In the face of unprecedented legislative attacks, how does Texas's LGBTQ community forge ahead? This episode of Queer Voices delivers a masterclass in resilience, featuring Brad Pritchett, the Interim Executive Director of Equality Texas, who reveals the brutal realities of the recent legislative session where over 200 anti-LBGTQIA+ bills were filed—the highest number in state history. Deborah Moncrief Bell is the interviewer.
"We managed to stop more than 95% of those bills from actually passing into law," Pritchett explains, highlighting the power of community organizing even in hostile political environments. He takes us behind the curtain of Texas politics, exposing how some lawmakers waste precious legislative time on bills based on fabricated scenarios (like the ridiculous "furries bill") rather than addressing genuine concerns affecting all Texans.
We then journey from legislation to theater as Houston-native actor Austin Colburn shares his experience returning home from New York to star in "The Last Five Years" at Queensbury Theatre, which runs from July 23rd through the 27th. Austin reflects with Brett Cullum on his evolution from a dancer who "couldn't sing a single pitch" to a professional actor tackling one of musical theater's most challenging scores. His journey from local stages to New York callbacks offers a heartening counterpoint to the political struggles—a reminder that queer joy and artistic expression persist.
The episode concludes with Melelani Petersen's powerful reflection on "Town Meeting 1978 to 2028," an art exhibition commemorating a pivotal 1978 gathering of 4,000 LGBTQ Houstonians that birthed vital community institutions.
Ready to join this vibrant community conversation? Subscribe, share your thoughts, and become part of the ongoing story of LGBTQ resilience in Texas and beyond.
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:
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 2 (00:09):
And now Houston's only primetime radio program
dedicated to news and concernsof the lesbian, gay and
transgender community.
This is Queer Voices.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
This episode of Queer Voices, Davis Mendoza and Mel
Peterson fill in for Glenn Holt.
On this show, DeborahMoncrief-Bell interviews Brad
Pritchett with Equality Texas onthe mission of Equality Texas
and the current legislativesession.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
We'll be crisscrossing the state to
provide resources to folks.
We're really looking at how wecan help LGBTQ plus Texans who
are in some of the rural andmore underserved portions of the
state of Texas, because if wehelp our community, in the long
run we help all of us.
You know, it's that idea of arising tide lifts all boats.
(01:03):
So our goal is to make surethat LGBTQ Texans who may feel
geographically isolated knowthat they're not alone and that
they're not isolated and thereare resources and support, no
matter where they live.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Brett Cullum interviews Austin Colburn, a
Houston actor who recently movedto New York to make it big.
He is back in town to do theLast Five Years, a musical that
just closed on Broadway thatstarred Adrian Warren and Nick
Jonas.
It is at the QueensberryTheatre from July 23rd through
(01:40):
the 27th.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
You have to say, okay , well, who am I?
And I think the big part for mewas that I found that who I was
was somebody who liked toentertain and also somebody that
the arts was a very good placefor me to be mentally,
physically, all that stuff.
(02:03):
And then after that I just Ikept going, I kept going, I kept
going, I kept going, keptpushing myself, and then and
then at some point I booked aprofessional job and became
Equity, and the rest is history.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
After Brett's interview, I take the
opportunity to briefly reflecton my experience at the recent
art exhibit by Jake Margolin andNick Vaughn at Art League.
Houston Town Meeting 1978 to2028 Symposium, held on June 7th
and 8th, celebrated the historybehind the LGBT Town Meeting 1
(02:47):
of 1978.
Queer Voices starts now.
Speaker 6 (02:56):
This is Deborah Moncrief-Bell and I'm talking
with Brad Pritchett.
Brad is the Interim ExecutiveDirector of Equality Texas.
So, brad, first of all explainwhat Equality Texas is.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
So Equality Texas we are the state of Texas's largest
LGBTQ plus advocacyorganization.
We've been doing work in Texassince 1978.
Mostly we are probably bestknown for the work we do during
the Texas legislative sessions.
So every two years we're theorganization that helps to lead
(03:32):
the fight to protect LGBTQ plusTexans at the legislature, to
stop negative legislation frompassing into law and to promote
pro-equality legislation withinthe legislature.
But we work 365 days a year allacross the state of Texas,
helping to build community wherewe can provide educational
resources, uplift celebrationslike pride events and generally
(03:56):
just doing what we can to makesure that Texas is as welcoming
as it can be for LGBTQ plusfolks in whatever way we
possibly can.
Speaker 6 (04:09):
It's a big job but somebody's got to do it.
So you're right that you'remostly known for that work
during the Texas legislature andI remember when the
organization basically was justa lobbying situation where that
was the whole focus.
So you've really expanded overthese many years and it just
(04:34):
shows how long we've been atthis and how we need to keep
going.
So we just had a legislativesession.
Let's talk about that a littlebit.
What's the 411?
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Well, we entered this last legislative session, I
think, pretty much knowing thatwe were going to see an
increased number of anti-LGBTQbills get filed.
Basically, if you look backhistorically at the bills that
have targeted our community,legislative session after
legislative session, once upon atime there used to be this
(05:09):
pendulum effect where we wouldgo into one session with an
uptick in the number of badbills and then the next session
it would kind of swing the otherway and we wouldn't see as many
bad bills and then the nextsession it would go back.
That isn't really where we areanymore historically.
The next session it would goback.
That isn't really where we areanymore historically.
Unfortunately, what we'vecontinued to see over these last
(05:31):
three legislative sessions isthe steady increase in
anti-LGBTQ plus bills targetingour community.
So we went from somewherearound 76 bills one session that
doubled to over 140.
And then this session we sawover 200 anti-LGBTQ plus bills
filed.
Now, even though we had so manybad bills that were filed, we
saw over 200 anti-LGBTQ plusbills filed.
Now, even though we had so manybad bills that were filed, we
managed to stop more than 95% ofthose bills from actually
(05:52):
passing into law.
So we ended up coming out ofsession with six anti-LGBTQ
bills that were explicitlytargeting our community.
Some of those bills are alreadybeing challenged in court, as
we knew they would, because, aswe advocated against those bills
, we were raising the realitythat most of these bills were
unconstitutional in some way orthat variations of legislation
(06:15):
similar to them passed in otherstates had already been struck
down by courts.
So now we're seeing kind of thething we were saying probably
was going to happen starting tounfold here in Texas, with these
bills that did pass beingchallenged before they go into
effect in September.
We, you know, we oftentimes, Ithink during the legislative
session the community getshammered over the head with some
(06:36):
of the most extreme bills.
So in the session a lot of newsarticles were coming out about
some of these really, reallyaggressively anti-LGBTQ plus
bills that were so extreme thatthey never moved at all during
the legislature.
But our concern is always wewant to make sure folks know
what's moving to the legislature.
We want to help people navigatethe process of how you advocate
(06:58):
for yourself and your beliefswithin that building.
But we also want to make surefolks have an understanding that
sometimes you're seeing newsarticles about certain bills
that are filed at the Capitol.
Those bills don't really have achance of going anywhere.
They make really good newsarticles and they scare people,
but at the end of the day wewant to make sure folks have an
understanding of what theprocess really looks like and
(07:20):
what the reality of some ofthese bills moving or not moving
looks like.
So we work really hard to levelset for folks so everybody
knows which bills have steam,which ones are actually moving
through the process and whichones are getting filed just
because the lawmaker wants toget some attention.
Speaker 6 (07:37):
And the reality is, even if it's a bill that's not
directly concerning LGBTQIAissues, it affects us as people
who live in the state of Texas,so we are always interested in
what is on the table and whatare the concerns.
(07:57):
I know that there's been a lotof work done over the years so
that there's quite a wonderfulcommunity of folks that do show
up and do lobby, because one ofthe most effective ways to lobby
is, of course, for people totell their own stories how does
this affect my life, or how doesthis affect my child's life and
(08:19):
hopefully, if the people thatare elected have empathy, they
take that into consideration.
And then there's bills that getproposed and even passed and
even signed by the governor thatdon't make any sense whatsoever
, and I'm thinking of this billthat was called the furries bill
(08:41):
.
Do you want to explain that one?
Speaker 4 (08:44):
so we had a state representative who filed several
bills about furries um, it wasmore than one bill by one by the
same legislator um, and it wasall based on a giant lie this
bill was based on and we seethis far too often.
We see in these right-wing kindof blogospheres somebody take
(09:05):
something that they readsomewhere and then kind of
mutated into the story thatdoesn't actually have any basis
in reality.
The idea here was in some Texasclassrooms there was kitty
litter being stored in closets.
There was kitty litter beingstored in closets and the reason
(09:41):
that the kitty litter was beingstored in closets ties to don't
know how long kids may behiding from shooters.
And having kitty litter issomething that you can go to the
bathroom on without going tothe bathroom on the floor.
It makes it easier to clean up.
It's also used when kids getsick.
You can throw kitty litter onsomething and it'll clump up and
make it easier to clean up.
(10:02):
Lawmakers took this this harshreality that kids in Texas live
under with regards to gunviolence, the idea that we have
to do that because our leadersrefuse to do anything about gun
violence.
I mean they mutated it into thisridiculous story that's somehow
tied to the LGBTQ pluscommunity.
It's just another example ofhow lawmakers have misplaced
(10:23):
priorities, how they will wastetime.
You know our Texas legislaturemeets every two years for 140
days.
That's not a ton of time to dothe work that has to basically
keep the state going for thenext two years.
So every time a lawmaker files aridiculous piece of legislation
that is based on somethingthat's not even rooted in
reality, what they're reallydoing is wasting your time as a
(10:46):
constituent, as a taxpayer.
They're doing it because theywant to get attention, because
they want to see their name inan article, because they have
aspirations for higher officeand they really want to make
sure that their primary voterssee them amplifying something
ridiculous.
So I think that's part of whywe really work hard to try to
(11:07):
set the record straight.
You know that bill or thosebills were just ridiculous on
their face, but they were just,you know, a drop in the bucket
compared to some of the otherbills that were filed that
thankfully, didn't go anywhere.
Speaker 6 (11:20):
I saw some of the testimony on that and the
lawmaker people said this isn'thappening, this isn't real, and
it was like that did not deterhim from insisting that it move
forward.
And you're right, and this issomething I take particularly
(11:40):
objection to is wasting our timeand wasting the precious few
hours that we do have that couldgo into making laws that help
our community, such as there wasa proposal that some money be
(12:04):
allocated so that it could haveearly warning systems for, like,
oh say, a catastrophic floodevent such as we just had in the
state of Texas, and thelawmaker for the very county for
Kerr County where the tragedytook place very county for Kerr
(12:30):
County where the tragedy tookplace voted against it to
allocate for there to beequipment bought and etc.
And even though if it hadpassed, it would not have been
implemented in time to be of usein this situation.
We know that we're going tohave more.
We're going to have morenational and state events that
(12:50):
take place that need, wherecommunities need help because
they're small communities, theydon't have the resources, and
this would have been one ofthose things that could have
gone to help people, been one ofthose things that could have
gone to help people.
So, um, and let's just say this,uh, for a second here, that
breweries, for anyone whodoesn't know, is a community of
(13:12):
people who like to dress up asanimals and play.
It's just a play thing, uh, butthere are no children that are
going to school in costumes, areusing litter boxes, are being
treated as anything other thanhuman beings, although sometimes
I think they don't treat themall as human beings.
(13:35):
Takes a lot of work to payattention of.
You know what is coming up andand and and how do we address it
and what needs to take place sothat we can be strategic.
Um, I mean, the process of thelegislature in itself is pretty
(14:01):
complicated and it's very hard,by the time something actually
is coming up to get voted on, toget people informed enough so
that they can contact theirelected officials so that they
can show up in Austin.
