WEBVTT 00:00:02.160 --> 00:00:08.080 Welcome to Queer Voices, a radio show and a podcast that has been on KPFT since the station started. 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:13.839 Please consider a donation of 90.1 by going to KPFT.org and clicking on donate. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:18.399 You can do a one-time gift or send a little bit every month, like I do. 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:21.519 Everyone that you hear on this show is a volunteer. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:27.359 So any money raised goes straight to keeping the lights on for a place that has always had our backs as a community. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:29.760 We are proud to be on KPFT. 00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:35.920 Remember, this year, the Pride Parade and Festival is on June 6th, Saturday, downtown. 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:42.079 So this weekend, if you're a radio listener or catch the podcast in time, there will be the festival at City Hall. 00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:43.679 That's going to start around 11 a.m. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:49.119 And then one of the country's only nighttime parade kicks off at 7 p.m. 00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:50.320 downtown. 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:54.399 On this episode, you're going to hear about Pride quite a bit. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:01:02.799 Deborah Moncrief Bell talks with 2026 female identifying Grand Marshal for Pride Houston 365, Ashley Barnes. 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:12.640 Then I get to talk with Tamara Siler about her one-woman cabaret show, Saints and Sinners, that is playing at Main Street Theater through June 13th. 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:17.040 It's a great set of songs, and Tamara has her own connections to our community. 00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:24.239 Finally, Brian Lavinka talks with a 2026 Pride Houston distinguished Grand Marshal, Mr. 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:25.519 Brad Pritt. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:29.120 Brad is the CEO of Equality Texas. 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:31.680 We're certainly proud that you are here with us. 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:34.640 Queer Voices starts now. 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:43.120 This is Deborah Moncrief Bell, and I'm delighted to be talking with Ashley Barnes today. 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:49.840 Ashley is the female identifying grand marshal for Pride 2026. 00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:53.680 Now, Ashley, what does this nomination mean to you? 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:54.959 Well, thank you so much. 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:57.840 This nomination means the world to me. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:11.120 I am so ecstatic and I cannot believe that I am representing the city where I was born and raised, Houston, Texas, as this year's female identifying Pride Grand Marshal. 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:15.759 I'm just overly excited and very, very grateful. 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:18.639 What has been your past experience with Pride? 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:35.759 With Pride, I've always been able to volunteer, come out with my organization, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, provide testing at Pride, give away incentives for testing, and just really engage in all of the activities leading up to the Pride Festival. 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:39.439 But this year, it's gonna be a different experience. 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:42.319 How do you think that Pride is relevant? 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:52.159 It's relevant because it is a celebratory moment for the LGBTQ Plus community here in Houston. 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:55.919 We get to be free, you could be you, and I could be me. 00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:59.360 There is no judgment, and there's no limit to what we can do. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:04.800 Well, you touched on the next question, which is the theme this year is limitless. 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:06.159 So what does that mean to you? 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:09.599 Limits limitless means there's no limit. 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:17.840 We have fought a good fight, we've won that fight, and now it lets us know there's no limit to what any of us can do. 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:23.039 I've heard some people express we've been through hard times before and we got through them. 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:27.199 We've had these bad things happen and we move beyond them. 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:42.800 So even though our community is so much under attack, we know we can get through it because we've done it before and we've grown and and gathered strength from that and formed community, which is the most important part. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:58.400 Ashley, to let folks know a little bit more about you, as you mentioned, you work for an HIV health organization, and you've been doing that work for a long time, and in that community, you have a nickname. 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:00.960 It is called Miss Get It Done. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:03.919 Now, what does it where did that come from? 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:07.599 Well, I've been an advocate in the community for over 20 years. 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:12.960 Finding out my mom was diagnosed with HIV in 2002, it really hit home for me. 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:17.360 And sometimes you're really not affected until you are affected. 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:31.120 And just getting to take a deeper dive in my mom's health and her care, I also wanted to dive deeper into our community, who I can help, who I can care for, and not only I, who we can care for. 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:32.639 And support. 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:34.399 Support is everything. 