we're not even two seconds into the pot.
What is going on over there?
What are you cracking over? I could have sworn you said podcast.
What if I did? Austin LGBT Chamber podcast.
(01:05):
I can't wait to hear it. I didn't think I'd say pod. It's like it's written on the paper
podcast. And I think I always just say pod. Yeah, maybe.
Yeah.
Oh, suffer and suck at that.
That's right. So Amy Colton and Fiona welcome.
(01:28):
What's the what's the gorgeous weather? Oh man, change of change of mindset. Yeah, all the ducks
went home. All my winter clothes in the closet. So it better be done. Go on on the drive in
to work. Like, nobody was at work. The East side was just lit. The sidewalks were littered with people.
Everybody's just out.
(01:50):
Yeah, I can't come in today. Yes. Hopefully they're working from, you know, coffee shops near you.
And, you know, I did I popped downstairs because it was I was just needed kind of a change of venue.
So I went downstairs to the coffee place and work. Zilker patio was packed.
Yeah, unpacked. Good. Yeah.
Good weather is good economic development. I'm here for it. I went for a little walk at lunch. It was cute.
(02:14):
Well, to pick up my lunch.
It's cute. It's cute.
But hopefully everybody's got some good things for the weekend. Never get south by stuff happening.
Yeah, I'm going down to San Antonio. Well done. Yeah, go visit some friends.
It's a good time in San Antonio. Good food. Yeah, I think it's going to be tech mix, of course, on
(02:36):
Saturday night. Yeah, then some kind of brunch on Sunday, then home for the Oscars Friday night.
Oh, Sunday night Oscars.
Are you watching the Oscars? Yes. Absolutely.
I need to see if Ariana Grande or Cynthia Arrivo wins something for Wicked.
I know for sure they will in part two. Yeah, I just feel it. Yeah.
(02:59):
I should watch it before then. I can't believe I haven't seen it.
We're going to make them when we come to this.
Considering I've seen it more than 20 times. Yes, I have seen it live probably five times on stage.
So I don't know what it was holding you back. Exactly. I don't know. I just I don't I have well.
(03:22):
I was supposed to go see it with Colton and theaters and then that didn't happen.
And now you left the state. I did it. Yeah.
Yeah, so I think we need to start outing. It just it needs to be a team retreat to see Wicked.
We need to take Tina as well to see Wicked. Yeah.
I don't take your eye. Educational guarantee. That's not happening.
It's all about politics. She hasn't even seen but I'm a cheerleader.
(03:44):
I don't even know what that is. I don't know what that one is. Oh, my God.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Have you seen that? I haven't seen it. Oh, my God.
I've heard of that one. I've seen but I'm a cheerleader, but not that one.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Oh, you would love it. I've seen like every date line episode.
Does that count for anything? No, definitely not.
(04:06):
It's like, oh, I've seen every 60 minutes. Congratulations.
Booner death kill. 60 minutes with it. Get a little digital clock.
Like I don't understand who's got it.
Baba Wawa. I am Baba Wawa. Oh, my God. That SNL of her was still kills me.
If you haven't watched the SNL 50 special, it was really good.
(04:30):
I haven't watched it. I just see loads. Yeah, I've seen loads of clips, but I haven't seen it like start to finish.
It's good. They revive a lot of their old clips. So fun.
A little definitely dating like age wise. I saw a lot of comments on the on the socials about it being a boomer special.
Are we sure about that? I watched a little bit of it.
(04:56):
A little boomer. Yeah. Boomery or Gen X or XE text technically.
I would say Gen Xer, but I think it's great. I mean, wasn't Bill? Oh God, I'm having a brain fog.
Yeah, wasn't he on it? Oh yeah, he was like weekend at Bernie's. He did the weekend update.
Oh, I love that. Yeah.
(05:19):
He's coming to Austin. He has a company here in Austin. Well, he's coming to do a stand up.
He can stand up. That's impressive. He looked like he looked pickled.
Well, sometimes I feel like a pickle in vinegar. So, you know, I don't blame him with everything going on in the world today.
I can sell him to me.
(05:40):
I like pickles.
I love pickles. What did I say? HR.
I don't.
Yes. How can I help you? Yes.
Oh boy. I'm going to be dragged out of here by my ears one of these days.
(06:01):
Let's take a look at some headlines.
The first images or conceptual drawings of the new Austin Convention Center redevelopment are out.
You can see them at the Austin Business Journal, but the current Convention Center is set to close in April just after South by to be torn down and make way for a larger facility.
(06:23):
It should be open by 2029. The Convention Center will be about 70% larger than its current facility.
Redevelopment costs around $1.6 billion that are paid through hotel occupancy tax and Convention Center revenue.
But the idea is that it's long overdue. We've been trying to get the Convention Center rebuilt to keep us competitive with other markets for convention business that keeps heads in beds and keeps our downtown and other areas poppin for my favorite kind of economic development.
(06:55):
Drop in. Yeah. Drop your money and go.
Oh, it's my favorite kind of economic development.
Got it. Yeah. Money that stays and people leave.
Yeah. Yeah, I got you.
Does that mean we can stop going to Orlando in Las Vegas for all of the queer conferences?
Yeah, that's why they get while that they give a lot of incentives.
Yeah, they should come here. We're going to have the space.
(07:16):
Yeah, we are going to have the space.
It's gonna be really nice, but I took a look at drawing to get ABJ has the illustrations of all the
The renderings look beautiful.
So many windows.
Very open. It's very like, you know, connecting with the community open space ground floor.
Walkable to all all sides of it. Where as right now it's kind of like just one entrance on one side.
(07:40):
Yeah, it's very prison looking.
Yeah, I thought it was going to be much taller.
It'll I was expecting it to be taller too, but I maybe that means they're going underground, but I'm excited to see the Waterloo Greenway.
The connectivity. Yeah.
Yeah, right now it still kind of has a George R. Brown feel.
I don't know what you're saying. Old man.
Who he George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Houston.
(08:05):
It's massive.
Yeah, like, but this looks pretty.
Oh, yeah, it looks way better.
It doesn't even really look like a convention center.
It looks like a library kind of feeds off the same similar design of our library and our city hall.
I hope it's super accessible for people.
Are those LVL at the top that I'm looking at?
(08:26):
Well, I do see some rainbow artwork.
You get that's not a touch screen.
Can you make that bigger?
For those of you listening.
Yeah, we're going to ABJ.
You can see what we're talking about.
We're currently looking on Colton's screen.
It's long overdue.
Unfortunately, we waited so long.
(08:47):
The original plan was for us to expand westward where the old photo to Chow was and.
Oh, yeah, it's like a oyster bar now.
And rail yard apartments or whatever.
And we waited.
We, because the city council back then, it's a completely different city council now, just kept saying no, no, no, sticking their fingers in their ear.
(09:08):
And then the market was like, fine, we'll sell to people who want to build restaurants or whatever that's down there.
So we lost we lost the chance to bid for those.
So unfortunately, we have to go down and up.
That's okay.
It's still not near as tall as some of the buildings down here.
Do we know how it affects all the bars on Red River like further down?