So I really applaud the work ofEquality Texas on what they're
able to do with all of that.
Speaker 4 (14:23):
Well, our goal is always to make the legislature
as accessible to people as itpossibly can be.
You're right, there are a lotof steps that take place between
the time a bill gets filed andthe time a bill goes to
committee and there areinfluence points throughout the
cycle, throughout that wholeprocess, and it's important to
know when to put a littlepressure on those influence
(14:44):
points to try to slow a billdown or to stop it entirely.
So we work really hard toensure that community members
have an understanding of how ourlegislature works.
Prior to the legislativesession this time around we did
advocacy trainings all acrossthe state of Texas laying out
exactly that how the legislatureunfolds, what bill filing looks
like, what the bills that werepre-filed were, giving folks
(15:08):
kind of an understanding of.
These are the things we thinkare going to move.
These are the things thatpeople should be ready to push
back against and really doingour best to make sure folks knew
that the legislature may feelintimidating.
I mean it's intimidating.
To me, walking into thatbuilding sometimes does not feel
friendly, it doesn't feel good,but it is our capital as much
(15:28):
as anyone else's.
So we have every right to be inthat space and you know, we go
into these places, like you said, to tell our stories, to talk
about why bad bills will impactus, why good bills will help us,
will help us, and sometimes itfeels like lawmakers may not be
listening, but that doesn't makeour stories any less important
and even if a lawmaker is deadset on doing something and our
(15:51):
testimonies aren't going tochange their minds, our
testimonies still get enteredinto the legislative record.
So when we're in a positionlike we are now, where we are
post-session and we've had billsget passed and signed into law
by the governor and those billshaven't gone into effect yet and
we have organizations like theACLU or the Texas Civil Rights
(16:13):
Project who might be filinglitigation to stop some of these
bills, that legislative recordand us speaking on it helps them
.
It helps underscore thatlawmakers knew that this bill
would cause harm.
Whatever that bill is,lawmakers were told what was
going to happen and they stillpushed forward with a bill that
they knew was wrong morally,unconstitutional, legally, but
(16:36):
they just disregarded people.
But those stories do help.
They help in the long runbecause our legal partners can
use them to fight back againstthese bills once they've been
signed into law and this session.
You know the governor well.
The legislature filed billsthat were very similar to other
bills that had already beenstruck down by courts declared
(16:57):
unconstitutional.
The governor signed bills thatwere very similar to those bills
that were declaredunconstitutional.
So in Texas you know we have ahistory as far as the
legislature is concerned ofseeing bad bills get filed.
Community overwhelmingly opposethe bill.
You know lawmakers be warnedabout the unconstitutional
nature of bills, that some ofthese bills are completely
(17:20):
unenforceable.
Them still hammer it throughand then the bills get struck
down by the courts because theyare all the things we said they
were unconstitutional, notenforceable, harmful to people.
So the hope is that of the sixexplicitly anti LGBTQ bills that
were passed, we will see courtsstep in and stop some of those
bills from going into effect orcompletely declare those bills
(17:43):
as unconstitutional.
Speaker 6 (17:46):
What was a positive?
Did we have any wins?
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
You know, this session we looked at how we
could help kind of influence thebudget process a little bit
more, and one of the successeswe were able to make in addition
to some assistance from theEquality Federation was we
pushed to get increased fundingfor long-acting HIV injectable
medications.
(18:12):
So we were able to get over amillion dollars added to that
specific line item within thehealthcare budget to ensure that
people who need long-actinginjectables to treat HIV will be
able to get access to them.
So sometimes these legislativewins don't look like passing a
piece of legislation necessarily, but there are these parts of
(18:34):
the process that we can work tohave influence on, and there are
still people on both sides ofthe aisle who care about things
like healthcare in some of thesespaces.
So we can still haveconversations with folks across
a political divide and cometogether on something like
making sure people have accessto life-saving medication.
So we were excited to be ableto have that as a victory.
(18:56):
I think the other thing that Ijust think about every
legislative session and I'vebeen doing it for a while now is
just watching the success thatis, people leaning into their
power.
So having you know, we have amom who is the parent of a trans
kid.
This was her first session everturning out.
The first time she came totestify she was terrified.
(19:18):
She wasn't really sure what toexpect.
She had gone through trainingsbut she still was very nervous
and by the time the session wasover she was.
She was a veteran at it.
She showed up knowing what shewas going to say.
She had everything written down, she made her points and she
emerged from the Capitol as anadvocate who was like I'm not
done, I'm going to go home, backto my community and I'm going
(19:38):
to start doing this stufflocally because now I know how
to do it.
So I think those are successes.
Even in a session when badbills pass, we're still
incubating future leaders whoare LGBTQ plus folks who are
going to go out and work to makechange in their local
communities.
I think that's a big win everylegislative session, because we
(19:59):
encourage people, we trainpeople and then those people
know that their voices make adifference.
They go back to theircommunities and they get
involved locally and that makeschange over the long haul.
Speaker 6 (20:09):
I love it and, of course, if you are uncertain,
you could just go and sit andwatch the proceedings for a
while before you maybe sign upfor training.
Or, to just get a sense, gowith a friend and you don't have
to talk to anybody, but letthat friend do the talking.
(20:31):
There are friendly staffers,sometimes even where they might
be working for someone who isn'tso friendly, they can be of
assistance.
And we do have friends that areelected officials, such as such
as Grand Marshal, ally JohnRosenthal, molly Cook and a
(20:53):
number of other folks that youcan go to their office and you
can ask folks there who do Ineed to talk to?
What can I do?
They kind of offer a safe spaceduring these legislative lobby
days so that you're never alone.
(21:13):
You have plenty of people therewho can guide you and it is a
very empowering thing.
So, as we've been through thisbrutal session, we just had
pride and I know Equality Texaswas out all across the state at
different Pride events, beingvisible and getting the word out
(21:37):
, but now there's a little bitof a celebration planned and I
think that's a perfect way to dosomething.
After all of that is to havesomething that's kind of fun and
positive.
So there's an event coming uplater this month I think it's
the 27th of July.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
That's right.
Speaker 6 (21:58):
Okay, and so tell me about this.
Barbara Jordan Garden Party.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
So we're very excited about the Barbara Jordan Garden
Party.
You know the Equality Texas.
We are a statewide organization.
We do events all over the state.
Like you said, we travel topride celebrations and
participate in prides across thestate of Texas.
We did 96 prides in 2024.
This year we're on track tomeet that number.
(22:24):
We're over 60 right now andwe've got more prides coming up
in August and October and Ithink a couple in September as
well.
So we will go anywhere we canto meet LGBTQ plus folks and to
have an opportunity to celebrate.
But one of the things we don'thave, in Houston at least, is a
signature event that we do inHouston every year.
We have one in Dallas, we dostuff in Austin, obviously,
(22:47):
working on San Antonio and someother places.
So the Barbara Jordan GardenParty will be the first of, I
hope, what will become manyBarbara Jordan events here in
Houston every year.
Our idea was essentially, wewanted to think about the
influence of somebody likeBarbara Jordan, this revered
congresswoman who we all knowmade history in a variety of
(23:10):
different ways.
If you haven't seen BarbaraJordan's speech at the
Democratic National Convention,google it.
Watch that YouTube speech,because it is on YouTube.
But you know Barbara Jordan'slegacy is kind of woven into the
fabric of Houston.
You know she was the firstBlack woman to get elected to
the Texas legislature.
She was the first SouthernBlack woman in the U S house of
(23:31):
representatives and while shewas elected in office like she
had an unwavering commitment tojustice and civil rights.
You know she she could give aspeech.
She could, she could absolutelylike make a point as
effectively as anybody can.
But she was this champion forcivil rights.
She fought for workers' rights,she fought for voting rights
(23:53):
and she has inspired generationsof leadership that came after
her.
You mentioned Molly Cookearlier.
Molly Cook was the first openlyLGBTQ state senator.
But Barbara Jordan was in thelegislature and never officially
came out as a member of thecommunity but had a very long
partnership with Nancy Earl, wasrevered as an LGBTQ plus role
(24:15):
model, especially for folks whowere living at the intersection
of like different marginalizedidentities.
So we wanted to kind of upliftBarbara Jordan because she's
always been this.
You know figure that's biggerthan life in Houston.
I know as a Houstonian growingup we watched and learned a lot
about Barbara Jordan and she wasone of my mom's favorite
politicians.
(24:35):
Her and Ann Richards had agreat friendship.
So anything we could do tocelebrate Barbara Jordan we
wanted to do so.
That's where the idea for theBarbara Jordan Garden Party kind
of came from and we thoughtabout it from the lens of like,
how does, how does BarbaraJordan's legacy continue to
impact not just Houston butTexas as a whole?
So we came up with these twoawards that we'll be giving
(24:58):
during the Barbara Jordan gardenparty.
One is thinking about thelegacy of Barbara Jordan, who
has kind of carried that legacyon, and then the other is who is
embodying the spirit of BarbaraJordan.
So we are super excited.
The Legacy of Barbara JordanAward we're giving to State
Representative SinfroniaThompson, or Miss T as she's
(25:19):
known.
Sinfronia Thompson is the Deanof the Texas House.
She's the longest servingmember of the Texas House at
this point and has shepherdedthrough legislation like the
James Byrd Hate Crimes Act, hasgiven impassioned speeches on
the floor of the Texas House atthis point and has shepherded
through legislation like theJames Byrd Hate Crimes Act, has
given impassioned speeches onthe floor of the Texas House in
support of LGBTQ people,specifically kids, and is always
(25:40):
one of those safe spaces at theCapitol for our community to go
to.
So we thought nobody better forthe first award than Sinfronia
Thompson for the legacy ofBarbara Jordan and then our
Spirit of Barbara Jordan Award.
We thought about local folks whoare doing good work here in the
Houston area and we had someconversations about the
(26:02):
different orgs that exist inHouston, because we've got so
many great LGBTQ plus orgs.
And we came back to talkingabout the normal anomaly
initiative in Houston and Joelleby Azuru, who is their uh,
their advocacy director, andJoelle's been you know, somebody
that I have looked up to andworked with over the years uh,
(26:24):
just a tremendously passionateperson who has done tremendous
work around centering the voicesof black trans women and black
queer businesses and this yeartook on the task of starting up
the greater Houston StonewallDemocrats as a club, which is
really personal for me because Ireally got my sea legs
(26:48):
politically as a member of theHouston Stonewall Young
Democrats.
That was like the first clubthat I was like let's do some
politics, let's get involved.
So we're giving Joelle theSpirit of Barbara Jordan Award
and it's really just going to bean afternoon where folks get
together, we get to celebratethese honorees, we get to just
have conversations, have somegood food, have some good drinks
(27:09):
, enjoy a gorgeous garden andjust celebrate the legacy of
Barbara Jordan and think aboutwhat comes next for all of us.
Speaker 6 (27:18):
Joelle is a force of nature, absolutely, and my
favorite thing is she exudesqueer joy, and that's something
that we so need, and I'm reallyhappy to see her recognized in
this way.
At a garden party, they're funanyway, you know, you, just, you
(27:41):
just think about a summerafternoon and being in a garden
and talking to folks, and notthe loud blaring music like in a
club or something, but justbeing with folks and having a
pleasant time.
And let's just say that BarbaraJordan represented the 18th
(28:03):
Congressional District, thedistrict in which I live and
have lived most of my life thatI've spent in Houston, and that
has included leaders such asMickey Leland and Sheila Jackson
Lee and, due to the unfortunatepassing of Sylvester Turner,
(28:23):
all in office in that position.