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:37.040 I learned about support in this community. 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:48.639 How no matter what you are, no matter what color, what creed, what race, no matter what, you would always have someone that you could turn to, whether it's to my right, to my left, to my front, or to the back. 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:53.360 I can always depend on someone in this community to be there to support me. 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:55.439 I want to give that same support. 00:04:55.600 --> 00:05:00.319 So, Miss Get It Done, gets it done at all costs, no matter what. 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:04.959 I I go against barriers, I advocate for anyone and everyone. 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:06.399 I stand for what's right. 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:11.680 Because my mom always told me, right is right and wrong is wrong, and right will never wrong anybody. 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:13.439 So always do what's right. 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:18.480 So unknowingly, this is my passion, and it's not work for me. 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:20.560 I work for ATO Care Foundation. 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:29.120 We are the largest global nonprofit providing care for over 3 million individuals living with HIV across 50 countries. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:35.279 We have over a thousand clinics where we provide free services for testing, prevention, and care. 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:36.639 So why not? 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:45.759 You're known for showing up, making sure people feel seen, heard, and cared for, whether it's in boardrooms or in the community. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:53.600 Now, the this work, as you said, it came to you in a very personal way with diagnosis of your mom. 00:05:53.920 --> 00:06:08.879 And I think that's probably a very unusual situation for most people who have been pride grandmarshals, uh, while some of them may have been individuals affected by HIV, being the child of a parent who has it is a different situation. 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:17.519 And then you also have another strong family connection, which is that you are the sister of a death adult. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:20.800 And that's impacted your life and how you feel about things. 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:22.800 Can you tell me a little bit more about that? 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:24.079 Well, definitely. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:30.800 My oldest brother didn't understand what HIV was when my mother was diagnosed with HIV. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:32.160 He actually thought he had it. 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:34.000 He goes, Where do I get tested? 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:34.879 I need to know. 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:37.519 I need to tell my girlfriend that I have HIV. 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:39.120 And I'm like, No, you don't. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:40.800 I said, Are you sure you don't know? 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:41.920 And he's like, No. 00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:43.120 And so I explained. 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:45.040 It's a sexually transmitted disease. 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:52.639 And also the other ways that you can end up with HIV or getting or it being transmitted to you. 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:54.319 And he was clueless. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:58.480 So in that moment, I knew I had to educate another community. 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:00.160 And that was the deaf community. 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:07.759 And since then, I've done focus groups, I've walked deaf clients through our testing processes. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:10.000 I've gotten deaf clients into care. 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:16.959 I have deaf individuals of our community who actually reach out to me on Facebook and they're like, what does this mean? 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:18.079 Why is it red? 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:19.279 I know red is bad. 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:22.160 And so I actually take the time out to explain. 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:27.519 And then I will go to them because it's always about meeting the people meeting people where they are. 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:31.279 And that's how we best meet the needs of our community. 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:45.680 So I will go directly to them or have them come to me, walk them through the process, and just ensure that they have an experience like no other, where they feel included, because inclusivity is everything when it comes to our community. 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:56.959 And that's all people want to feel is that someone took the time out of their day to make them feel seen, heard, and noticed no matter what. 00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:58.639 And that's what I thrive on. 00:07:58.959 --> 00:07:59.920 Do you sign? 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:00.879 I do. 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:04.800 I actually have my associate's degree in sign language interpreting. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:11.519 And I am working on my certification, but I actually love the interpreting community. 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:13.920 So I know a lot of interpreters. 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:19.759 And even if I'm not board certified, I can very much so I am very fluent. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:22.800 So I identify myself as a bilingual individual. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:26.480 Indeed, you are, if you know American Sign Language. 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:34.080 We have actually a rather large deaf population within the queer community in Houston, yet we don't see them. 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:37.919 And it's a barrier in so many ways. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:47.120 And I keep thinking through the years, like, what would be the best ways we can engage the the deaf queer community? 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:49.440 And I haven't come up with the answers. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:09:00.320 I'm not that closely associated with it, even though I have worked with the deaf community and have been an advocate for people with uh different abilities or disabilities. 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:02.320 So I really applaud your work. 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:12.639 It's so vital to have someone like you that can reach out beyond just, I certainly say the regular community, but it's not regular in any way. 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:17.200 And and there's all kinds of situations and just one one never knows. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:22.720 So we we do know that education being informed is uh key. 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:30.080 What what other thing do you wish that people understood about HIV prevention? 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:35.519 That it doesn't have a color, it doesn't have a face, and it doesn't discriminate. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:40.799 So protecting your sexual health is one of the most important things that you could do in your life. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:44.799 In the blink of an eye, you could be the person receiving that diagnosis. 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:47.759 Prevention is there, prep is here. 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:49.840 Um we have new injectable prep. 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:54.960 So you're not receiving a reminder that you have to take a pill every day to prevent HIV. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:10:01.039 You now have the option of taking an injection every two months or an injection twice a year. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:12.799 So with the new developments, I plan to educate not only our community where everyone can hear, but most importantly as well, our deaf community. 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:22.080 They need to know these options are available to them so that if a person is living with a child and they come in contact with them, love is still love. 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:28.399 You can still live a long time, you can have sexual intercourse with this person, understanding that you equals you. 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:30.879 If you're undetectable, you're untransmittable. 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:36.480 So I plan on continuing to educate everyone with more of a focus on a deaf community. 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:42.879 And by doing so, throughout every event for pride, I will have a personal interpreter with me. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:51.759 So anytime I voice any word, if anyone's around that and they are deaf, they will have someone to communicate with them directly. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:55.360 If not myself, most importantly, that interpreter is there. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:56.399 That's wonderful. 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:58.399 This is Deborah Moncriefell. 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:07.120 I'm speaking with Ashley Barnes, one of the grand marshals for Pride Houston 365, the 2026 celebration. 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:16.320 And the grand marshals perform ceremonial duties, lead the parade, and serve as Pride ambassadors for Pride Month and throughout the year. 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:21.360 What would you say is your number one achievement for the queer community? 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:30.960 My number one achievement is the impact that I've had on our community by being myself, by being true, by being genuine and supportive. 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:40.000 I'm a team player, and I just want to see our queer community in the city of Houston thrive and continue to be successful. 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:44.720 So, in whatever way I can support that with anyone, I want to be that person. 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:49.519 Is there anything that I didn't ask you about that you would like folks to know? 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:50.159 Yes. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:12:00.720 I would like for folks to know for the parade, we are going to step out and camouflage because yet again, we've won this fight. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:02.399 We've won this war. 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:15.440 The fight is not over because there would still be things that stand against us as a community, but we are always going to win because of who we are, because of how we are. 00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:18.080 And we love everyone. 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:24.879 And just a special, special shout out to our trans brothers and sisters. 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:27.919 You are all continue to be you. 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:32.960 You are always supported by us as a community as a whole. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:34.399 Never forget that. 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:41.519 No matter who, would, when, why, or where, you can never be wiped away because you have a family in this community. 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:49.200 So just to close out, I want to say a quote that was printed in Out Smart magazine and a little article about you. 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:59.840 As a proud lesbian, I live my life out loud so the next generation can see that there is beauty, freedom, and peace in being exactly who you are. 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:09.600 If my journey helps even one person choose authenticity over sphere, then everything I have walked through has been worth it. 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:14.639 Ashley Barnes, your 2026 female identifying Grad Marshall. 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:17.519 Thanks for being with us on Queer Voices. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.679 Thank you so much for having me. