November 12th - Davis Mendoza Darusman's Activism, LOCAS, Team Friendly, and Tony's Place

Send us a text

This is a packed show that starts off with Davis Mendoza Darusman discussing his activism following the removal of the Rainbow Crosswalks in Montrose. Then Stephanie Saint Sanchez talks about LOCAS and their pop-up cabaret called UN-PRESIDENTED. James Martinez discusses TEAM FRIENDLY, and then we speak with Carrie Rai about TONY'S PLACE. 

Queer Voices airs in Houston Texas on 90.1FM KPFT and is heard as a podcast here. Queer Voices hopes to entertain as well as illuminate LGBTQ issues in Houston and beyond. Check out our socials at:

https://www.facebook.com/QueerVoicesKPFT/ and
https://www.instagram.com/queervoices90.1kpft/

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_04 (00:02):
This is KPFT 90.1 FM Houston, 89.5 FM Galveston, 91.9
FM Huntsville, and worldwide onthe internet at KPFT.org.

SPEAKER_05 (00:26):
Welcome to Queer Voices, a radio show that airs
on KPFT Wednesday nights at 8p.m.
It's also a podcast that you cancatch later on any site that
supplies them.
Hi, I am Brett Cullum, your hostand producer for this episode.
We're glad you're here.
Queer Voices has been on the airfor over five decades, and our
focus is the voices of Houston'sLGBTQIA Plus community.

(00:51):
Tonight, I spoke with one of ourproducers, Davis Mendoza
DeRuzman, about his communityactivism, which was sparked by
the Rainbow Crosswalkcontroversy.
Davis is continuing his momentumby organizing protests all
around the Houston area, and wetalk all about it.
Then, producer DeborahMoncriefel talks with Stephanie

(01:11):
Sanchez about Locust, which is aqueer Latina arts collective,
which is producing a pop-upcabaret on November 22nd called
Unprecedented.
Then executive producer BrianLovinka talks to James Martinez.
He is the founder of TeamFriendly, whose mission is to
promote a more friendlyenvironment and raise awareness

(01:32):
about people living with AIDS.
And the last segment, I talkwith Carrie Rye about Tony's
Place and a food and supplydrive that the Greater Houston
LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce issponsoring through November
20th.
Queer Voices starts now.

(01:55):
Hi, this is Brett Cullum, andtoday I am joined by a familiar
queer voice, Davis MendozaDeRuzman.
Welcome to the show.
I feel like you don't even haveto be introduced.

SPEAKER_02 (02:05):
Thank you so much, Brett.
No, I'm really excited to behere.
But if you wanted to introduceme, I wouldn't stop you.

SPEAKER_05 (02:09):
Well, I mean, you've done a lot of production work
with us, and you have been a bigpart of the show for so long.
But now you have kind of enteredthis new chapter in your life,
dare I say, where you are reallybecoming an activist.
You have really taken up a lotof causes.
And I think I first becamereally aware of your activity
around the crosswalk when theRainbow Crosswalk was obviously

(02:33):
erased by Governor Abbott andour mayor and Metro.
And you actually went in personand mouthed off to the mayor,
which I thought was amazing.
And tell me a little bit aboutthat, about your activism around
that, because I know you'recontinuing some efforts with
that in conjunction with that,right?

SPEAKER_02 (02:48):
Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_05 (02:48):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (02:48):
So leading up to the crosswalk chapter of Houston's
LGBTQ organizing history,leading up to that, I had been a
community organizer with anonprofit called Houston in
Action for about two years,almost three years.
And towards the last year of mytenure, we really kind of wanted
to take a step back as anorganization and not be as

(03:10):
front-facing, not be as public,not be as political.
501c3, you know, nonpartisan andall of that.
But they also discouraged a bitof overly political messaging on
our personal pages, especiallyespecially if we tie it back in
with the organization that wework with.
And so October 1st, a few daysbefore the announcement of the
removal of the RainbowCrosswalks, I was actually laid

(03:33):
off.
And so some people call this myactivism organizing era, some
people call it my unemploymentera.
But really leaving thatorganization allowed me to speak
more freely about the issuesthat I care deeply about, which
includes the LGBTQ communityhere in Houston.
And so I was kind of unleashed.

(03:56):
And so the first video that Iput on Instagram and Facebook
was really not holding back atall.
The very first three seconds ofmy video, I said that Mayor
Whitmeyer doesn't have the gallor care to stand up for our
community.
Because for those of y'all whoare unfamiliar with this
context, you know, the mayor ofSan Antonio pushed back against

(04:17):
Greg Abbott in terms of removingthe Rainbow Crosswalk.
They submitted an exemption.
But within hours, GovernorAbbott and his Metro Board,
which he has heavy influenceover, immediately could and
said, okay, we'll remove it.
And that's that that pissed meoff.
And so that's kind of what gotme into it.
And so from there, always tryingto center art and cultural

(04:39):
organizing in my work.
And so we did walk pride chalkon the crosswalk.
It was the message of they mighttake away our crosswalks, so
we'll just take to thesidewalks.
And so we had community come outboth in front of the crosswalks
and also in front of Pearl Barto do some chalk artwork.
And that was kind of myintroduction into this

(05:00):
organizing work and thecrosswalk chapter.

SPEAKER_05 (05:02):
But now you're you're branching out.
I mean you're doing more.
And you are actually, as of thisrecording, you're about to meet
up with Governor Abbott and do alittle protest when he visits
here in Houston.
And tell me about like some ofthe things that are coming up
that you're getting involvedwith.

SPEAKER_02 (05:17):
Sure things.
Pretty much immediately afterthe Rainbow Crosswalks, I did a
public comment for the MetroBoard and told them, hey,
Governor Abbott gave us 30 daysto remove the crosswalks.
You did it in 12.
Why was this rushed?
Those 18 days we could havetalked as a community, we could
have given time to process andgrieve.
Um and then I also said that toMayor Whitmeyer, and I called

(05:40):
him Mayor Quitmeyer to his facebecause he used to champion our
community, he used to fight forus, and then he quit.
And so afterwards, we did abanner painting, a sign-making
party over at Bohemios inHouston's East End.
And we did a banner drop overHighway 59.
And we had, I never know howmany people are going to turn
out to these events.

(06:00):
We're not really a registrationkind of crowd.
We just kind of show up if we'redown.
And so we had over 30 people onthe Montrose Boulevard Bridge
over nine, and we had a queer tostay banner.
We had two queer to staybanners.
We had a giant trans pride flag,progress pride flag.
We had helicopters and dronescome out.

