The father of two students at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School in Arlington, Texas, has addressed the school district’s board of trustees, defending himself after his complaint about a lesbian teacher got her banned from teaching at the school. In September 2017, Paul Holding, who has two daughters at the school, filed a complaint to Mansfield…
District No Longer Allows Lesbian Teacher in Arlington, Texas to Work in Elementary School
An art teacher from the Mansfield ISD in Arlington, Texas has been barred from teaching elementary school students following complaints from a parent that she was “promoting the homosexual agenda.” Stacy Bailey had been employed at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School for 10 years and twice been named Teacher of the Year. She was placed on…
John Barrera and Pablo Cruz to Represent the Alamo City at Paris Gay Games
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. “We hope to come back with a gold medal,” realtor and fitness instructor John Barrera tells me on the Brackenridge High School tennis courts. “They’re very nice,” chimes in Barrera’s doubles partner, Pablo Cruz, who’s worked as an AT&T project manager for 25 years and counting. Rightfully giddy…
Chef Chaz Morales Balances the Triad of Food, Family and Music
“We serve 10,000 to 11,000 people a day,” says Chaz Morales of her super-sized food service position at San Antonio’s largest insurance company. The corporate food world, it comes as no surprise, is jaw-droppingly different from your corner breakfast taco joint. And from your normal, fast-casual to fine dining establishment as well. “It’s like its…
Erika and Shay Forbes-Wilson on Building ‘The Real Power Couples’
“Fall in love, stay in love, using the power of your love.” That is the motto of Reverend Erika Forbes-Wilson and Shay Forbes-Wilson, founders of the San Antonio-based endeavor The Real Power Couples. With marriage equality now a reality, officiants Erika, an ordained interfaith minister, and Shay, a personal trainer, are on a mission to…
Senators Ask Trump to Reconsider Nominating Anti-Trans Texan to Federal Court
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. The confirmation of a Texas federal judge nominee who’s said transgender kids are part of “Satan’s plan” has been put on hold by the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee. According to committee chairman Sen. Charles Grassley, a Republican, the committee told the Trump administration that “they ought to reconsider”…
What Defines a Sex Addict Anyway?
Hey, Doc! I was totally just told that I’m a sex addict. I’m not even really sure what that means. I mean, I figure that if I don’t go through pussy like a chain smoker with a box of cigarettes, I should be okay, right? Can you explain this all to me like I’m a…
Dixie Longate Brings Her Comic Tupperware Party to Tobin Stage
Since her early days entertaining “straight Republican white women” in Orange County living rooms, wayward Southern belle Dixie Longate—an over-the-top drag character created by writer-actor Kris Andersson—has earned comparisons to Dame Edna and emerged as an unlikely ambassador for Orlando-based Tupperware Brands Corp. Putting an unapologetically trashy spin on the Tupperware-party format, Andersson’s signature show…
The Pursuit of Love: Navigating Sexuality Through a Transgender Lens
The first time I ever “came out” as anything was in seventh grade. I had let a very, very small handful of friends know that I thought I was bisexual, as I had found myself developing crushes on people regardless of their gender. However, since these so-called friends coded me as a gay boy, most…
Hometown Hero: Eric Alva
Each year, the Human Rights Campaign of San Antonio recognizes individuals, whether LGBT or an ally of the community, who go above and beyond, personally and professionally, to impact the lives of gays and lesbians throughout the Alamo City and elsewhere. Important movers-and-shakers, Eric Alva and Judge Genie Wright, were honored in November during the…