On this episode of Queer Voices, we spotlight Houston’s LGBTQ+ talent and community leaders. Singer-songwriter Wendy Taylor reflects on her lifelong journey in music, from childhood choirs to competing on American Idol, and previews her new series of shows at Leon’s Lounge. Performer Ivan Moreno shares his path from opera to musical theater and his role as Louis Carruthers in Houston Broadway Theater’s daring production of American Psycho. And community advocate Jevon Martin, chair of Flux Houston, invites listeners to their end-of-summer pool party - combining celebration, voter registration, and HIV testing - while underscoring the power of trans-led joy and visibility.
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/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
This is KPFT 90.1 FM Houston, 89.5 FM Galveston, 91.9
FM Huntsville, and worldwide onthe internet at kpftorg.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Thank you for listening to Queer Voices on
KPFT 90.1 FM or wherever you getyour podcasts.
I'm Davis Mendoza-Duruzman,excited to bring you today's
episode, starting with producerDeborah Moncrief-Bell and her
chat with Houstonsinger-songwriter Wendy Taylor
about her journey from choirs toAmerican Idol in a new series
(00:41):
at Leon's Lounge.
Then, contributor and primaryengineer for today's episode,
brett Cullen, speaks with actorIvan Moreno about his Houston
Broadway theater debut in theirbold new production of American
Psycho.
Lastly, contributor EthanMichelle Gans speaks with Javon
Martin, chair of Flux Houston,who invites us to their
(01:03):
end-of-summer pool party.
Martin, chair of Flux Houston,who invites us to their
end-of-summer pool party,complete with voter registration
and free HIV testing, andshares why trans-led joy matters
.
Queer Voices starts now.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
This is Debra Moncrief-Bell with Queer Voices,
and I'm talking with thefabulous Wendy Taylor.
Wendy, we're bringing you onQueer Voices to talk about
several things, including anupcoming series of shows that
you'll be doing.
But tell us a little bit moreabout Wendy Taylor.
(01:34):
You're a singer, a songwriter.
What's your story, Wendy Taylor?
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Oh, it's so long.
Y'all Thank you for allowing meto come on and talk about my
show today and the events thatI'm doing at Leon's Lounge.
It's really cool to be in a barthat old it's the oldest bar in
Houston and it still hasTiffany lamps and chandeliers.
It's just a beautiful placeStained glass windows.
(02:01):
It's really stunning and thesound on the stage is amazing.
But back to what you wereasking who am I?
I don't know.
I like to kind of comparemyself to a Care Bear, mixed
with maybe Mary Poppins, but alittle crazy.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
So how did you get started in performing?
You did school plays, you sangin the choir.
What's that?
Speaker 4 (02:25):
So I started in music at a very, very early age.
I was singing and dancing bythe age of three.
My parents had me on stage bythe age of three.
They couldn't stop me if theywanted to, and I got to do 15
years of jazz, tap, ballet,lyrical.
I was in church choir.
I was in school choir.
(02:46):
I had private vocal lessons.
I got to go to college for finearts focusing on classical
voice, which is really amazing.
But mostly I'd like to say thatI blame my parents.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Because who else are you going to blame?
Speaker 4 (03:02):
No, they're absolutely the reason that I get
to do this for a living, andit's been the greatest gift of
my life and I thank them everysingle day.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Now at some point, high school marriage, children,
all that stuff was going on aswell.
But you had a bit of anadventure that is kind of a
select group of people areinvolved in, and that's that you
were a contestant on AmericanIdol.
I never watched American Idol,it just did not appeal to me.
(03:34):
So when I first met you I'mlike okay, so all right.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
So American Idol was a really interesting experience
for me.
I do not regret it one bitbecause I made some really
phenomenal connections throughthat experience with some
amazing artists all over thecountry and I take philosophical
issues with a lot of the waythat I think that reality TV is
(04:01):
both run and displayed.
However, I will say that theyare very good at their job.
They've been on television along time and people are still
watching.
I again have philosophicaldifferences to a lot of what
happens on the show and I madethat very well known.
I was not quiet about it and itdidn't result in me leaving the
(04:24):
show the second time.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
So you were actually on twice.
What years were those?
Speaker 4 (04:30):
That's a good question, because I don't
remember what year it was, but Ican tell you who was on.
The first year I was on, I wason the season with Adam Lambert
and I couldn't be prouder ofthat.
And the second season I was onwhen Philip Phillips won, and I
have some funny stories aboutPhilip, myself and Heejun Han.
We kind of got yelled at by theproducers because we were
(04:53):
having too much fun and it wassupposed to be a serious room
and we were ruining the shot bysmiling, I see, and which made
us really laugh.
So I had that happen more thanonce.
Don't you know how serious thisis?
This is your whole life.
And I'm sitting there going.
No, it isn't, because I hadalready sold a very large number
(05:13):
of albums out of my car beforethat ever even happened, and I'm
way more proud of that thanbeing accepted onto a reality TV
show.
So I think one of the problemsthat you had was that they like
for people to tell their stories, and that's one of the one of
the producers, in front of mymother and children, asked me to
(05:36):
describe what it was likehaving an abusive husband whom
was their father, and I refusedto do that in front of my
children.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
So, yeah, they go for the drama, they go for
heartache, they go for all kindsof things like that.
It's not just that you get onthere and you sing.
You have to have a story.
That's what goes on there.
You say you don't regret it.
What was your advice to anyoneelse that aspires to be on that
show, or one like it?
Speaker 4 (06:03):
If you want to go be on one of those shows,
absolutely do it.
The experience is great.
They do cover all of yourexpenses.
They do take mostly good careof you, aside from having
incredibly long days and lotsand lots of breaks in between
and editing you to whatever theywant you to be.
If you decide to go on one ofthese shows, the first thing I
(06:25):
will tell you is do not go towin, go to grow.
Do not go thinking you're goingto be the next big thing,
because even if you are, youstill need to grow.
Use the competition as a placeto network, grow your skills.
Learn from your peers, becausethere is so much talent in that
one room from all over thecountry, just squished into a
(06:47):
small area.
If you don't learn somethingwhile you're there, you've
already failed.
The second thing that I wouldsay is understand that it is
reality television, not reality,and there is a very, very big
difference.
The third bit of advice that Iwould give I don't know how I
can put this understand thatthat is far from the only avenue
to be able to make it in thisbusiness.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Right, most people that make it are not on American
Idol.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
Correct, correct.
They're not on any realitytelevision show.
They're in a music city or anart city or wherever they're
from plugging away trying toperfect their craft city or
wherever they're from pluggingaway trying to perfect their
craft.
And that's something that Ipass on to a lot of my vocal
students, my music students, isthat the important thing is that
you're better today than youwere yesterday.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
For me.
I have to be way better,because I cannot sing, or, as I
like to tell people, I guess Ican sing, but very, very badly.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
That's okay.
You know, I think everyoneshould sing.
I don't care if you're aterrible singer.
Singing is so good for you.
It is an emotional release, itis great for your cardiovascular
and pulmonary, it is great foryour posture.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
And why is that?
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Good for you, because if you're singing with correct
posture, you're already workingit out.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
So you've performed around town, around Houston area
.
What are some of the thingsthat you've done that have been
notable to you?
Speaker 4 (08:17):
I oh, this one's very easy for me.
The first time I got to singcenter stage at the Wortham
Center was such a magicalexperience for me, and I
completely owe that experienceto Joey Guerra over at the
Houston Chronicle, because he'sthe one that allowed me to do
that.
Another really cool experienceI got to have was performing for
(08:38):
Rainbow on the Green and atDiscovery Green, and a lot of
that was because of veryincredible artists such as Ty
Blue, who a lot of people haveknown to go on to have fame with
Ty Neek, as well as ErnieManouse.
He's helped me quite a bit inmy career and I owe a lot of
these cool experiences that I'vehad to people that took the
(09:00):
time to see me and support me.
Yeah, no one ever gets anywherewithout a little help from their
friends, right, a whole lot ofhelp from your friends, a whole
lot.
Even this opportunity withLeon's Lounge is a gift, because
I don't know if y'all are aware, but they've been hotlisted for
musicians because the sound oftheir stage is so good.
(09:21):
People are like begging to getin to do a show there.
And I feel very lucky to havethis opportunity because when I
was working at a previous bar inMontrose called Buddies Houston
, one of my bartenders was AaronLatour, who is now working at
Leon's Lounge, and sent me amessage and said hey, would you
like to do a show here?
(09:42):
So I've been very, very luckyand very, very grateful for the
amount of support and love thatI get from our community here in
Houston.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Did you take part in the Pride Idol competitions?
Speaker 4 (09:58):
Yes, I did.
It was Pride Superstar when Iwas in there and that when I
tell you, I still have some ofthe best friends I will ever
have for the rest of my lifebecause of that experience.
There are so many incredibleartists here.
I never won, I never won thecompetition and I was always
upset.
But I could never be upsetabout who won, because they were
(10:20):
always incredible entertainers,fantastic vocalists.
I was upset because I didn't dothe job well enough and those
people are still very dear to meAshley Hennessy, morena Roas.
There are so many incredibleartists here.
I have a brother in Cody RayStrimple.
It's just amazing to me thecamaraderie that happened during
(10:43):
the seasons that I was on thatcompetition here in Houston and
how much that meant to me andhelped shape me, even as an
older artist.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
It's always amazing to me that not only can these
people sing, but they can singin several different genres.
So when I've gotten to see oneof those competitions I'm just
kind of blowed away because, asI said, I am not proficient in
singing, but I sure doappreciate it when I hear it
from other people who are reallygood at it and it just boggles
(11:17):
my mind.
I've known you a couple ofyears now and I'm a big fan.
I love your singing.
Speaker 7 (11:25):
And.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
I'm quite envious of it, because if I could sing,
that's all I'd ever do.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
I'm telling you, let's do some voice lessons.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
So actually you have been derailed a little bit
because you were planning a moveto Nashville.
What's up with that, WendyTaylor.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
Okay.
So I was planning a move toNashville and I could not get
the sale of my house where Iwanted it to be, so I decided
that it was not time to sell.
Yet the market took a dip.
There were a lot of houses inmy neighborhood sitting for a
very long time, and I decidedthat it was just not time to
(12:08):
sell and that I can wait acouple more years.
I've waited this long.
I can wait a couple more yearsand also, in good news, my
youngest son, who graduated highschool three up, three down go
team, has decided to go tocollege, so I'm going to keep
him here and support him herethrough his college journey.
We can both take off and go toNashville.
(12:30):
I have incredible plans when Iget there.
I have some amazing connections.
I was very gifted to be able tosing for my best friend's
wedding recently, where I got tosing with one of my idols from
the 90s, Mr Ty Herndon, whosevoice is still that of an angel,
and a lot of opportunitiesspawned from that that I'm very
excited to explore but can'treally talk about.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
There's always that caveat.
It's like we're going to dothis thing, it's going to be
amazing, but we're not going totell you about it quite yet.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
I guess it's not time yet it's not time, so I'm very
excited about that.
And in the meantime I havephenomenal just a plethora of
artists here that I get to workwith, like Jonah Miles, lady
Bird, based out of Galveston soso many amazing artists.
Morena Roas I work with her onher upcoming projects doing
(13:22):
vocal production.
I co-write, I do a lot ofsongwriting with Jonah Miles.
I do a lot of background vocalwork for Lady Bird and her
projects, her original projects.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
So this thing at Leon's Lounge and I have to
admit, even though it's theoldest bar in Houston, I was not
familiar with it and it soundslike it's a really interesting
place.
You're like I said, you havethis first in a series.
The first one is September the5th.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Yes, the first one is September the 5th.
It's Leon's Lounge is at 106McGowan, so it's right on the
edge of the Gabor Hood, which isnice, but I think it's still
considered Midtown.
The bar itself is thisbeautiful vintage kind of
speakeasy feel which is really,really groovy, and the theme
(14:12):
that I have for the first showis movies and musicals.
It will be a very intimateevent.
I will be interacting and doingcrowd work throughout the show.
There will be some comedy,usually completely by accident,
and the second show now, if thisgoes well, the second show will
be Women who Rock.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
All, right, now we're talking, of course, brian and I
both love Broadway shows, sothat will be good too to hear
you sing some of those songsfrom all the musicals that we
love so much, and it's beenknown that gay people tend to
like musicals.