(06:22):
We had a lot of honks and hornsin solidarity with us.
And if they were honking againstus, I just pretended that they
were honking for us.
And so we're reusing thosebanners that we painted to
protest Governor Abbott comingto Houston this Sunday, November
9th.
And so we are going to put upthose queer to stay banners to

(06:42):
protest Governor Abbott's, butwe're also really trying to do a
cross-movement, cross-issue,intersectional action here.
Yes, this is a fight for LGBTQplus rights, but it's also a
fight for immigrant rights.
Houston has the highest reportedICE detention and deportation
rates in the country.
We need to be standing insolidarity with our immigrant

(07:03):
neighbors.
I think this is a moment for usto use this identity politics
that have divided us for so longto actually unite.
And instead of pitting usagainst each other, like the
elites and the owning class thatI like to call them want to pit
us against each other.
This is the time for the workingclass across identities to come
together and at the very leasttell Governor Abbott that LGBTQ

(07:27):
plus community members arewelcome here in Houston.
Immigrants are welcome here inHouston.
Governor Abbott, not welcomehere in Houston.

SPEAKER_05 (07:33):
Very strong statements and very apt.
I had no idea that we wereleading the ICE detentionists.

SPEAKER_02 (07:41):
That's at least in reportings, because ICE in
Houston, they love to put outpress releases.
Not as many other cities do itas much.
So in terms of reported ICEdetentions and deportations,
Houston leads the country.
And by far.

SPEAKER_05 (07:55):
Yeah, and that's not something I want designation as
of my city.
That's that's terrible.
So and I don't want to be thedesignated as the city that
capitulated the first on thecrosswalks and that did all of
these things.
And you know what's next?
We're gonna be the first city tohave all of the Ten Commandments
in our school rooms orsomething.
I don't know.
It just seems like crazy.
No, it's just somebody wants toif somebody wants to join you,

(08:16):
like how do they find you?
Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 (08:18):
So right now I am mostly active on social media,
on Instagram primarily.
So that's Davis, Zen Mendoza,DeRuzman.
Hopefully, if you search Davis,I'm the first one that pops up,
but we'll see.
But that is the primary way thatI've been connecting with
people.
And I I mentioned theorganization that I come from.

(08:40):
There was not a lot of stake putinto online organizing.
I think the conclusion was thatpeople who are online just stay
online and there's no online tooffline conversion.
And what we're seeing, at leastwith my posts, and I'm working
with fellow activists andorganizers in the Houston area,
is that there is a massiveopportunity to meet our

(09:02):
community where they are, whichis social media, and push them
towards action.
Everybody that I talk to is fedup.
Everybody that I talk to wantsto do something, but they don't
know what.
So social media, they're alreadyon there, they're already
scrolling.
So really putting out there waysfor people to plug in, to get
involved, opportunities forthem, whether they want to

(09:25):
create a banner, paint a sign,hold it up in front of the
governor when he comes to town.
But also tomorrow, Saturday,November 8th, we're hosting a
community listening, venting,and planning session so that we
can just get together and kindof turn our anger that we're all
feeling into action.
And so I definitely wouldrecommend people follow me on

(09:48):
social media, Instagram, DavisM.
DeRuzman, but also otherorganizations in the Houston
area.
I'm a big fan of Queens ofHouston.
I'm a co-chair of thatcoalition, stands for Queer
Unified Emergency andEmpowerment Network, Queens of
Houston.
And so that has a bunch ofprominent and also grassroots
LGBTQ plus serving organizationshere in the Houston area, from

(10:10):
the Montrose Center to theMahogany Project, Saber Sisters
United to the LGBTQ caucus, thechamber.
We have a lot, a lot of memberorganizations, but we're trying
to also bring in individualmembers because I'm sure, Brett,
you've spoken with your friendsand everybody wants to do
something.
But like, where do we go?
And so hoping to connect thosedots so that people have a clear

(10:32):
call to action and plan for whatthey can do.

SPEAKER_05 (10:34):
It's so frustrating because I feel like I have this
anger, frustration, all thesethings that come up.
And I don't know how to channelit.
I don't know what to do andwhere I can help out.
So I really have admired whatyou've done because I've been in
the same boat as you before.
I've been laid off before.
And the tendency is just to kindof like wallow and just kind of
go, I'm gonna stay home andwatch reruns of TV shows or

(10:56):
catch up on my streaming orwhatever.
And you are out there in thecommunity and you're like
turning this around.
It's wild that you're doing allof this and you're creating this
time to serve your community andto create community and to take
action against everything thatyou see that is frustrating and
angering you.
So that's just incredible.
I mean it's likely fun.

(11:16):
Yeah.
No, I mean, I just I admire theheck out of that idea of taking
this time to like really like,hey, I've got it.
I'm gonna use it for what I seeas advancing my good and
advancing my agenda and thingslike that and where you couldn't
before.
Now, the big thing is is likewhat's next for you?
I mean, do you hope to likecement this a little bit more,
make an organization, or what'sare you just kind of putting the

(11:38):
feelers out there?

SPEAKER_02 (11:39):
Yeah, I I'm I'm really trying to follow the
momentum and energy that it'skind of like in a reciprocal
nature.
So like I put these events onwith collaborators.
We I meet a bunch of likeHoustonians, whether LGBTQ
identifying or allies, that Inever otherwise would have been

(12:00):
able to meet.
And so I I really am currentlyat a point where I could go at
any any direction, whether it'stowards a 501c3, nonprofit, a
C4, maybe a PAC or some sort ofpolitical action, whether that's
actually diving into politics.
That's not something that Ireally considered or am really

(12:21):
comfortable with, but I don'tsee people fighting as staunchly
for our community as I wishthere were.
Another thing that I really wantto do is I want there to be more
Houston-based content creatorslike myself.
I want to put on a workship,workshop so that people are
comfortable.
You know, we're we already haveour phones in front of our face

(12:43):
so many hours of the day.
Might as well turn the cameraon, keep that phone in front of
our face, and share how we feelabout the direction of our
country, our state, our city, sothat we can kind of influence
our respective networks.
I don't want to be the only onehosting events and creating
content and making videos.

(13:04):
I want to share this witheveryone.
I think everyone has theopportunity to do what I do.
And I say that and I'muncomfortable because it seems
narcissistic.
It's like, oh, you know, I doall this great stuff, but it's
really not that hard.
It's, I think we get in our ownway very often, whether it's our
own insecurities, our impostersyndrome, it's our feeling that,

(13:25):
oh, nobody cares what I have tosay.
People absolutely care what youhave to say.
Otherwise, they wouldn't befollowing you on Facebook.
They wouldn't be friends withyou.
People care.
And I just want to instill thatconfidence and comfort in people
so that they can take to thecameras.
Because look, our opposition,they are not afraid to sit in
their car and put up some racisthomophobic trash on the

(13:46):
internet.
Nothing stops them, but wealways stop ourselves.
And so I really want to worktowards eliminating that
barrier.