We are now withoutrepresentation and because the
governor has chosen not to holdan election to fill that seat,
until November that means fromJanuary of this year until
November we are withoutcongressional representation and
(28:44):
I am greatly offended by that,greatly offended by that.
So this is at a private homeand so how do people, if they
would like to attend, what's theprocess?
They just go to the EqualityTexas site, or is there
something on Facebook?
Speaker 4 (29:05):
You can search the Barbara Jordan Garden Party on
Facebook.
It's on the Equality TexasFacebook page, so the event is
on there.
You can go to equalitytexasorgand you can attend.
If you click on our take action, at the very top we have a
section that's calledcelebrations and fundraisers and
the Barbara Jordan Garden Partyis listed on there.
(29:26):
So to tell you all the details,how you get your ticket, we are
being hosted at the home of oneof my Houston heroes, which is
Angela Blanchard.
Angela was the CEO ofNeighborhood Centers for a long
time, but is also an expert inhurricane survival, recovery,
how we build resilience forstorms and how community builds
(29:49):
resilience in the face of thesetypes of events.
So Angela is a tremendous assetto the city of Houston and just
a beautiful person who lovesnothing more than to kind of
connect people with other people, to build networks and to build
community.
Essentially, she also has atremendous gardener and has a
beautiful garden that she workson, which we're lucky to have
(30:12):
available to us for the gardenparty.
Speaker 6 (30:14):
Yes, she's lovely.
So Brad Pritchett, interimExecutive Director of Equality
Texas, is that interim likely tochange or any news on that
front that?
Speaker 4 (30:27):
front.
I know that I'm in the interimposition until at least December
of this year.
Our board will decide at somepoint if they want to do a full
search or if the interim titlegoes away.
We'll find out.
Right now my focus is movingour organization ahead.
We survived a rough legislativesession, we made it through
Pride Month and now we areworking to put boots on the
(30:51):
ground in different parts of thestate to make sure community
has the resources it needs assome of the legislation goes
into effect in September.
So we'll be crisscrossing thestate to provide resources to
folks, help LGBTQ plus Texanswho are in some of the rural and
(31:11):
more underserved portions ofthe state of Texas, because if
we help our community in thelong run we help all of us.
It's that idea of a rising tidelifts all boats.
So our goal is to make surethat LGBTQ Texans who may feel
geographically isolated knowthat they're not alone and that
they're not isolated and thereare resources and support, no
matter where they live.
So we'll be doing that and thenwe'll see what happens once we
(31:34):
get towards the end of the year.
Speaker 6 (31:35):
And, as usual, we like to close out with asking is
there anything that we didn'ttalk about that you want to make
sure people know?
Speaker 4 (31:44):
I think the one thing that I would just flag for
anyone listening is the ideathat I recognize how upsetting
the news can be coming out of alegislative session, especially
when we see the governor andother folks signing.
We see the governor signingbills and other folks
celebrating the passage ofterrible bills.
You know the current federaladministration has become
(32:05):
increasingly more and morehostile towards our community.
I just want to make sure folkshave an understanding that if
you need support, there areorganizations that exist to
provide you with that support.
Equality Texas if you go to theEquality Texas website,
equalitytexasorg, in the lowerright corner there is a floating
button that says requestsupport.
If you need something, if youneed access to mental health
(32:27):
resources, if you just needsomebody to talk to, if you're
looking for help paying a bill,we may not be able to provide
those things to you, but we canwork to connect you to resources
.
So that's my general messagefor folks is if you remember the
community and you're feelinglike things are overwhelming
right now, that is completelyunderstandable, but please know
that resources exist.
We'll do our best to connectyou to resources.
(32:48):
If you live in the Houston area, use the Montrose Center.
It's one of the jewels of ourcommunity and it is something
that can provide desperatelyneeded support for people.
Queer folks are not alone inthe state of Texas.
We have each other and we'rehere to help.
Speaker 6 (33:03):
Brad Pritchett, thank you for being with us on Queer
Voices, the night is long andthe path is dark.
Look to the sky, for what isthere?
Speaker 2 (33:22):
The dawn will come.
This is Queer Voices.
Speaker 7 (33:30):
Austin Colburn is an actor, singer, dancer from
houston, texas.
Past roles include he was autoand spring awakening for tuts,
he was in their production of achorus line playing dawn, and I
saw austin several times at thegarden theater.
They did a production of bonnieand clyde at the match and he
was also in cruel intentions asone of the most iconic male
(33:52):
leads of a musical, Sebastian.
So it's definitely great to seehim back in Houston, because
he's now based in New York nosurprise there but in an ironic
turn, he's coming to Houston tostar in a production of the Last
Five Years which just had aBroadway run in that city with
Adrienne Warren and Nick Jonas.
(34:12):
It's all based on an all tooreal story.
Writer composer Jason RobertBrown's musical is based largely
on well, his own failedmarriage.
So, hey, Austin, I feel like Iknow you already because I've
seen you so much on stage and Ifeel like you're always around
here.
But how are you Welcome?
Speaker 5 (34:31):
Thank you for having me.
I'm great, I'm really glad, tobe back here in Houston.
You know New York is so fastpaced and I love it there.
But, my God, it's nice to beable to get in a car and drive
somewhere.
Speaker 7 (34:43):
No kidding, I always feel like when I get back from
New York I'm like I need avacation from my vacation
because it is such a fast tempo.
Speaker 2 (34:51):
Yes.
Speaker 7 (34:52):
There as opposed to here, and that's really.
But I mean, I'm glad to see youin New York, though I mean,
you've been kicking around herefor a while and I kept thinking,
oh my gosh, this kid's going tolevel up, and I guess that's
what you're doing.
But tell me about thisproduction at Queensbury Theater
the last five days, how didthis come about?
I mean, this thing was, it wasjust on broadway yeah, I mean we
(35:12):
.
Speaker 5 (35:12):
I've always loved this show and I think there's
there's sort of a thing whereyou know you work on a show with
people and you, you keepworking at a theater and it's
it's like, oh, what should we do?
What should we do?
And at the time when, when Iwas, oh my God, I want to do the
last five years, I think, if Iremember correctly, it wasn't on
(35:35):
Broadway yet and I was like Ireally want to do the last five
years here.
That'd be great and I must havesaid it to the right people.
But you know, now we're hereand it's nuts and I get to play
Jamie.
Speaker 7 (35:52):
Yeah, yeah, which one of two characters in the entire
show?
Speaker 5 (35:56):
Yeah, yeah, and it's very different than what I'm
used to.
It is very hard, bothemotionally, mentally.
You know the score itself isvery intimidating after you've
learned all the music.
Speaker 7 (36:17):
Yeah, I'm sure, and I've been watching you on
Instagram and you're doing theselike awesome, like little
episodes where you're showingyourself in rehearsal and I hear
sometimes the notes of now.
You got to pick this up on yourown.
You know, and I'm like, oh, myGod.
I think he's in trouble a littlebit, just a little.
(36:37):
Well, you know, jason robertbrown, he's tough and he is
having a real moment here inhouston.
I mean we've got parade comingto the hobby center and this
popping up and his music ischallenging me.
I mean it's, it's tough.
Have you faced a score that isthis tough?
I, I can't say I have.
Speaker 5 (36:54):
I honestly cannot say I have.
I think we get very used tohearing things that are very
high and very like belty fortenor guys and you're like, oh,
that score is really hard.
You know newsies with santa feand and things like catch me if
you can and and all of thisstuff.
(37:14):
You're like those are some bigthings.
But when I was looking at thelast five years I was like, as a
fan, at least I'm going.
This song is pretty.
This song is, you know,storytelling song and it is not
until you really dive into itthat you realize that like a
song is not hard because it'shigh or because it's, you know,
(37:39):
this big, powerful moment.
A song is hard because one,jason robert brown, wrote it and
because it's just so it's, it'scrafted so well.
Some of this music is very,very, very intentional and it's
those moments where you're likeyou're just speaking something
(38:01):
in the song that it's like, oh,I need to go over that again, I
need to go over that again andit's just like me speaking,
speaking.
It's not even a moment of likehigh, high, high, high vocals or
anything, and that happens alot in his music and I I've just
found this score, particularly,is one of the most difficult I
(38:25):
have ever.
I've ever done.
So yeah, it is, it's insane,well it's it's so personal.
Speaker 7 (38:35):
I mean he wrote it about his failed marriage and it
got so close to actual factsthat his wife or his ex-wife
tried to sue him over it.
Yeah, so obviously it is verydeeply personal and you're
obviously delivering somethingmore than just a song.
I mean, there's hardly anydialogue in this piece at all.
Right, it's, it's, it's like anopera.
Speaker 5 (38:53):
Yes, there, there are certain moments where there's
like monologues and stuff orlike short little breakouts.
Like there's a scene whereKathy I believe it's I'm seeing,
I'm smiling where Jamie ishaving little breakout moments
that take place five years priorand he breaks up her song with
(39:15):
these little chunks of a phonecall.
And it's just interesting whenthose happen, because then you
have to say okay, well, whyexactly is this happening when
it happens?
And yeah, but most of it isthis back and forth singing
between two people for theentire show.
Speaker 7 (39:38):
Well, and what's wild is it's five years, but it
moves in a really weird way,with you, jamie the man, telling
it in chronological order fromstart to finish, but kathy
starting at the end and movingbackwards so how are you finding
that?
Structure to work with, becauseit just sounds like you know
merrily we roll along whereyou're going like in these
(39:59):
different time shifts.
Speaker 5 (40:00):
It's luckily the way that our rehearsal process has
worked is me and kathy have hadseparate weeks of rehearsals
just because of scheduling.
So she was here last week anddid all of her stuff, and I've
been here this week runningthrough all of mine.
And it's interesting becauseyou hit these moments where I'm
(40:25):
being plugged into something,for See I'm Smiling, plugged
into something, for see I'msmiling.
And or you know another momentwhere it's you know, I'm I'm
very used to the beginning,jamie, and I'm having to play
the end and for me it's it'ssort of been like a I need to
bookmark this.
I kind of know where this is at, but I need to bookmark it
(40:46):
because I I like to know thefull, the full arc of who he is
at the end and then go back andsay, okay, we got here somehow
and I need to sprinkle in theending into these beginning
scenes.
Yeah, it's, it's very difficult, I can imagine, for her to you
(41:10):
know backwards, but thankfully Ihave the easy job of, like,
start at the beginning, go tothe end.
Speaker 7 (41:21):
Yeah, she's going to be jealous of you.
Speaker 5 (41:22):
I'm sure.
Speaker 7 (41:24):
She's a fantastic actress.
Who is she?
Who is playing Kathy?
Speaker 5 (41:28):
Mia Jaraqis.
Okay, and who?
Speaker 7 (41:30):
is directing you both ?
Christina Mia Jaraq is Okay,and who is directing you both?
Speaker 5 (41:32):
Christina Sullivan.
Oh wow, okay, it is, it's great.
Speaker 7 (41:38):
Yeah, it's really something special, honestly well
, and it's only running july23rd through the 27th at the
queensberry theater.
Why is it so fast?
I mean, did they just kind oflike say, hey, we've just got
four days, or?
Speaker 5 (41:52):
I honestly don't know .
I okay, yeah, I don't know it's.
It's almost kind of nice though, because it's not to get all
poetic about it, but it'sinteresting to be like, once the
moment's gone, it's gone, yeah,you know.
So catch, catch people whileyou can, catch the show while
you can.
We live in these certainmoments for such a short amount
(42:14):
of time and then it's just, it'sa memory, and it's kind of
ironic that the show is only forthat long.
So it's like all this buildupto something and then it just,
it all just goes away and it'sjust like the show.