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:34.080 Hi there, this is Brett Cullum, and today I am with Tamara Siler. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:42.000 She is going to be at Main Street Theater through June 13th with a one-woman cabaret show called Sinners and Saints. 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:55.600 Now, I know Tamara from the theater scene and her appearances in the Paul Hope cabarets at ovations, but in her formal biography, she is a veteran of over 90 theatrical productions around Houston, which is crazy. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:57.279 I know I've seen her so many times. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:06.480 Xanadu from stages, Bad Boy, the musical, the panto version of Hansel and Gretel, Susical, Little Shop of Horrors, Avenue Q, Dream Girls. 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:07.600 I mean, come on. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:10.320 It just goes on and on and on. 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:15.919 She's also currently the treasurer for Thundercloud Productions, one of my favorite producing companies here in Houston. 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:20.960 So thank you so much for agreeing to talk with us all about all things sinners and saints. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:23.120 Well, thank you so much for having me, Brett. 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:24.480 I really appreciate it. 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:27.039 And I can't believe you've seen all those shows. 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:28.000 I can't believe it either. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:32.399 No, last year I saw 56 something shows, but there you are. 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:33.519 My life in the theater. 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:36.559 But your life in the theater right now is at Main Street Theater. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:38.559 What made you want to do this cabaret for them? 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:50.799 It is something that Becky, Rebecca Greenut, and the artistic director, and Andrew Ruthfin, who's the associate artistic director, and I have been kind of just mentoring about for a few years now. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:53.840 And then finally last year we started to get serious. 00:14:54.080 --> 00:15:01.039 I had an opportunity to do a cabaret at stages during the pandemic, and that was a virtual cabaret. 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:04.399 And so it almost felt like it was it was a great opportunity. 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:06.320 It was almost unfinished business. 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:20.000 And so when Becky and Andrew opened the door for this idea, I felt like this might be my last possible chance to do something this ambitious and and something I've wanted to do for a long time. 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:27.279 And with a theater that actually gave me my first theatrical opportunities as a student at Rice University. 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:30.720 And so it just seemed to be the right time. 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:38.080 And I'm so glad that Main Street Theater decided to take a risk and or take a take a gamble and put it out there. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:40.960 And so I'm really excited about what we're putting together. 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:43.679 Now you did Caroline or Change There, is that correct? 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:44.320 I did. 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:44.879 I did. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:45.440 Wow. 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:47.039 And of course you were Caroline. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.159 I was Caroline. 00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:52.320 And it was an amazing opportunity. 00:15:52.639 --> 00:16:02.000 It so much so that actually I got to meet Tony Kushner that year because Rice just happened to have him as one of their president series speakers. 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:16.559 And when they knew that I had done Caroline or Change earlier in the year, and and actually Tony Kushner sent some of his family over from Lake Charles, because this was the location that had been closest to the home base of where the story is set. 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:19.120 And so he sent some people over there. 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:23.759 So and I finally got a chance to meet him at uh, you know, thanks to Rice. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:29.600 And then when he started giving a speech, he started, he said, Do you want to do a few bars, Tamara? 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:30.639 And I was like, No. 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:31.919 Not right now. 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:38.000 But I said, Well, I I kind of said I kind of shook my head, but if he had insisted, I think I would have. 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:38.559 Yeah. 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:40.159 Oh my gosh, that's crazy. 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:44.399 Well, going to the present, Sinners and Saints, that's the name of this cabaret. 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:45.919 What does that mean to you? 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:46.960 Which one are you? 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:53.840 I think, and it's funny because I started off calling it Saints and Sinners, but Sinners and Saints runs off the tongue a little bit better. 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:59.759 But the show is divided into the saints first and sinners last. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:06.799 And and and I think it's one of those things where we're we're playing with who is indeed a saint and who is indeed a sinner. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:12.079 And I think a lot of society brands people as one or the other. 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:21.519 And my idea is based on my own experience, is that there are times when one can be a saint and one can be a sinner and in the next moment. 