Speaker 4 (14:51):
I don't know, it's a thing, um I know it's so weird,
right, it's part of our cultfollowing of the women who rock?
Speaker 3 (14:59):
who do you think is your standout from that?
Speaker 4 (15:02):
no, that's too hard, because all of them.
I have a list going.
I have a long list going and itranges from melissa etheridge
to tina turner, alana miles, patbenatar, joan jett blondie or
debbie harry right, it's a longlist and it would be impossible
(15:24):
for me and even Aretha Franklin.
How do you not include her?
There are so many phenomenalpast and contemporary Hayley
Hayley from Paramore oh my gosh,the power in that little tiny
body.
What an amazing singer.
There are just so so many.
I can't pick one.
They will be happening aroundone month intervals.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Okay, so the first one is September the 5th, and
then it would be October, earlyOctober, for the next one.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Early October and the tickets will go on sale for
that somewhere around.
Hold on, let me pull up mycalendar in about two weeks.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
And so how do people find out more about the show?
Speaker 4 (16:11):
So you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok.
I am at just Wendy Taylor allthe time and it's.
I do that because I don't likebeing put on a pedestal, so it's
just J-U-S-T.
Wendy Taylor,W-E-N-D-Y-T-A-Y-L-O-R.
You can follow me on any ofthose things.
(16:33):
If you would like tickets, youcan find it on eventbritecom at
Wendy Taylor Presents Movies andMusicals.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Well, wendy Taylor, I love you so much and I
appreciate you being with us.
On Queer Voices.
I've interviewed Joan Jett andnow I've interviewed Wendy
Taylor.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
Thank you so much for having me, and I adore you too.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Thank you, Debra and Wendy.
Next up, Brett Cullum speakswith actor Ivan Moreno about his
Houston Broadway theater debutin their bold new production of
American Psycho.
Speaker 6 (17:09):
Joining me today is Ivan Moreno.
He is playing Lewis Carruthersand he is a Houston-based
performer who is thrilled to bemaking his Broadway well,
houston Broadway theater debutin American Psycho.
He's appeared in courses for LaBoheme and Tannhauser with
Houston Grand Opera.
Ivan received the Bachelor ofMusic in Vocal Performance from
(17:31):
Oklahoma City University in 2024.
Wow and other theater andcredits include performing in In
the Heights, rent and Songsfrom a New World.
So you are from Houston or youlive here now from a new world.
Speaker 8 (17:45):
So you are from Houston or you live here now.
I am born and raised in Houston, texas.
So yeah, I've been here forever, but I moved back.
I kind of moved back and forthfor the past four years.
When I was in school I studiedin Oklahoma City, but I'm now
full time here in Houston again,so it's great to be back.
Speaker 6 (18:00):
How did you pick Oklahoma City?
Speaker 8 (18:02):
It was more like Oklahoma City picked me.
I was in high school and I wasin my senior year, so I mainly
was a classical singer growingup or not growing up, but kind
of like.
In my later high school years Itook up classical singing and I
did a couple of competitions.
At one of these competitions Imet Dr Autumn West from Oklahoma
City University as well asCourtney Krause from Oklahoma
(18:24):
City University and kind of gotintroduced to the program and
auditioned, got in and you know,the rest is history.
I moved up to OKC for fouryears and studied mainly vocal
performance, but that's when Istarted getting a little bit
more involved in musical theater, which I had not done until I'd
gotten into college.
I did like one communityproduction into the woods, like
(18:44):
in 2018 now it's been a while,um, but I didn't really start
getting really into theater andmusical theater until college.
So, yeah, yeah.
I ended up in OKC for four yearswow, it's just.
Speaker 6 (18:56):
I don't usually see people from Houston saying I'm
going to go to Oklahoma City.
Speaker 8 (18:59):
Yeah, it really.
Ocu really is a diamond out inthe Midwest.
It's an incredible program andit's usually it's really
interesting.
It's kind of in, I guess, analmost like.
You wouldn't predict thatOklahoma City would be like the
place where a lot of incredibleperformers are born, but that's
the alma mater of ChristianChenoweth, as well as Kelly
(19:21):
O'Hara and dozens of otherincredible performers both on
Broadway and on film and TV.
So OCU really is an incredibleprogram and it's just an
interesting kind of location.
Speaker 6 (19:33):
Yeah, well, I can't argue with those names.
So, yeah, no, definitely.
So how did you end upauditioning for American Psycho?
I mean, it's not like it's yourtypical musical or something
that, like you know, like rentor so I was.
Speaker 8 (19:48):
I remember it.
Actually I was in the samebuilding we're rehearsing it now
.
I was, I think, leaving a orenter, I don't know.
It was in the rehearsal.
It was in like the tech processfor I think, tanhoisa, which
was back in the rehearsal.
It was in like the tech processfor I think, tanhoysa, which
was back in the spring, and Iwas on backstage and I saw like
a listing for American Cycle,the musical, and I had heard, I
knew there was a musicaladaptation of American Cycle,
(20:10):
the film as well as the novel,and I was like, okay, this is
kind of interesting.
I know this was on Broadway.
I know it was like kind of oneof the more a more controversial
show, that kind of like youknow came and gone and then you
know, it was one of those kindof shows that we saw in passing.
So I was like, okay, I'm justgoing to it's in Houston.
So I was like, okay, it's, it'sa newer company.
I looked into Houston BroadwayTheater.
(20:31):
So I went through the website,applied for an audition, showed
up, got a callback to dance andthen callback and then another
call back and then ended upgetting an offer.
So here I am and I'm so glad,I'm so lucky Cause, like you
know from the, a little listingthat I saw on backstage turned
into be like one of the mosttransformative, I think, shows
that I've done so far.
Speaker 6 (20:51):
You know, that's the way it happens sometimes.
I think it's just incredible.
Speaker 8 (20:53):
It's kind of like fate intervenes, or something it
kind of just it pops up whenyou least expect it.
Speaker 6 (20:58):
Yeah, but now you have an opera background I'll
say classically trained thingslike that.
So you're in this show and youknow Duncan Sheik wrote the
score.
Obviously I think that, lewis,you get the Hard Bodies song.
Is that one of your big?
Speaker 8 (21:12):
ones.
I'm in Hard Body, I'm in Cards,I'm in a lot of numbers.
My track is pretty, pretty,pretty fun but pretty
complicated.
I'm playing um lewis for themajority of the show, but I play
a couple other small charactersin different numbers, so it's
kind of like back to back toback to back to back.
And it's interesting because umduck and chic wrote the score
and I was introduced to duck andchic through spring awakening,
(21:33):
as well as alice by heart, andthe score really does.
It does feel like a duck andchic score, but it's really
unique in the sense that it'sway more electronic.
It kind of reminds me of likeelectronic music from like the
2000s 2010, kind of like BlackEyed Peas type of vibe.
It's a fun score to sing though.
It's really, really fun, yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:52):
Well, it's interesting, I think, that a lot
of people feel this disconnect.
When I was talking to Tice, whoI interviewed earlier, he was
talking about how it sounded alittle bit more ahead of its
time than what the era is set in.
You know the 90s, I mean, youknow we were hip, what the heck?
Speaker 8 (22:05):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 6 (22:07):
We started that kind of like club scene, I'm sure.
Well, tell me a little bitabout the character, the main
one that you play, lewisCarruthers.
He's a little bit of adifferent guy compared to the
other ones in the show.
Speaker 8 (22:18):
Yeah, playing this character has been so fun,
mainly because we're sort ofreinventing him, me and Joe
Calarco, who's our directorincredible director we kind of
took in the liberties to kind ofredefine Lewis and we're kind
of playing him in a little bitof a different way than he
usually was portrayed, both inthe 2000 film as well as in the
(22:39):
original Broadway production ofit.
One of the biggest, I guess,notes that I'll highlight is
kind of which is like in thenovel, in the movie as well as
in the original musical, is thatLewis is a closeted gay man in
the 80s.
So we of course like retainingthat.
But I think, as well as with thecasting choice, with me being
Latino, being Mexican-American,we wanted to kind of highlight
(23:01):
another dynamic that is notthere in the original source
material but in the show he'sreferred to as Luis, but his
real name and, like my versionof the character, mind you, his
real name is Luis and we kind ofwanted to play around with the
way a lot of Latinos incorporate America as well as,
like you know, in Englishspeaking world, you know, period
is kind of the anglicization ofour names, and so it kind of
(23:25):
teeters back and forth between,like some characters most
characters calling him Louis,which is you know kind of how he
introduces himself in thispredominantly white English
speaking you know world, butthere's moments where he's
referred to as Luis, which werealize is actually his name,
and not only is he kind ofwearing the mask of trying to
present as a straight man inthis very, very masculine,
(23:46):
heterosexual world, he's alsotrying to wear a mask of being,
you know, the perfect idea of anAmerican, even though you know
he clearly has roots fromsomewhere else.
Speaker 6 (23:55):
You know, it's interesting because I actually
worked with a guy who would goby Mike all the time and then it
turned out that his real namewas Miguel, you know so it is it
still goes on?
I mean, there's still this kindof tradition of, like you know,
maybe we adapt to a corporatesetting or something like that.
I mean, of course, in AmericanPsycho it's a little bit
heightened because you guysreally are wearing the masks and
(24:17):
all that and Patrick obviouslyhas one of the largest masks, or
at least we think, maybe hedoes.
I'm not always 100% sure.
It's funny because I think thatwhen the book came out, bredy
Stenellis is a gay author.
Obviously that's his identity,and there was a lot of
controversy flung at him becausethey said that this book was
(24:38):
misogynistic and it washomophobic.
There was a lot of like reallyawful language aimed at, uh, the
gay characters in the book ortalking about you know them,
using things like the f word andstuff like that, which was
honestly in the late 80s, was apretty easy term.
Is there any of that stuff inthe musical or do you know?
Speaker 8 (24:58):
absolutely, yeah, um, there there is a lot of the
original language that's used inthe novel is absolutely stuff
in the musical.
Or do you know?
Absolutely, yeah, um, therethere is a lot of the original
language that's used in thenovel is absolutely used in the
musical, because, more than sothan anything, I think it's
because it's relevant to thetime, and that's another kind of
direction we're trying to shiftthis show into is the realism.
We're trying to make it real,like we didn't want this to be a
caricature of the 80s.
We wanted this to really feellike what the 80s really was for
(25:19):
these people.
So not only is that shown inthe design from, like the
costumes you know, like usuallywhen you see movies now that are
produced nowadays or showsproduced nowadays that are set
in the 80s, it's usually reallyover the top, like really
exaggerated silhouettes of whatthe 80s looks like.
But we wanted to kind of dialthat back and make it just more
realistic, and that that waskind of kind of segues into the
(25:43):
portrayal of gay characters inthe original novel versus kind
of the way we're doing it inthis, in this show.
Um, because both me and joekind of agreed like the way, um,
more than anything, the wayhe's kind of portrayed in the
film which, mind you, likeincredible film, incredible
performance, he just simplywouldn't have survived.
L wouldn't have survived thecorporate America, wall Street
bro kind of culture, kind ofbehaving the way he, or the
(26:05):
being portrayed in the way thathe was um, in earlier
adaptations of this, of thistext.
So we wanted to really kind ofdial into the way like that, you
know, because let's be, let'sbe real like men have been
closeted forever, you know, likeit's, it's, it still happens
today, even as much as in the80s and there really is a little
bit of that, like you know.
Now I don't want to say two face, but it's a mask, it really is
(26:27):
a mask and we wanted tohighlight that.
You know, lewis is extremelygood at living a double life.
That's literally like a line inthe show.
Um is that he's very good atliving a double life, and I
think that's a big conversation,kind of talking about the
reaction to the original novel.
Of course, like day one ofrehearsal, the first thing we
(26:48):
did was kind of break down thetext and break down the legacy
that this story has left.
We want it.
Our goal is to approach it fromthe most realistic, honest as
well as respectful way possibleyeah, did you guys have to do
research at all?
Speaker 6 (27:04):
did you like have to like go back and look at
anything, or I mean, I thinkthat's always like kind of
individual homework.
Speaker 8 (27:10):
Um, I absolutely did.
I I went kind of back anddelved into like what, what do
we know what?
What is like written in textabout lewis?
Like what do we know about his,his, his personal life and
those types of things.
And it's kind of a little bitof a balance of balancing the
original source material as wellas reinventing something,
because we're rewriting the show.