(09:31):
Is it good for that business?
It's going to be a little rough until 2029.
The, you know, the, the upside is that we'll still have and we'll still have all of the available conference space inside the Hilton, the Marriott, the JW, the four, all of those kind of surrounding hotels.
Are going to maximize their bookings because there's going to be nowhere else to book things.
(09:55):
I think they'll still be okay.
Oh yeah.
Because of all the music, the stuff and yeah, we'll still have a similar number of occupancy rates going and they've already booked out during this time.
So we know that we're going to have some pretty decent hotel occupancy and we just did the, the recent T-Pid.
It's a whole nother layer of ways to make sure that our hoteliers and our downtown folks are in good shape during the construction that hopefully will be done in time for the 2029 South by Southwest Festival season or what they call the festival season.
(10:26):
But we know what everybody means South by Southwest.
Spring Festival.
Oh wow.
Small businesses are facing another deadline as the court lifts an injunction on ownership reporting rule.
ABJ has a full link for all of this, but if you recall, we talked about it on another podcast.
There was a requirement for small businesses to report their ownership information to the Treasury Department.
(10:51):
But in the latest twist in an ongoing battle, last week, U.S. District Court lifted a temporary injunction on the enforcement of the
Corporate Transparency Act, which mandates that small businesses report ownership and other pertinent information as part of the agency's.
It's really around money laundering and kind of supposedly circumventing money laundering, but we remember we were supposed to file by like the end of January and then there was a snow you don't have to and then there was like, oh shit, yeah, you really do.
Yeah, do we have to file a report on the property?
(11:11):
Yeah, so now you have got a little bit more time, plus the Federal Government is just a fucking fuck show right now.
I mean, is anyone going to pay?
Wow, this is a family program.
I mean, who knows if there's going to be anybody at the Treasury left by the time you have to report.
(11:32):
Tell us how you really feel.
There's a button over there somewhere.
I know it.
Yeah, but you have a deadline now of March 21, assuming the Treasury Department is still in existence by March 21 to report.
So yeah, I ran and like read did mine for my small business in time for the first deadline.
(11:54):
But yeah, it's really hopefully hopefully they just don't find our small businesses that there may be are late.
But if you're wondering what that is, go to the ABJ.
They've got a link where you can go in and report, but it really doesn't take very long.
It's very easy, isn't it?
I mean, you just bunch, you know, dump in your name and your address and yeah, I don't know how that's numbers and that.
(12:18):
And then I don't know how do I decide if like that's money laundering.
I don't understand how they figure that out.
I mean, I did I did mine for my free time productions.
And then I remembered, oh, I've got another LLC.
I should probably do it for the second LLC as well.
But no, it's pretty easy.
Yes, but here's hoping that they that we have a Treasury Department by March 21.
Yeah, but make sure you are in compliance.
Wow.
(12:40):
I'm always compliant.
Staps are cool.
Wow, we South by Southwest is near public safety road closures and prep for this festival season.
The Austin Monitor has a long list of all of the road closures, the dates, things that you need to be aware of.
(13:05):
But the city plans to completely close a restrict more than 30 different streets during the South by Southwest Festival next month.
As part of safety planning for the event, major economic driver for the area about $380 to $400 million in economic impact.
Also happening because we are Austin at the same time are the the Texas relays Moto Moto GP Red Bull Grand Prix down at Kota.
(13:31):
Moontower Comedy Festival, and I think us Lee, it wasn't on the list here, but I think the rodeo is going at the same time.
Yeah.
So there's a lot going on.
Is anyone going to work in March?
We're just going to call.
Work is fun and going to festivals.
(13:53):
That's our jobs.
But if you work anywhere or want to go anywhere near 6th Street, Red River, Congress, 9th, Trinity, Rainy Street, Riverside, downtown.
Yeah, just like, yeah, forget about it.
Walk, ride, transit.
If we had rail, you could do rail.
If only.
Find another way to get down here because the street closures are going to be something to deal with.
(14:15):
And activations are already setting up downtown.
Lexus setting up right outside of ATP.
I know I've seen some of the murals going up around town to like the vinyl wraps.
Have they ever?
So Houston Livestock Show and rodeo is happening too.
Has South by ever considered or have you seen this like a parking ride for for the rodeo?
(14:40):
We used to park at like, not I'll made them all golf point mall and you would bust the rest of the way into Houston to like keep traffic down.
Yeah, I think most of the South by goers though are here in the hotels.
So the here, I guess that's true.
It's local.
Yeah, the local yokels who, you know, we kind of know how to get in and around.
(15:03):
Oh yeah.
Always people coming in with their films and you get an Airbnb and run to house and and then he just use petty cubs.
Right.
I'm scarred from petty cubs.
What?
My hell.
We've told this on the podcast so many times, but it was when I sorry, I'm still a little bit new when I had an allergic reaction.
(15:27):
How'd it get to the emergency room?
Amy and I get in.
Yeah, I thought I had a really brilliant idea and I was like, because it was what was ACL during that time.
What was it?
Yeah, because it was October.
Hispanic Chamber Gala.
Yeah, it was October and there was no Ubers and the only way to get anywhere was via ambulance.
(15:50):
Yeah.
Or petty cab or the last peddling petty cab with no pedal assist.
That man easily like grew up with Willie Nelson.
He had to be like 95 years old.
I love the petty.
Pity that I'm a petty cab, but it's like it reminds me of like when you travel in Europe or anywhere else outside the U.S.
(16:15):
And you have to kind of pre-negotiate your travel cost.
Because otherwise you'll get there and they're like 80 bucks.
I went like six blocks.
The petty cab from Rainey Street down to the gay burhood here.
We were like, he was like, oh yeah, I can do it for $40.
I was like, blow it out your rear end dude.
I was like, I'll walk.
(16:37):
We're freezing.
We're like, it's so cold tonight.
Especially now because they're pedal assist.
Before I tell you.
At least you're you know, hoofing it.
And I feel bad, but now you're like just pushing a throttle.
I mean, they're kind of terrifying.
So it's good to have a few drinks in you because if you look forward, you're like.
Oh no.
It's when they squeeze between cars.
(16:58):
We're not going to fit.
We're not going to fit.
You can't go around a corner and you fly out.
It's reminding me of my very first memory of a petty cab that goes back to 1999.
All right.
You ready?
So I was in Bangladesh, Dhaka Bangladesh, and I was traveling somewhere in a petty cab.
And all of a sudden a riot started, you know, cause they had random riots in Dhaka quite a lot.
(17:21):
And so this petty cab is like going through the streets.
And of course I'm like this little white woman in the back of a petty cab, like 21 years old.
We dive into a pharmacy and the shutters come down.
And so the next thing I know, I mean, Dhaka, the bunch of people I don't know during a riot.
Having just walked into a CVS.
Yeah, it clearly didn't look like a CVS in Dhaka.
(17:45):
But yeah, anyway, it's a great memory.
But yeah, petty cabs have come a long way in the last couple of years.
I love a good petty cab karaoke.
When me and Toy last South by man, we stole the show down here.