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:23.759 And so, but what does that really mean? 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:27.680 And and having fun with the idea by framing it in music. 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:48.000 And there will be songs that will be we do, we don't do a lot of religious, we do maybe one spiritual and then a little bit of who by definition, when we say saint, you know, what is that really meaning and and you know, and then also sinners, you know, sinners, sinners are thought of as bad, but are they really? 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:55.839 And so just sort of bantering about those ideas, because I think there's a place and and times in your life when you have to be one or the other. 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:57.279 Yeah, no, absolutely. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:18:01.119 Now, this is 80 minutes and it's just you, but you've got some special guests. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:04.559 I do, I do, and we just released that information today. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:12.559 And so our my kind of take on that was that, you know, I don't think of myself as old, but I've been doing this for quite a while. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:16.960 I think my first show in Main Street Theater was 42 years ago. 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:25.519 So, and there's a whole generation of new talent on the scene that are doing some amazing work around town. 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:39.680 So when we were talking about the idea, I said, Well, why don't we open the door to a younger artist to join me for for the show, give them an opportunity to do their own solo and then an opportunity to do a duet. 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:44.480 And so we've identified a different artist for each weekend. 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.839 And No way. 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:51.599 Yeah, so we've so we we we're we just released the information about who they are today. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:19:06.160 And so so I'll I'll get to do the first weekend with Whitney Zangarini, who is appears with me in the Paul Hope cabarets, and and then Angela Panina, who just did a fantastic run with Garden Theaters production of company. 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:15.200 And then and Angela and I have known each other for years since we did Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at the at the previous country playhouse, now Queensbury Theater. 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:25.119 And then Trey Morgan Lewis will be the third weekend, and he and I had a chance to be in the Main Street Theater production of Dog Act. 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:29.039 These are young performers who I'm very familiar with their work, impressed by it. 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:33.039 And so each of them will get a chance to join me for a different weekend. 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:34.240 Oh man, that's amazing. 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:36.559 So, how did you get started in performing? 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:37.680 What was that like? 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:43.920 I actually probably started performing seriously with my middle school. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:50.480 I went to Fleming Fine Arts Academy, which was sort of the started the whole magnet program in HISD. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:58.319 I actually my first role that I played was in elementary school in f in fourth grade as a witch. 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:05.680 And I got to be so, you know, a witch then, and then I got to be the witch and into the woods. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:09.279 So there, you know, there are some things that keep coming up as themes. 00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:14.480 And I have played a couple of witches, a couple of housekeepers, a couple of this and a couple of that. 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:15.279 So we'll see. 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:21.519 But yes, so I really started getting serious about it when I was in when I was in middle school, but I was primarily backstage. 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:24.640 Uh I told someone that recently, and they were like, What? 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:26.160 You weren't on the stage? 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:28.079 I said, No, I was I was backstage. 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:32.319 I didn't necessarily think I had the talent to be on the stage. 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:41.359 And finally, in high school, when I went to high school for the performing and visual arts, HSPDA, my theater, musical theater director there, Dr. 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:44.720 Barron, he was kind of like, I believe there's something there. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:52.319 And he challenged me with a song, and he just kept pushing at me in front of my classmates to sing, to sing, to sing. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:56.880 And finally I sang something that he said, now that's what I've been waiting for. 00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:02.319 And so that just had that opened the door and haven't closed it yet. 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:08.240 And when I went to to school at Rice, I thought, okay, well, it's time for me to get serious about a career. 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:20.240 And and I don't think Rice, you know, there wasn't an opportunity to really think about, I mean, theater was very big at Rice in terms of an activity, but it wasn't necessarily a formal theater program. 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:26.880 So I actually started at Rice as an engineer, ended up getting a history degree, but then ended up working with an oil company. 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:31.200 But I'll do that during that, there were just little opportunities that kept popping up. 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:38.400 I mean, I did hair at Rice, a very interesting, crazy production of hair that actually was really, really good. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:58.640 And then I had my first show here at Main Street Theater doing Viney, the character of Viney, and The Miracle Worker, and doing youth theater, and then also doing working at Rice, and and and so the I kept trying to leave theater alone just so I could focus on my career, and it just kept pulling me back. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.759 And then country play. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.480 House. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:11.440 I started there with Tim Driscoll, God rest his soul, great guy, who really kind of got me invested in theater again and got me to love it and understand how it might fit into my life. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:15.920 And so from then I just started figuring out ways that I could keep theater into my life. 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:22.960 And pretty much since the mid-80s, I've been doing shows here and there and got really serious about it in the early 90s. 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:27.200 Did a number of shows with Tuts and stages, of course. 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:30.559 You mentioned Bat Boy, fantastic experience. 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:36.160 And just I'm just absolutely one of my one of my cinema faves of doing that. 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:50.000 But also with theaters, we talk a little bit about theaters that are no longer with us, like the little room downstairs where I did Life, directed by I we were talking about, I think Ron Jones has directed me more than anybody in this town. 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:53.279 But it it just it just kept coming back. 00:22:53.440 --> 00:23:00.799 And what I found was that the theater made me actually a better, uh, a better communicator in my in my work. 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:03.599 It kind of began to to play off of each other. 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:07.759 And it also just kept me sane during some of the crazy times at the office. 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:15.279 So, and here I am quite a few years later, and still thankful that people find things that fit me. 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:28.799 Great to have found Paul Hope cabarets and really something that is flexible enough that I can keep doing it even when I have to travel for work and do all of the projects that I have to. 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:37.839 But this has just been a wonderful way to kind of remember all of the wonderful things that I've been able to do over the years on various stages around town. 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:40.079 Now you mentioned that you you travel for work. 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:40.720 What do you do? 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:45.039 I'm actually a college and I'm in college admission at Rice. 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:45.839 Okay. 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:48.720 I've held a couple of, I've had several positions. 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:55.440 This is my 34th year as a member of the Rice admissionslash enrollment division. 00:23:55.680 --> 00:24:08.319 And and it it really, I feel like my theatrical endeavors have helped me to go out into the world and present rice in ways and meet different people. 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:24.160 A lot of what we do is that we have to meet people and be ready to hit the ground running with whatever we're saying about the institution and be able to talk to people who may not be as easy to talk to in terms of they're very shy. 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:33.440 And then also being able to make a message and to have an impact on people and know it, letting them know what a wonderful experience Rice was. 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:35.200 And it was a great experience for me. 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:40.000 I'm still very involved also in in student life and volunteering when I can. 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:46.319 So one of the things we talk about is I didn't end up having the traditional life that I thought I was going to have. 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:54.240 I didn't end up getting white dress and walking down the aisle, even though I was engaged, but I had never, never had that. 00:24:54.400 --> 00:25:09.440 But in a way, I still have had an incredible experience of seeing young people grow and being in a position where I get to support and mentor them in a variety of ways, not only through the college application process, but through their time at Rice. 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:22.880 The theater piece, I've actually done some theaters, theater things as as a non-student at Rice and helping students out in that regard and put appearing in things such as chess at the school. 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:25.599 I also appeared in chess at Theater Under the Stars. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:27.279 So I actually love that show. 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:29.279 I wish I'd seen it when I was in New York anyway. 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.799 Oh, it's one of my favorites. 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:31.839 Oh my gosh. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.720 Yes, no. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.519 It's it's great. 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:36.480 And speaking of like favorite shows, do you have a favorite role that you've done? 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:38.160 That's it's really hard. 00:25:38.319 --> 00:26:02.640 I'm gonna go with Caroline just because it was such such an incredibly challenging experience because I think it was it's it was a role that was not necessarily like me in terms of Caroline's bitterness and her mistrust of the world and her just I mean, taxitarian ta tactiturn, is that the right word? 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:16.960 I was like, I don't she just was uh but the reality is maybe I I I identified a little bit more than that in that here she was, she did have hope in the world, and it just kind of got beaten out of her in some ways by life. 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:23.599 I constantly in the in the world that we have today try to remember to still be hopeful. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:29.680 But I think that are times where I can totally understand how Caroline could get to where she is. 