(27:31):
Essentially, there's so manynew, different scenes.
There's kind of been areworking of scenes from the
original Broadway production.
We have both Roberto and DuncanCheek.
They've been involved in theprocess for this production.
So it's been an honor to beable to rework a show and
workshop it and create somethingnew.
Speaker 6 (27:51):
Do you think they're going to be coming to this?
I know that they went to theChicago one.
Speaker 8 (27:55):
Yeah, we had Roberto a couple weeks ago during the
first couple of read-throughs,and then Duncan Cheek will be
with us, I believe, during tech.
He's going to come and playwith the sound a little bit kind
of do a lot of the mixing oncewe're in the space.
So it's going to be reallyexciting getting to work with
the creators of the show.
Speaker 6 (28:14):
Yeah, no, that's amazing.
Speaker 8 (28:16):
That's a big opportunity.
Speaker 6 (28:17):
This really changed your life?
Maybe yeah.
Speaker 8 (28:22):
You know I'm really starting barely getting involved
in this business.
Um, I just graduated a year agoand that feels forever ago.
But like in the grand scheme ofthings, you know that was a
couple minutes ago.
So it's, it's exciting,especially kind of growing up
and personally, personallygrowing up in an area where this
really wasn't reality.
Like you know, when I would,you know, when I was first going
to college to pursue the arts,you know people were like what
(28:44):
the what the hell are you doing?
You know, like you, you know,like it's not, it wasn't
practical, you know.
And but you know I had thisdrive, this, this drive in me to
just pursue it regardless.
And of course, it comes withits ups and downs and, like I
said, it's fate.
Like I had no idea months agothat I would be sitting here
speaking to you, I had no ideathat I would be, somebody would
(29:05):
even be interested to hear whatI have to say.
So it's crazy how life can justchange in a heartbeat.
One little audition can changea lot.
Speaker 6 (29:12):
Yeah, no kidding.
I mean it's amazing that you'reworking with all of these
people and things like that andon this, uh, this project, and I
think it's uh, it's a verydaring artistic vision to bring
this to houston.
How do you think that audiencesare going to react to this?
I mean, what do you like, whatdo you love?
Speaker 8 (29:28):
it.
I really hope people more thananything.
I feel like this is anotherchance to tell this story it's
it's been really clear in recentyears that american psycho
mainly the film have kind ofbeen reduced into almost a
bite-sized version of what theoriginal intent of the story was
.
We can kind of see that withthe glamorization of Patrick
(29:48):
Bateman from not only hisworkout routine but some of his
personal you know behaviorsbeing kind of glamorized amongst
young men, especially on socialmedia.
I feel like we've, you know,literally lost the plot when it
comes to those types of things,because it's literally like it's
been said dozens of timesbefore, that American Psycho is
a gay man's satire ofheteronormativity and
(30:10):
masculinity and you knowconsumerism and capitalism.
So I really hope this isHouston audiences get another
opportunity to experience thisstory from a different lens.
Houston has always been a daringcity, especially when it comes
to the theater world.
There's a humongous theaterscene here in Houston as well as
an awesome humongousalternative scene here in
(30:31):
Houston.
I don't think Houston is shy todarker themes or just darker
material in general.
But I really hope people lovethis show and are able to sit
with the uncomfortable bits andkind of challenge themselves and
challenge their own ways ofkind of viewing this world that
we've kind of built here in theUnited States, especially when
(30:52):
it comes to, like, masculinityand everything that's been
mentioned before.
Capitalism, over-consumerism,as well as things like vanity
and gym culture and diet culturealso play a humongous role in
this show.
Speaker 6 (31:05):
Yeah, no kidding.
Well, I think what wasinteresting is the trajectory of
it and you hit on it severaltimes very eloquently.
But I think that Brett EastonEllis admitted that the book was
very self-referential for him.
He really saw himself asPatrick Bateman in a way that he
was falling into this kind ofconsumerist void and feeling
empty and all of these differentthings.
(31:25):
And then with the movie MaryHerron I think one of the things
that you're reacting to withLewis Carruthers in the movie is
that Mary Herron really wantedto lean into the whole idea of
it being a gay man's satire.
So I think she allowed Lewis tobe a little bit more flamboyant
just so that she could kind ofkey into that thing a little bit
.
And now this musical version ina weird way you are one of the
(31:49):
most important charactersbecause you are in the core
probably the identity of theauthor and kind of the thing,
because the argument is thatPatrick Bateman might be a
closeted homosexual himself andthat is becoming this kind of
self-loathing that makes him dothese things or imagine that
he's doing these things.
Because obviously the line ofwhat's real and what's not in
(32:11):
American Psycho is kind ofblurry a little bit.
Speaker 8 (32:14):
And I think you touched on a really, really big
point.
I was just talking yesterday inanother interview about kind of
my favorite part about playingum lewis and it's the fact that
he literally he parallelsbateman's arc.
They have the same kind of likecharacter development
throughout the show but you havepatrick bateman kind of diving
really deep and getting suckedup by the whole of like what an
(32:36):
obsession with masculinity andbeing seen as the perfect man
does to somebody.
And then we see Lewis.
We see him kind of get freedfrom that you know prison of
trying to be somebody.
He's not and throughout theshow he's a little bit more
comfortable with himself.
And you bring up a really goodpoint like about, you know, the
possibility that Patrick Baymanis a closeted gay man.
(32:57):
In my own personal experienceI've dealt with the most
homophobia and the most abusefrom men who were closeted
versus the guys that are notcomfortable.
Speaker 6 (33:07):
Yeah, it's the ones that that make it uncomfortable
exactly they see themselves.
Yes, they see themselves yeah,and it they see underneath that
little mask, you know, and Ithink that they worry that you
actually see them for what theycould potentially be and yeah,
and and like I'm trying not tospoil the show because, like,
like big points, but yeah, likethat's a really big arc in this
(33:32):
show yeah, well, I know it'sdefinitely a show about masks,
it's definitely about delusion,it's definitely about machismo
and, you know, being the perfectman in business and in shape
and everything else like that.
I'm so excited that you'readding this new layer to lewis
carothers by making him luiscarothers, that that's amazing
and that is something that onlyHouston could bring.
(33:53):
So I am totally glad to seethat happen and I'm excited to
see you do this and my gosh fromopera singer to American Psycho
.
Speaker 8 (34:02):
What a ride.
Best of both worlds.
Operas are dramatic as hell.
This is right up my alley.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
Now that you say that , I'm kind of like maybe this is
kind of a tame show for youbecause really more people
probably die in the opera.
Speaker 8 (34:17):
Yeah, operas are usually so much more heavier and
and dark, so like um, and Ifeel, like musical theater.
It was a kind of another thingwe were kind of discussing, me
and some other cast members.
Like the interesting thingabout american psycho is that
the villain is the lead role,the person you follow the entire
show and, and so many musicalsfollow the arc of like.
They want you to feel you, theywant you to be on the side of
(34:39):
the lead, they want you to rootfor them.
And this is a challenging piecebecause it's not that simple.
It's not black and white, it'snot just like, oh, this is a bad
guy or this is a good guy.
We're watching a man getconsumed by not only his own
demons but by the world aroundhim.
Speaker 6 (34:54):
So it's, it's a it's it's definitely a complicated
piece yeah, well, it'sinteresting because I think it
brings up a lot about toxicmasculinity and I think that we
all deal with it, no matter ifwe're straight, we're gay,
whatever the case may be.
We all kind of deal with it andwhat a man should be and what a
man should present to the worldand all of that.
So I think it'd be a fun showto see it from that angle and
(35:16):
I'm excited this has been theshow that I've been looking
forward to the most all year,because I just think it's the
wildest and I have a soft spotfor Bredy Sinellis.
I kind of grew up reading allof his books, and not ironically
because of the first name, butanyway.
But thank you so much, yvonne.
I am thrilled.
Break legs, break limbs,whatever it is that you guys are
going to be doing.
Speaker 8 (35:37):
I feel like that's pretty tame for what this show
kind of has to do.
Speaker 6 (35:41):
I know, but we will see you.
It runs September 2nd.
What is the exact dates?
Speaker 8 (35:46):
again, we run the September 2nd through the 14th.
Speaker 6 (35:50):
That's it, and you're in the smaller space, Zilka
Hall, which means that we get alittle bit more intimate than if
we were actually in the bigstage.
I'm a little bit nervousbecause I've bought my tickets
and I'm up close and I noticedthat the closer you get, it gets
a little bit cheaper and I'mlike am I in the splash zone?
Speaker 2 (36:16):
Am I going to splash zone?
Am I gonna get blood on me?
No, you have to come and findout if you get blood on my
armani suit.
No, just kidding, all right.
Well, thank you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, brett and ivan.
Lastly, contributor ethanmichelle gans speaks with javon
martin, chair of flux houston,who invites us to their end of
summer pool party, complete withvoter registration and free hiv
testing, and shares whytrans-led joy matters.
Take it away, ethan.
Speaker 7 (36:36):
So this is Ethan Michelle Gantz, and we are on
Queer Voices.
We're going to be talking toJavon Martin today, and he is
the chair of Lux Houston.
How are you, Javon?
Speaker 5 (36:46):
I'm doing great, Ethan.
Thank you so much for havingthis interview.
Speaker 7 (36:51):
Yes, it's awesome to see you again and to talk to you
today.
So tell us about Flux Houston.
Speaker 5 (36:58):
So Flux Houston is amazing.
We are an affinity group of AHF.
Ahf is the acronym for AIDSHealthcare Foundation.
So if you are not well-versedon what AHF is, we have HIV
(37:23):
testing, we have housing, wehave pharmacy and it's like a
whole wellness program for youknow, individuals.
Period.
Right, whether you are HIVpositive or not.
Right, because the idea is forprevention.
Right, a thrift store.
(37:43):
And Flux is a part of AHF andwe are all volunteers and we
throw parties to bring awarenessto the disparities of the trans
community.
Speaker 7 (38:02):
Awesome.
So y'all have an event comingup right.
Speaker 5 (38:05):
We sure do have an event coming up.
The event is theend-of-the-year pool party.
Sure do have an event coming up.
The event is the end of theyear pool party.
It is happening September 20that the Heights Hotel 100
Cavalcade and it is free.
It's free food, free drinks.
We just need you to click theQR code, sign the questionnaire.
(38:28):
There's a few questions that wewant to know.
If the community is in care, dothey know their status?
And, if not, do they need to betested?
And we will also have free HIVtesting at our event.
They are at all of our eventsso that the community can know
their status.
We are also providing a QR codefor the 340B bill.
(38:50):
Right, and the 340B is so thatwe can keep Big Pharma off of
jacking up the prices for ourmedications.
Right, so that looks likelow-income communities are able
to get their prescriptionsfilled at a lower cost because
big farmers trying to jack theprice up so that we won't be
(39:13):
able to afford our medication.
Speaker 7 (39:16):
Well, yeah, that sounds really important that
people get medication, I agree,especially in our community.
Speaker 6 (39:22):
I agree.
Speaker 7 (39:23):
So tell me, y'all have this event every year.
Yes, we do, y'all have thisevent every year.
Speaker 5 (39:27):
Yes, we do.
This is our second time we'rehaving this event and I am just
looking forward to sharing spacewith community, having a great
time.
Oh, and also we have yourself,Ethan Michelle Gans, doing voter
registration right, Becausethat's our voice.
Speaker 7 (40:00):
That is our way of saying who we want in office and
, you know, just taking care ofour needs by voting.
So they always stop voterregistration around October.
So September is a great time tomake sure everybody is checked,
to make sure they've not beenthrown off the rolls or whatever
.
So tell me how much fun it'sgoing to be over there.
What kind of food is it?
Speaker 5 (40:21):
Oh, so it's a.
It's a new restaurant.
It's Hispanic food.
You know the regular rice andbeans.
We'll probably have some tacos.
I actually did not go throughthe menu as yet.
We have a meeting with themnext week to go through the menu
because we needed an exactnumber of people that will be
(40:42):
participating.
So it's looking like we haveroughly about 150 people
participating and it's going tobe awesome.
And, like I said, free drinks,but it's also a safe space for
those that don't drink alcoholicbeverages.
You can have free water, freesoda, free juice, right, it will
be available for those in need.
And just in case anyone needs,you know, someone to talk to.