Didn't even need a badge all the way from rainy to forest street.
Be bopping along at the top of our lungs.
(18:07):
Oh, it was great.
Good stuff.
Well, and then let's get to our next section, the fun facts with Fiona.
What do you get for us today?
Okay, so I really wanted to dive deep into facts and stats and polls.
And so if you hadn't seen last week, a new Gallup poll came out and it released that close to 10% of US adults now identify as LGBT or something other than straight.
(18:41):
So one in 10 US adults and it's thanks to the bisexuals.
All right.
So I'm Gen Z.
So where's the Duggar family these days?
What?
I got some surprising stuff that's going to be going down.
How many kids were they up to?
(19:02):
I think it went like no.
I think it was like 17.
But so two at one point eight of them are gay.
Oh, queer.
And they're all Gen Z, I guess, right?
The Duggar kids.
Oh, no, I don't know how far they say.
Yeah.
59% of Gen Z in whole, not just like queer Gen Z, but 59% of Gen Z identifies as bisexual.
(19:24):
Okay.
I told you, it is very queer.
Yes.
Future is queer.
Yeah.
Well, that's great.
It's better than it was when I was growing up and it was just like the golf team.
Like that was the extent of us.
The LGBTQA tour?
The LGBT.
The LGBTQA tour?
We recognize each other by like, as my friend called it, geographic hair.
(19:47):
The white party out in California every year during the LGBTQA tour, which was crazy to me that was at Dinosaur.
Dinosaur.
Dinosaur.
Come on.
It's like the biggest lesbian bash during a sporting event.
I know.
I took a friend of mine with me one year and she was like, so I found out they're actually playing golf here.
Like, yes, fool.
(20:08):
She's like, I thought these were just pool parties.
We're just here to hang out.
Like, is it golf or is it tennis?
I can't remember.
It's golf.
It is golf, right?
Okay.
Oh yeah.
It always was the golf team.
Good grief.
Something about like layered collared shirts really gets you going from the 90s and a big poofy bang.
(20:29):
We're the softball team where all the straight girls wore those little ribbons in their hair so that we, you know, they were like, I'm straight.
I'm straight.
Oh yeah.
I was like, yeah, peeing on it to mark your territory.
That's what the ribbon meant?
Yes.
Yes.
I don't know.
I don't know.
Because, you know, I'm sorry, but every catcher behind the plate and there's a ribbon under
here.
I'm like, yeah, good luck, sis.
(20:50):
Let me know how it goes telling your folks.
Well, I'm sure there are a few cheeky bisexuals involved in all those groups.
Oh, I have no doubt.
And I just want to give a little plug that March is bisexual health awareness month.
So go to biplusorganisingus.org if you want to find information resources.
Because our health is really important.
(21:13):
Absolutely.
Well, I think those numbers go up, right?
As more people become more comfortable with self identifying.
And not being straight.
Yeah.
I mean, back, I was telling you the day, like every time it's still rough for me and my
generation to hear the word queer.
Yeah.
Because right for us growing up, it was a derogatory term and it was usually followed by a punch
to the face.
Or the game smear the queer.
(21:34):
Yeah.
Yeah, literally.
Yeah, like, yeah, playing Gator ball growing up on the playground.
It was like smear the queer.
And yeah, it's taken me a long time to come around to it.
But here we are.
I forgot about that.
Smear the queer.
Yeah.
Such a Texas thing too, isn't it?
So you've adopted the term steadily, Tina.
Yeah, it's taken me a while to get there.
(21:56):
But yeah, I get it.
But I think too, like the younger generations obviously is much more inclusive.
And so I think they're more willing to self report.
I would be curious to see what the breakdown is by generation.
Like if you're the L, the G, the B, the T.
Well, I can tell you that in another report.
Gallup breaks it down.
There's a whole like.
Because like these Gen Zers.
(22:17):
Yeah.
Oh, like.
I thought y'all were Gen Zers.
Excuse me?
Wow.
No, you're not?
No.
I'm X.
I am considered a geriatric millennial.
I'm a regular millennial.
You've got a millennial in the middle.
(22:38):
That is a real thing.
You're acting like you've never heard this.
I am.
That is made up.
I swear I'm a geriatric millennial because I'm on the cusp of Gen X.
Let me talk louder for you.
That is made up.
It's not.
I think I, yeah, no.
No, there's this little slither of people that are between millennials and Gen X's that
are kind of like in this little lost.
(22:59):
Because of the technology gap.
Because internet was Bob Dole.
Internet wasn't out yet.
No cell phones.
I grew up that way.
And then boom, it was upon us.
So you grew up closer to us.
What am I going to get X?
It's all about technology breaks, right?
So yeah, I grew up.
And plus my sister's 10 years older than me.
I looked like Madonna at the age of three and my different colored leg warmers and like
(23:23):
eyeshadow up to my eyebrows.
So did Colton.
I want to put that on a graphic somewhere.
My sister has photos.
I heard all her friends address me.
I was like Madonna at the age of three.
Fingerless gloves made of lace.
Like I was ready to go out to the clear.
Yeah.
So I have a quick answer to your question.
(23:45):
It's on the Gallup thing poll.
So we need to like drop a link somewhere.
But basically Gen Z.
It's 23.1% identifiers LGBTQ plus.
And then millennials is 14.2.
And then X is 5.1.
Baby boom is three.
And then silent is 1.8.
Cause they're all dead.
That is insane.
And that is probably five people left in this generation.
(24:09):
And it's huge.
Can you see?
That's enormous.
You know, directly related to who's comfortable coming out.
Exactly.
Like that is, it's so sad.
But it is great.
And we'll never know until at some point we actually are counted in the census in a way
that's not terrifying.
Yeah.
Oh.
So if they count ish, they count them if you're married, but they're not counting total population.
(24:31):
So we have no idea.
So that's why we need these polls like Gallup because they ask individuals.
You don't have to prove it in some kind of relationship.
Right.
You can self identify.
But yeah.
You don't matter if you're not in a relationship apparently.
According to the US census.
You don't count.
Literally.
Another one of the psychologically damaging situations to be in.
Great.
Boy howdy.
(24:52):
All right.
What do you got for us on membership side of it?
What do you got?
Yeah.
We have four new members.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Camarica Bank on 35th and Jefferson.
Their location has joined.
Welcome.
Oh, I love the name of this company.
(25:13):
Lynn Cognito's murder mystery parties.
I'm so ready for that.
I'm excited to sign up for that.
Welcome to the chamber and then to combo small town big pride and small nonprofits have joined Calvary Episcopal church out of Bastrop and Georgetown pride has joined the chamber.
(25:34):
So welcome from the Farins of Greater Austin.
Welcome.
Welcome.
Yeah.
I love it from from church to murder.
We got you covered.
And everything in between.
We're going to reclaim queer Schmere.
Whatever bagel company is out there, please make a.
We're taking back some of the clear.
(25:57):
I've never done a murder mystery party.
I haven't either.
I'm glad to.
Can I be the dead person though so I can watch everybody else.
What?
Yeah, like if you're the one that's how they go.