Speaker 7 (42:28):
Yeah Well, you gotta be thankful because it's a.
It's a large load singing forboth of you.
And if you ran for weeks andweeks and weeks.
It would just be like you wouldbe so tired by the end of it.
So at least we get a reallyfresh kind of take from the 23rd
to the 27th of July yes, withwith you both on there and not
having to worry about oh my gosh, we're going to see them in the
(42:50):
fourth week of the run.
Yeah, after they've beensinging this dramatic stuff, but
it's.
What do you think the message ofthe show is?
I mean, what would you if youwere going to encapsulate that
for somebody coming in?
Or what to kind of expect toglean from this, or what do you
hope they get?
Speaker 5 (43:07):
I hope.
I hope that the message topeople is love is human.
I feel like a lot of times weare able to pick sides, sides,
and I'm really hoping thatpeople come to this show with an
open mind and sort ofunderstand that, even though
certain things happen, I don'tknow if anyone is guilty.
(43:29):
I think we're just human.
I don't think people areinnocent or guilty in a
relationship or in love.
They're just human.
And I think that's the messageis is love is human, if that
makes sense, you know.
Speaker 7 (43:45):
Oh, completely Absolutely.
Now we've established you'refrom Houston.
You grew up here, correct?
Yes, I did.
How did you get into performingwhat?
What was that spark?
When did little Austin realizeI want?
Speaker 5 (43:59):
to be on stage I.
So I started as a dancer at age11.
My sister was taking classesand she came home and was
showing me moves and stuff fromher solo Cause she was a
competitive dancer and I startedpicking all that stuff up.
And then my dance school did aproduction of Willy Wonka Jr and
(44:24):
I was mic TV in that andcouldn't sing a single pitch.
Oh no, it's really bad.
The video lives on my phone.
It is a travesty.
But after that I got into highschool theater and graduated
from high school and then thecommunity college was doing
(44:46):
Spelling Bee and I said you knowwhat I'm going to do it?
I didn't know that I could singat the time.
I had no clue that I could singat the time and I went in I
sang God knows what.
I had no clue what I wassinging and then after that just
kept doing shows because itmade me feel good.
(45:07):
I also went through somerelationship stuff.
You know you're in love as ateenager and then that all kind
of like ends you have to say,okay, well, who am I?
And I think the big part for mewas that I found that who I was
was somebody who liked toentertain and also somebody that
(45:31):
the arts was a very good placefor me to be, mentally,
physically, all that stuff.
And then after that I just Ikept going, I kept going, I kept
going, I kept going, I keptpushing myself and then and then
at some point I I booked aprofessional job and became
(45:54):
equity and the rest is history.
And now I'm in New York and andhave a great agency and and go
into these callbacks and theseauditions for shows that I just
never imagined that I would bein, oh wow, and it's truly
(46:14):
insane.
So I guess I'm very thankfulfor, you know, willy Wonka Jr.
And Mike TV That'ska.
Jr.
Speaker 7 (46:24):
And Mike TV, that's the.
Speaker 5 (46:24):
Moment.
And your sister.
Yeah, some people are like oh,you know, I was born knowing
that I always loved things andmy parents took me to the
theater.
Yeah, my parents met in highschool theater and they were big
theater people, and my dad's anactor as well and all of that.
But Mike TV really changed thegame.
Speaker 7 (46:48):
Now tell me if I am remembering this incorrectly,
but was your dad in Bonnie andClyde my dad?
Speaker 5 (46:54):
was in Bonnie and Clyde.
Yes, he played my dad.
Speaker 7 (46:59):
Method actor.
Oh my goodness, yes, yeah, Ithink.
Think I remember that that isso amazing that you got a chance
to do that and do that here.
So how long have you been innew york?
Because has it been a long time, or?
Speaker 5 (47:12):
I've been in new york since november oh wow, so
you're fresh I'm fresh freshfaced.
It's funny because everyone'slike you.
You're still fresh, austin,you're like in the meet the
parent, like the meet theteachers phase of everything.
I'm like, yeah, but I'm tired,I feel worn out.
Speaker 7 (47:33):
Well, I think what's wild about you, though, is and I
didn't know this, but you wentto dance first.
That was your first exposure.
That was your first exposure toit's so funny, because usually,
when I talk to actors or guys,they usually find dance.
Later, you know.
It's like you start the actingand the singing and then, all of
a sudden, you realize thenecessity.
Oh my gosh, I should probablytake some dance lessons, because
(47:54):
musicals, we're gonna have todance.
But going back to the last fiveyears, is there a lot of
movement in this or no there'snot, yeah you're, you're not
relying on that.
Speaker 5 (48:07):
No, this is this be.
This might be the first show ina very long time where I have
been able to relax physicallyand just kind of really sink
into the material.
I mean, this role itself issuch a heavy, heavy, heavy
acting role and a heavy singingrole that I'm glad that I'm not
(48:30):
moving that I can just standthere, soak it all in you know
what we're taking dancer off theresume.
This is.
This is great.
Speaker 7 (48:41):
I'd need to rest yeah , no, but you are, you move very
.
I mean, every time I've seenyour performances here locally
I'm like, oh my gosh.
And of course, chorus line.
I mean how could you not?
You only make it in the firstcouple of scenes in that one
right, but how amazing.
(49:01):
So what is next for you afterthis?
Do you have any idea about,after the last five years, where
you're going?
Speaker 5 (49:07):
there are some things in the works, you know.
I feel like it's normal for usto be like I'm waiting to hear
some things.
Course, there are some genuinethings in the works.
Yeah, I don't know if I cantell yet.
Speaker 7 (49:27):
You know I hate that.
I hate it too.
That's part of the biz, that'sbiz.
Manual, page 78.
Don't tell unless you've gotthe ink dried and they are
printing the poster.
But I know whatever's going tohappen, it's going to be
incredible.
But in the meantime meantimespeaking of incredible july 23rd
(49:49):
through the 27th queensberrytheater the last five years, and
that's the jason robert brownmusical that just had a broadway
run.
I mean, how crazy is it to putthis on your resume so soon
after you know nick jonas andadrian warren?
Right, it's, it's insane, it'syeah, and it's a really awesome
chance for houston to seesomething so fresh, because
(50:10):
we're not having to wait for thetour or anything like that and
we get to see you, one of ourhome team people.
So that's amazing.
I'm so looking forward to this.
I think it'll be great.
Break legs it sounds like youwon't because you won't be
dancing, but at least you'll besinging a lot and acting.
Speaker 5 (50:29):
Yeah, well, thank you .
Speaker 7 (50:31):
Thank you.
Speaker 6 (50:36):
This radio program we Are Voices has existed since
the 1970s on KPFT.
Kpft is very important to givevoices to those who might not
otherwise have voices.
So, as Glenn always says, youparticipate by listening.
(50:58):
You should also participate bysupporting the station.
So please go to kpftorg andmake your donation right away.
Speaker 3 (51:12):
This is Mel Peterson pronouns she, her, they, them.
I'm a Houston-based filmmaker,multimedia tech and content
creator.
On June 7th and 8th 2025, Iattended an event at Art League
Houston hosted by local artistsNick Vaughn and Jake Margolin,
(51:46):
was titled Town Meeting 1978 to2028, and I'd like to start by
sharing its description from theArt League Houston website.
Town Meeting 1978 to 2028 is anexhibition and symposium
inspired by Town Meeting 1, apivotal 1978 convening of 4,000
LGBTQIA plus Houstonians at theAstro Arena.
(52:08):
It galvanized Houston'semerging LGBTQIA plus rights
movement and helped lead to thecreation of major institutions
like the Montrose Center and theMontrose Clinic.
This event marks the beginningof a three-year initiative by
(52:28):
queer artists Nick Vaughn andJake Margolin to inspire and
develop programming that willculminate in 2028, on the 50th
anniversary of that originaltown meeting.
This event marks the beginningof a three-year initiative by
queer artists Nick Vaughn andJake Margolin to inspire and
(52:52):
develop programming that willculminate in 2028, on the 50th
anniversary of that originaltown meeting.
Now that you have a sense ofwhat this gathering was all
about, let me share what itmeant to me.
The original town meeting, oneheld on June 25, 1978, was the
(53:13):
first major LGBTQ politicalorganizing event of its kind in
the country.
It happened in the wake ofpolice brutality, social
hostility and the spread ofhateful rhetoric, like that of
Anita Bryant's infamous anti-gaycrusade.
The event brought togetheractivists, organizers and allies
(53:37):
under one roof at the AstroArena.
That alone was historic.
To host such a gathering in amainstream venue in 1978 was a
declaration of presence andpurpose.
The intention of that meetingwas to unify a fractured
community, to vote on clearobjectives, to strategize
(53:58):
collectively.
And while it was ambitious,like many grassroots efforts, it
was also complicated.
A major controversy broke outover photography at the event.
In those days, being outed by aphotograph could cost you your
job, your housing, even yoursafety.
(54:18):
So, while some documentationwas preserved, much of what
occurred the votes, the speeches, the strategy is lost to time,
and that's why this event in2025 was so powerful.
It wasn't just a retrospective.
It was a reckoning with what'sbeen lost, with what still needs
(54:38):
to be done and with how wecarry our stories forward.
Nick Vaughan opened thesymposium by talking about
build-up.
They and Jake Margolin beganplanning years ahead for the
2028 anniversary, recognizingthat to create something
meaningful, especially withlimited resources, takes time.
(55:00):
That message struck me deeplyas both an artist and an
organizer, we know this.
The earlier we plan, thestronger the foundation.
And 2028 isn't just ananniversary, it's an election
year.
The resonance is clear, then asnow.
(55:23):
We face a politically volatileclimate and our communities must
once again gather, organize andimagine new futures.
One of the most moving elementsof the exhibit was the
preservation of Mary's bar topsyes, actual bar tops from the
(55:45):
legendary Montrose Gay Bar, oncea hub for queer life in Houston
.
These tops bear the photographsof community members, including
some beloved pets, who foundconnection there.
It's a simple but radical truth.
In a world that often punishesqueer joy, loving and gathering
(56:06):
together is an act of resistance.
Vaughn and Margolin alsodisplayed what they call wind
drawings images made by blowingaway unfixed charcoal stenciled
from archival photos of townmeeting one.
What remains is ghost-likefading memories, fragmented
(56:28):
visuals.
It perfectly captured thetragedy of lost history pieces
of our past erased by time, fearor neglect.
And yet each piece thatsurvives helps us reclaim the
bigger picture.
We also heard from elders andcommunity members during panel
(56:50):
talks, many of whom participatedin the original town meeting.
Special attention was paid tothose often excluded from the
dominant LGBTQIA plus narrative,bipoc and gender, diverse
voices who still struggle forvisibility, even within our own
rainbow.
(57:10):
And then, of course, there wasthe art.
Artists pushed us to questionauthority, to consider whose
safety is prioritized in oursystems.
One performer reminded us thatthe invitation to sit at someone
else's table isn't alwaysenough.
Sometimes it's time to flipthat table and build our own.
(57:35):
The event closed on July 20thwith a poetry reading by
Francine J Harris, jd Plucker,anthony Sutton and Stellina
Emanuela Viario, each offering alens into the weekend's themes.
Jd brought research, francinegave us emotional depth, Anthony
(57:56):
and Stellina grounded us inlived experience.
It was a celebration of poetryas testimony, and that's what
this gathering ultimately was atestimony, a way to name our
past, acknowledge our grief anddream our future into being.
Artists do that.
(58:18):
They help us see what was lostand imagine what could be.
They help build the language weneed to tell our stories, not
just of pain but of joy.
And that joy, that radical actof love, is the very heart of
our movement.