(41:06):
You know, outside I am alsolicensed to, you know, just
listen to people, you know andyou know, just make space in
case it gets uncomfortable.
You know, for anyone.
You know I wear many hats.
You know that, ethan.
Speaker 7 (41:22):
You do indeed wear many hats and you do a lot of
work.
Sometimes people may notrealize it because you're behind
the scenes, but you know, I seea lot of the stuff that you do
and I really appreciate that.
I really appreciate.
You know all the work that youput into our community, so tell
me, are we going to have anyinteresting people there other
than me and you?
Speaker 5 (41:41):
Yes, yes, there will be many interesting people.
So there will be some electedofficials stopping by.
I will not mention their names,you would have to come to be
there and see who's going to popby.
But I can tell you last yearJohn Rosenthal came.
He always comes and supportsthe trans community.
(42:01):
He is like the official,unofficial trans supporter.
And there will be others comingby.
I sent several emails and theydefinitely want to come and
support us and I know there willbe Black Loud Impulse Pharmacy.
They will all be in attendance.
(42:24):
Out of the Closet will be inattendance and I know we have
Trans Men.
Empowerment will be coming.
Speaker 6 (42:31):
Trans.
Speaker 5 (42:31):
Latinas.
Oltt will be coming, flas willbe coming, sosu, saving Our
Sisters United.
There will be severalorganizations in attendance.
The Normal Anomaly will bethere.
It's definitely a communityevent and trans people to the
front, as always, because, youknow, this is for the trans
(42:55):
community, just, you know, goingout the year with a bang and a
great party to celebrate who weare.
And yeah, just, we are lookingfor volunteers.
Right, we are always lookingfor volunteers, just to let you
all know, and we are alsovolunteers.
Everyone that's in a leadershipposition with Flux is a
volunteer.
But we are also looking forextra volunteers to you know, be
(43:20):
out in community with us and goto events and let people know
that we exist and we are hereand invite them to our parties,
our events and our spaces.
Right, we are also looking forboard members.
Right now, we have thesecretary position open.
We have the let me see the co,the co-chair, because I am one
(43:44):
of the co-chairs and we haveanother space open for that.
We have another space open forthat.
And so, yeah, if anyone feelslike they are able to fulfill
those spots, please let us knowat our party or online.
Right, you can reach us onlineand just to give you just a
little I guess you could saysynopsis on who we are and what
(44:08):
we do.
So Flux raises the profile ofthe trans and gender
nonconforming community byleveraging social events,
creating safe spaces andinnovative advocacy initiatives.
So it's just like this poolparty, right, we are definitely
leveraging it.
We are making it upscale by nothaving individuals have to pay
(44:30):
to get in.
They won't have to pay to drinkand they definitely won't have
to pay to eat.
So that's just a little eyeopener of what we do, what we
can do here in Houston.
Speaker 7 (44:42):
Well, that definitely sounds like an all-inclusive
party.
It sounds like a lot of fun,and I can't wait to go myself.
So tell me, is there anythingelse that I haven't asked you
about that you'd like to tell usabout?
Speaker 5 (44:54):
Well, not at the moment, about the Flux Pool
Party.
That is our main thing that weare just, you know, here trying
to advertise at this moment andpromote.
We do need followers onInstagram.
Yes, that is one thing.
Our Instagram does not haveenough followers for us to go
(45:17):
live right, and we like todocument our events so that
people know, you know how ourevents look and you know who's
there to support us.
So I believe right now we areat, I want to say, 563.
Yesterday that's what I saw 563.
(45:39):
So we need 1,000.
So please tell a friend to tella friend to follow us on
Instagram at Flux the numberfour, houston.
Follow us on Instagram at Fluxthe number four, houston.
Speaker 7 (45:56):
That's all one word F-L-U-X, the number four,
H-O-U-S-T-O-N, and if peoplewant to RSVP for this party
because obviously you said youall needed to know how many
people were coming, so you knewabout the food and drink, that
is all-inclusive how do peopleRSVP if they want to?
Speaker 5 (46:10):
Yes, so the RSVP is on our Instagram.
It's on our Facebook Flux forHouston Facebook.
Now, for those of you that areunable to scan the QR code,
because you have, I guess, justone phone or you don't have a
(46:30):
computer.
So the way you would do that isyou would go to the bitly right
, b-i-t dot L-Y, and then youwould put in flux 24, right, and
that will take you to our, Iguess you could say the
questionnaire, and that way,from that questionnaire, you can
(46:53):
definitely sign in from there.
Speaker 7 (46:55):
Let's talk a little bit more about Flux itself.
So you're the one thatrecruited me into this when we
started this a couple of yearsago.
So what made you want to dothis here in Houston?
Speaker 5 (47:09):
So what made you want to do this here in Houston?
Well, coming from New York andknowing what Flux does for
community in New York, seeingthe events and the people at the
events in New York, when I camehere to Houston, I didn't see
those type of events.
There were events happening,but the groups were at the
(47:32):
Montrose Center and they werelike gatherings and they weren't
upscale.
I didn't see any outsidebarbecues.
I didn't see parties atrestaurants or bars where it was
free.
People hosted events but youhad to pay to get in, then you
had to pay to drink, and thisevent is different, right, and
(47:52):
we also offer free HIV testingand STDs, right, it's very
important to know your statusand right now, tds are running
rapid in the LGBTQ pluscommunity.
Definitely definitely community, definitely definitely.
(48:14):
So it's very, very importantthat anyone that wants to attend
our event, they can go to thebitly, which is B-I-T, period
L-Y, with the backslash F-L-U-X,and that has to be all capital
20, 24.
It's 24, right, and weapologize that it's 24, but
that's what it is.
So it's FLUX24 in all capital,right, and when that opens up,
(48:38):
you will get the health andwellness survey and that health
and wellness survey once youfinish.
It takes one minute, because Idid it myself.
It takes one minute to fill outthat survey and you will get a
thank you envelope.
That means that your answerswere recorded and you are now
able to attend our event.
And so once you show up to theevent, we will check to make
(49:01):
sure your name is there.
We will ask you if you knowyour status.
Would you like to get tested?
And you'll get an incentive forbeing tested.
We also have some swag to giveaway.
Yeah, so just come on out.
No expectations, just want tohave a good time and just go out
this last pool party of theyear with us and that's about it
(49:24):
.
Speaker 7 (49:25):
So tell me about other types of events that they
do.
Speaker 5 (49:28):
We do all types of events.
So, like I said, flux isconnected to AHF, right?
So AHF has a World AIDS Dayevent, december 1st, right?
So whatever event that is, wewill be participating in.
(49:49):
We participated in the openingof the Dallas-topian in Dallas,
texas, and it was an amazingevent and I just want to let
everyone know that if you havean event that you want us to
participate in, let us know,give us you know a heads up and
Flux will definitely be there tosupport.
(50:11):
We've walked in rallies withOLTT.
We were at Pride this year.
We helped table for Pride andmake sure that people got tested
.
We had a float, we were on theAHF float and we will walk in
even the flags.
We need a team of peoples.
If you want to come volunteerwith us, walk in the Pride March
(50:33):
with us and just have a greattime, come on through.
We would love to have you.
Speaker 7 (50:38):
It does seem like now's a good time for trans
people to find their community,and here's one right here.
We've got a really great one.
Speaker 5 (50:47):
It is.
It is.
Now is the time for us to showup and make sure that our voice
is heard, because it is veryimportant, because they're
taking our rights away from us,one day at a time, back by
showing up to rallies andspreading the word If you see
(51:11):
something, say something,because, like we've been saying
for years, once they come for us, they're definitely coming for
you and this has been proven.
It's faxed.
This is how they dismantled theLGBT community.
They attacked the mostvulnerable among us and then
(51:31):
they come for the rest, becauseyou see how they started with us
with the bathroom.
It was never about the bathroom, ethan, and you know this
because we've had thisconversation several times right
Now.
Right, they're attackingmarriage equality, right, and
it's been on the table and theykeep bringing this stuff up.
And I don't want to talkpolitics, but you know it's like
(51:54):
I'm going to do this over hereso that you pay attention to
this, so that we can slide thisunder the rug over here, because
you're not paying attention.
So, the more they bringawareness to what they feel like
we don't exist, we shouldn'texist, and try to take our
rights away from us, they'repassing other things Like look
(52:15):
at this rezoning, right, therezoning just popped up out of
nowhere because we were payingattention to other things, and
this is what's going to happenthroughout his whole rest of his
term.
So we have to pay attention toeverything, because they're
trying to take our rights awayfrom us.
So just pay attention.
(52:35):
We have to make sure womenstill have the right to vote.
We have to make sure Blackpeople still have the right to
vote, because that's what'sgoing to happen next.
They're challenging everythingand they're trying to make
things go back to the way theywere over 100 years ago, right,
where they said it was the onlyway to live, which is their way,
(52:57):
and we all know what that is.
It's the white way, right?
Meanwhile, this whole Americawas stolen from the indigenous
people and we know that.
It's stuff that we know right,because we're we're all
immigrants here, because thisland wasn't ours from day one.
We all know this.
But hey, we'll let them tellthe story.
(53:17):
But again, this is about fluxand we want everyone to come and
have a beautiful time and justbe themselves, open and
affirming and just, hey, havefun, have fun in the pool.
We got some beach balls fory'all.
Yeah, we got pool noodles andeverything.
We're going to have a greattime.
Speaker 7 (53:36):
You know, all the haters seem to be mad all the
time and I think that maybe usshowing up in a group and
showing a lot of joy and havinga lot of fun just would really
get under their skin.
Speaker 5 (53:48):
It always does and it always does, and not to mention
every event that we've had.
We have not had anyone come anddisrupt our joy ever.
It's always been.
We've always had an amazingtime and, mind you, it's from 12
to four, right, it's four hoursof fun.
(54:08):
Just come, have your bathingsuit on, ready to jump in the
water, ready to have fun.
We will pay some bills thefirst 20, 30 minutes, just to
let y'all know who we are, whatwe do and what we have to offer.
But after that it's just youfun and sun and food and drinks
and, yeah, just community.
Well, that sounds likesomething I'm going to be at.
(54:29):
And drinks and yeah, justcommunity.
Well, that sounds likesomething I'm going to be at.
Well, I think, Ethan, becauseyou are a part of the board, we
expect you to be there family,so this is open to everybody.
Speaker 7 (54:38):
right, it's a trans event, but anybody who is
friendly with the transcommunity can show up.
Speaker 5 (54:44):
Correct.
We actually want everyone toshow up, right, because we're in
groups, right, and I can't, youknow, put more emphasis on this
as trans community.
As a member of the transcommunity, it feels great to see
(55:04):
our allies, co-conspirators,however you want to call
yourself.
Show up for us, right, and thisis the time to come, step up,
be here with us and just love onus.
This is your time to show up.
So, all the allies listening,all of the people that believe
in us and just want to love us,come out.
(55:28):
Please come out, share thisspace with us, just no, you know
trans people to the front, butjust come out and just be there
with us, right?
And that's all we ask is justlove on us and just support us.
Speaker 7 (55:44):
When and where will this be again that they need to
show up and show the love?
Speaker 5 (55:48):
Yes, this will be at the Heights Hotel.
It's 100 Cavalcade and it'sgoing to be an amazing time,
definitely amazing time andfollow us on.
Instagram.
Speaker 7 (56:00):
What's the day that they're having it?
Speaker 5 (56:03):
September 20th at 12 pm.
Speaker 7 (56:06):
All right.
Speaker 5 (56:06):
Yes, yes.
So parking right.
We prefer you not bring a car.
Right, because, like I said,free drinks Right.
If you don't have to bring yourcar, please don't, because we
don't want you to.
You know, definitely,definitely.
(56:28):
After we get to the max of thecars parked, yeah, you're going
to have to park probably on theside or somewhere else and then
walk over.
So just come early, make sureyou get there early.
Speaker 7 (56:42):
All right, all right.
Well, this is Ethan MichelleGantz on Queer Voices, and we've
been talking to Javon Martinabout Flux and their
end-of-the-year pool party andvoter registration.
Speaker 1 (56:56):
This has been Queer Voices, heard on KPFT Houston
and as a podcast available fromseveral podcasting sources.
Check our webpagequeervoicesorg for more
information.
Queer Voices executive produceris Brian Levinka.
Deborah Moncrief-Bell isco-producer Brett Cullum Davis
(57:20):
Mendoza-Druzman Ethan MichelleGans.