SPEAKER_05 (13:53):
Well, your strength is video production and sound
and creating content like this.
I mean, that is your brand.
That is what you didprofessionally.
That's what you did kind of asyour passion projects and things
like that.
So I think the message in thereis that maybe if you can find
what you're good at, or maybefind what you create in the
world, maybe you can use that togo forward and definitely on

(14:16):
social media, because good gosh,I always worry about backlash.
I mean, have you had a lot ofbacklash?

SPEAKER_02 (14:21):
I've only had a few comments and thankfully nothing
specifically threatening,nothing that has made me
concerned for my safety.
Honestly, uh, we do havepreventative measures.
We do have experienced peoplecoming out there for the Abbott
protest with us.
But this is the first time thatwe're going into not territory,
but we're we're going to whereGovernor Abbott and his

(14:45):
supporters will be.
In the past, we did our bannerdrop, we did it over 59.
We had cars honking.
There was distance between us.
People drove on the bridge rightbehind us and they honked and
they celebrated.
But we're going into, and I'mvery, very intentionally not
saying what others would say,which is enemy territory.
I'm very, very against that interms of anti-violent language,
but also these people aren't ourenemy.

(15:07):
I think people want us to pitagainst each other, red, blue,
nonpartisan, but these are ourneighbors.
These are our coworkers, theseare our family members.
And so I know a lot of mymessaging is frustrated and I'm
venting.
And sometimes people canperceive it to be negative, but
it's, I really do want to spreadlove as our message.

(15:29):
And I think calling it enemyterritory.
So we're just going into not thebiggest fan of our community.
And I'm optimistic for howthat'll go, but I am certain
that we will hear slurs like wedid on the freeway.
We heard people roll theirwindows down and hurl slurs at
us, but we're not going away.
And I really want GovernorAbbott's order to remove our

(15:52):
sidewalk, our crosswalks tobackfire immensely.
And I think that only happens byus showing our face and being
there.

SPEAKER_05 (15:59):
Well, I'm really curious to see how we are going
to respond to that.
I know that Corny Vibes, one ofthe businesses at that
intersection, they did a muralin honor of the crosswalk being
removed.
They put rainbows all over theirbuilding.
And so, I mean, I don't, I'm noteven vegan, but I'm gonna go buy
Corny Vibes and eat as often asI can just to honor their
commitment to that.

SPEAKER_02 (16:18):
I thought that was some of their tacos.
They're delicious.
Yeah, corny vibes, they're anexcellent establishment.

SPEAKER_05 (16:23):
And I know that I had Jack Felinski talking about
maybe putting on some banners inthe streets.
We have some permits that thatarea can do that maybe.
He's checking into the what therequirements are.
Is it still active?
Is it all of this other stufflike that?
But it's so interesting.
I was really lucky.
I got to see Jane Fonda talkwhen she was here a week or so
ago.

(16:43):
And she said that there was adifference between optimism and
hope.
And that optimism is when youjust think things are gonna be
okay.
And you just think, oh yeah,it'll work out.
It's it's we're all on the side.
But hope is when you have a planand when you actually say, I
know how I'm gonna take thesteps to shake these pillars and
to kind of disrupt what's goingon.

(17:04):
And that's what you're doing.
I think that you're representingsome hope.
You've got a plan and you'regetting out there and you're
kind of shaking them and doingit in front of them.
I mean, that's a very importantthing.
I mean, it's very brave too.
I mean, I think I wish that morepeople felt so empowered to do
that.
That's really kind of thecoolest part.
But, you know, we all do it inour own ways, I guess.
Yeah.
But I am definitely there.

(17:24):
I'm definitely following you onsocial media.
I'll definitely be at thelocations whenever I can.
And of course, you have an Ellothere on Queer Voices anytime
that you want to announce thingsbecause I feel so horrible.
Because by the time this airs,probably a historical event for
you.
But isn't there anything comingup in the in the distant future
or like after this week?

SPEAKER_02 (17:43):
Or uh depending on when this airs, on Monday,
November 17th, we're hostinganother community listening,
venting, and planning session atFrosttown Brewing at 6 p.m.
The one that we have tomorrow,I'm taking it as a trial run.
I really have no idea what toexpect.
I told people that this was aventing and healing space, but I

(18:04):
think we could vent for a while.
But I really do want to turnthat venting and anger into
action.
So we'll see how that goes.
But if if yeah, this is airingbefore that, yeah.
It will.
But also after this.
One of one of the criticismsthat I've received is that I
work and move a little tooquickly.
I plan things like maybe likefor this weekend or like so I am

(18:25):
I'm trying to put some stuff onthe calendar for December and
for the end of November, butdefinitely stay tuned.

SPEAKER_05 (18:31):
Keep us posted because yeah, I'm one of those
people that I have this I liveand die by this huge calendar
that I carry around with meeverywhere I go.
Oh, you really do for ourlisteners, but just pulled out
the planner, the calendar.
Oh, it's huge.
And it's horrible because it'sfilled almost every night of the
week.
I mean, it's like so I it iswhen somebody says, Hey, come
out this weekend and do this.

(18:51):
I'm like, gosh, I wish I knewabout this a week or two ago so
that I could, you know, inadvance, clear the decks for
that.
But anytime I can be there, Iwill definitely be there.
But again, remind us, DavisMendoza DeRuzman, and then how
do you do the social handles?
Just Davis M.

SPEAKER_02 (19:06):
DeRuzeman.
And also you can check out mywebsite if you're interested in
communication support, contentcreation coaching workshops.
I've worked with ChristianManafee's county attorney's
office and helped their team,helped various nonprofits build
their social media and theircontent creation.
Whether you want me out andworking with your communications
team or communications person,you can check me out at

(19:28):
dmd-2.com.

SPEAKER_05 (19:32):
Very cool.
Well, we're on your side, ofcourse, because you're one of
our queer voices.
I mean, come on.

SPEAKER_02 (19:36):
And you're doing an incredible job too, Brett.

SPEAKER_05 (19:38):
I really do want to be a good one.
You're one of my favorite peopletogether.

SPEAKER_02 (19:41):
Love your interviews.
Even though I'm listening toyour interviews and listening to
the podcast and radio show, Ican always hear the smile in
your voice.
And I can always like, I feellike I'm listening in on just a
chat between friends wheneveryou're good people.