Speaker 2 (58:53):
This has been Queer Voices, heard on KPFT Houston
and as a podcast available fromseveral podcasting sources.
Check our webpageQueerVoicesorg for more
information.
Queervoicesorg for moreinformation.
Queer Voices executive produceris Brian Levinka.
Deborah Moncrief-Bell isco-producer, brett Cullum and
David Mendoza-Druzman arecontributors.
Speaker 1 (59:19):
The News Wrap segment is part of another podcast
called this Way Out, which isproduced in Los Angeles.
Some of the material in thisprogram has been edited to
improve clarity and runtime.
This program does not endorseany political views or animal
species.
Views, opinions andendorsements are those of the
participants and theorganizations they represent.
In case of death, pleasediscontinue use and discard
remaining product.
Speaker 2 (59:33):
For Queer Voices.
I'm Glenn Holt.
And now Houston's only primetime radio program
dedicated to news and concernsof the lesbian, gay and
transgender community.
This is Queer Voices.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
This episode of Queer Voices, Davis Mendoza and Mel
Peterson fill in for Glenn Holt.
On this show, DeborahMoncrief-Bell interviews Brad
Pritchett with Equality Texas onthe mission of Equality Texas
and the current legislativesession.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
We'll be crisscrossing the state to
provide resources to folks.
We're really looking at how wecan help LGBTQ plus Texans who
are in some of the rural andmore underserved portions of the
state of Texas, because if wehelp our community, in the long
run we help all of us.
You know, it's that idea of arising tide lifts all boats.
(01:03):
So our goal is to make surethat LGBTQ Texans who may feel
geographically isolated knowthat they're not alone and that
they're not isolated and thereare resources and support, no
matter where they live.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Brett Cullum interviews Austin Colburn, a
Houston actor who recently movedto New York to make it big.
He is back in town to do theLast Five Years, a musical that
just closed on Broadway thatstarred Adrian Warren and Nick
Jonas.
It is at the QueensberryTheatre from July 23rd through
(01:40):
the 27th.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
You have to say, okay , well, who am I?
And I think the big part for mewas that I found that who I was
was somebody who liked toentertain and also somebody that
the arts was a very good placefor me to be mentally,
physically, all that stuff.
(02:03):
And then after that I just Ikept going, I kept going, I kept
going, I kept going, keptpushing myself, and then and
then at some point I booked aprofessional job and became
Equity, and the rest is history.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
After Brett's interview, I take the
opportunity to briefly reflecton my experience at the recent
art exhibit by Jake Margolin andNick Vaughn at Art League.
Houston Town Meeting 1978 to2028 Symposium, held on June 7th
and 8th, celebrated the historybehind the LGBT Town Meeting 1
(02:47):
of 1978.
Queer Voices starts now.
Speaker 6 (02:56):
This is Deborah Moncrief-Bell and I'm talking
with Brad Pritchett.
Brad is the Interim ExecutiveDirector of Equality Texas.
So, brad, first of all explainwhat Equality Texas is.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
So Equality Texas we are the state of Texas's largest
LGBTQ plus advocacyorganization.
We've been doing work in Texassince 1978.
Mostly we are probably bestknown for the work we do during
the Texas legislative sessions.
So every two years we're theorganization that helps to lead
(03:32):
the fight to protect LGBTQ plusTexans at the legislature, to
stop negative legislation frompassing into law and to promote
pro-equality legislation withinthe legislature.
But we work 365 days a year allacross the state of Texas,
helping to build community wherewe can provide educational
resources, uplift celebrationslike pride events and generally
(03:56):
just doing what we can to makesure that Texas is as welcoming
as it can be for LGBTQ plusfolks in whatever way we
possibly can.
Speaker 6 (04:09):
It's a big job but somebody's got to do it.
So you're right that you'remostly known for that work
during the Texas legislature andI remember when the
organization basically was justa lobbying situation where that
was the whole focus.
So you've really expanded overthese many years and it just
(04:34):
shows how long we've been atthis and how we need to keep
going.
So we just had a legislativesession.
Let's talk about that a littlebit.
What's the 411?
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Well, we entered this last legislative session, I
think, pretty much knowing thatwe were going to see an
increased number of anti-LGBTQbills get filed.
Basically, if you look backhistorically at the bills that
have targeted our community,legislative session after
legislative session, once upon atime there used to be this
(05:09):
pendulum effect where we wouldgo into one session with an
uptick in the number of badbills and then the next session
it would kind of swing the otherway and we wouldn't see as many
bad bills and then the nextsession it would go back.
That isn't really where we areanymore historically.
The next session it would goback.
That isn't really where we areanymore historically.
Unfortunately, what we'vecontinued to see over these last
(05:31):
three legislative sessions isthe steady increase in
anti-LGBTQ plus bills targetingour community.
So we went from somewherearound 76 bills one session that
doubled to over 140.
And then this session we sawover 200 anti-LGBTQ plus bills
filed.
Now, even though we had so manybad bills that were filed, we
saw over 200 anti-LGBTQ plusbills filed.
Now, even though we had so manybad bills that were filed, we
managed to stop more than 95% ofthose bills from actually
(05:52):
passing into law.
So we ended up coming out ofsession with six anti-LGBTQ
bills that were explicitlytargeting our community.
Some of those bills are alreadybeing challenged in court, as
we knew they would, because, aswe advocated against those bills
, we were raising the realitythat most of these bills were
unconstitutional in some way orthat variations of legislation
(06:15):
similar to them passed in otherstates had already been struck
down by courts.
So now we're seeing kind of thething we were saying probably
was going to happen starting tounfold here in Texas, with these
bills that did pass beingchallenged before they go into
effect in September.
We, you know, we oftentimes, Ithink during the legislative
session the community getshammered over the head with some
(06:36):
of the most extreme bills.
So in the session a lot of newsarticles were coming out about
some of these really, reallyaggressively anti-LGBTQ plus
bills that were so extreme thatthey never moved at all during
the legislature.
But our concern is always wewant to make sure folks know
what's moving to the legislature.
We want to help people navigatethe process of how you advocate
(06:58):
for yourself and your beliefswithin that building.
But we also want to make surefolks have an understanding that
sometimes you're seeing newsarticles about certain bills
that are filed at the Capitol.
Those bills don't really have achance of going anywhere.
They make really good newsarticles and they scare people,
but at the end of the day wewant to make sure folks have an
understanding of what theprocess really looks like and
(07:20):
what the reality of some ofthese bills moving or not moving
looks like.
So we work really hard to levelset for folks so everybody
knows which bills have steam,which ones are actually moving
through the process and whichones are getting filed just
because the lawmaker wants toget some attention.
Speaker 6 (07:37):
And the reality is, even if it's a bill that's not
directly concerning LGBTQIAissues, it affects us as people
who live in the state of Texas,so we are always interested in
what is on the table and whatare the concerns.
(07:57):
I know that there's been a lotof work done over the years so
that there's quite a wonderfulcommunity of folks that do show
up and do lobby, because one ofthe most effective ways to lobby
is, of course, for people totell their own stories how does
this affect my life, or how doesthis affect my child's life and
(08:19):
hopefully, if the people thatare elected have empathy, they
take that into consideration.
And then there's bills that getproposed and even passed and
even signed by the governor thatdon't make any sense whatsoever
, and I'm thinking of this billthat was called the furries bill
(08:41):
.
Do you want to explain that one?
Speaker 4 (08:44):
so we had a state representative who filed several
bills about furries um, it wasmore than one bill by one by the
same legislator um, and it wasall based on a giant lie this
bill was based on and we seethis far too often.
We see in these right-wing kindof blogospheres somebody take
(09:05):
something that they readsomewhere and then kind of
mutated into the story thatdoesn't actually have any basis
in reality.
The idea here was in some Texasclassrooms there was kitty
litter being stored in closets.
There was kitty litter beingstored in closets and the reason
(09:41):
that the kitty litter was beingstored in closets ties to don't
know how long kids may behiding from shooters.
And having kitty litter issomething that you can go to the
bathroom on without going tothe bathroom on the floor.
It makes it easier to clean up.
It's also used when kids getsick.
You can throw kitty litter onsomething and it'll clump up and
make it easier to clean up.
(10:02):
Lawmakers took this this harshreality that kids in Texas live
under with regards to gunviolence, the idea that we have
to do that because our leadersrefuse to do anything about gun
violence.
I mean they mutated it into thisridiculous story that's somehow
tied to the LGBTQ pluscommunity.
It's just another example ofhow lawmakers have misplaced
(10:23):
priorities, how they will wastetime.
You know our Texas legislaturemeets every two years for 140
days.
That's not a ton of time to dothe work that has to basically
keep the state going for thenext two years.
So every time a lawmaker files aridiculous piece of legislation
that is based on somethingthat's not even rooted in
reality, what they're reallydoing is wasting your time as a
(10:46):
constituent, as a taxpayer.
They're doing it because theywant to get attention, because
they want to see their name inan article, because they have
aspirations for higher officeand they really want to make
sure that their primary voterssee them amplifying something
ridiculous.
So I think that's part of whywe really work hard to try to
(11:07):
set the record straight.
You know that bill or thosebills were just ridiculous on
their face, but they were just,you know, a drop in the bucket
compared to some of the otherbills that were filed that
thankfully, didn't go anywhere.
Speaker 6 (11:20):
I saw some of the testimony on that and the
lawmaker people said this isn'thappening, this isn't real, and
it was like that did not deterhim from insisting that it move
forward.
And you're right, and this issomething I take particularly
(11:40):
objection to is wasting our timeand wasting the precious few
hours that we do have that couldgo into making laws that help
our community, such as there wasa proposal that some money be
(12:04):
allocated so that it could haveearly warning systems for, like,
oh say, a catastrophic floodevent such as we just had in the
state of Texas, and thelawmaker for the very county for
Kerr County where the tragedytook place very county for Kerr
(12:30):
County where the tragedy tookplace voted against it to
allocate for there to beequipment bought and etc.
And even though if it hadpassed, it would not have been
implemented in time to be of usein this situation.
We know that we're going tohave more.
We're going to have morenational and state events that
(12:50):
take place that need, wherecommunities need help because
they're small communities, theydon't have the resources, and
this would have been one ofthose things that could have
gone to help people, been one ofthose things that could have
gone to help people.
So, um, and let's just say this,uh, for a second here, that
breweries, for anyone whodoesn't know, is a community of
(13:12):
people who like to dress up asanimals and play.
It's just a play thing, uh, butthere are no children that are
going to school in costumes, areusing litter boxes, are being
treated as anything other thanhuman beings, although sometimes
I think they don't treat themall as human beings.
(13:35):
Takes a lot of work to payattention of.
You know what is coming up andand and and how do we address it
and what needs to take place sothat we can be strategic.
Um, I mean, the process of thelegislature in itself is pretty
(14:01):
complicated and it's very hard,by the time something actually
is coming up to get voted on, toget people informed enough so
that they can contact theirelected officials so that they
can show up in Austin.
So I really applaud the work ofEquality Texas on what they're
able to do with all of that.
Speaker 4 (14:23):
Well, our goal is always to make the legislature
as accessible to people as itpossibly can be.
You're right, there are a lotof steps that take place between
the time a bill gets filed andthe time a bill goes to
committee and there areinfluence points throughout the
cycle, throughout that wholeprocess, and it's important to
know when to put a littlepressure on those influence
(14:44):
points to try to slow a billdown or to stop it entirely.
So we work really hard toensure that community members
have an understanding of how ourlegislature works.
Prior to the legislativesession this time around we did
advocacy trainings all acrossthe state of Texas laying out
exactly that how the legislatureunfolds, what bill filing looks
like, what the bills that werepre-filed were, giving folks
(15:08):
kind of an understanding of.