Mel Peterson and Joel Tatum arecontributors.
Speaker 9 (57:26):
Some of the material in this program has been edited
to improve clarity and run time.
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 products.
Speaker 1 (57:39):
For Queer Voices.
I'm Glenn Holt, Thank you.
This is KPFT 90.1 FM Houston, 89.5 FM Galveston, 91.9
FM Huntsville, and worldwide onthe internet at kpftorg.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Thank you for listening to Queer Voices on
KPFT 90.1 FM or wherever you getyour podcasts.
I'm Davis Mendoza-Duruzman,excited to bring you today's
episode, starting with producerDeborah Moncrief-Bell and her
chat with Houstonsinger-songwriter Wendy Taylor
about her journey from choirs toAmerican Idol in a new series
(00:41):
at Leon's Lounge.
Then, contributor and primaryengineer for today's episode,
brett Cullen, speaks with actorIvan Moreno about his Houston
Broadway theater debut in theirbold new production of American
Psycho.
Lastly, contributor EthanMichelle Gans speaks with Javon
Martin, chair of Flux Houston,who invites us to their
(01:03):
end-of-summer pool party.
Martin, chair of Flux Houston,who invites us to their
end-of-summer pool party,complete with voter registration
and free HIV testing, andshares why trans-led joy matters
.
Queer Voices starts now.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
This is Debra Moncrief-Bell with Queer Voices,
and I'm talking with thefabulous Wendy Taylor.
Wendy, we're bringing you onQueer Voices to talk about
several things, including anupcoming series of shows that
you'll be doing.
But tell us a little bit moreabout Wendy Taylor.
(01:34):
You're a singer, a songwriter.
What's your story, Wendy Taylor?
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Oh, it's so long.
Y'all Thank you for allowing meto come on and talk about my
show today and the events thatI'm doing at Leon's Lounge.
It's really cool to be in a barthat old it's the oldest bar in
Houston and it still hasTiffany lamps and chandeliers.
It's just a beautiful placeStained glass windows.
(02:01):
It's really stunning and thesound on the stage is amazing.
But back to what you wereasking who am I?
I don't know.
I like to kind of comparemyself to a Care Bear, mixed
with maybe Mary Poppins, but alittle crazy.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
So how did you get started in performing?
You did school plays, you sangin the choir.
What's that?
Speaker 4 (02:25):
So I started in music at a very, very early age.
I was singing and dancing bythe age of three.
My parents had me on stage bythe age of three.
They couldn't stop me if theywanted to, and I got to do 15
years of jazz, tap, ballet,lyrical.
I was in church choir.
I was in school choir.
(02:46):
I had private vocal lessons.
I got to go to college for finearts focusing on classical
voice, which is really amazing.
But mostly I'd like to say thatI blame my parents.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Because who else are you going to blame?
Speaker 4 (03:02):
No, they're absolutely the reason that I get
to do this for a living, andit's been the greatest gift of
my life and I thank them everysingle day.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Now at some point, high school marriage, children,
all that stuff was going on aswell.
But you had a bit of anadventure that is kind of a
select group of people areinvolved in, and that's that you
were a contestant on AmericanIdol.
I never watched American Idol,it just did not appeal to me.
(03:34):
So when I first met you I'mlike okay, so all right.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
So American Idol was a really interesting experience
for me.
I do not regret it one bitbecause I made some really
phenomenal connections throughthat experience with some
amazing artists all over thecountry and I take philosophical
issues with a lot of the waythat I think that reality TV is
(04:01):
both run and displayed.
However, I will say that theyare very good at their job.
They've been on television along time and people are still
watching.
I again have philosophicaldifferences to a lot of what
happens on the show and I madethat very well known.
I was not quiet about it and itdidn't result in me leaving the
(04:24):
show the second time.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
So you were actually on twice.
What years were those?
Speaker 4 (04:30):
That's a good question, because I don't
remember what year it was, but Ican tell you who was on.
The first year I was on, I wason the season with Adam Lambert
and I couldn't be prouder ofthat.
And the second season I was onwhen Philip Phillips won, and I
have some funny stories aboutPhilip, myself and Heejun Han.
We kind of got yelled at by theproducers because we were
(04:53):
having too much fun and it wassupposed to be a serious room
and we were ruining the shot bysmiling, I see, and which made
us really laugh.
So I had that happen more thanonce.
Don't you know how serious thisis?
This is your whole life.
And I'm sitting there going.
No, it isn't, because I hadalready sold a very large number
(05:13):
of albums out of my car beforethat ever even happened, and I'm
way more proud of that thanbeing accepted onto a reality TV
show.
So I think one of the problemsthat you had was that they like
for people to tell their stories, and that's one of the one of
the producers, in front of mymother and children, asked me to
(05:36):
describe what it was likehaving an abusive husband whom
was their father, and I refusedto do that in front of my
children.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
So, yeah, they go for the drama, they go for
heartache, they go for all kindsof things like that.
It's not just that you get onthere and you sing.
You have to have a story.
That's what goes on there.
You say you don't regret it.
What was your advice to anyoneelse that aspires to be on that
show, or one like it?
Speaker 4 (06:03):
If you want to go be on one of those shows,
absolutely do it.
The experience is great.
They do cover all of yourexpenses.
They do take mostly good careof you, aside from having
incredibly long days and lotsand lots of breaks in between
and editing you to whatever theywant you to be.
If you decide to go on one ofthese shows, the first thing I
(06:25):
will tell you is do not go towin, go to grow.
Do not go thinking you're goingto be the next big thing,
because even if you are, youstill need to grow.
Use the competition as a placeto network, grow your skills.
Learn from your peers, becausethere is so much talent in that
one room from all over thecountry, just squished into a
(06:47):
small area.
If you don't learn somethingwhile you're there, you've
already failed.
The second thing that I wouldsay is understand that it is
reality television, not reality,and there is a very, very big
difference.
The third bit of advice that Iwould give I don't know how I
can put this understand thatthat is far from the only avenue
to be able to make it in thisbusiness.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Right, most people that make it are not on American
Idol.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
Correct, correct.
They're not on any realitytelevision show.
They're in a music city or anart city or wherever they're
from plugging away trying toperfect their craft city or
wherever they're from pluggingaway trying to perfect their
craft.
And that's something that Ipass on to a lot of my vocal
students, my music students, isthat the important thing is that
you're better today than youwere yesterday.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
For me.
I have to be way better,because I cannot sing, or, as I
like to tell people, I guess Ican sing, but very, very badly.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
That's okay.
You know, I think everyoneshould sing.
I don't care if you're aterrible singer.
Singing is so good for you.
It is an emotional release, itis great for your cardiovascular
and pulmonary, it is great foryour posture.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
And why is that?
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Good for you, because if you're singing with correct
posture, you're already workingit out.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
So you've performed around town, around Houston area
.
What are some of the thingsthat you've done that have been
notable to you?
Speaker 4 (08:17):
I oh, this one's very easy for me.
The first time I got to singcenter stage at the Wortham
Center was such a magicalexperience for me, and I
completely owe that experienceto Joey Guerra over at the
Houston Chronicle, because he'sthe one that allowed me to do
that.
Another really cool experienceI got to have was performing for
(08:38):
Rainbow on the Green and atDiscovery Green, and a lot of
that was because of veryincredible artists such as Ty
Blue, who a lot of people haveknown to go on to have fame with
Ty Neek, as well as ErnieManouse.
He's helped me quite a bit inmy career and I owe a lot of
these cool experiences that I'vehad to people that took the
(09:00):
time to see me and support me.
Yeah, no one ever gets anywherewithout a little help from their
friends, right, a whole lot ofhelp from your friends, a whole
lot.
Even this opportunity withLeon's Lounge is a gift, because
I don't know if y'all are aware, but they've been hotlisted for
musicians because the sound oftheir stage is so good.
(09:21):
People are like begging to getin to do a show there.
And I feel very lucky to havethis opportunity because when I
was working at a previous bar inMontrose called Buddies Houston
, one of my bartenders was AaronLatour, who is now working at
Leon's Lounge, and sent me amessage and said hey, would you
like to do a show here?
(09:42):
So I've been very, very luckyand very, very grateful for the
amount of support and love thatI get from our community here in
Houston.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Did you take part in the Pride Idol competitions?
Speaker 4 (09:58):
Yes, I did.
It was Pride Superstar when Iwas in there and that when I
tell you, I still have some ofthe best friends I will ever
have for the rest of my lifebecause of that experience.
There are so many incredibleartists here.
I never won, I never won thecompetition and I was always
upset.
But I could never be upsetabout who won, because they were
(10:20):
always incredible entertainers,fantastic vocalists.
I was upset because I didn't dothe job well enough and those
people are still very dear to meAshley Hennessy, morena Roas.
There are so many incredibleartists here.
I have a brother in Cody RayStrimple.
It's just amazing to me thecamaraderie that happened during
(10:43):
the seasons that I was on thatcompetition here in Houston and
how much that meant to me andhelped shape me, even as an
older artist.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
It's always amazing to me that not only can these
people sing, but they can singin several different genres.
So when I've gotten to see oneof those competitions I'm just
kind of blowed away because, asI said, I am not proficient in
singing, but I sure doappreciate it when I hear it
from other people who are reallygood at it and it just boggles
(11:17):
my mind.
I've known you a couple ofyears now and I'm a big fan.
I love your singing.
Speaker 7 (11:25):
And.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
I'm quite envious of it, because if I could sing,
that's all I'd ever do.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
I'm telling you, let's do some voice lessons.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
So actually you have been derailed a little bit
because you were planning a moveto Nashville.
What's up with that, WendyTaylor.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
Okay.
So I was planning a move toNashville and I could not get
the sale of my house where Iwanted it to be, so I decided
that it was not time to sell.
Yet the market took a dip.
There were a lot of houses inmy neighborhood sitting for a
very long time, and I decidedthat it was just not time to
(12:08):
sell and that I can wait acouple more years.
I've waited this long.
I can wait a couple more yearsand also, in good news, my
youngest son, who graduated highschool three up, three down go
team, has decided to go tocollege, so I'm going to keep
him here and support him herethrough his college journey.
We can both take off and go toNashville.
(12:30):
I have incredible plans when Iget there.
I have some amazing connections.
I was very gifted to be able tosing for my best friend's
wedding recently, where I got tosing with one of my idols from
the 90s, Mr Ty Herndon, whosevoice is still that of an angel,
and a lot of opportunitiesspawned from that that I'm very
excited to explore but can'treally talk about.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
There's always that caveat.
It's like we're going to dothis thing, it's going to be
amazing, but we're not going totell you about it quite yet.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
I guess it's not time yet it's not time, so I'm very
excited about that.
And in the meantime I havephenomenal just a plethora of
artists here that I get to workwith, like Jonah Miles, lady
Bird, based out of Galveston soso many amazing artists.
Morena Roas I work with her onher upcoming projects doing
(13:22):
vocal production.
I co-write, I do a lot ofsongwriting with Jonah Miles.
I do a lot of background vocalwork for Lady Bird and her
projects, her original projects.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
So this thing at Leon's Lounge and I have to
admit, even though it's theoldest bar in Houston, I was not
familiar with it and it soundslike it's a really interesting
place.
You're like I said, you havethis first in a series.
The first one is September the5th.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Yes, the first one is September the 5th.
It's Leon's Lounge is at 106McGowan, so it's right on the
edge of the Gabor Hood, which isnice, but I think it's still
considered Midtown.
The bar itself is thisbeautiful vintage kind of
speakeasy feel which is really,really groovy, and the theme
(14:12):
that I have for the first showis movies and musicals.
It will be a very intimateevent.
I will be interacting and doingcrowd work throughout the show.
There will be some comedy,usually completely by accident,
and the second show now, if thisgoes well, the second show will
be Women who Rock.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
All, right, now we're talking, of course, brian and I
both love Broadway shows, sothat will be good too to hear
you sing some of those songsfrom all the musicals that we
love so much, and it's beenknown that gay people tend to
like musicals.
Speaker 4 (14:51):
I don't know, it's a thing, um I know it's so weird,
right, it's part of our cultfollowing of the women who rock?
Speaker 3 (14:59):
who do you think is your standout from that?
Speaker 4 (15:02):
no, that's too hard, because all of them.
I have a list going.