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:31.839 But it was and and the music's amazing. 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:37.599 It it just the way Janine Tessori and they work together, just the songs, it's almost an opera. 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:40.640 There's so much singing in that's in that show. 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:45.440 And yes, there are scenes, but the music really is what propels the story forward. 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:47.839 So are there any roles that you've always wanted to do? 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:53.279 Or like if I were gonna produce a show and it's Tamiris Dream Show, what would that be? 00:26:53.680 --> 00:27:05.200 I'm not sure it's a dream show, but the role that everybody thinks I've played, that I have never played, based on the fact that I've sung music from the show, is Mama Morton from Chicago. 00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:08.880 Everybody says, You must have played Mama Morton. 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:09.839 I'm like, no. 00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:19.200 We tried a couple of times to produce that at a couple of theaters around town that could put on a show of that scale, but it never quite made the cut. 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:22.400 And I have always wanted to play that role. 00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:28.079 That would probably be my my top answer in that other people feel I've done it. 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:29.920 So I don't know. 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:37.920 It if there are others that just come to my head, I got to play so many iconic roles, and I'm so thankful for that. 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:39.920 I got to play The Witch in Into the Woods. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:45.200 I got to to play, uh, which I think is one of, I mean, a definite other favorite. 00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:47.200 I got to play Effie and Dream Girls. 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:49.039 I played Queen and the Life. 00:27:49.200 --> 00:28:00.240 I've played some that people in that are familiar with musical theater would think, wow, those are really uh in oh goodness, why am I blanking on it? 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:04.480 The and I'm gonna be singing a song for this, Once on This Island. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.440 That's why I'm showing you. 00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:06.559 Yes, once on this island. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:11.039 I saw that. 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:13.039 Like I'm not sure. 00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:17.680 I'm a little long in the tooth now for it, but but I I can't wait to see it. 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:20.079 It it it is such a beautiful musical. 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:23.039 It's just, I mean, the music, the story. 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:28.559 I remember, you know, nights when we would get to sing, This is why we tell the story. 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:32.880 And uh and I got to play Lisa in A New Brain. 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:38.480 And I think that that is that is probably one of my favorite musicals I've been in that nobody talks about. 00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:43.680 And it is one of the most beautiful musicals and so personal to William Fan. 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:46.079 He reached out to us when we were doing it. 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:57.039 He didn't have a chance to come to the show, but he'd heard about the accolades that that the show was guard was was was getting from from audiences and also from reviewers. 00:28:57.200 --> 00:29:02.880 And uh it was just it really was one of those wonderful, beautiful experiences, a perfect cast. 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:32.400 And and you know, there's not there's not a lot of my shows that make me try on the regular, but I had I feel so much spring at the end, that that being the closing number and thinking about so many people that there are musicals that take me back to certain times, and that's one of those musicals thinking about the meaning of life and death and and celebrating life and not being too caught up in the craziness that can really remind that can really take us away from the joy of living. 00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:53.440 That in musical in particular, I lost a really good friend during it, and it just was one of those things that and I find myself in musicals and in different times in my life that there has been that that that loss or something, whether it be a physical loss of a of a person or a loss of something that was special to me. 00:29:53.680 --> 00:30:00.079 The music often becomes the opportunity to heal, but also the opportunity to remember. 00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:07.119 I've just had so many gifts, and this I feel is another gift that I'm being given to share some parts of my story. 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:11.119 And I hope that when audiences come, they come ready to have fun. 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:38.319 Because we definitely have thought about fun in this, but there will be a couple of moments, I think serious moments, that because of the story we're trying to tell, that hopefully people will be able to reflect on some of the things in their own lives that might be points of change, points of things not going the way you thought they would go, but also being surprised and amazed and just joyous that things you didn't expect to happen did. 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:41.440 And so, and that you could not not have ever expected. 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:52.960 So I think sometimes one of my favorite lines is in music is from a band, semisonic's closing time, and every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end. 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:56.559 And and I just think about how many times that's been true for me. 00:30:56.720 --> 00:31:03.359 It's never, even though there is an ending, there is the opportunity always to re to begin again. 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:04.079 Yeah. 