These are the things we thinkare going to move.
These are the things thatpeople should be ready to push
back against and really doingour best to make sure folks knew
that the legislature may feelintimidating.
I mean it's intimidating.
To me, walking into thatbuilding sometimes does not feel
friendly, it doesn't feel good,but it is our capital as much
(15:28):
as anyone else's.
So we have every right to be inthat space and you know, we go
into these places, like you said, to tell our stories, to talk
about why bad bills will impactus, why good bills will help us,
will help us, and sometimes itfeels like lawmakers may not be
listening, but that doesn't makeour stories any less important
and even if a lawmaker is deadset on doing something and our
(15:51):
testimonies aren't going tochange their minds, our
testimonies still get enteredinto the legislative record.
So when we're in a positionlike we are now, where we are
post-session and we've had billsget passed and signed into law
by the governor and those billshaven't gone into effect yet and
we have organizations like theACLU or the Texas Civil Rights
(16:13):
Project who might be filinglitigation to stop some of these
bills, that legislative recordand us speaking on it helps them
.
It helps underscore thatlawmakers knew that this bill
would cause harm.
Whatever that bill is,lawmakers were told what was
going to happen and they stillpushed forward with a bill that
they knew was wrong morally,unconstitutional, legally, but
(16:36):
they just disregarded people.
But those stories do help.
They help in the long runbecause our legal partners can
use them to fight back againstthese bills once they've been
signed into law and this session.
You know the governor well.
The legislature filed billsthat were very similar to other
bills that had already beenstruck down by courts declared
(16:57):
unconstitutional.
The governor signed bills thatwere very similar to those bills
that were declaredunconstitutional.
So in Texas you know we have ahistory as far as the
legislature is concerned ofseeing bad bills get filed.
Community overwhelmingly opposethe bill.
You know lawmakers be warnedabout the unconstitutional
nature of bills, that some ofthese bills are completely
(17:20):
unenforceable.
Them still hammer it throughand then the bills get struck
down by the courts because theyare all the things we said they
were unconstitutional, notenforceable, harmful to people.
So the hope is that of the sixexplicitly anti LGBTQ bills that
were passed, we will see courtsstep in and stop some of those
bills from going into effect orcompletely declare those bills
(17:43):
as unconstitutional.
Speaker 6 (17:46):
What was a positive?
Did we have any wins?
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
You know, this session we looked at how we
could help kind of influence thebudget process a little bit
more, and one of the successeswe were able to make in addition
to some assistance from theEquality Federation was we
pushed to get increased fundingfor long-acting HIV injectable
medications.
(18:12):
So we were able to get over amillion dollars added to that
specific line item within thehealthcare budget to ensure that
people who need long-actinginjectables to treat HIV will be
able to get access to them.
So sometimes these legislativewins don't look like passing a
piece of legislation necessarily, but there are these parts of
(18:34):
the process that we can work tohave influence on, and there are
still people on both sides ofthe aisle who care about things
like healthcare in some of thesespaces.
So we can still haveconversations with folks across
a political divide and cometogether on something like
making sure people have accessto life-saving medication.
So we were excited to be ableto have that as a victory.
(18:56):
I think the other thing that Ijust think about every
legislative session and I'vebeen doing it for a while now is
just watching the success thatis, people leaning into their
power.
So having you know, we have amom who is the parent of a trans
kid.
This was her first session everturning out.
The first time she came totestify she was terrified.
(19:18):
She wasn't really sure what toexpect.
She had gone through trainingsbut she still was very nervous
and by the time the session wasover she was.
She was a veteran at it.
She showed up knowing what shewas going to say.
She had everything written down, she made her points and she
emerged from the Capitol as anadvocate who was like I'm not
done, I'm going to go home, backto my community and I'm going
(19:38):
to start doing this stufflocally because now I know how
to do it.
So I think those are successes.
Even in a session when badbills pass, we're still
incubating future leaders whoare LGBTQ plus folks who are
going to go out and work to makechange in their local
communities.
I think that's a big win everylegislative session, because we
(19:59):
encourage people, we trainpeople and then those people
know that their voices make adifference.
They go back to theircommunities and they get
involved locally and that makeschange over the long haul.
Speaker 6 (20:09):
I love it and, of course, if you are uncertain,
you could just go and sit andwatch the proceedings for a
while before you maybe sign upfor training.
Or, to just get a sense, gowith a friend and you don't have
to talk to anybody, but letthat friend do the talking.
(20:31):
There are friendly staffers,sometimes even where they might
be working for someone who isn'tso friendly, they can be of
assistance.
And we do have friends that areelected officials, such as such
as Grand Marshal, ally JohnRosenthal, molly Cook and a
(20:53):
number of other folks that youcan go to their office and you
can ask folks there who do Ineed to talk to?
What can I do?
They kind of offer a safe spaceduring these legislative lobby
days so that you're never alone.
(21:13):
You have plenty of people therewho can guide you and it is a
very empowering thing.
So, as we've been through thisbrutal session, we just had
pride and I know Equality Texaswas out all across the state at
different Pride events, beingvisible and getting the word out
(21:37):
, but now there's a little bitof a celebration planned and I
think that's a perfect way to dosomething.
After all of that is to havesomething that's kind of fun and
positive.
So there's an event coming uplater this month I think it's
the 27th of July.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
That's right.
Speaker 6 (21:58):
Okay, and so tell me about this.
Barbara Jordan Garden Party.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
So we're very excited about the Barbara Jordan Garden
Party.
You know the Equality Texas.
We are a statewide organization.
We do events all over the state.
Like you said, we travel topride celebrations and
participate in prides across thestate of Texas.
We did 96 prides in 2024.
This year we're on track tomeet that number.
(22:24):
We're over 60 right now andwe've got more prides coming up
in August and October and Ithink a couple in September as
well.
So we will go anywhere we canto meet LGBTQ plus folks and to
have an opportunity to celebrate.
But one of the things we don'thave, in Houston at least, is a
signature event that we do inHouston every year.
We have one in Dallas, we dostuff in Austin, obviously,
(22:47):
working on San Antonio and someother places.
So the Barbara Jordan GardenParty will be the first of, I
hope, what will become manyBarbara Jordan events here in
Houston every year.
Our idea was essentially, wewanted to think about the
influence of somebody likeBarbara Jordan, this revered
congresswoman who we all knowmade history in a variety of
(23:10):
different ways.
If you haven't seen BarbaraJordan's speech at the
Democratic National Convention,google it.
Watch that YouTube speech,because it is on YouTube.
But you know Barbara Jordan'slegacy is kind of woven into the
fabric of Houston.
You know she was the firstBlack woman to get elected to
the Texas legislature.
She was the first SouthernBlack woman in the U S house of
(23:31):
representatives and while shewas elected in office like she
had an unwavering commitment tojustice and civil rights.
You know she she could give aspeech.
She could, she could absolutelylike make a point as
effectively as anybody can.
But she was this champion forcivil rights.
She fought for workers' rights,she fought for voting rights
(23:53):
and she has inspired generationsof leadership that came after
her.
You mentioned Molly Cookearlier.
Molly Cook was the first openlyLGBTQ state senator.
But Barbara Jordan was in thelegislature and never officially
came out as a member of thecommunity but had a very long
partnership with Nancy Earl, wasrevered as an LGBTQ plus role
(24:15):
model, especially for folks whowere living at the intersection
of like different marginalizedidentities.
So we wanted to kind of upliftBarbara Jordan because she's
always been this.
You know figure that's biggerthan life in Houston.
I know as a Houstonian growingup we watched and learned a lot
about Barbara Jordan and she wasone of my mom's favorite
politicians.
(24:35):
Her and Ann Richards had agreat friendship.
So anything we could do tocelebrate Barbara Jordan we
wanted to do so.
That's where the idea for theBarbara Jordan Garden Party kind
of came from and we thoughtabout it from the lens of like,
how does, how does BarbaraJordan's legacy continue to
impact not just Houston butTexas as a whole?
So we came up with these twoawards that we'll be giving
(24:58):
during the Barbara Jordan gardenparty.
One is thinking about thelegacy of Barbara Jordan, who
has kind of carried that legacyon, and then the other is who is
embodying the spirit of BarbaraJordan.
So we are super excited.
The Legacy of Barbara JordanAward we're giving to State
Representative SinfroniaThompson, or Miss T as she's
(25:19):
known.
Sinfronia Thompson is the Deanof the Texas House.
She's the longest servingmember of the Texas House at
this point and has shepherdedthrough legislation like the
James Byrd Hate Crimes Act, hasgiven impassioned speeches on
the floor of the Texas House atthis point and has shepherded
through legislation like theJames Byrd Hate Crimes Act, has
given impassioned speeches onthe floor of the Texas House in
support of LGBTQ people,specifically kids, and is always
(25:40):
one of those safe spaces at theCapitol for our community to go
to.
So we thought nobody better forthe first award than Sinfronia
Thompson for the legacy ofBarbara Jordan and then our
Spirit of Barbara Jordan Award.
We thought about local folks whoare doing good work here in the
Houston area and we had someconversations about the
(26:02):
different orgs that exist inHouston, because we've got so
many great LGBTQ plus orgs.
And we came back to talkingabout the normal anomaly
initiative in Houston and Joelleby Azuru, who is their uh,
their advocacy director, andJoelle's been you know, somebody
that I have looked up to andworked with over the years uh,
(26:24):
just a tremendously passionateperson who has done tremendous
work around centering the voicesof black trans women and black
queer businesses and this yeartook on the task of starting up
the greater Houston StonewallDemocrats as a club, which is
really personal for me because Ireally got my sea legs
(26:48):
politically as a member of theHouston Stonewall Young
Democrats.
That was like the first clubthat I was like let's do some
politics, let's get involved.
So we're giving Joelle theSpirit of Barbara Jordan Award
and it's really just going to bean afternoon where folks get
together, we get to celebratethese honorees, we get to just
have conversations, have somegood food, have some good drinks
(27:09):
, enjoy a gorgeous garden andjust celebrate the legacy of
Barbara Jordan and think aboutwhat comes next for all of us.
Speaker 6 (27:18):
Joelle is a force of nature, absolutely, and my
favorite thing is she exudesqueer joy, and that's something
that we so need, and I'm reallyhappy to see her recognized in
this way.
At a garden party, they're funanyway, you know, you, just, you
(27:41):
just think about a summerafternoon and being in a garden
and talking to folks, and notthe loud blaring music like in a
club or something, but justbeing with folks and having a
pleasant time.
And let's just say that BarbaraJordan represented the 18th
(28:03):
Congressional District, thedistrict in which I live and
have lived most of my life thatI've spent in Houston, and that
has included leaders such asMickey Leland and Sheila Jackson
Lee and, due to the unfortunatepassing of Sylvester Turner,
(28:23):
all in office in that position.
We are now withoutrepresentation and because the
governor has chosen not to holdan election to fill that seat,
until November that means fromJanuary of this year until
November we are withoutcongressional representation and
(28:44):
I am greatly offended by that,greatly offended by that.
So this is at a private homeand so how do people, if they
would like to attend, what's theprocess?
They just go to the EqualityTexas site, or is there
something on Facebook?
Speaker 4 (29:05):
You can search the Barbara Jordan Garden Party on
Facebook.
It's on the Equality TexasFacebook page, so the event is
on there.
You can go to equalitytexasorgand you can attend.
If you click on our take action, at the very top we have a
section that's calledcelebrations and fundraisers and
the Barbara Jordan Garden Partyis listed on there.
(29:26):
So to tell you all the details,how you get your ticket, we are
being hosted at the home of oneof my Houston heroes, which is
Angela Blanchard.