SPEAKER_05 (19:57):
Well, that's what I mean for it.
Because we all are friends.
And and if you don't havefriends in your community, where
are you gonna have them?
So definitely do that.
So keep us posted.

SPEAKER_07 (20:06):
We'll do this is Deborah Moncrief Bell, and
coming up in November the 22ndis Unprecedented, the Queer
Political Cabaret with a specialpop-up show.

(20:30):
And to talk about that isStephanie St.
Sanchez, who is a foundingmember of the Locus Queer Latino
Art Collective.
Now, Stephanie, tell me first ofall about Locust.
How long has that been going on?
How did it get started?
Who are some of the folksinvolved in it?

SPEAKER_08 (20:50):
So you know how like they say that eventually you
find your tribe and you findyour people.
Well, pretty much that's that'swhat Locust is.
We're a group of friends withartistic leanings, and it just
all happens that we're we'reLatina in some capacity or
another, uh, either by guilt orassociation.
And um, so we've been workingtogether, making short films and

(21:12):
uh doing uh theater and art, um,but we never really had a
banner.
It was just us doing stuff.
So uh we decided to um in thetradition of I guess um uh all
those uh art collectives allover the world, we'd like we
shouldn't, we should giveourselves a name or something.
And we decided with uh withlocus because um we don't really

(21:33):
have very many parameters onwhat we do as as far as like
mild to wild.
So it's just the ability to doit.
You know, if you can dream it,can you do it?
And you know, if we have theglue in the crayons, we'll we'll
we'll go for it.

SPEAKER_07 (21:46):
Yeah, if you're gonna make art however way,
whatever tools, whatever yourvision is, you can do it.
And that's one of the joys ofbeing a creative person and an
artist.
Now, unprecedented, this is notthe first show that you've done
of this kind.
No, no, it's not.

SPEAKER_08 (22:05):
It's originally the first one that we did was, I
believe, when Trump got elected.
The first time.
Oh my gosh.
And we're like, okay, we'regonna have we gotta do
something.
And uh I know earlier you wouldask who's who's really involved,
and it's it's myself and andKuma and uh Jennifer Ree and uh
Melalani Peterson and uh otherassociates, but um the night
that uh the election night, uhwe were out there and we decided

(22:28):
to do just like a short to sortof like come to terms.
And so Kuma dressed up likeDolly Parton, and we did uh um
scene to the song Magic by uhOlivia Newton John.
And uh I played uh someone who'sreally over politics, but uh she
comes to me in a dream on mydashboard and uh lulled me into

(22:50):
like, hey, it's gonna be okay.
So we thought we'd take thatmessage to the world.
And um, so that's kind of how itstarted.

SPEAKER_07 (22:57):
Yeah, one of the things that keeps coming up is
that being in joy is a countermessage to what's going on
politically, because they reallycan't thrive.
Fascism cannot thrive wherethere is joy, and uh the queer
community is bringing it.
Uh the there are so many peoplethat are being their selves,

(23:20):
their authentic selves, andcreating art and sharing it.
And within these uh messages,because many of them are
parodies, it's like if youreally want the truth, look at
what the artists are doing,right?
Exactly.

SPEAKER_08 (23:34):
Um, really, because most of the time, like I said,
we we're we're no hold barred,we we really don't have anything
to lose.
And um, I believe that in timeslike this, you have to do what
you can.
And um, maybe once upon a time Iwas out there in the streets,
you know, doing what I do, butnow I'm a bit more suburban.
So I continue to contributethrough the creation.

(23:56):
And uh our other friends do thattoo, because um, I mean, we're
we're a mix of professionals andamateurs, and it gives us a
platform and for our community,and it's a time to, you know,
express what we have, you know,especially with the attacks on
drag performances and freespeech and censorship, it's
really what we can do to knockit to the man, so to speak.

SPEAKER_07 (24:18):
Right, it's queer defiance through art.
Exactly.
Totally.
You know, it it's just amazingto me um that we are able to do
this, that we do have peoplethat are like, hey, I'm not
gonna disappear, I'm not gonnabe quiet, I'm gonna be loud and
proud.
And you know, I'm gonna bethere, I'm gonna show up, dress

(24:41):
up and show up.
So the fact that we have thatgoing on in our community, the
whole issue with the destructionof the crosswalk, which was also
a memorial, and how that spurredpeople to say, no, we're not
gonna take that.
And so there's been this wholeburst of creativity.
Rainbows are popping up allover.

(25:02):
Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_08 (25:03):
Um, it reminds me of that old saying that uh they
tried to bury us, but little didthey know that they were that
we're seeds.
Right, exactly.

SPEAKER_07 (25:13):
And now look, look what they look what they did.
Yeah, and and they're doing itto themselves, and I'm here for
it.
So tell me a little bit moreabout the show.

unknown (25:24):
Okay.

SPEAKER_07 (25:24):
When and where and that sort of thing.

SPEAKER_08 (25:27):
Yeah, for sure.
The the particulars.
So this is also um, since we'vebeen doing unprecedented, this
is a part of something calledFall of Freedom.
And so you can look us up atfall of freedom.com for more
information.
And so this is a national, we'repart of a national theme.
So it's kind of cool.
Um, but our show is on Saturday,November 22nd.
It's uh 7 p.m.

(25:47):
at the Aurora Chapel, um, whichis 800 Aurora.
And um no one will be turnedaway.
So come on out.

SPEAKER_07 (25:55):
Yeah, just show up at the door.
And if if you're able to pay theprice of admission, then come on
in.
It's a fairly small space.
Yes.

SPEAKER_08 (26:05):
It you know what I will say this is I love, I do
love Aurora Chapel because um abit of the history is that uh
it's been many, it was a microcinema, it was the Aurora
Picture Show, and then theymoved out.
But originally it was a church.
So that's why it says the namechapel.
So it's like an old-timeychurch.
So I kind of feel like, youknow, that sort of like you're
going to church, baby.
You're gonna you're gonna getyou're gonna get uplifted, you

(26:27):
know, by the by the performancesand everything.
You know, you're gonna go awayfeeling good.

SPEAKER_07 (26:31):
I really, I really think it's appropriate that we
do it there.
I'm Deborah Moncrief Bell, andwe're talking with Stephanie
Saint Sanchez with the LocustQueer Latina Art Collective and
talking about the showUnprecedented, the queer
political cabaret that's gonnabe coming up on November 22nd.
Stephanie, can you tell me alittle bit more about some of

(26:54):
the acts?
Can you describe some of themmaybe?

