Unless you’ve been living under a rock, by now you probably know that Bob the Drag Queen was crowned “America’s Next Drag Superstar” earlier this week during the season finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race. With her brazen, larger-than-life personality, Bob the Drag Queen was always the fan favorite to take the top spot since she…
Arts & Culture
Deep in Vogue: House of Kenzo’s Multidisciplinary Movement
I meet House of Kenzo (HOK) on the University of the Incarnate Word Sky Bridge, a phobia-tweaking pedestrian catwalk over the zooming traffic on Highway 281. It’s a sunny afternoon, and House of Kenzo are mid-photo shoot. They are beautiful, self-assured, gender-flouting, working their rainbow fashion gear into wind-whipped battle flags visible for a half-mile.…
The Esperanza Presents Lourdes Perez and May Nasr Together in Concert
After recording the popular Lebanese song Ounadikum (I call to you), queer Puerto Rican singer Lourdes Perez never imagined she would be forging a relationship with Lebanese singer May Nasr who eventually got wind of Perez’s version in 2006. For Nasr, the song provided relief after her country had been bombed during that same year.…
Artist Chris Sauter Talks Curators, Coming Out and Playing with Stereotypes
Chris Sauter’s big break came in 1999 when an Artpace curator told him to “go for it.” The San Antonio-born artist raised on his grandparents’ ranch outside Boerne proposed to cut pieces out of the gallery’s drywall and transform them into his childhood family dining room. Viewers had to walk through the oval circle in…
Supermodel Patricia Velásquez on her Warm Welcome to the Family
Don’t try putting a label on Patricia Velásquez. An actress, producer, author, parent, entrepreneur, activist and supermodel, Velásquez, 45, isn’t interested in being just one thing — unless that one thing is a happy person. She found happiness early last year when she released her memoir Straight Walk. In the book, Velásquez, who has modeled…
‘Drag Race’ Stars Featured in FDA’S Anti-Smoking Campaign
Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration announced a campaign aimed at reducing the use of tobacco by young adults (ages 18 – 24) within the LGBT community The campaign’s ads will feature popular YouTube celebrities and drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race to get its message across. In a press release, Mitch Zeller, director of the…
Classical Music Kegger to Benefit Local Area Schools
A former punk rocker and self-taught composer, Nathan Felix, is teaming with the Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio (COSA) for an evening of classical music to benefit area schools in lower income neighborhoods. Dubbed as the Classical Music Kegger, the event will feature local musician Chris Maddin, Austin’s Kitty Xiao, and concludes with Felix performing compositions…
‘Motown the Musical’ Set to Dazzle at the Majestic
Motown the Musical tells the story of Berry Gordy and the founding of Motown Records, his wildly successful independent record label that forever changed the landscape of popular music. The year is 1983 and Gordy is reflecting on a career of highs and lows while contemplating whether to attend the 25th anniversary celebration of Motown Records. Flashback three decades earlier and a young…
Making Us Heard: Writer Anel Flores Finds Her Nicho
Like most kids, I used to daydream about what my life would look like in the future. I imagined myself driving a baby-blue pickup, a woman sitting beside me, down a long dirt road, listening to music and holding hands. The home I daydreamed about looked like the one I lived in, decorated in images…
On the Chartreuse Couch: Gene Elder Interviews Michelle Friesenhahn
Gene: Michelle, how nice to see you again. You are looking great as always. Thanks for joining me on the Chartreuse Couch, “my own private Alamo.” We have known each other for many years now. I even remember Shocking Gray. And this was before there were 50 shades. Who knew? I do want to talk about all…