Angela was the CEO ofNeighborhood Centers for a long
time, but is also an expert inhurricane survival, recovery,
how we build resilience forstorms and how community builds
(29:49):
resilience in the face of thesetypes of events.
So Angela is a tremendous assetto the city of Houston and just
a beautiful person who lovesnothing more than to kind of
connect people with other people, to build networks and to build
community.
Essentially, she also has atremendous gardener and has a
beautiful garden that she workson, which we're lucky to have
(30:12):
available to us for the gardenparty.
Speaker 6 (30:14):
Yes, she's lovely.
So Brad Pritchett, interimExecutive Director of Equality
Texas, is that interim likely tochange or any news on that
front that?
Speaker 4 (30:27):
front.
I know that I'm in the interimposition until at least December
of this year.
Our board will decide at somepoint if they want to do a full
search or if the interim titlegoes away.
We'll find out.
Right now my focus is movingour organization ahead.
We survived a rough legislativesession, we made it through
Pride Month and now we areworking to put boots on the
(30:51):
ground in different parts of thestate to make sure community
has the resources it needs assome of the legislation goes
into effect in September.
So we'll be crisscrossing thestate to provide resources to
folks, help LGBTQ plus Texanswho are in some of the rural and
(31:11):
more underserved portions ofthe state of Texas, because if
we help our community in thelong run we help all of us.
It's that idea of a rising tidelifts all boats.
So our goal is to make surethat LGBTQ Texans who may feel
geographically isolated knowthat they're not alone and that
they're not isolated and thereare resources and support, no
matter where they live.
So we'll be doing that and thenwe'll see what happens once we
(31:34):
get towards the end of the year.
Speaker 6 (31:35):
And, as usual, we like to close out with asking is
there anything that we didn'ttalk about that you want to make
sure people know?
Speaker 4 (31:44):
I think the one thing that I would just flag for
anyone listening is the ideathat I recognize how upsetting
the news can be coming out of alegislative session, especially
when we see the governor andother folks signing.
We see the governor signingbills and other folks
celebrating the passage ofterrible bills.
You know the current federaladministration has become
(32:05):
increasingly more and morehostile towards our community.
I just want to make sure folkshave an understanding that if
you need support, there areorganizations that exist to
provide you with that support.
Equality Texas if you go to theEquality Texas website,
equalitytexasorg, in the lowerright corner there is a floating
button that says requestsupport.
If you need something, if youneed access to mental health
(32:27):
resources, if you just needsomebody to talk to, if you're
looking for help paying a bill,we may not be able to provide
those things to you, but we canwork to connect you to resources
.
So that's my general messagefor folks is if you remember the
community and you're feelinglike things are overwhelming
right now, that is completelyunderstandable, but please know
that resources exist.
We'll do our best to connectyou to resources.
(32:48):
If you live in the Houston area, use the Montrose Center.
It's one of the jewels of ourcommunity and it is something
that can provide desperatelyneeded support for people.
Queer folks are not alone inthe state of Texas.
We have each other and we'rehere to help.
Speaker 6 (33:03):
Brad Pritchett, thank you for being with us on Queer
Voices, the night is long andthe path is dark.
Look to the sky, for what isthere?
Speaker 2 (33:22):
The dawn will come.
This is Queer Voices.
Speaker 7 (33:30):
Austin Colburn is an actor, singer, dancer from
houston, texas.
Past roles include he was autoand spring awakening for tuts,
he was in their production of achorus line playing dawn, and I
saw austin several times at thegarden theater.
They did a production of bonnieand clyde at the match and he
was also in cruel intentions asone of the most iconic male
(33:52):
leads of a musical, Sebastian.
So it's definitely great to seehim back in Houston, because
he's now based in New York nosurprise there but in an ironic
turn, he's coming to Houston tostar in a production of the Last
Five Years which just had aBroadway run in that city with
Adrienne Warren and Nick Jonas.
(34:12):
It's all based on an all tooreal story.
Writer composer Jason RobertBrown's musical is based largely
on well, his own failedmarriage.
So, hey, Austin, I feel like Iknow you already because I've
seen you so much on stage and Ifeel like you're always around
here.
But how are you Welcome?
Speaker 5 (34:31):
Thank you for having me.
I'm great, I'm really glad, tobe back here in Houston.
You know New York is so fastpaced and I love it there.
But, my God, it's nice to beable to get in a car and drive
somewhere.
Speaker 7 (34:43):
No kidding, I always feel like when I get back from
New York I'm like I need avacation from my vacation
because it is such a fast tempo.
Speaker 2 (34:51):
Yes.
Speaker 7 (34:52):
There as opposed to here, and that's really.
But I mean, I'm glad to see youin New York, though I mean,
you've been kicking around herefor a while and I kept thinking,
oh my gosh, this kid's going tolevel up, and I guess that's
what you're doing.
But tell me about thisproduction at Queensbury Theater
the last five days, how didthis come about?
I mean, this thing was, it wasjust on broadway yeah, I mean we
(35:12):
.
Speaker 5 (35:12):
I've always loved this show and I think there's
there's sort of a thing whereyou know you work on a show with
people and you, you keepworking at a theater and it's
it's like, oh, what should we do?
What should we do?
And at the time when, when Iwas, oh my God, I want to do the
last five years, I think, if Iremember correctly, it wasn't on
(35:35):
Broadway yet and I was like Ireally want to do the last five
years here.
That'd be great and I must havesaid it to the right people.
But you know, now we're hereand it's nuts and I get to play
Jamie.
Speaker 7 (35:52):
Yeah, yeah, which one of two characters in the entire
show?
Speaker 5 (35:56):
Yeah, yeah, and it's very different than what I'm
used to.
It is very hard, bothemotionally, mentally.
You know the score itself isvery intimidating after you've
learned all the music.
Speaker 7 (36:17):
Yeah, I'm sure, and I've been watching you on
Instagram and you're doing theselike awesome, like little
episodes where you're showingyourself in rehearsal and I hear
sometimes the notes of now.
You got to pick this up on yourown.
You know, and I'm like, oh, myGod.
I think he's in trouble a littlebit, just a little.
(36:37):
Well, you know, jason robertbrown, he's tough and he is
having a real moment here inhouston.
I mean we've got parade comingto the hobby center and this
popping up and his music ischallenging me.
I mean it's, it's tough.
Have you faced a score that isthis tough?
I, I can't say I have.
Speaker 5 (36:54):
I honestly cannot say I have.
I think we get very used tohearing things that are very
high and very like belty fortenor guys and you're like, oh,
that score is really hard.
You know newsies with santa feand and things like catch me if
you can and and all of thisstuff.
(37:14):
You're like those are some bigthings.
But when I was looking at thelast five years I was like, as a
fan, at least I'm going.
This song is pretty.
This song is, you know,storytelling song and it is not
until you really dive into itthat you realize that like a
song is not hard because it'shigh or because it's, you know,
(37:39):
this big, powerful moment.
A song is hard because one,jason robert brown, wrote it and
because it's just so it's, it'scrafted so well.
Some of this music is very,very, very intentional and it's
those moments where you're likeyou're just speaking something
(38:01):
in the song that it's like, oh,I need to go over that again, I
need to go over that again andit's just like me speaking,
speaking.
It's not even a moment of likehigh, high, high, high vocals or
anything, and that happens alot in his music and I I've just
found this score, particularly,is one of the most difficult I
(38:25):
have ever.
I've ever done.
So yeah, it is, it's insane,well it's it's so personal.
Speaker 7 (38:35):
I mean he wrote it about his failed marriage and it
got so close to actual factsthat his wife or his ex-wife
tried to sue him over it.
Yeah, so obviously it is verydeeply personal and you're
obviously delivering somethingmore than just a song.
I mean, there's hardly anydialogue in this piece at all.
Right, it's, it's, it's like anopera.
Speaker 5 (38:53):
Yes, there, there are certain moments where there's
like monologues and stuff orlike short little breakouts.
Like there's a scene whereKathy I believe it's I'm seeing,
I'm smiling where Jamie ishaving little breakout moments
that take place five years priorand he breaks up her song with
(39:15):
these little chunks of a phonecall.
And it's just interesting whenthose happen, because then you
have to say okay, well, whyexactly is this happening when
it happens?
And yeah, but most of it isthis back and forth singing
between two people for theentire show.
Speaker 7 (39:38):
Well, and what's wild is it's five years, but it
moves in a really weird way,with you, jamie the man, telling
it in chronological order fromstart to finish, but kathy
starting at the end and movingbackwards so how are you finding
that?
Structure to work with, becauseit just sounds like you know
merrily we roll along whereyou're going like in these
(39:59):
different time shifts.
Speaker 5 (40:00):
It's luckily the way that our rehearsal process has
worked is me and kathy have hadseparate weeks of rehearsals
just because of scheduling.
So she was here last week anddid all of her stuff, and I've
been here this week runningthrough all of mine.
And it's interesting becauseyou hit these moments where I'm
(40:25):
being plugged into something,for See I'm Smiling, plugged
into something, for see I'msmiling.
And or you know another momentwhere it's you know, I'm I'm
very used to the beginning,jamie, and I'm having to play
the end and for me it's it'ssort of been like a I need to
bookmark this.
I kind of know where this is at, but I need to bookmark it
(40:46):
because I I like to know thefull, the full arc of who he is
at the end and then go back andsay, okay, we got here somehow
and I need to sprinkle in theending into these beginning
scenes.
Yeah, it's, it's very difficult, I can imagine, for her to you
(41:10):
know backwards, but thankfully Ihave the easy job of, like,
start at the beginning, go tothe end.
Speaker 7 (41:21):
Yeah, she's going to be jealous of you.
Speaker 5 (41:22):
I'm sure.
Speaker 7 (41:24):
She's a fantastic actress.
Who is she?
Who is playing Kathy?
Speaker 5 (41:28):
Mia Jaraqis.
Okay, and who?
Speaker 7 (41:30):
is directing you both ?
Christina Mia Jaraq is Okay,and who is directing you both?
Speaker 5 (41:32):
Christina Sullivan.
Oh wow, okay, it is, it's great.
Speaker 7 (41:38):
Yeah, it's really something special, honestly well
, and it's only running july23rd through the 27th at the
queensberry theater.
Why is it so fast?
I mean, did they just kind oflike say, hey, we've just got
four days, or?
Speaker 5 (41:52):
I honestly don't know .
I okay, yeah, I don't know it's.
It's almost kind of nice though, because it's not to get all
poetic about it, but it'sinteresting to be like, once the
moment's gone, it's gone, yeah,you know.
So catch, catch people whileyou can, catch the show while
you can.
We live in these certainmoments for such a short amount
(42:14):
of time and then it's just, it'sa memory, and it's kind of
ironic that the show is only forthat long.
So it's like all this buildupto something and then it just,
it all just goes away and it'sjust like the show.
Speaker 7 (42:28):
Yeah Well, you gotta be thankful because it's a.
It's a large load singing forboth of you.
And if you ran for weeks andweeks and weeks.
It would just be like you wouldbe so tired by the end of it.
So at least we get a reallyfresh kind of take from the 23rd
to the 27th of July yes, withwith you both on there and not
having to worry about oh my gosh, we're going to see them in the
(42:50):
fourth week of the run.
Yeah, after they've beensinging this dramatic stuff, but
it's.
What do you think the message ofthe show is?
I mean, what would you if youwere going to encapsulate that
for somebody coming in?
Or what to kind of expect toglean from this, or what do you
hope they get?
Speaker 5 (43:07):
I hope.
I hope that the message topeople is love is human.