SPEAKER_08 (26:57):
Well, gosh, well, you know, we're gonna um I
believe that uh all usuallyeverything that's going on at
the time will get a little alittle shout out, you know?
So uh I believe that uh a friendof ours, uh Melani Peterson, uh
made the president uh a birthdaycake once.
There was cake and it was not umthe cake did not last, let me

(27:21):
put it to you that way.
Um we did have some dragons andburlesque, like I said, and
different ways to save yoursoul.
And we do actually have someshort films too, which which are
really good.
And those are how to getyourself out of trouble if you
have been in trouble protesting.
And it it was a bit of a comedyand a satire.
So it's a little something foreverybody.

(27:42):
Is there something particularthat you're doing?
Well, Jennifer Marie and I welike to do I come from film
mostly, and so we like to dothis performance where uh I'll
put together a film and she'llum be the character.
A couple of turns ago, we didsomething called Rape Culture
Club, where we were talkingabout, you know, all the all the
uh uh you know the the uh Me Toomovement, and uh she was dressed

(28:05):
like Boy George and we changedthe words to it.
So we're gonna do a littlemusical parody this time, uh,
talking about um our delightfuluh Texas representative.

SPEAKER_07 (28:16):
So yeah, that'd be a good time.
So is there anything else thatyou want to tell us about about
the unprecedented uh show that'scoming up on November 22nd at
the Aurora uh chapel?

SPEAKER_08 (28:30):
Well, I mean, like I said, it's it's um we're gonna
have drag, burlesque,performance art, spoken word,
and short films.
And usually these acts arepretty small, as in short, you
know.
Uh the thing I love about shortperformances if you if you love
it, it keeps you wanting more.
And if you're it's not your cupof tea, it's almost over.

SPEAKER_07 (28:46):
That's one way to view it.
Uh what was my question?
I hate it when my mind just goesblank because I had a good
question right there on the tipof my brain.

SPEAKER_08 (28:56):
Well, I'll just say that the it's it's like I said,
it's um it's a part of the fallfor freedom, the the fall of
freedom.
And so that festival starts.
It's a it's a nationwidemovement on the 21st, but we're
doing our 22nd.
And it's gonna take place ingalleries, museums, libraries,
comedy clubs, theaters, andconcert halls across the
country.
And we're just trying to channelthe urgency of this moment and
get the artists and creativesand community to get together.

SPEAKER_07 (29:19):
Is the money from this going to the performers or
is it a fundraiser forsomething?

SPEAKER_08 (29:26):
You know, I'll I'll say this that we donate a lot of
our time.
I mean, artists, when you wokeup and you said, I'm gonna be an
artist, your parents were reallyenthusiast, weren't they?
They're like, Are you sure youdon't want to be a pharmacist or
a lady golfer?
My dad said, you know, well, Iguess he knew I was queer, but
love them, miss them.
But we we do believe in in umwhen we can to pay our artists
because we do a lot of work.
So it's not a big siping oranything like that.

(29:47):
But you know, it's enough to putgas in your car and you know,
get a new wig.
So yeah, it goes it goes to ourartists at the venue, you know,
we're we're firm believers inthe little rascals, let's put on
a show kind of thing.
So yeah.

SPEAKER_07 (30:00):
Right.
Artists deserve to be paid fortheir work.
And it's very important.
If you know someone who's asinger or a dancer or has some
other talent, that they youdon't say, hey, will you gift us
this?
You say, how much can we pay youfor this?
Because art has extreme value inthe world.

(30:22):
Like I said, it's it's sometimesa reflection, but sometimes it's
a tool that enlightens peopleand helps people in a way that
they may not be aware of what ishappening, but they get the
message.
And a lot of times people aremore receptive to learning
something if it's done throughart.

(30:45):
Uh so it's it's really excitingthat you have this.
Do you call yourselves a troopor just a collective?

SPEAKER_08 (30:51):
I would I would say that we're a collective because
we haven't taken the show on theroad yet.
But you know, once we get thatvan working again, I guess we'll
we can be a troop again.
But yeah, like I said, the umthat it's like, you know, come
as you are, no one will beturned away.
So, you know, in in our world,in the art world that that we're
living in, it's that, you know,if you got a lot and it's it's

(31:11):
just what you want to give, youknow.
But if you don't, we don't wantyou to miss out.
We want you to still come in andI mean the the art scene, the
theme, the community, you know,it's made of all of us.

SPEAKER_07 (31:21):
So everybody can yeah.
Yeah, Houston is such a rich artcommunity, the visual arts and
the performing arts, all of it.
We're we're just really blessedhere to have that culture.
It's they always talk about uhkeep Austin weird.
You know, Houston has a littlebit of weird too.
Oh yeah, we're we're uh we'rekeeping the light on for them.

(31:42):
Exactly.
Well, Stephanie, thank you somuch for being with us on Queer
Voices.
Thank you.
Thanks a lot.

SPEAKER_06 (32:06):
This is Brian Liminka, and today I'm speaking
with James Martinez, the founderof Team Friendly Texas.
James, welcome to the show.
All right, thank you guys forhaving me.
What is Team Friendly Texas andwhat how did it get started?

SPEAKER_01 (32:18):
Team actually, Team Friendly started by Dave Watts
back in 2009, and um it hassince grown to be world
recognized.
His challenge, which I commendhim 100%, how do you take and
create an image of somethingthat is horrible to talk about,

(32:40):
but yet make it friendly andapproachable to talk about?
So Dave came up with the conceptof the Mr.
Friendly Face.
It's a smiley face, it'swelcoming, uh, it's
non-threatening.
Also, what you'll see on it, itreflects positive and negative.
So it says to the audience, I amprepared to talk either way

(33:02):
about someone who is HIVpositive or HIV negative.
So he started the whole thingwith friendly conversations,
which is something that no onewas talking about.
President couldn't even say whatwas going on with it.
So that was the birth of TeamFriendly, getting conversations.
Initially, the goal was to geteveryone tested, find out what

(33:26):
your status is.
Well, fast forward many years,we've come a long way.
I'm not sure of the numbers, buta lot more people are aware of
their status now and are moreproactive about their status.
So there's been a lot of betterconversation about yes, I'm
aware of my status, but alsohaving these conversations lets

(33:48):
you talk about there are coupleswho one may be positive, one may
be negative.
So in the team-friendly eventsthat we put together, we allow a
positive environment withlike-minded people so we can
have these conversations.
You know, let's just say, hey,my partner's having a hard time
with this medicine.
Well, you know what?