Yeah, if you're the designated dead person, then you're not really involved in the solving of the puzzle.
I assume this is like a game of clue.
Yeah, I think you are in the game.
(26:19):
And then at some point you're removed.
Yes, because you die.
No way.
I don't know.
Well, we're going to find out because we're going to figure out a way to chamber murder mystery thing.
Oh, this is fantastic.
But somebody at the party is like the murderer.
Yeah, right.
Yeah.
And do they know that the murderer and how.
Yeah, I think I've had friends go to one and like they they were asking me for outfits.
(26:43):
Suggestions.
So like it tells you what to wear.
Tyvek suit.
Like what to act like.
Like your character.
Yeah, like you're.
Yeah, so it's like wear some glasses that are, you know, whatever.
So don't bring duct tape and a roll of this queen is what I'm hearing.
Also, I think we should go through Walmart one day and just have all of our murder death kill like kit.
(27:06):
Yeah, I just.
I'm down with a tarp, a shovel, some duct tape, rubber gloves, Tyvek suit, goggles,
zip ties, new saw blades, a go from who else.
Watch.
Imagine all me.
Imagine all just to sit right when you open our storage unit door.
(27:27):
I was going to say, can we store it next to the glass window right there?
Can we have it in the glass window?
I'm going to need to rent someone's creepy van for this as well.
Have like some blood spattered on the bumper.
Oh, my lower well, but with nonetheless welcome to the Chamber newbies.
You can check out our website for a full list of Chamber members as you are looking for services or retail.
(27:52):
Be sure to check out the membership directory.
Colton, what you got on the haps for events.
We have a luncheon next week.
You can register now to secure your seat for the luncheon.
We will be at Hampton Inn and Home to Suites, Austin East on Wednesday, March 5th with Rachel Smith from Pride Sauce.
Beautiful hotel.
(28:15):
Yes.
And brand new, right?
Brand new combo building.
So it's like two like subsect brands of the Hilton umbrella.
It's a buy building.
It's a buy building.
It's the B.
I don't know.
I like it.
But yeah, you can actually see how like one were one hotel stops and then the next starts by the color of the carpet.
(28:40):
Okay.
It's very trendy.
It's beautiful.
It was really cute.
Alfred's catering will be catering our lunch that day.
Yes.
We love him.
Yeah.
So register now.
Seats are filling up quickly.
Yep.
Parking is covered too.
So Park in the parking garage when you get there.
Thank you Candice over at Hampton Inn Home to her hooking it up.
(29:04):
Love that.
And then that same week, we will have the 12th annual big queer kickoff party at rain on fourth.
This is an official South by Southwest events.
The next morning we have another official South by Southwest events, which will be a discussion on the power of intersectional queer storytelling at Gina's on Congress.
Fiona, do you want to add anything about South by events?
(29:27):
I'm really excited about all of the things, obviously, but the panel is going to be amazing.
We have a fabulous lineup of panelists, including a dear friend of mine, Salve Rogers, who's founded the transgender film center.
And Salve is being awarded by South by Southwest as well.
And he has this amazing film called chasing chasing Amy that Amy would like.
(29:49):
I love chasing Amy Ben Affleck.
And who else was in that movie?
What was her name?
The person that played chasing Amy.
Is it?
Yeah, no idea.
I can't.
I'm a filmmaker and I don't know these things.
But anyway, but watch another thing would be like what's chasing chasing Amy.
It's a really cool film and Salve will be at our panel along with other terrific panelists and so please join us.
(30:10):
I love it.
I love that it's at Gina's too.
Me too.
And they, Gina's will have pastries for sale during the panel pastries and coffees.
The panel is at 10am and then Gina's opens up for brunch at 11.
So you could do the panel, then you could stay and have brunch afterwards.
Exactly.
And we also, if you're in town for South by Southwest and happen to be listening to this podcast,
(30:34):
visit our directory and support a local LGBTQ owned or allied business.
We also have a health and wellness committee meeting on March 12th.
That is virtual.
You can also join us at the Capitol on March 25th.
The registration is now open for the Texas LGBTQ plus chambers of commerce day at the Capitol.
(30:57):
Join representatives from Austin, North Texas, Houston and San Antonio LGBTQ chambers for a day of advocacy.
Thank you to our sponsors for that event.
We've got Latham and Watkins, South by Southwest, Hampton and and Home to Suites, Austin East and Canopy by Hilton Austin downtown.
Yes, love them.
(31:18):
And then on March 29th, we are returning to Lockhart, Texas as part of our small town big pride program.
You can register now to ride the bus with us for $10 or if you prefer to meet us in Lockhart, you can register for free.
Yeah, we had to postpone it.
So now there's still time to figure it out and get it on your calendar.
(31:40):
Yeah, weather's going to be gorgeous this time.
Yeah.
And on March 31st, we have a couple of Trans Day of Visibility events that Fiona has been working hard on.
Fiona, would you like to talk to us a little bit about Trans Day of Visibility?
I would love to, Carlton.
Thank you.
Monday, March 31st is Transgender Day of Visibility.
(32:01):
So we have a panel and film screening of the short film Transgender at War and in Love that's 13 minutes about Trans Service members.
Another topical conversation yet again, even though the film came out 10 years ago.
So Layla Island from the film is going to be on the panel along with we're doing this in partnership with Equality Texas.
So we really appreciate doing something with them.
(32:22):
And then we will have a happy hour to celebrate Trans Visibility hosted at El Ravel, which is owned by an Out Trans Woman, Laura Friedman.
So we'll be back at El Ravel that evening.
So, yeah.
I love it.
I love it.
Yeah, it's really cool.
We invite all ERGs, all corporate sponsors, all businesses of any size.
It doesn't matter if you're a member with us or not.
(32:44):
We want to have a programming for ERGs who are probably suffering from potentially not having the budget to put on their own event and that kind of stuff.
So we are giving you an event and you can host it internally at your company.
So I love it.
Thank you for that.
Welcome.
We also have lots of upcoming member events, including the Leadership Boston Conference, South by Southwest Conference and Festival,
(33:07):
Equality Texas Day at the Capitol, all in for Equality.
Their event is the day before our advocacy day.
And as always, you can find out more about all of these events at AustinLGBTChamber.com.
Wow.
I know.
My fingers tired from pushing the music button.
There was some mention of me taking March off.
(33:29):
Oh, no.
I'm like...
Sabatical?
Yeah.
No.
Definitely not.
There's a lot going on.
A lot going on.
But it's important that people show up.
Be sure to check out the website for all those details.
Just a ton of things happening at the Chamber.
So be a part of it.
Don't be on the sideline.
As always, thank you for joining us.
(33:54):
If you want to learn more about becoming a member of the Chamber, visit us at AustinLGBTChamber.com.
If you want to be a guest or a sponsor, email us at info at AustinLGBTChamber.com.
Check out our show every Friday, wherever you get your podcasts.
Thanks.
We'll see you next time.
Welcome to the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce podcast. I'm Tina Cannon, your host and CEO
(00:14):
of the Chamber. On today's pod, we're going to talk local business news headlines this
week. First look at the design of the new Austin Convention Center. And then small businesses,
deadlines just keep moving. What you need to know South by Southwest is here. We'll tell
you what you need to know. Be right back.
