This past spring, 25-year-old artist and musician Saakred released a new album, a new look, and a new transgender identity. “When I shaved my head completely it was symbolic for a relationship that ended, but also because I’m done with this part of my life and ready to really be who I want to be.…
Most Influential 2015: Justin P. Nichols
Many readers may recognize Justin P. Nichols as the cover model for last year’s inaugural issue of this magazine. However, it is his advocacy as an attorney that brought him to local prominence. In January 2014, Nichols filed the first complaint under the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance claiming AT&T fired his client, Matthew Hileman, because of…
Most Influential 2015: Neel Lane
In February 2014, Neel Lane, along with litigation partner Barry Chasnoff, led a team from the San Antonio office of Akin Gump on behalf of clients Nicole Dimetman and Cleopatra De Leon and Victor Holmes and Mark Phariss. The two couples were seeking a preliminary injunction to bar Texas from enforcing its same-sex marriage ban.…
Most Influential 2015: Robert Salcido
On the afternoon of June 26, the day the Supreme Court made marriage equality the law of the land, Robert Salcido, Jr. was standing at the pulpit of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd speaking at what would be the first church wedding in San Antonio. He was there as a representative of Equality…
Most Influential 2015: Rey Lopez
Lopez is the owner and creator of Rey Lopez Entertainment, which brings special attractions to SA, including a cavalcade of contestants from RuPaul’s Drag Race, and he’s expanding his glitter-fueled empire across Texas. September 18 he’ll present 30 drag performers on five stages for OUT In the Park at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Manila…
Most Influential 2015: Lauryn Farris
You may have seen Lauryn Farris and her family in a recent interview that appeared in the Huffington Post as part of their Let Love Define Family series. The occasion for the interview was the final adoption of a 17-year-old transgender girl by Farris and Kerry, her wife of more than 40 years. Farris and her family…
Most Influential 2015: Henry Munoz
In 2013, Henry Muñoz was elected Finance Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the first Latino to serve in the position, and, he notes, the first openly gay man to do so. But that’s old news in today’s voracious ouroborus news cycles, even if we are already deep in the maw of a presidential campaign.…
Most Influential 2015: Rosie Gonzalez
Gonzalez was hired as Von Ormy City Attorney in March (she has since completed her contract) and was recently appointed to the State Bar of Texas Commission on Child Abuse and Neglect. Gonzalez is Bexar County’s only attorney certified in child-welfare law, and one of approximately 50 in the state. She is a solo practitioner…
Most Influential 2015: David Crabb
Bad Kid, David Crabb’s memoir of growing up gay in San Antonio during the 1990s is a hoot and a holler as we say in Texas. But it is so much more. Early on, he and his best friend Greg came out to each other. They hit the teen club circuit—Changez, Phazez, and Club FX.…
Most Influential 2015: Melissa Gohlke
As a UTSA Special Collections library assistant, Melissa Gohlke has been building local LGBTQ archives for the past five years. Her master’s thesis was on the history of San Antonio’s queer community, and she “caught the bug” for conserving LGBT records after interning at the Happy Foundation Archives. Gohlke says working with special collections is…