(34:08):
My partner did too.
So maybe uh talk to your doctorand try this.
So the whole point is havingfriendly conversations about
what is going on and alsonetworking with like-minded
individuals, creating unity andjust looking out for each other.
So we've come a long way.
My personal interest and teamfriendly is the reason why I put

(34:33):
together team-friendly text isis you know, being a male HIV
positive since the 90s, I didn'thave this support.
We didn't have near the networkthat we have now.
And so to kind of help thosepeople who may or may not be
going through this alone, to letthem know that you're not alone
on this.
You're there's groups, there'sorganizations, there's people

(34:56):
you could talk to, there'sfriends, but also to let you
know that it is HIV has now it'sa chronic manageable disease.
It's not to say that it's goneaway, not to say that it's
glamorous.
My concern is for the youngergeneration, is to educate them.
All of our old veterans, we'vebeen through that.

(35:18):
We've been through it, we'vesurvived it.
I wasn't really much in thetrench as everyone else was, but
I was able to gather enoughinformation to come out ahead.
It's the young generation whofeels that they're invincible.
I'll just get on prep.
No, no, no, no, honey.
Prep is that's just it'shelpful, but that's not the
answer.
There still needs to beaccountability and

(35:40):
self-responsibility.
It's also needs to be a message.
So these are the things thatwe're looking um to promote and
bring awareness um with teamfriendly.
We've started off here inHouston.
Uh, we're gonna be doing anevent here in Houston.
Um, I'm also working with Tony'splace.

(36:01):
We're doing a food drive,another another event we're
working on, but also we'll begoing to Austin for a leather
swap, which is also sponsored byTexas Team Friendly.
So thing is, get the word out,have friendly conversations.
If you don't talk about it, it'snot good.
These conversations still needto happen, and more so, as I

(36:24):
said, for our youngergenerations.
We need to make them aware ofthese conversations.
And hey, are you are you takingcare of yourself?
Are you getting prep?
Right now, who knows how muchtheir insurance is gonna be?
Are you able to afford yourprep?
So looking out for each other,building that network that that
saved us so many years ago isvital to our existence and

(36:46):
survival right now.

SPEAKER_06 (36:47):
Can you talk about living with HIV in 2025 and what
has changed since you were firstdiagnosed?

SPEAKER_01 (36:55):
I'm gonna say since 2025.
You know, there was a time,Brian, when I walked down the
street and there was such astigma that uh, you know, we use
the word dirty.
I felt dirty, I felt unworthy oflove.
Who would want me now?
I'm broken.
Uh in 2025, it is it is a muchlighter atmosphere.

(37:20):
It is you're HIV positive.
Are you under good care?
Yes.
I have in the dating pool um ahundred years ago.
People not want to date mebecause I was HIV positive.
Now it's it's much better now.
People are more educated,they're more open to
understanding, and they're thethey know that it's not quite as

(37:42):
bad as as it was.
So I'm gonna say it's muchbetter in 2025.

SPEAKER_06 (37:46):
How do you communicate to the younger
generations about the death andcarnage we saw in the 90s and
90s?

SPEAKER_01 (37:51):
It is, for instance, you know, they tend to want to
turn away, but I feel like it'snot important.
It's one reason is to tell astory, but there's another
reason to teach a story.
So if I tell a story, just to itcould be, well, this is my
survival story.
No.
The message is uh the reason fortelling this story is to teach

(38:14):
you how so you learn, so youunderstand, and so you do not
have to deal with what we had todeal with back back then.
And I think there's a lot of itgets swept away, and it's it's
so easy now.
Well, it is easy only becauseyou take care of yourself.
Self-accountability,self-responsibility has to be at

(38:35):
the core of being who you are.

SPEAKER_06 (38:37):
Talk to me about Tony's place and how you
selected them for your fooddrive.

SPEAKER_01 (38:41):
I've seen them do different events um throughout
the community and everythingelse.
It's it's always what intriguedme about this one is Tony's
Place is they help the membersof the trans community.
They help people from, I thinkit's from the age 24 to 25, and
they help them become morethemselves, more accepting of

(39:05):
themselves in society.
Um, I have a friend of minewho's a hairstylist who goes
over and cuts their hair forthem to help give them that
softer look or different lookthat they want.
But there's counseling.
More so, why getting involvedwith Tony's place right now with
everything that's going on withthe staff, which is another

(39:25):
reason why I want to acceleratethese efforts, is food banks.
Food banks are our first linedefense, and they are going to
be tapped out 100%.
And so we need to be proactivegetting those shelves filled as
quickly as possible.
And that is why I chose Tony'splace.
It helps the youth, it sends amessage to the youth that hey,

(39:48):
you're okay, you're not alone,this is a very safe place.

SPEAKER_06 (39:52):
So if you had unlimited resources, what is
your vision for theorganization?
What what do you envision thisto be?

SPEAKER_01 (39:58):
I would like for it to be just an open conversation
where there is no stigma, thereis no shunning.
There's still a lot of thatgoing on within all cultures.
And here's one thing I I wishpeople would understand.
It is not a gay thing, it is nota straight thing, it is not a
gender thing, it is a peoplecrisis.

(40:20):
So my vision would be is thatthey all recognize it as a human
crisis and that we all treateach other the same and not
separately because of gender,skin tone, sexual preference.
We're all in it together.
And so uh I would love to havethis big, beautiful balloon that

(40:41):
we could just or bubble that wecould put everyone in and they
live happily ever after.

SPEAKER_06 (40:45):
So I'm sure you need volunteers.
Is there a way people can get intouch with you about being a
volunteer?

SPEAKER_01 (40:51):
Yes.
If you'll go on, I think I sentyou the link there.
So if you go to Team FriendlyTexas, we're on Facebook there.
Send me a message and reach outto me, say, hey, uh, I'd like to
volunteer.
It's interesting.
People that have reached outhave shared stories of survival
and also personal stories thatthey may be feeling a little bit

(41:12):
lost, but we definitely needvolunteers.
But team friendly, you'll findit on Facebook.
I don't remember the exactaddress right now, but yes.
But look up Team Friendly Texas,and it'll take you right there.
Is there anything that I didn'task you that you would like our
listeners to know about?
I think no, pretty mucheverything.
More what we need to get back tois human kindness and looking

(41:34):
out for each other, moreempathy.
And there's so much going on,and we really have to pull
together.
Uh it's it's not over yet.
We have a long line of battlesahead of us, but it's gonna take
everyone.
So, volunteers, we're gonna needpeople to help in in food lines.

(41:55):
We're gonna need people to helpmake sure people are getting
medication.
We're gonna need counselors,we'll we will need an army, and
this is what we're looking tobuild as an army.