(00:43):
What's going on world? Amy's already laughing right now. And we're not even two seconds into the pot.
What is going on over there?
What are you cracking over? I could have sworn you said podcast.
What if I did? Austin LGBT Chamber podcast.
(01:05):
I can't wait to hear it. I didn't think I'd say pod. It's like it's written on the paper
podcast. And I think I always just say pod. Yeah, maybe.
Yeah.
Oh, suffer and suck at that.
That's right. So Amy Colton and Fiona welcome.
(01:28):
What's the what's the gorgeous weather? Oh man, change of change of mindset. Yeah, all the ducks
went home. All my winter clothes in the closet. So it better be done. Go on on the drive in
to work. Like, nobody was at work. The East side was just lit. The sidewalks were littered with people.
Everybody's just out.
(01:50):
Yeah, I can't come in today. Yes. Hopefully they're working from, you know, coffee shops near you.
And, you know, I did I popped downstairs because it was I was just needed kind of a change of venue.
So I went downstairs to the coffee place and work. Zilker patio was packed.
Yeah, unpacked. Good. Yeah.
Good weather is good economic development. I'm here for it. I went for a little walk at lunch. It was cute.
(02:14):
Well, to pick up my lunch.
It's cute. It's cute.
But hopefully everybody's got some good things for the weekend. Never get south by stuff happening.
Yeah, I'm going down to San Antonio. Well done. Yeah, go visit some friends.
It's a good time in San Antonio. Good food. Yeah, I think it's going to be tech mix, of course, on
(02:36):
Saturday night. Yeah, then some kind of brunch on Sunday, then home for the Oscars Friday night.
Oh, Sunday night Oscars.
Are you watching the Oscars? Yes. Absolutely.
I need to see if Ariana Grande or Cynthia Arrivo wins something for Wicked.
I know for sure they will in part two. Yeah, I just feel it. Yeah.
(02:59):
I should watch it before then. I can't believe I haven't seen it.
We're going to make them when we come to this.
Considering I've seen it more than 20 times. Yes, I have seen it live probably five times on stage.
So I don't know what it was holding you back. Exactly. I don't know. I just I don't I have well.
(03:22):
I was supposed to go see it with Colton and theaters and then that didn't happen.
And now you left the state. I did it. Yeah.
Yeah, so I think we need to start outing. It just it needs to be a team retreat to see Wicked.
We need to take Tina as well to see Wicked. Yeah.
I don't take your eye. Educational guarantee. That's not happening.
It's all about politics. She hasn't even seen but I'm a cheerleader.
(03:44):
I don't even know what that is. I don't know what that one is. Oh, my God.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Have you seen that? I haven't seen it. Oh, my God.
I've heard of that one. I've seen but I'm a cheerleader, but not that one.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Oh, you would love it. I've seen like every date line episode.
Does that count for anything? No, definitely not.
(04:06):
It's like, oh, I've seen every 60 minutes. Congratulations.
Booner death kill. 60 minutes with it. Get a little digital clock.
Like I don't understand who's got it.
Baba Wawa. I am Baba Wawa. Oh, my God. That SNL of her was still kills me.
If you haven't watched the SNL 50 special, it was really good.
(04:30):
I haven't watched it. I just see loads. Yeah, I've seen loads of clips, but I haven't seen it like start to finish.
It's good. They revive a lot of their old clips. So fun.
A little definitely dating like age wise. I saw a lot of comments on the on the socials about it being a boomer special.
Are we sure about that? I watched a little bit of it.
(04:56):
A little boomer. Yeah. Boomery or Gen X or XE text technically.
I would say Gen Xer, but I think it's great. I mean, wasn't Bill? Oh God, I'm having a brain fog.
Yeah, wasn't he on it? Oh yeah, he was like weekend at Bernie's. He did the weekend update.
Oh, I love that. Yeah.
(05:19):
He's coming to Austin. He has a company here in Austin. Well, he's coming to do a stand up.
He can stand up. That's impressive. He looked like he looked pickled.
Well, sometimes I feel like a pickle in vinegar. So, you know, I don't blame him with everything going on in the world today.
I can sell him to me.
(05:40):
I like pickles.
I love pickles. What did I say? HR.
I don't.
Yes. How can I help you? Yes.
Oh boy. I'm going to be dragged out of here by my ears one of these days.
(06:01):
Let's take a look at some headlines.
The first images or conceptual drawings of the new Austin Convention Center redevelopment are out.
You can see them at the Austin Business Journal, but the current Convention Center is set to close in April just after South by to be torn down and make way for a larger facility.
(06:23):
It should be open by 2029. The Convention Center will be about 70% larger than its current facility.
Redevelopment costs around $1.6 billion that are paid through hotel occupancy tax and Convention Center revenue.
But the idea is that it's long overdue. We've been trying to get the Convention Center rebuilt to keep us competitive with other markets for convention business that keeps heads in beds and keeps our downtown and other areas poppin for my favorite kind of economic development.
(06:55):
Drop in. Yeah. Drop your money and go.
Oh, it's my favorite kind of economic development.
Got it. Yeah. Money that stays and people leave.
Yeah. Yeah, I got you.
Does that mean we can stop going to Orlando in Las Vegas for all of the queer conferences?
Yeah, that's why they get while that they give a lot of incentives.
Yeah, they should come here. We're going to have the space.
(07:16):
Yeah, we are going to have the space.
It's gonna be really nice, but I took a look at drawing to get ABJ has the illustrations of all the
The renderings look beautiful.
So many windows.
Very open. It's very like, you know, connecting with the community open space ground floor.
Walkable to all all sides of it. Where as right now it's kind of like just one entrance on one side.
(07:40):
Yeah, it's very prison looking.
Yeah, I thought it was going to be much taller.
It'll I was expecting it to be taller too, but I maybe that means they're going underground, but I'm excited to see the Waterloo Greenway.
The connectivity. Yeah.
Yeah, right now it still kind of has a George R. Brown feel.
I don't know what you're saying. Old man.
Who he George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Houston.
(08:05):
It's massive.
Yeah, like, but this looks pretty.
Oh, yeah, it looks way better.
It doesn't even really look like a convention center.
It looks like a library kind of feeds off the same similar design of our library and our city hall.
I hope it's super accessible for people.
Are those LVL at the top that I'm looking at?
(08:26):
Well, I do see some rainbow artwork.
You get that's not a touch screen.
Can you make that bigger?
For those of you listening.
Yeah, we're going to ABJ.
You can see what we're talking about.
We're currently looking on Colton's screen.
It's long overdue.
Unfortunately, we waited so long.
(08:47):
The original plan was for us to expand westward where the old photo to Chow was and.
Oh, yeah, it's like a oyster bar now.
And rail yard apartments or whatever.
And we waited.
We, because the city council back then, it's a completely different city council now, just kept saying no, no, no, sticking their fingers in their ear.
(09:08):
And then the market was like, fine, we'll sell to people who want to build restaurants or whatever that's down there.