I have a long list going and itranges from melissa etheridge
to tina turner, alana miles, patbenatar, joan jett blondie or
debbie harry right, it's a longlist and it would be impossible
(15:24):
for me and even Aretha Franklin.
How do you not include her?
There are so many phenomenalpast and contemporary Hayley
Hayley from Paramore oh my gosh,the power in that little tiny
body.
What an amazing singer.
There are just so so many.
I can't pick one.
They will be happening aroundone month intervals.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Okay, so the first one is September the 5th, and
then it would be October, earlyOctober, for the next one.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Early October and the tickets will go on sale for
that somewhere around.
Hold on, let me pull up mycalendar in about two weeks.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
And so how do people find out more about the show?
Speaker 4 (16:11):
So you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok.
I am at just Wendy Taylor allthe time and it's.
I do that because I don't likebeing put on a pedestal, so it's
just J-U-S-T.
Wendy Taylor,W-E-N-D-Y-T-A-Y-L-O-R.
You can follow me on any ofthose things.
(16:33):
If you would like tickets, youcan find it on eventbritecom at
Wendy Taylor Presents Movies andMusicals.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Well, wendy Taylor, I love you so much and I
appreciate you being with us.
On Queer Voices.
I've interviewed Joan Jett andnow I've interviewed Wendy
Taylor.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
Thank you so much for having me, and I adore you too.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Thank you, Debra and Wendy.
Next up, Brett Cullum speakswith actor Ivan Moreno about his
Houston Broadway theater debutin their bold new production of
American Psycho.
Speaker 6 (17:09):
Joining me today is Ivan Moreno.
He is playing Lewis Carruthersand he is a Houston-based
performer who is thrilled to bemaking his Broadway well,
houston Broadway theater debutin American Psycho.
He's appeared in courses for LaBoheme and Tannhauser with
Houston Grand Opera.
Ivan received the Bachelor ofMusic in Vocal Performance from
(17:31):
Oklahoma City University in 2024.
Wow and other theater andcredits include performing in In
the Heights, rent and Songsfrom a New World.
So you are from Houston or youlive here now from a new world.
Speaker 8 (17:45):
So you are from Houston or you live here now.
I am born and raised in Houston, texas.
So yeah, I've been here forever, but I moved back.
I kind of moved back and forthfor the past four years.
When I was in school I studiedin Oklahoma City, but I'm now
full time here in Houston again,so it's great to be back.
Speaker 6 (18:00):
How did you pick Oklahoma City?
Speaker 8 (18:02):
It was more like Oklahoma City picked me.
I was in high school and I wasin my senior year, so I mainly
was a classical singer growingup or not growing up, but kind
of like.
In my later high school years Itook up classical singing and I
did a couple of competitions.
At one of these competitions Imet Dr Autumn West from Oklahoma
City University as well asCourtney Krause from Oklahoma
(18:24):
City University and kind of gotintroduced to the program and
auditioned, got in and you know,the rest is history.
I moved up to OKC for fouryears and studied mainly vocal
performance, but that's when Istarted getting a little bit
more involved in musical theater, which I had not done until I'd
gotten into college.
I did like one communityproduction into the woods, like
(18:44):
in 2018 now it's been a while,um, but I didn't really start
getting really into theater andmusical theater until college.
So, yeah, yeah.
I ended up in OKC for four yearswow, it's just.
Speaker 6 (18:56):
I don't usually see people from Houston saying I'm
going to go to Oklahoma City.
Speaker 8 (18:59):
Yeah, it really.
Ocu really is a diamond out inthe Midwest.
It's an incredible program andit's usually it's really
interesting.
It's kind of in, I guess, analmost like.
You wouldn't predict thatOklahoma City would be like the
place where a lot of incredibleperformers are born, but that's
the alma mater of ChristianChenoweth, as well as Kelly
(19:21):
O'Hara and dozens of otherincredible performers both on
Broadway and on film and TV.
So OCU really is an incredibleprogram and it's just an
interesting kind of location.
Speaker 6 (19:33):
Yeah, well, I can't argue with those names.
So, yeah, no, definitely.
So how did you end upauditioning for American Psycho?
I mean, it's not like it's yourtypical musical or something
that, like you know, like rentor so I was.
Speaker 8 (19:48):
I remember it.
Actually I was in the samebuilding we're rehearsing it now
.
I was, I think, leaving a orenter, I don't know.
It was in the rehearsal.
It was in like the tech processfor I think, tanhoisa, which
was back in the rehearsal.
It was in like the tech processfor I think, tanhoysa, which
was back in the spring, and Iwas on backstage and I saw like
a listing for American Cycle,the musical, and I had heard, I
knew there was a musicaladaptation of American Cycle,
(20:10):
the film as well as the novel,and I was like, okay, this is
kind of interesting.
I know this was on Broadway.
I know it was like kind of oneof the more a more controversial
show, that kind of like youknow came and gone and then you
know, it was one of those kindof shows that we saw in passing.
So I was like, okay, I'm justgoing to it's in Houston.
So I was like, okay, it's, it'sa newer company.
I looked into Houston BroadwayTheater.
(20:31):
So I went through the website,applied for an audition, showed
up, got a callback to dance andthen callback and then another
call back and then ended upgetting an offer.
So here I am and I'm so glad,I'm so lucky Cause, like you
know from the, a little listingthat I saw on backstage turned
into be like one of the mosttransformative, I think, shows
that I've done so far.
Speaker 6 (20:51):
You know, that's the way it happens sometimes.
I think it's just incredible.
Speaker 8 (20:53):
It's kind of like fate intervenes, or something it
kind of just it pops up whenyou least expect it.
Speaker 6 (20:58):
Yeah, but now you have an opera background I'll
say classically trained thingslike that.
So you're in this show and youknow Duncan Sheik wrote the
score.
Obviously I think that, lewis,you get the Hard Bodies song.
Is that one of your big?
Speaker 8 (21:12):
ones.
I'm in Hard Body, I'm in Cards,I'm in a lot of numbers.
My track is pretty, pretty,pretty fun but pretty
complicated.
I'm playing um lewis for themajority of the show, but I play
a couple other small charactersin different numbers, so it's
kind of like back to back toback to back to back.
And it's interesting because umduck and chic wrote the score
and I was introduced to duck andchic through spring awakening,
(21:33):
as well as alice by heart, andthe score really does.
It does feel like a duck andchic score, but it's really
unique in the sense that it'sway more electronic.
It kind of reminds me of likeelectronic music from like the
2000s 2010, kind of like BlackEyed Peas type of vibe.
It's a fun score to sing though.
It's really, really fun, yeah.
Speaker 6 (21:52):
Well, it's interesting, I think, that a lot
of people feel this disconnect.
When I was talking to Tice, whoI interviewed earlier, he was
talking about how it sounded alittle bit more ahead of its
time than what the era is set in.
You know the 90s, I mean, youknow we were hip, what the heck?
Speaker 8 (22:05):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 6 (22:07):
We started that kind of like club scene, I'm sure.
Well, tell me a little bitabout the character, the main
one that you play, lewisCarruthers.
He's a little bit of adifferent guy compared to the
other ones in the show.
Speaker 8 (22:18):
Yeah, playing this character has been so fun,
mainly because we're sort ofreinventing him, me and Joe
Calarco, who's our directorincredible director we kind of
took in the liberties to kind ofredefine Lewis and we're kind
of playing him in a little bitof a different way than he
usually was portrayed, both inthe 2000 film as well as in the
(22:39):
original Broadway production ofit.
One of the biggest, I guess,notes that I'll highlight is
kind of which is like in thenovel, in the movie as well as
in the original musical, is thatLewis is a closeted gay man in
the 80s.
So we of course like retainingthat.
But I think, as well as with thecasting choice, with me being
Latino, being Mexican-American,we wanted to kind of highlight
(23:01):
another dynamic that is notthere in the original source
material but in the show he'sreferred to as Luis, but his
real name and, like my versionof the character, mind you, his
real name is Luis and we kind ofwanted to play around with the
way a lot of Latinos incorporate America as well as,
like you know, in Englishspeaking world, you know, period
is kind of the anglicization ofour names, and so it kind of
(23:25):
teeters back and forth between,like some characters most
characters calling him Louis,which is you know kind of how he
introduces himself in thispredominantly white English
speaking you know world, butthere's moments where he's
referred to as Luis, which werealize is actually his name,
and not only is he kind ofwearing the mask of trying to
present as a straight man inthis very, very masculine,
(23:46):
heterosexual world, he's alsotrying to wear a mask of being,
you know, the perfect idea of anAmerican, even though you know
he clearly has roots fromsomewhere else.
Speaker 6 (23:55):
You know, it's interesting because I actually
worked with a guy who would goby Mike all the time and then it
turned out that his real namewas Miguel, you know so it is it
still goes on?
I mean, there's still this kindof tradition of, like you know,
maybe we adapt to a corporatesetting or something like that.
I mean, of course, in AmericanPsycho it's a little bit
heightened because you guysreally are wearing the masks and
(24:17):
all that and Patrick obviouslyhas one of the largest masks, or
at least we think, maybe hedoes.
I'm not always 100% sure.
It's funny because I think thatwhen the book came out, bredy
Stenellis is a gay author.
Obviously that's his identity,and there was a lot of
controversy flung at him becausethey said that this book was
(24:38):
misogynistic and it washomophobic.
There was a lot of like reallyawful language aimed at, uh, the
gay characters in the book ortalking about you know them,
using things like the f word andstuff like that, which was
honestly in the late 80s, was apretty easy term.
Is there any of that stuff inthe musical or do you know?
Speaker 8 (24:58):
absolutely, yeah, um, there there is a lot of the
original language that's used inthe novel is absolutely stuff
in the musical.
Or do you know?
Absolutely, yeah, um, therethere is a lot of the original
language that's used in thenovel is absolutely used in the
musical, because, more than sothan anything, I think it's
because it's relevant to thetime, and that's another kind of
direction we're trying to shiftthis show into is the realism.
We're trying to make it real,like we didn't want this to be a
caricature of the 80s.
We wanted this to really feellike what the 80s really was for
(25:19):
these people.
So not only is that shown inthe design from, like the
costumes you know, like usuallywhen you see movies now that are
produced nowadays or showsproduced nowadays that are set
in the 80s, it's usually reallyover the top, like really
exaggerated silhouettes of whatthe 80s looks like.
But we wanted to kind of dialthat back and make it just more
realistic, and that that waskind of kind of segues into the
(25:43):
portrayal of gay characters inthe original novel versus kind
of the way we're doing it inthis, in this show.
Um, because both me and joekind of agreed like the way, um,
more than anything, the wayhe's kind of portrayed in the
film which, mind you, likeincredible film, incredible
performance, he just simplywouldn't have survived.
L wouldn't have survived thecorporate America, wall Street
bro kind of culture, kind ofbehaving the way he, or the
(26:05):
being portrayed in the way thathe was um, in earlier
adaptations of this, of thistext.
So we wanted to really kind ofdial into the way like that, you
know, because let's be, let'sbe real like men have been
closeted forever, you know, likeit's, it's, it still happens
today, even as much as in the80s and there really is a little
bit of that, like you know.
Now I don't want to say two face, but it's a mask, it really is
(26:27):
a mask and we wanted tohighlight that.
You know, lewis is extremelygood at living a double life.
That's literally like a line inthe show.
Um is that he's very good atliving a double life, and I
think that's a big conversation,kind of talking about the
reaction to the original novel.
Of course, like day one ofrehearsal, the first thing we
(26:48):
did was kind of break down thetext and break down the legacy
that this story has left.
We want it.
Our goal is to approach it fromthe most realistic, honest as
well as respectful way possibleyeah, did you guys have to do
research at all?
Speaker 6 (27:04):
did you like have to like go back and look at
anything, or I mean, I thinkthat's always like kind of
individual homework.
Speaker 8 (27:10):
Um, I absolutely did.
I I went kind of back anddelved into like what, what do
we know what?
What is like written in textabout lewis?
Like what do we know about his,his, his personal life and
those types of things.
And it's kind of a little bitof a balance of balancing the
original source material as wellas reinventing something,
because we're rewriting the show.
(27:31):
Essentially, there's so manynew, different scenes.
There's kind of been areworking of scenes from the
original Broadway production.
We have both Roberto and DuncanCheek.
They've been involved in theprocess for this production.
So it's been an honor to beable to rework a show and
workshop it and create somethingnew.