SPEAKER_06 (42:05):
Absolutely.
The work continues.
If you're joining us, I've beenspeaking with James Martinez,
the founder of Team FriendlyTexas, about the organization
and the work they're doing inthe community.
Thank you for coming on, James.

SPEAKER_01 (42:16):
Thank you, Brian.
Thank you so much.
Have a great day, okay?
Thank you.
All right, thank you.

SPEAKER_05 (42:42):
She is executive director of Tony's Place, which
is a nonprofit organizationdedicated to supporting and
empowering LGBTQIA plus youth.
Ages 14 to 25, they provide asafe space, key services,
valuable programming.
And guess what?
The Greater Houston LGBTQ PlusChamber of Commerce Foundation

(43:03):
is helping Tony's Place to do afood and supply drive.
It's the sixth time they'redoing this.
Uh, and it's a powerful way toget back the season.
If you're wondering where I candonate food items to or
whatever, this is Tony's Place,right?
So welcome, Carrie.
Hey.
Hello.
You know, tell me a little bitabout Tony's Place, how it got
started, what you're doing.

SPEAKER_00 (43:24):
So Tony's Place, um, we're coming up on being formed
in 10 years.
It was the brainchild ofcommunity member Tony Carroll.
He was a very active member ofthe LGBTQ community and
therapist.
Um, and he really wanted to havea space where LGBTQ youth can

(43:45):
get their basic needs.
Um, he saw that there was anumber of homeless youth and
many of them from the LGBTQcommunity.
So he really wanted to create acenter that could really uplift
them and help them survive andthrive.
Unfortunately, Tony passed awaysuddenly at the end of 2015.
And so his friends andcolleagues came around and

(44:08):
opened up Tony Plates in hishonor.
I am the first executivedirector of Tony's Plate.
And before me, it was a bunch ofvery dedicated volunteers and
one staff member.
But now I'm here and we have sixother staff.
So we have a total of sevenstaff, which is amazing.
We have a building, a 5,200square foot building in the

(44:31):
heart of the Montrose area.
And in our building, we cook hotmeals that we serve every day.
We have showers, we have aclothing closet, hygiene
supplies, so all sorts of thebasic necessities that one needs
to feel good about themselves.
But in addition to that, we havewraparound case management and

(44:54):
health and wellness services.
So we have staff that will meetindividually with youth, help
them plan out their goals.
Is it getting housing?
Is it employment?
Is it reconnecting andstrengthening relationships with
families?
Is it getting connected to adoctor?
So we have those services hereat the center.
And we are so thrilled andhonored to be the beneficiary of

(45:18):
the LGBTQ Chamber of Commercefood and supply drive this year.
I have to say that it is we arein need of supplies more than
ever.
Last year at this time, we wereserving about 150 meals a month.
Last three months, we haveserved over 800 meals per month.

SPEAKER_09 (45:38):
Wow.

SPEAKER_00 (45:39):
So we we are being kind of, I say eaten at a house
and home because a l a lot ofthe people that come to our
center, they don't have meals aday that's consistent.
They may not know where theirnext meal is.
And how can somebody take thenext step and really thrive in
their life if they don't haveconsistent places to eat, get

(46:01):
clean, get new clothes?
And so that's where Tony Slaysteps in, and we provide all of
our service through an LGBTQlens.

SPEAKER_05 (46:09):
Well, what a wonderful tribute to Tony
Carroll.
He was one of the first peoplethat I met when I came to
Houston or returned in 2000.
So he was such a big part of mylife, and it's so nice to see
his memory be honored in such abig way.
And and that it's grown so much.
I didn't realize you guys havesix staff members now.

SPEAKER_00 (46:28):
And me that's me.
So there's seven of us.
So yeah, and we're we're openfive days a week.
We know 50 to 60 youth comethrough our day to our center
per day.
So, you know, that is anincredible increase from past
years.
I think part of the increase is,you know, a lot of people are
struggling right now.
And so, you know, they may notknow where where to get some of

(46:52):
those services, but also tell methat we we've really done a good
job of elevating who we are andadvertising the services that we
provide in the community, andmore people are tapping into
that.

SPEAKER_05 (47:04):
Well, that's amazing.
So you're doing a food andsupply drive.
So what items are you lookingfor?
I mean, like what's the bestthing that I can give you?

SPEAKER_00 (47:11):
Yeah.
So we rely on uh food donationsto help in our kitchen.
We will purchase fresh likefruits, vegetables, and meat,
but all of those shelf stableitems, we really rely on the
community to donate those.
So, you know, we're we'recooking 50 to 60 meals a day.
Rice goes quick, pasta, uh,pasta sauce, all sorts of

(47:35):
condiment, um, and then suppliesfor our center.
So paper plates, naptions,cutlery, so we can we can serve
toilet paper, hygiene supplies,so shampoo, conditioner, razors,
deodorant, feminine hygieneproducts.
And one thing we want to ask thecommunity for is more hygiene

(47:57):
products for black and brownhair.
The majority of our clients arepeople of color, and all shampoo
work well with all hair.
And so we really we really need,you know, edge control, shampoo
and conditioner for ultra-curlyhair, do rags, bonnets, those
types of things.
They go really fast.

(48:18):
And then on the clothing side,all of the clothes in our
clothing closet are donated.
And we believe that all clothesare for all people, and clients
can come in and pick outwhatever they'd like to wear and
take home and what they need.
We primarily need malepresenting type clothes, and
clothes that you know a20-year-old would wear.

(48:39):
So jeans, sweatpants, sweattops, t-shirts, and especially
like runners, slides, um, hat,belt, all that kind of stuff.
We do we request that anyundergarment be um brand new, we
will not accept usedundergarment, but everything
else we will accept gently useclothes.

SPEAKER_05 (49:01):
Carrie, don't tell me this.
I've got a ton of donations Icould give you as far as clothes
go.
Take it, take it away.
I'm so excited.
So, how did you um hook up withthe chamber of commerce?
I mean, it says this is thesixth year for them doing this.
So I don't know if you know thegenesis of it, but how did it
start?

SPEAKER_00 (49:18):
So we've been, this is the third year that we're
actually being the beneficiaryof this.
Oh, okay.
We joined the LGBTQ Chamber ofCommerce as a nonprofit member
um a few years ago.
And I know that our membershipwithin that organization has
been so incredibly impactful forus.

(49:40):
We have found board members,volunteers, donors through being
a member of the LGBTQ Chamber ofCommerce.
They're incredibly supportive ofus.
They show up for the community.
Anytime I'm looking for aplumber or somebody to help
renovate our bathrooms or fixour air conditioning.
The first place I go is theLGBTQ Chamber of Commerce

(50:03):
membership directory.
And I'm always impressed withthe services that these
businesses provide and how muchthey want to give back to the
community.