So we lost we lost the chance to bid for those.
So unfortunately, we have to go down and up.
That's okay.
It's still not near as tall as some of the buildings down here.
Do we know how it affects all the bars on Red River like further down?
(09:31):
Is it good for that business?
It's going to be a little rough until 2029.
The, you know, the, the upside is that we'll still have and we'll still have all of the available conference space inside the Hilton, the Marriott, the JW, the four, all of those kind of surrounding hotels.
Are going to maximize their bookings because there's going to be nowhere else to book things.
(09:55):
I think they'll still be okay.
Oh yeah.
Because of all the music, the stuff and yeah, we'll still have a similar number of occupancy rates going and they've already booked out during this time.
So we know that we're going to have some pretty decent hotel occupancy and we just did the, the recent T-Pid.
It's a whole nother layer of ways to make sure that our hoteliers and our downtown folks are in good shape during the construction that hopefully will be done in time for the 2029 South by Southwest Festival season or what they call the festival season.
(10:26):
But we know what everybody means South by Southwest.
Spring Festival.
Oh wow.
Small businesses are facing another deadline as the court lifts an injunction on ownership reporting rule.
ABJ has a full link for all of this, but if you recall, we talked about it on another podcast.
There was a requirement for small businesses to report their ownership information to the Treasury Department.
(10:51):
But in the latest twist in an ongoing battle, last week, U.S. District Court lifted a temporary injunction on the enforcement of the
Corporate Transparency Act, which mandates that small businesses report ownership and other pertinent information as part of the agency's.
It's really around money laundering and kind of supposedly circumventing money laundering, but we remember we were supposed to file by like the end of January and then there was a snow you don't have to and then there was like, oh shit, yeah, you really do.
Yeah, do we have to file a report on the property?
(11:11):
Yeah, so now you have got a little bit more time, plus the Federal Government is just a fucking fuck show right now.
I mean, is anyone going to pay?
Wow, this is a family program.
I mean, who knows if there's going to be anybody at the Treasury left by the time you have to report.
(11:32):
Tell us how you really feel.
There's a button over there somewhere.
I know it.
Yeah, but you have a deadline now of March 21, assuming the Treasury Department is still in existence by March 21 to report.
So yeah, I ran and like read did mine for my small business in time for the first deadline.
(11:54):
But yeah, it's really hopefully hopefully they just don't find our small businesses that there may be are late.
But if you're wondering what that is, go to the ABJ.
They've got a link where you can go in and report, but it really doesn't take very long.
It's very easy, isn't it?
I mean, you just bunch, you know, dump in your name and your address and yeah, I don't know how that's numbers and that.
(12:18):
And then I don't know how do I decide if like that's money laundering.
I don't understand how they figure that out.
I mean, I did I did mine for my free time productions.
And then I remembered, oh, I've got another LLC.
I should probably do it for the second LLC as well.
But no, it's pretty easy.
Yes, but here's hoping that they that we have a Treasury Department by March 21.
Yeah, but make sure you are in compliance.
Wow.
(12:40):
I'm always compliant.
Staps are cool.
Wow, we South by Southwest is near public safety road closures and prep for this festival season.
The Austin Monitor has a long list of all of the road closures, the dates, things that you need to be aware of.
(13:05):
But the city plans to completely close a restrict more than 30 different streets during the South by Southwest Festival next month.
As part of safety planning for the event, major economic driver for the area about $380 to $400 million in economic impact.
Also happening because we are Austin at the same time are the the Texas relays Moto Moto GP Red Bull Grand Prix down at Kota.
(13:31):
Moontower Comedy Festival, and I think us Lee, it wasn't on the list here, but I think the rodeo is going at the same time.
Yeah.
So there's a lot going on.
Is anyone going to work in March?
We're just going to call.
Work is fun and going to festivals.
(13:53):
That's our jobs.
But if you work anywhere or want to go anywhere near 6th Street, Red River, Congress, 9th, Trinity, Rainy Street, Riverside, downtown.
Yeah, just like, yeah, forget about it.
Walk, ride, transit.
If we had rail, you could do rail.
If only.
Find another way to get down here because the street closures are going to be something to deal with.
(14:15):
And activations are already setting up downtown.
Lexus setting up right outside of ATP.
I know I've seen some of the murals going up around town to like the vinyl wraps.
Have they ever?
So Houston Livestock Show and rodeo is happening too.
Has South by ever considered or have you seen this like a parking ride for for the rodeo?
(14:40):
We used to park at like, not I'll made them all golf point mall and you would bust the rest of the way into Houston to like keep traffic down.
Yeah, I think most of the South by goers though are here in the hotels.
So the here, I guess that's true.
It's local.
Yeah, the local yokels who, you know, we kind of know how to get in and around.
(15:03):
Oh yeah.
Always people coming in with their films and you get an Airbnb and run to house and and then he just use petty cubs.
Right.
I'm scarred from petty cubs.
What?
My hell.
We've told this on the podcast so many times, but it was when I sorry, I'm still a little bit new when I had an allergic reaction.
(15:27):
How'd it get to the emergency room?
Amy and I get in.
Yeah, I thought I had a really brilliant idea and I was like, because it was what was ACL during that time.
What was it?
Yeah, because it was October.
Hispanic Chamber Gala.
Yeah, it was October and there was no Ubers and the only way to get anywhere was via ambulance.
(15:50):
Yeah.
Or petty cab or the last peddling petty cab with no pedal assist.
That man easily like grew up with Willie Nelson.
He had to be like 95 years old.
I love the petty.
Pity that I'm a petty cab, but it's like it reminds me of like when you travel in Europe or anywhere else outside the U.S.
(16:15):
And you have to kind of pre-negotiate your travel cost.
Because otherwise you'll get there and they're like 80 bucks.
I went like six blocks.
The petty cab from Rainey Street down to the gay burhood here.
We were like, he was like, oh yeah, I can do it for $40.
I was like, blow it out your rear end dude.
I was like, I'll walk.
(16:37):
We're freezing.
We're like, it's so cold tonight.
Especially now because they're pedal assist.
Before I tell you.
At least you're you know, hoofing it.
And I feel bad, but now you're like just pushing a throttle.
I mean, they're kind of terrifying.
So it's good to have a few drinks in you because if you look forward, you're like.
Oh no.
It's when they squeeze between cars.
(16:58):
We're not going to fit.
We're not going to fit.
You can't go around a corner and you fly out.
It's reminding me of my very first memory of a petty cab that goes back to 1999.
All right.
You ready?
So I was in Bangladesh, Dhaka Bangladesh, and I was traveling somewhere in a petty cab.
And all of a sudden a riot started, you know, cause they had random riots in Dhaka quite a lot.
(17:21):
And so this petty cab is like going through the streets.
And of course I'm like this little white woman in the back of a petty cab, like 21 years old.
We dive into a pharmacy and the shutters come down.
And so the next thing I know, I mean, Dhaka, the bunch of people I don't know during a riot.
Having just walked into a CVS.
Yeah, it clearly didn't look like a CVS in Dhaka.