Speaker 6 (27:51):
Do you think they're going to be coming to this?
I know that they went to theChicago one.
Speaker 8 (27:55):
Yeah, we had Roberto a couple weeks ago during the
first couple of read-throughs,and then Duncan Cheek will be
with us, I believe, during tech.
He's going to come and playwith the sound a little bit kind
of do a lot of the mixing oncewe're in the space.
So it's going to be reallyexciting getting to work with
the creators of the show.
Speaker 6 (28:14):
Yeah, no, that's amazing.
Speaker 8 (28:16):
That's a big opportunity.
Speaker 6 (28:17):
This really changed your life?
Maybe yeah.
Speaker 8 (28:22):
You know I'm really starting barely getting involved
in this business.
Um, I just graduated a year agoand that feels forever ago.
But like in the grand scheme ofthings, you know that was a
couple minutes ago.
So it's, it's exciting,especially kind of growing up
and personally, personallygrowing up in an area where this
really wasn't reality.
Like you know, when I would,you know, when I was first going
to college to pursue the arts,you know people were like what
(28:44):
the what the hell are you doing?
You know, like you, you know,like it's not, it wasn't
practical, you know.
And but you know I had thisdrive, this, this drive in me to
just pursue it regardless.
And of course, it comes withits ups and downs and, like I
said, it's fate.
Like I had no idea months agothat I would be sitting here
speaking to you, I had no ideathat I would be, somebody would
(29:05):
even be interested to hear whatI have to say.
So it's crazy how life can justchange in a heartbeat.
One little audition can changea lot.
Speaker 6 (29:12):
Yeah, no kidding.
I mean it's amazing that you'reworking with all of these
people and things like that andon this, uh, this project, and I
think it's uh, it's a verydaring artistic vision to bring
this to houston.
How do you think that audiencesare going to react to this?
I mean, what do you like, whatdo you love?
Speaker 8 (29:28):
it.
I really hope people more thananything.
I feel like this is anotherchance to tell this story it's
it's been really clear in recentyears that american psycho
mainly the film have kind ofbeen reduced into almost a
bite-sized version of what theoriginal intent of the story was
.
We can kind of see that withthe glamorization of Patrick
(29:48):
Bateman from not only hisworkout routine but some of his
personal you know behaviorsbeing kind of glamorized amongst
young men, especially on socialmedia.
I feel like we've, you know,literally lost the plot when it
comes to those types of things,because it's literally like it's
been said dozens of timesbefore, that American Psycho is
a gay man's satire ofheteronormativity and
(30:10):
masculinity and you knowconsumerism and capitalism.
So I really hope this isHouston audiences get another
opportunity to experience thisstory from a different lens.
Houston has always been a daringcity, especially when it comes
to the theater world.
There's a humongous theaterscene here in Houston as well as
an awesome humongousalternative scene here in
(30:31):
Houston.
I don't think Houston is shy todarker themes or just darker
material in general.
But I really hope people lovethis show and are able to sit
with the uncomfortable bits andkind of challenge themselves and
challenge their own ways ofkind of viewing this world that
we've kind of built here in theUnited States, especially when
(30:52):
it comes to, like, masculinityand everything that's been
mentioned before.
Capitalism, over-consumerism,as well as things like vanity
and gym culture and diet culturealso play a humongous role in
this show.
Speaker 6 (31:05):
Yeah, no kidding.
Well, I think what wasinteresting is the trajectory of
it and you hit on it severaltimes very eloquently.
But I think that Brett EastonEllis admitted that the book was
very self-referential for him.
He really saw himself asPatrick Bateman in a way that he
was falling into this kind ofconsumerist void and feeling
empty and all of these differentthings.
(31:25):
And then with the movie MaryHerron I think one of the things
that you're reacting to withLewis Carruthers in the movie is
that Mary Herron really wantedto lean into the whole idea of
it being a gay man's satire.
So I think she allowed Lewis tobe a little bit more flamboyant
just so that she could kind ofkey into that thing a little bit
.
And now this musical version ina weird way you are one of the
(31:49):
most important charactersbecause you are in the core
probably the identity of theauthor and kind of the thing,
because the argument is thatPatrick Bateman might be a
closeted homosexual himself andthat is becoming this kind of
self-loathing that makes him dothese things or imagine that
he's doing these things.
Because obviously the line ofwhat's real and what's not in
(32:11):
American Psycho is kind ofblurry a little bit.
Speaker 8 (32:14):
And I think you touched on a really, really big
point.
I was just talking yesterday inanother interview about kind of
my favorite part about playingum lewis and it's the fact that
he literally he parallelsbateman's arc.
They have the same kind of likecharacter development
throughout the show but you havepatrick bateman kind of diving
really deep and getting suckedup by the whole of like what an
(32:36):
obsession with masculinity andbeing seen as the perfect man
does to somebody.
And then we see Lewis.
We see him kind of get freedfrom that you know prison of
trying to be somebody.
He's not and throughout theshow he's a little bit more
comfortable with himself.
And you bring up a really goodpoint like about, you know, the
possibility that Patrick Baymanis a closeted gay man.
(32:57):
In my own personal experienceI've dealt with the most
homophobia and the most abusefrom men who were closeted
versus the guys that are notcomfortable.
Speaker 6 (33:07):
Yeah, it's the ones that that make it uncomfortable
exactly they see themselves.
Yes, they see themselves yeah,and it they see underneath that
little mask, you know, and Ithink that they worry that you
actually see them for what theycould potentially be and yeah,
and and like I'm trying not tospoil the show because, like,
like big points, but yeah, likethat's a really big arc in this
(33:32):
show yeah, well, I know it'sdefinitely a show about masks,
it's definitely about delusion,it's definitely about machismo
and, you know, being the perfectman in business and in shape
and everything else like that.
I'm so excited that you'readding this new layer to lewis
carothers by making him luiscarothers, that that's amazing
and that is something that onlyHouston could bring.
(33:53):
So I am totally glad to seethat happen and I'm excited to
see you do this and my gosh fromopera singer to American Psycho
.
Speaker 8 (34:02):
What a ride.
Best of both worlds.
Operas are dramatic as hell.
This is right up my alley.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
Now that you say that , I'm kind of like maybe this is
kind of a tame show for youbecause really more people
probably die in the opera.
Speaker 8 (34:17):
Yeah, operas are usually so much more heavier and
and dark, so like um, and Ifeel, like musical theater.
It was a kind of another thingwe were kind of discussing, me
and some other cast members.
Like the interesting thingabout american psycho is that
the villain is the lead role,the person you follow the entire
show and, and so many musicalsfollow the arc of like.
They want you to feel you, theywant you to be on the side of
(34:39):
the lead, they want you to rootfor them.
And this is a challenging piecebecause it's not that simple.
It's not black and white, it'snot just like, oh, this is a bad
guy or this is a good guy.
We're watching a man getconsumed by not only his own
demons but by the world aroundhim.
Speaker 6 (34:54):
So it's, it's a it's it's definitely a complicated
piece yeah, well, it'sinteresting because I think it
brings up a lot about toxicmasculinity and I think that we
all deal with it, no matter ifwe're straight, we're gay,
whatever the case may be.
We all kind of deal with it andwhat a man should be and what a
man should present to the worldand all of that.
So I think it'd be a fun showto see it from that angle and
(35:16):
I'm excited this has been theshow that I've been looking
forward to the most all year,because I just think it's the
wildest and I have a soft spotfor Bredy Sinellis.
I kind of grew up reading allof his books, and not ironically
because of the first name, butanyway.
But thank you so much, yvonne.
I am thrilled.
Break legs, break limbs,whatever it is that you guys are
going to be doing.
Speaker 8 (35:37):
I feel like that's pretty tame for what this show
kind of has to do.
Speaker 6 (35:41):
I know, but we will see you.
It runs September 2nd.
What is the exact dates?
Speaker 8 (35:46):
again, we run the September 2nd through the 14th.
Speaker 6 (35:50):
That's it, and you're in the smaller space, Zilka
Hall, which means that we get alittle bit more intimate than if
we were actually in the bigstage.
I'm a little bit nervousbecause I've bought my tickets
and I'm up close and I noticedthat the closer you get, it gets
a little bit cheaper and I'mlike am I in the splash zone?
Speaker 2 (36:16):
Am I going to splash zone?
Am I gonna get blood on me?
No, you have to come and findout if you get blood on my
armani suit.
No, just kidding, all right.
Well, thank you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, brett and ivan.
Lastly, contributor ethanmichelle gans speaks with javon
martin, chair of flux houston,who invites us to their end of
summer pool party, complete withvoter registration and free hiv
testing, and shares whytrans-led joy matters.
Take it away, ethan.
Speaker 7 (36:36):
So this is Ethan Michelle Gantz, and we are on
Queer Voices.
We're going to be talking toJavon Martin today, and he is
the chair of Lux Houston.
How are you, Javon?
Speaker 5 (36:46):
I'm doing great, Ethan.
Thank you so much for havingthis interview.
Speaker 7 (36:51):
Yes, it's awesome to see you again and to talk to you
today.
So tell us about Flux Houston.
Speaker 5 (36:58):
So Flux Houston is amazing.
We are an affinity group of AHF.
Ahf is the acronym for AIDSHealthcare Foundation.
So if you are not well-versedon what AHF is, we have HIV
(37:23):
testing, we have housing, wehave pharmacy and it's like a
whole wellness program for youknow, individuals.
Period.
Right, whether you are HIVpositive or not.
Right, because the idea is forprevention.
Right, a thrift store.
(37:43):
And Flux is a part of AHF andwe are all volunteers and we
throw parties to bring awarenessto the disparities of the trans
community.
Speaker 7 (38:02):
Awesome.
So y'all have an event comingup right.
Speaker 5 (38:05):
We sure do have an event coming up.
The event is theend-of-the-year pool party.
Sure do have an event coming up.
The event is the end of theyear pool party.
It is happening September 20that the Heights Hotel 100
Cavalcade and it is free.
It's free food, free drinks.
We just need you to click theQR code, sign the questionnaire.
(38:28):
There's a few questions that wewant to know.
If the community is in care, dothey know their status?
And, if not, do they need to betested?
And we will also have free HIVtesting at our event.
They are at all of our eventsso that the community can know
their status.
We are also providing a QR codefor the 340B bill.
(38:50):
Right, and the 340B is so thatwe can keep Big Pharma off of
jacking up the prices for ourmedications.
Right, so that looks likelow-income communities are able
to get their prescriptionsfilled at a lower cost because
big farmers trying to jack theprice up so that we won't be
(39:13):
able to afford our medication.
Speaker 7 (39:16):
Well, yeah, that sounds really important that
people get medication, I agree,especially in our community.
Speaker 6 (39:22):
I agree.
Speaker 7 (39:23):
So tell me, y'all have this event every year.
Yes, we do, y'all have thisevent every year.
Speaker 5 (39:27):
Yes, we do.
This is our second time we'rehaving this event and I am just
looking forward to sharing spacewith community, having a great
time.
Oh, and also we have yourself,Ethan Michelle Gans, doing voter
registration right, Becausethat's our voice.
Speaker 7 (40:00):
That is our way of saying who we want in office and
, you know, just taking care ofour needs by voting.
So they always stop voterregistration around October.
So September is a great time tomake sure everybody is checked,
to make sure they've not beenthrown off the rolls or whatever
.
So tell me how much fun it'sgoing to be over there.
What kind of food is it?
Speaker 5 (40:21):
Oh, so it's a.
It's a new restaurant.
It's Hispanic food.
You know the regular rice andbeans.
We'll probably have some tacos.
I actually did not go throughthe menu as yet.
We have a meeting with themnext week to go through the menu
because we needed an exactnumber of people that will be
(40:42):
participating.
So it's looking like we haveroughly about 150 people
participating and it's going tobe awesome.
And, like I said, free drinks,but it's also a safe space for
those that don't drink alcoholicbeverages.
You can have free water, freesoda, free juice, right, it will
be available for those in need.
And just in case anyone needs,you know, someone to talk to.
(41:06):
You know, outside I am alsolicensed to, you know, just
listen to people, you know andyou know, just make space in
case it gets uncomfortable.
You know, for anyone.
You know I wear many hats.
You know that, ethan.
Speaker 7 (41:22):
You do indeed wear many hats and you do a lot of
work.