SPEAKER_05 (50:12):
The chamber is a wonderful resource.
I really appreciate everythingthat they do and the
initiatives, and that thatdirectory is gold as far as that
goes.
So and I'm so glad, and they'realways here to help.
I mean, that's that's one of thethings about the community, is
they really are.
Now, the we can do thesedonations, it says virtually and
in person, but it all endsNovember 20th.

(50:34):
So we got a little bit of a timecrunch here.

SPEAKER_00 (50:37):
So virtually there is like an Amazon wish list that
um is available.
So, you know, if people can'tpersonally donate something,
they can pick something off ourAmazon wish list and get it
delivered to us.
People can also donate directlyonline through our website at
TonyPlace.org.

(50:58):
And then the actual day of thedrive, there are several
opportunities for people to dropoff supplies.
So we will be at the thirdThursday LGBTQ Chamber of
Commerce breakfast that morning.
So we have bar so people candrop off their donations in the

(51:20):
morning.
We will be receiving donationsthroughout the day at our
center, as well as we'll be atEureka Heights or um uh Queer
Market and Drag Bingo in theevening.
So if people want to stop by anddrop off supplies there, we will
be there collecting them.
And if people maybe can't makeit to the drive, we are having a

(51:42):
huge volunteer day on November22nd to help us put away and
organize all the amazingdonations we will be receiving.
So if you if people want to comeout and help volunteer, if that
would be incredible.

SPEAKER_05 (51:56):
Where do they come to call volunteer though?
It's your space, right?

SPEAKER_00 (51:59):
At our space.
We are located at 1429 HawthorneStreet.
If people are familiar with themantros area, we share a park
parking lot with Bering Church.
Um, and we're right behind Outof the Closet.

SPEAKER_05 (52:14):
Yeah.
I drive by there all the time.
So now I know I can donate toOut of the Closet and you as
well.

SPEAKER_00 (52:19):
And if we don't use this, if we don't use some of
the donations, we take them toOut of the Closet.

SPEAKER_05 (52:23):
So well, that's a wonderful, symbiotic kind of
relationship right there.
And then plus the church rightthere too, Baring.
I mean, all three of you, likeall together.
That's that's amazing.
So I am so excited to learn moreabout Tony's place.
But one thing I saw on yourwebsite that I wanted to ask you
about, there's a youth craftmarket that comes up Sunday,
November 16th.
It's 12 to 4, but it's onLawrence Street.

(52:47):
It's not it's not at your site.

SPEAKER_00 (52:49):
It's at the Feisty Collective.
If people are familiar with thatbusiness, it's a queer-owned
business and um sell craft andart made by various um community
members, and our clients aregoing to be selling their art
there as well.

SPEAKER_05 (53:10):
Yeah, because you you do craft projects with
people.

SPEAKER_00 (53:13):
So we we operate uh craft surprise program, and so
once a month we bring indifferent LGBTQ artists who
share their craft with um ouryoung people.
It's how I phrase it is when itstarted, you know, people don't
want to use don't want to cometo something called a support
group.
But if we put out fun craftitems and snacks and turn the TV

(53:37):
on, it kind of turns into areally great support group and
just kind of doing a therapeuticactivity.
And then last year we had theopportunity to partner with the
PIC Collective, and they allowedour youth to kind of come in and
put all of their artwork ondisplay and actually sell their
art.

(53:57):
So we have worked with ourclients to ensure that they have
a bank account and that they canreceive money directly for so
our Craft or Pride program haskind of turned in turned from a
like a therapeutic social groupinto an actual economic
opportunity for our youngpeople.
And every time we have a market,we at least all of our artists

(54:20):
sell at least one thing.
So they're, you know, it's justit's amazing.
And they're the artists are outof this world fabulous.
Some of their art, I have it inmy office.
I've purchased some.
It's just really beautiful, andit's a great way to support
young people in entrepreneurshipand celebrating who they are.

SPEAKER_05 (54:40):
Yeah.
Well, Tony's Place, celebratingthe legacy of Tony Carroll, a
nonprofit organization dedicatedto supporting the LGBTQ plus
youth.
Uh it's 14 to 25, is the agegroup that you're working with,
correct?
Yeah.
And you provide safe space, youprovide programming, you provide
uh showers, meals, all of that.
So a great, a great place tostock up for the holidays and

(55:03):
donate to, for sure.
And we have until November 20thfor this particular Greater
Houston LGBTQ Chamber ofCommerce Foundation drive.
It's basically any time we coulddonate to Tony's place.
I mean, I'm sure if it doesn'tstop.

SPEAKER_00 (55:18):
All the time.

SPEAKER_05 (55:19):
Yeah, yeah.
And we you're open five days aweek.
So is it Monday through Friday?

SPEAKER_00 (55:23):
Monday through Friday.
Someone's always in the buildingbetween eight and four.
Uh our busiest times are aroundthe lunch hour.
So um it's best to drop offdonations either first thing in
the morning or the afternoon.
Um, because like I said, we haveabout 50 youth that are coming
and going between 11 and 2.
And it can be really busy.

SPEAKER_05 (55:42):
So Yeah.
Well, that's amazing.
Well, Carrie, Rye, it is soamazing to connect with you.
I've I've just admired the workthat Tony's Place has done in
such a short amount of time.
How much of you guys grown?
Good gosh.
So proud of you for that, andreally affecting some change in
our community.
So definitely bless you guys forall of that.
So thank you.

SPEAKER_00 (56:03):
I'm so honored that I get to be a part of the
organization.
Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_05 (56:12):
You have been listening to Queer Voices, which
is a radio show and a podcast.
We are part of the KPFT family.
And if you would like to donateto the station, please visit
KPFT.org and look for the donatebutton located on the upper
right hand side.
Make sure you select queervoices of the show you are
supporting.
And we thank you just forlistening or supporting us.

(56:33):
Queer Voices is produced byproducers such as Ryan Lavinka,
who is currently the executiveone, Deborah Moncrief Bell,
Brett Cullum, and Davis Mendozade Rusman.
We have content producers suchas Ethan Michelle Gans, Joel
Tatum, and Jacob Newsom.
We are here for you every week,Wednesdays at 8 on KPFT, and as

(56:55):
a podcast.
So we will see you then.
Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 (57:08):
This has been Queer Voices, heard on KPFT Houston,
and as a podcast available fromseveral podcasting sources.
Check our webpagequeervoices.org for more
information.