I feel like a lot of times weare able to pick sides, sides,
and I'm really hoping thatpeople come to this show with an
open mind and sort ofunderstand that, even though
certain things happen, I don'tknow if anyone is guilty.
(43:29):
I think we're just human.
I don't think people areinnocent or guilty in a
relationship or in love.
They're just human.
And I think that's the messageis is love is human, if that
makes sense, you know.
Speaker 7 (43:45):
Oh, completely Absolutely.
Now we've established you'refrom Houston.
You grew up here, correct?
Yes, I did.
How did you get into performingwhat?
What was that spark?
When did little Austin realizeI want?
Speaker 5 (43:59):
to be on stage I.
So I started as a dancer at age11.
My sister was taking classesand she came home and was
showing me moves and stuff fromher solo Cause she was a
competitive dancer and I startedpicking all that stuff up.
And then my dance school did aproduction of Willy Wonka Jr and
(44:24):
I was mic TV in that andcouldn't sing a single pitch.
Oh no, it's really bad.
The video lives on my phone.
It is a travesty.
But after that I got into highschool theater and graduated
from high school and then thecommunity college was doing
(44:46):
Spelling Bee and I said you knowwhat I'm going to do it?
I didn't know that I could singat the time.
I had no clue that I could singat the time and I went in I
sang God knows what.
I had no clue what I wassinging and then after that just
kept doing shows because itmade me feel good.
(45:07):
I also went through somerelationship stuff.
You know you're in love as ateenager and then that all kind
of like ends you have to say,okay, well, who am I?
And I think the big part for mewas that I found that who I was
was somebody who liked toentertain and also somebody that
(45:31):
the arts was a very good placefor me to be, mentally,
physically, all that stuff.
And then after that I just Ikept going, I kept going, I kept
going, I kept going, I keptpushing myself and then and then
at some point I I booked aprofessional job and became
(45:54):
equity and the rest is history.
And now I'm in New York and andhave a great agency and and go
into these callbacks and theseauditions for shows that I just
never imagined that I would bein, oh wow, and it's truly
(46:14):
insane.
So I guess I'm very thankfulfor, you know, willy Wonka Jr.
And Mike TV That'ska.
Jr.
Speaker 7 (46:24):
And Mike TV, that's the.
Speaker 5 (46:24):
Moment.
And your sister.
Yeah, some people are like oh,you know, I was born knowing
that I always loved things andmy parents took me to the
theater.
Yeah, my parents met in highschool theater and they were big
theater people, and my dad's anactor as well and all of that.
But Mike TV really changed thegame.
Speaker 7 (46:48):
Now tell me if I am remembering this incorrectly,
but was your dad in Bonnie andClyde my dad?
Speaker 5 (46:54):
was in Bonnie and Clyde.
Yes, he played my dad.
Speaker 7 (46:59):
Method actor.
Oh my goodness, yes, yeah, Ithink.
Think I remember that that isso amazing that you got a chance
to do that and do that here.
So how long have you been innew york?
Because has it been a long time, or?
Speaker 5 (47:12):
I've been in new york since november oh wow, so
you're fresh I'm fresh freshfaced.
It's funny because everyone'slike you.
You're still fresh, austin,you're like in the meet the
parent, like the meet theteachers phase of everything.
I'm like, yeah, but I'm tired,I feel worn out.
Speaker 7 (47:33):
Well, I think what's wild about you, though, is and I
didn't know this, but you wentto dance first.
That was your first exposure.
That was your first exposure toit's so funny, because usually,
when I talk to actors or guys,they usually find dance.
Later, you know.
It's like you start the actingand the singing and then, all of
a sudden, you realize thenecessity.
Oh my gosh, I should probablytake some dance lessons, because
(47:54):
musicals, we're gonna have todance.
But going back to the last fiveyears, is there a lot of
movement in this or no there'snot, yeah you're, you're not
relying on that.
Speaker 5 (48:07):
No, this is this be.
This might be the first show ina very long time where I have
been able to relax physicallyand just kind of really sink
into the material.
I mean, this role itself issuch a heavy, heavy, heavy
acting role and a heavy singingrole that I'm glad that I'm not
(48:30):
moving that I can just standthere, soak it all in you know
what we're taking dancer off theresume.
This is.
This is great.
Speaker 7 (48:41):
I'd need to rest yeah , no, but you are, you move very
.
I mean, every time I've seenyour performances here locally
I'm like, oh my gosh.
And of course, chorus line.
I mean how could you not?
You only make it in the firstcouple of scenes in that one
right, but how amazing.
(49:01):
So what is next for you afterthis?
Do you have any idea about,after the last five years, where
you're going?
Speaker 5 (49:07):
there are some things in the works, you know.
I feel like it's normal for usto be like I'm waiting to hear
some things.
Course, there are some genuinethings in the works.
Yeah, I don't know if I cantell yet.
Speaker 7 (49:27):
You know I hate that.
I hate it too.
That's part of the biz, that'sbiz.
Manual, page 78.
Don't tell unless you've gotthe ink dried and they are
printing the poster.
But I know whatever's going tohappen, it's going to be
incredible.
But in the meantime meantimespeaking of incredible july 23rd
(49:49):
through the 27th queensberrytheater the last five years, and
that's the jason robert brownmusical that just had a broadway
run.
I mean, how crazy is it to putthis on your resume so soon
after you know nick jonas andadrian warren?
Right, it's, it's insane, it'syeah, and it's a really awesome
chance for houston to seesomething so fresh, because
(50:10):
we're not having to wait for thetour or anything like that and
we get to see you, one of ourhome team people.
So that's amazing.
I'm so looking forward to this.
I think it'll be great.
Break legs it sounds like youwon't because you won't be
dancing, but at least you'll besinging a lot and acting.
Speaker 5 (50:29):
Yeah, well, thank you .
Speaker 7 (50:31):
Thank you.
Speaker 6 (50:36):
This radio program we Are Voices has existed since
the 1970s on KPFT.
Kpft is very important to givevoices to those who might not
otherwise have voices.
So, as Glenn always says, youparticipate by listening.
(50:58):
You should also participate bysupporting the station.
So please go to kpftorg andmake your donation right away.
Speaker 3 (51:12):
This is Mel Peterson pronouns she, her, they, them.
I'm a Houston-based filmmaker,multimedia tech and content
creator.
On June 7th and 8th 2025, Iattended an event at Art League
Houston hosted by local artistsNick Vaughn and Jake Margolin,
(51:46):
was titled Town Meeting 1978 to2028, and I'd like to start by
sharing its description from theArt League Houston website.
Town Meeting 1978 to 2028 is anexhibition and symposium
inspired by Town Meeting 1, apivotal 1978 convening of 4,000
LGBTQIA plus Houstonians at theAstro Arena.
(52:08):
It galvanized Houston'semerging LGBTQIA plus rights
movement and helped lead to thecreation of major institutions
like the Montrose Center and theMontrose Clinic.
This event marks the beginningof a three-year initiative by
(52:28):
queer artists Nick Vaughn andJake Margolin to inspire and
develop programming that willculminate in 2028, on the 50th
anniversary of that originaltown meeting.
This event marks the beginningof a three-year initiative by
queer artists Nick Vaughn andJake Margolin to inspire and
(52:52):
develop programming that willculminate in 2028, on the 50th
anniversary of that originaltown meeting.
Now that you have a sense ofwhat this gathering was all
about, let me share what itmeant to me.
The original town meeting, oneheld on June 25, 1978, was the
(53:13):
first major LGBTQ politicalorganizing event of its kind in
the country.
It happened in the wake ofpolice brutality, social
hostility and the spread ofhateful rhetoric, like that of
Anita Bryant's infamous anti-gaycrusade.
The event brought togetheractivists, organizers and allies
(53:37):
under one roof at the AstroArena.
That alone was historic.
To host such a gathering in amainstream venue in 1978 was a
declaration of presence andpurpose.
The intention of that meetingwas to unify a fractured
community, to vote on clearobjectives, to strategize
(53:58):
collectively.
And while it was ambitious,like many grassroots efforts, it
was also complicated.
A major controversy broke outover photography at the event.
In those days, being outed by aphotograph could cost you your
job, your housing, even yoursafety.
(54:18):
So, while some documentationwas preserved, much of what
occurred the votes, the speeches, the strategy is lost to time,
and that's why this event in2025 was so powerful.
It wasn't just a retrospective.
It was a reckoning with what'sbeen lost, with what still needs
(54:38):
to be done and with how wecarry our stories forward.
Nick Vaughan opened thesymposium by talking about
build-up.
They and Jake Margolin beganplanning years ahead for the
2028 anniversary, recognizingthat to create something
meaningful, especially withlimited resources, takes time.
(55:00):
That message struck me deeplyas both an artist and an
organizer, we know this.
The earlier we plan, thestronger the foundation.
And 2028 isn't just ananniversary, it's an election
year.
The resonance is clear, then asnow.
(55:23):
We face a politically volatileclimate and our communities must
once again gather, organize andimagine new futures.
One of the most moving elementsof the exhibit was the
preservation of Mary's bar topsyes, actual bar tops from the
(55:45):
legendary Montrose Gay Bar, oncea hub for queer life in Houston
.
These tops bear the photographsof community members, including
some beloved pets, who foundconnection there.
It's a simple but radical truth.
In a world that often punishesqueer joy, loving and gathering
(56:06):
together is an act of resistance.
Vaughn and Margolin alsodisplayed what they call wind
drawings images made by blowingaway unfixed charcoal stenciled
from archival photos of townmeeting one.
What remains is ghost-likefading memories, fragmented
(56:28):
visuals.
It perfectly captured thetragedy of lost history pieces
of our past erased by time, fearor neglect.
And yet each piece thatsurvives helps us reclaim the
bigger picture.
We also heard from elders andcommunity members during panel
(56:50):
talks, many of whom participatedin the original town meeting.
Special attention was paid tothose often excluded from the
dominant LGBTQIA plus narrative,bipoc and gender, diverse
voices who still struggle forvisibility, even within our own
rainbow.
(57:10):
And then, of course, there wasthe art.
Artists pushed us to questionauthority, to consider whose
safety is prioritized in oursystems.
One performer reminded us thatthe invitation to sit at someone
else's table isn't alwaysenough.
Sometimes it's time to flipthat table and build our own.
(57:35):
The event closed on July 20thwith a poetry reading by
Francine J Harris, jd Plucker,anthony Sutton and Stellina
Emanuela Viario, each offering alens into the weekend's themes.
Jd brought research, francinegave us emotional depth, Anthony
(57:56):
and Stellina grounded us inlived experience.
It was a celebration of poetryas testimony, and that's what
this gathering ultimately was atestimony, a way to name our
past, acknowledge our grief anddream our future into being.
Artists do that.
(58:18):
They help us see what was lostand imagine what could be.
They help build the language weneed to tell our stories, not
just of pain but of joy.
And that joy, that radical actof love, is the very heart of
our movement.
Speaker 2 (58:53):
This has been Queer Voices, heard on KPFT Houston
and as a podcast available fromseveral podcasting sources.
Check our webpageQueerVoicesorg for more
information.
Queervoicesorg for moreinformation.
Queer Voices executive produceris Brian Levinka.
Deborah Moncrief-Bell isco-producer, brett Cullum and
David Mendoza-Druzman arecontributors.
Speaker 1 (59:19):
The News Wrap segment is part of another podcast
called this Way Out, which isproduced in Los Angeles.
Some of the material in thisprogram has been edited to
improve clarity and runtime.
This program does not endorseany political views or animal
species.
Views, opinions andendorsements are those of the
participants and theorganizations they represent.
In case of death, pleasediscontinue use and discard
remaining product.
Speaker 2 (59:33):
For Queer Voices.
I'm Glenn Holt.
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