Sometimes people may notrealize it because you're behind
the scenes, but you know, I seea lot of the stuff that you do
and I really appreciate that.
I really appreciate.
You know all the work that youput into our community, so tell
me, are we going to have anyinteresting people there other
than me and you?
Speaker 5 (41:41):
Yes, yes, there will be many interesting people.
So there will be some electedofficials stopping by.
I will not mention their names,you would have to come to be
there and see who's going to popby.
But I can tell you last yearJohn Rosenthal came.
He always comes and supportsthe trans community.
(42:01):
He is like the official,unofficial trans supporter.
And there will be others comingby.
I sent several emails and theydefinitely want to come and
support us and I know there willbe Black Loud Impulse Pharmacy.
They will all be in attendance.
(42:24):
Out of the Closet will be inattendance and I know we have
Trans Men.
Empowerment will be coming.
Speaker 6 (42:31):
Trans.
Speaker 5 (42:31):
Latinas.
Oltt will be coming, flas willbe coming, sosu, saving Our
Sisters United.
There will be severalorganizations in attendance.
The Normal Anomaly will bethere.
It's definitely a communityevent and trans people to the
front, as always, because, youknow, this is for the trans
(42:55):
community, just, you know, goingout the year with a bang and a
great party to celebrate who weare.
And yeah, just, we are lookingfor volunteers.
Right, we are always lookingfor volunteers, just to let you
all know, and we are alsovolunteers.
Everyone that's in a leadershipposition with Flux is a
volunteer.
But we are also looking forextra volunteers to you know, be
(43:20):
out in community with us and goto events and let people know
that we exist and we are hereand invite them to our parties,
our events and our spaces.
Right, we are also looking forboard members.
Right now, we have thesecretary position open.
We have the let me see the co,the co-chair, because I am one
(43:44):
of the co-chairs and we haveanother space open for that.
We have another space open forthat.
And so, yeah, if anyone feelslike they are able to fulfill
those spots, please let us knowat our party or online.
Right, you can reach us onlineand just to give you just a
little I guess you could saysynopsis on who we are and what
(44:08):
we do.
So Flux raises the profile ofthe trans and gender
nonconforming community byleveraging social events,
creating safe spaces andinnovative advocacy initiatives.
So it's just like this poolparty, right, we are definitely
leveraging it.
We are making it upscale by nothaving individuals have to pay
(44:30):
to get in.
They won't have to pay to drinkand they definitely won't have
to pay to eat.
So that's just a little eyeopener of what we do, what we
can do here in Houston.
Speaker 7 (44:42):
Well, that definitely sounds like an all-inclusive
party.
It sounds like a lot of fun,and I can't wait to go myself.
So tell me, is there anythingelse that I haven't asked you
about that you'd like to tell usabout?
Speaker 5 (44:54):
Well, not at the moment, about the Flux Pool
Party.
That is our main thing that weare just, you know, here trying
to advertise at this moment andpromote.
We do need followers onInstagram.
Yes, that is one thing.
Our Instagram does not haveenough followers for us to go
(45:17):
live right, and we like todocument our events so that
people know, you know how ourevents look and you know who's
there to support us.
So I believe right now we areat, I want to say, 563.
Yesterday that's what I saw 563.
(45:39):
So we need 1,000.
So please tell a friend to tella friend to follow us on
Instagram at Flux the numberfour, houston.
Follow us on Instagram at Fluxthe number four, houston.
Speaker 7 (45:56):
That's all one word F-L-U-X, the number four,
H-O-U-S-T-O-N, and if peoplewant to RSVP for this party
because obviously you said youall needed to know how many
people were coming, so you knewabout the food and drink, that
is all-inclusive how do peopleRSVP if they want to?
Speaker 5 (46:10):
Yes, so the RSVP is on our Instagram.
It's on our Facebook Flux forHouston Facebook.
Now, for those of you that areunable to scan the QR code,
because you have, I guess, justone phone or you don't have a
(46:30):
computer.
So the way you would do that isyou would go to the bitly right
, b-i-t dot L-Y, and then youwould put in flux 24, right, and
that will take you to our, Iguess you could say the
questionnaire, and that way,from that questionnaire, you can
(46:53):
definitely sign in from there.
Speaker 7 (46:55):
Let's talk a little bit more about Flux itself.
So you're the one thatrecruited me into this when we
started this a couple of yearsago.
So what made you want to dothis here in Houston?
Speaker 5 (47:09):
So what made you want to do this here in Houston?
Well, coming from New York andknowing what Flux does for
community in New York, seeingthe events and the people at the
events in New York, when I camehere to Houston, I didn't see
those type of events.
There were events happening,but the groups were at the
(47:32):
Montrose Center and they werelike gatherings and they weren't
upscale.
I didn't see any outsidebarbecues.
I didn't see parties atrestaurants or bars where it was
free.
People hosted events but youhad to pay to get in, then you
had to pay to drink, and thisevent is different, right, and
(47:52):
we also offer free HIV testingand STDs, right, it's very
important to know your statusand right now, tds are running
rapid in the LGBTQ pluscommunity.
Definitely definitely community, definitely definitely.
(48:14):
So it's very, very importantthat anyone that wants to attend
our event, they can go to thebitly, which is B-I-T, period
L-Y, with the backslash F-L-U-X,and that has to be all capital
20, 24.
It's 24, right, and weapologize that it's 24, but
that's what it is.
So it's FLUX24 in all capital,right, and when that opens up,
(48:38):
you will get the health andwellness survey and that health
and wellness survey once youfinish.
It takes one minute, because Idid it myself.
It takes one minute to fill outthat survey and you will get a
thank you envelope.
That means that your answerswere recorded and you are now
able to attend our event.
And so once you show up to theevent, we will check to make
(49:01):
sure your name is there.
We will ask you if you knowyour status.
Would you like to get tested?
And you'll get an incentive forbeing tested.
We also have some swag to giveaway.
Yeah, so just come on out.
No expectations, just want tohave a good time and just go out
this last pool party of theyear with us and that's about it
(49:24):
.
Speaker 7 (49:25):
So tell me about other types of events that they
do.
Speaker 5 (49:28):
We do all types of events.
So, like I said, flux isconnected to AHF, right?
So AHF has a World AIDS Dayevent, december 1st, right?
So whatever event that is, wewill be participating in.
(49:49):
We participated in the openingof the Dallas-topian in Dallas,
texas, and it was an amazingevent and I just want to let
everyone know that if you havean event that you want us to
participate in, let us know,give us you know a heads up and
Flux will definitely be there tosupport.
(50:11):
We've walked in rallies withOLTT.
We were at Pride this year.
We helped table for Pride andmake sure that people got tested
.
We had a float, we were on theAHF float and we will walk in
even the flags.
We need a team of peoples.
If you want to come volunteerwith us, walk in the Pride March
(50:33):
with us and just have a greattime, come on through.
We would love to have you.
Speaker 7 (50:38):
It does seem like now's a good time for trans
people to find their community,and here's one right here.
We've got a really great one.
Speaker 5 (50:47):
It is.
It is.
Now is the time for us to showup and make sure that our voice
is heard, because it is veryimportant, because they're
taking our rights away from us,one day at a time, back by
showing up to rallies andspreading the word If you see
(51:11):
something, say something,because, like we've been saying
for years, once they come for us, they're definitely coming for
you and this has been proven.
It's faxed.
This is how they dismantled theLGBT community.
They attacked the mostvulnerable among us and then
(51:31):
they come for the rest, becauseyou see how they started with us
with the bathroom.
It was never about the bathroom, ethan, and you know this
because we've had thisconversation several times right
Now.
Right, they're attackingmarriage equality, right, and
it's been on the table and theykeep bringing this stuff up.
And I don't want to talkpolitics, but you know it's like
(51:54):
I'm going to do this over hereso that you pay attention to
this, so that we can slide thisunder the rug over here, because
you're not paying attention.
So, the more they bringawareness to what they feel like
we don't exist, we shouldn'texist, and try to take our
rights away from us, they'repassing other things Like look
(52:15):
at this rezoning, right, therezoning just popped up out of
nowhere because we were payingattention to other things, and
this is what's going to happenthroughout his whole rest of his
term.
So we have to pay attention toeverything, because they're
trying to take our rights awayfrom us.
So just pay attention.
(52:35):
We have to make sure womenstill have the right to vote.
We have to make sure Blackpeople still have the right to
vote, because that's what'sgoing to happen next.
They're challenging everythingand they're trying to make
things go back to the way theywere over 100 years ago, right,
where they said it was the onlyway to live, which is their way,
(52:57):
and we all know what that is.
It's the white way, right?
Meanwhile, this whole Americawas stolen from the indigenous
people and we know that.
It's stuff that we know right,because we're we're all
immigrants here, because thisland wasn't ours from day one.
We all know this.
But hey, we'll let them tellthe story.
(53:17):
But again, this is about fluxand we want everyone to come and
have a beautiful time and justbe themselves, open and
affirming and just, hey, havefun, have fun in the pool.
We got some beach balls fory'all.
Yeah, we got pool noodles andeverything.
We're going to have a greattime.
Speaker 7 (53:36):
You know, all the haters seem to be mad all the
time and I think that maybe usshowing up in a group and
showing a lot of joy and havinga lot of fun just would really
get under their skin.
Speaker 5 (53:48):
It always does and it always does, and not to mention
every event that we've had.
We have not had anyone come anddisrupt our joy ever.
It's always been.
We've always had an amazingtime and, mind you, it's from 12
to four, right, it's four hoursof fun.
(54:08):
Just come, have your bathingsuit on, ready to jump in the
water, ready to have fun.
We will pay some bills thefirst 20, 30 minutes, just to
let y'all know who we are, whatwe do and what we have to offer.
But after that it's just youfun and sun and food and drinks
and, yeah, just community.
Well, that sounds likesomething I'm going to be at.
(54:29):
And drinks and yeah, justcommunity.
Well, that sounds likesomething I'm going to be at.
Well, I think, Ethan, becauseyou are a part of the board, we
expect you to be there family,so this is open to everybody.
Speaker 7 (54:38):
right, it's a trans event, but anybody who is
friendly with the transcommunity can show up.
Speaker 5 (54:44):
Correct.
We actually want everyone toshow up, right, because we're in
groups, right, and I can't, youknow, put more emphasis on this
as trans community.
As a member of the transcommunity, it feels great to see
(55:04):
our allies, co-conspirators,however you want to call
yourself.
Show up for us, right, and thisis the time to come, step up,
be here with us and just love onus.
This is your time to show up.
So, all the allies listening,all of the people that believe
in us and just want to love us,come out.
(55:28):
Please come out, share thisspace with us, just no, you know
trans people to the front, butjust come out and just be there
with us, right?
And that's all we ask is justlove on us and just support us.
Speaker 7 (55:44):
When and where will this be again that they need to
show up and show the love?
Speaker 5 (55:48):
Yes, this will be at the Heights Hotel.
It's 100 Cavalcade and it'sgoing to be an amazing time,
definitely amazing time andfollow us on.
Instagram.
Speaker 7 (56:00):
What's the day that they're having it?
Speaker 5 (56:03):
September 20th at 12 pm.
Speaker 7 (56:06):
All right.
Speaker 5 (56:06):
Yes, yes.
So parking right.
We prefer you not bring a car.
Right, because, like I said,free drinks Right.
If you don't have to bring yourcar, please don't, because we
don't want you to.
You know, definitely,definitely.
(56:28):
After we get to the max of thecars parked, yeah, you're going
to have to park probably on theside or somewhere else and then
walk over.
So just come early, make sureyou get there early.
Speaker 7 (56:42):
All right, all right.
Well, this is Ethan MichelleGantz on Queer Voices, and we've
been talking to Javon Martinabout Flux and their
end-of-the-year pool party andvoter registration.
Speaker 1 (56:56):
This has been Queer Voices, heard on KPFT Houston
and as a podcast available fromseveral podcasting sources.
Check our webpagequeervoicesorg for more
information.
Queer Voices executive produceris Brian Levinka.
Deborah Moncrief-Bell isco-producer Brett Cullum Davis
(57:20):
Mendoza-Druzman Ethan MichelleGans.
Mel Peterson and Joel Tatum arecontributors.
Speaker 9 (57:26):
Some of the material in this program has been edited
to improve clarity and run time.
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 products.
Speaker 1 (57:39):
For Queer Voices.
I'm Glenn Holt, Thank you.
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.