(17:45):
But yeah, anyway, it's a great memory.
But yeah, petty cabs have come a long way in the last couple of years.
I love a good petty cab karaoke.
When me and Toy last South by man, we stole the show down here.
Didn't even need a badge all the way from rainy to forest street.
Be bopping along at the top of our lungs.
(18:07):
Oh, it was great.
Good stuff.
Well, and then let's get to our next section, the fun facts with Fiona.
What do you get for us today?
Okay, so I really wanted to dive deep into facts and stats and polls.
And so if you hadn't seen last week, a new Gallup poll came out and it released that close to 10% of US adults now identify as LGBT or something other than straight.
(18:41):
So one in 10 US adults and it's thanks to the bisexuals.
All right.
So I'm Gen Z.
So where's the Duggar family these days?
What?
I got some surprising stuff that's going to be going down.
How many kids were they up to?
(19:02):
I think it went like no.
I think it was like 17.
But so two at one point eight of them are gay.
Oh, queer.
And they're all Gen Z, I guess, right?
The Duggar kids.
Oh, no, I don't know how far they say.
Yeah.
59% of Gen Z in whole, not just like queer Gen Z, but 59% of Gen Z identifies as bisexual.
(19:24):
Okay.
I told you, it is very queer.
Yes.
Future is queer.
Yeah.
Well, that's great.
It's better than it was when I was growing up and it was just like the golf team.
Like that was the extent of us.
The LGBTQA tour?
The LGBT.
The LGBTQA tour?
We recognize each other by like, as my friend called it, geographic hair.
(19:47):
The white party out in California every year during the LGBTQA tour, which was crazy to me that was at Dinosaur.
Dinosaur.
Dinosaur.
Come on.
It's like the biggest lesbian bash during a sporting event.
I know.
I took a friend of mine with me one year and she was like, so I found out they're actually playing golf here.
Like, yes, fool.
(20:08):
She's like, I thought these were just pool parties.
We're just here to hang out.
Like, is it golf or is it tennis?
I can't remember.
It's golf.
It is golf, right?
Okay.
Oh yeah.
It always was the golf team.
Good grief.
Something about like layered collared shirts really gets you going from the 90s and a big poofy bang.
(20:29):
We're the softball team where all the straight girls wore those little ribbons in their hair so that we, you know, they were like, I'm straight.
I'm straight.
Oh yeah.
I was like, yeah, peeing on it to mark your territory.
That's what the ribbon meant?
Yes.
Yes.
I don't know.
I don't know.
Because, you know, I'm sorry, but every catcher behind the plate and there's a ribbon under
here.
I'm like, yeah, good luck, sis.
(20:50):
Let me know how it goes telling your folks.
Well, I'm sure there are a few cheeky bisexuals involved in all those groups.
Oh, I have no doubt.
And I just want to give a little plug that March is bisexual health awareness month.
So go to biplusorganisingus.org if you want to find information resources.
Because our health is really important.
(21:13):
Absolutely.
Well, I think those numbers go up, right?
As more people become more comfortable with self identifying.
And not being straight.
Yeah.
I mean, back, I was telling you the day, like every time it's still rough for me and my
generation to hear the word queer.
Yeah.
Because right for us growing up, it was a derogatory term and it was usually followed by a punch
to the face.
Or the game smear the queer.
(21:34):
Yeah.
Yeah, literally.
Yeah, like, yeah, playing Gator ball growing up on the playground.
It was like smear the queer.
And yeah, it's taken me a long time to come around to it.
But here we are.
I forgot about that.
Smear the queer.
Yeah.
Such a Texas thing too, isn't it?
So you've adopted the term steadily, Tina.
Yeah, it's taken me a while to get there.
(21:56):
But yeah, I get it.
But I think too, like the younger generations obviously is much more inclusive.
And so I think they're more willing to self report.
I would be curious to see what the breakdown is by generation.
Like if you're the L, the G, the B, the T.
Well, I can tell you that in another report.
Gallup breaks it down.
There's a whole like.
Because like these Gen Zers.
(22:17):
Yeah.
Oh, like.
I thought y'all were Gen Zers.
Excuse me?
Wow.
No, you're not?
No.
I'm X.
I am considered a geriatric millennial.
I'm a regular millennial.
You've got a millennial in the middle.
(22:38):
That is a real thing.
You're acting like you've never heard this.
I am.
That is made up.
I swear I'm a geriatric millennial because I'm on the cusp of Gen X.
Let me talk louder for you.
That is made up.
It's not.
I think I, yeah, no.
No, there's this little slither of people that are between millennials and Gen X's that
are kind of like in this little lost.
(22:59):
Because of the technology gap.
Because internet was Bob Dole.
Internet wasn't out yet.
No cell phones.
I grew up that way.
And then boom, it was upon us.
So you grew up closer to us.
What am I going to get X?
It's all about technology breaks, right?
So yeah, I grew up.
And plus my sister's 10 years older than me.
I looked like Madonna at the age of three and my different colored leg warmers and like
(23:23):
eyeshadow up to my eyebrows.
So did Colton.
I want to put that on a graphic somewhere.
My sister has photos.
I heard all her friends address me.
I was like Madonna at the age of three.
Fingerless gloves made of lace.
Like I was ready to go out to the clear.
Yeah.
So I have a quick answer to your question.
(23:45):
It's on the Gallup thing poll.
So we need to like drop a link somewhere.
But basically Gen Z.
It's 23.1% identifiers LGBTQ plus.
And then millennials is 14.2.
And then X is 5.1.
Baby boom is three.
And then silent is 1.8.
Cause they're all dead.
That is insane.
And that is probably five people left in this generation.
(24:09):
And it's huge.
Can you see?
That's enormous.
You know, directly related to who's comfortable coming out.
Exactly.
Like that is, it's so sad.
But it is great.
And we'll never know until at some point we actually are counted in the census in a way
that's not terrifying.
Yeah.
Oh.
So if they count ish, they count them if you're married, but they're not counting total population.
(24:31):
So we have no idea.
So that's why we need these polls like Gallup because they ask individuals.
You don't have to prove it in some kind of relationship.
Right.
You can self identify.
But yeah.
You don't matter if you're not in a relationship apparently.
According to the US census.
You don't count.
Literally.
Another one of the psychologically damaging situations to be in.
Great.
Boy howdy.
(24:52):
All right.
What do you got for us on membership side of it?
What do you got?
Yeah.
We have four new members.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Camarica Bank on 35th and Jefferson.
Their location has joined.
Welcome.
Oh, I love the name of this company.
(25:13):
Lynn Cognito's murder mystery parties.
I'm so ready for that.
I'm excited to sign up for that.
Welcome to the chamber and then to combo small town big pride and small nonprofits have joined Calvary Episcopal church out of Bastrop and Georgetown pride has joined the chamber.
(25:34):
So welcome from the Farins of Greater Austin.
Welcome.
Welcome.
Yeah.
I love it from from church to murder.
We got you covered.
And everything in between.
We're going to reclaim queer Schmere.
Whatever bagel company is out there, please make a.
We're taking back some of the clear.
(25:57):
I've never done a murder mystery party.
I haven't either.
I'm glad to.
Can I be the dead person though so I can watch everybody else.
What?
Yeah, like if you're the one that's how they go.
Yeah, if you're the designated dead person, then you're not really involved in the solving of the puzzle.
I assume this is like a game of clue.
Yeah, I think you are in the game.
(26:19):
And then at some point you're removed.
Yes, because you die.
No way.
I don't know.
Well, we're going to find out because we're going to figure out a way to chamber murder mystery thing.
Oh, this is fantastic.
But somebody at the party is like the murderer.
Yeah, right.
Yeah.
And do they know that the murderer and how.
Yeah, I think I've had friends go to one and like they they were asking me for outfits.
(26:43):
Suggestions.
So like it tells you what to wear.
Tyvek suit.
Like what to act like.
Like your character.
Yeah, like you're.
Yeah, so it's like wear some glasses that are, you know, whatever.
So don't bring duct tape and a roll of this queen is what I'm hearing.
Also, I think we should go through Walmart one day and just have all of our murder death kill like kit.
(27:06):
Yeah, I just.
I'm down with a tarp, a shovel, some duct tape, rubber gloves, Tyvek suit, goggles,
zip ties, new saw blades, a go from who else.
Watch.
Imagine all me.
Imagine all just to sit right when you open our storage unit door.
(27:27):
I was going to say, can we store it next to the glass window right there?
Can we have it in the glass window?
I'm going to need to rent someone's creepy van for this as well.
Have like some blood spattered on the bumper.
Oh, my lower well, but with nonetheless welcome to the Chamber newbies.
You can check out our website for a full list of Chamber members as you are looking for services or retail.
(27:52):
Be sure to check out the membership directory.
Colton, what you got on the haps for events.
We have a luncheon next week.
You can register now to secure your seat for the luncheon.
We will be at Hampton Inn and Home to Suites, Austin East on Wednesday, March 5th with Rachel Smith from Pride Sauce.
Beautiful hotel.
(28:15):
Yes.
And brand new, right?
Brand new combo building.
So it's like two like subsect brands of the Hilton umbrella.
It's a buy building.
It's a buy building.
It's the B.
I don't know.
I like it.
But yeah, you can actually see how like one were one hotel stops and then the next starts by the color of the carpet.
(28:40):
Okay.
It's very trendy.
It's beautiful.
It was really cute.
Alfred's catering will be catering our lunch that day.
Yes.
We love him.
Yeah.
So register now.
Seats are filling up quickly.
Yep.
Parking is covered too.
So Park in the parking garage when you get there.
Thank you Candice over at Hampton Inn Home to her hooking it up.
(29:04):
Love that.
And then that same week, we will have the 12th annual big queer kickoff party at rain on fourth.
This is an official South by Southwest events.
The next morning we have another official South by Southwest events, which will be a discussion on the power of intersectional queer storytelling at Gina's on Congress.
Fiona, do you want to add anything about South by events?
(29:27):
I'm really excited about all of the things, obviously, but the panel is going to be amazing.
We have a fabulous lineup of panelists, including a dear friend of mine, Salve Rogers, who's founded the transgender film center.
And Salve is being awarded by South by Southwest as well.
And he has this amazing film called chasing chasing Amy that Amy would like.
(29:49):
I love chasing Amy Ben Affleck.
And who else was in that movie?
What was her name?
The person that played chasing Amy.
Is it?
Yeah, no idea.
I can't.
I'm a filmmaker and I don't know these things.
But anyway, but watch another thing would be like what's chasing chasing Amy.
It's a really cool film and Salve will be at our panel along with other terrific panelists and so please join us.
(30:10):
I love it.
I love that it's at Gina's too.
Me too.
And they, Gina's will have pastries for sale during the panel pastries and coffees.
The panel is at 10am and then Gina's opens up for brunch at 11.
So you could do the panel, then you could stay and have brunch afterwards.
Exactly.
And we also, if you're in town for South by Southwest and happen to be listening to this podcast,
(30:34):
visit our directory and support a local LGBTQ owned or allied business.
We also have a health and wellness committee meeting on March 12th.
That is virtual.
You can also join us at the Capitol on March 25th.
The registration is now open for the Texas LGBTQ plus chambers of commerce day at the Capitol.
(30:57):
Join representatives from Austin, North Texas, Houston and San Antonio LGBTQ chambers for a day of advocacy.
Thank you to our sponsors for that event.
We've got Latham and Watkins, South by Southwest, Hampton and and Home to Suites, Austin East and Canopy by Hilton Austin downtown.
Yes, love them.
(31:18):
And then on March 29th, we are returning to Lockhart, Texas as part of our small town big pride program.
You can register now to ride the bus with us for $10 or if you prefer to meet us in Lockhart, you can register for free.
Yeah, we had to postpone it.
So now there's still time to figure it out and get it on your calendar.
(31:40):
Yeah, weather's going to be gorgeous this time.
Yeah.
And on March 31st, we have a couple of Trans Day of Visibility events that Fiona has been working hard on.
Fiona, would you like to talk to us a little bit about Trans Day of Visibility?
I would love to, Carlton.
Thank you.
Monday, March 31st is Transgender Day of Visibility.
(32:01):
So we have a panel and film screening of the short film Transgender at War and in Love that's 13 minutes about Trans Service members.
Another topical conversation yet again, even though the film came out 10 years ago.
So Layla Island from the film is going to be on the panel along with we're doing this in partnership with Equality Texas.
So we really appreciate doing something with them.
(32:22):
And then we will have a happy hour to celebrate Trans Visibility hosted at El Ravel, which is owned by an Out Trans Woman, Laura Friedman.
So we'll be back at El Ravel that evening.
So, yeah.
I love it.
I love it.
Yeah, it's really cool.
We invite all ERGs, all corporate sponsors, all businesses of any size.
It doesn't matter if you're a member with us or not.
(32:44):
We want to have a programming for ERGs who are probably suffering from potentially not having the budget to put on their own event and that kind of stuff.
So we are giving you an event and you can host it internally at your company.
So I love it.
Thank you for that.
Welcome.
We also have lots of upcoming member events, including the Leadership Boston Conference, South by Southwest Conference and Festival,
(33:07):
Equality Texas Day at the Capitol, all in for Equality.
Their event is the day before our advocacy day.
And as always, you can find out more about all of these events at AustinLGBTChamber.com.
Wow.
I know.
My fingers tired from pushing the music button.
There was some mention of me taking March off.
(33:29):
Oh, no.
I'm like...
Sabatical?
Yeah.
No.
Definitely not.
There's a lot going on.
A lot going on.
But it's important that people show up.
Be sure to check out the website for all those details.
Just a ton of things happening at the Chamber.
So be a part of it.
Don't be on the sideline.
As always, thank you for joining us.
(33:54):
If you want to learn more about becoming a member of the Chamber, visit us at AustinLGBTChamber.com.
If you want to be a guest or a sponsor, email us at info at AustinLGBTChamber.com.
Check out our show every Friday, wherever you get your podcasts.
Thanks.
We'll see you next time.
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