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:12.400 Well, talking about this show and thinking about it, and and if we can talk about singing for a second, how do you choose songs for yourself? 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:15.839 I mean, I know usually when you do a show, the the song's already written. 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:19.119 If you do Paul Hope, he's already picked out some stuff to do. 00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:23.440 But how do you pick songs that, hey, I want to do this and I want to do that? 00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:29.759 It I mean, while it's primarily been driven by me, I have we've had some negotiation moments. 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:35.920 Stephen Jones and I have worked together since the early, well, since uh the late 1990s. 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:44.240 I always want to make it early 1990s, but he and I met each other on the life, but still that's almost 30 years ago, and we've worked together in a variety of capacities. 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:47.039 So I trusted him to come up with some solutions. 00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:53.039 And then when we talked about it, Andrew, who is directing the piece, he also came up with a couple of things. 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.799 A couple of things we tried. 00:31:54.960 --> 00:32:00.480 We were saying we were being ambitious, and finally we were like, that's not, it's not quite working for us. 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:05.200 We don't want to get something out there and be working so hard at it. 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:17.440 Part of this is we wanted to kind of meet the theme, but also to create something in which the audience could come with us in a way that wasn't too abstract. 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:19.920 There's something for everybody, I believe, in this show. 00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:24.480 And Steven brought up a couple of songs that I'm like, okay, they fit perfectly. 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:31.039 You know, one I from Steel Pier that we're gonna be doing, and that I was, I'm not as familiar with that musical. 00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:52.960 But I think together our knowledge of music has allowed us to kind of pick a couple of sets that I feel really will hopefully touch anybody who's interested in who who is a fan of musical theater, and they may not love every song, but I think they're actually gonna love a lot of songs, and and some of them will be very familiar to them, and some of them may not be as familiar to them. 00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:56.160 Well, I want to get into this part of your life. 00:32:56.319 --> 00:33:03.839 You are considered an ally, and in fact, your cabaret is going to be dark during pride events this year. 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:05.920 You're actually gonna be going to Pride, is that right? 00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:15.039 Yes, I'll be a I'm I'm on the steering committee for Rice Alumni Pride, and so we have our entry into the Pride Parade. 00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:17.039 So I'll be marching out there. 00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:31.440 I'm I'm a little excited about the fact that it's gonna be early June and not late June, which often for this 60-plus-year-old body to be walking around, and also a relatively zooptic chick. 00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:37.279 Not that June is gonna be just the beginning of June, it's gonna be so cool, but I think it'll be a little different. 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:58.400 I started doing serious theater in the 80s, and of course, we know what was happening in the 80s, and I even think about my own class at PVA when I graduated in 1982, and just 10 years later, there we had 168 people in our graduating class, and when we met just 10 years later, 10 of them were already gone. 00:33:58.559 --> 00:34:16.639 And so, so it's it's always been an important issue to me in terms of making sure that I'm creating space for people to have for their voices to be not, you know, not just tolerant and tolerance is not the goal, celebration and and support at all times is is is what I'm looking for. 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:22.559 I I put myself in in a position where I hope I support any community that I am part of. 00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:32.960 Learning also to that support doesn't mean putting yourself out there, it means you know elevating those around you so they're so that they their voices can be heard. 00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:38.320 But also sometimes when they're not in the room, that then that's when you need to step up. 00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:45.599 If they're not, if if if the right people aren't in the room to make those decisions, then that's when you need to take the lead. 00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:57.280 But and we have some someone at Rice, one of our young, one of our students who's been, has gotten one of the pride accolades that we're very excited to to have Dutrick Fitzgerald. 00:34:57.599 --> 00:35:01.679 And uh it's like so so we're very excited, excited for them. 00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:03.440 I'm all I'm always still learning. 00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:28.960 And I think that that's as an and also one of my one of my really great fellow rights alumni friend, and I'm always learning from Brandon Mack, who has been over a lot of the advocacy work in Houston, and he was he himself was a grand marshal, and I always kind of take some cues from from him, you know, when it's time for me to support, but step back so the right voices can be heard. 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:49.760 But it's it's it's something that I I consider a joy of my life to have even been given the opportunities to support my friends, support the community, support, and make sure that students who are still finding their voice, creating that safe space for them to, you know, find their voice in their own time. 00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:52.559 And that's one of the roles that I see for myself at Rice. 00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:58.400 It's also a role that I've played on a national level with our National Association for College Admission Counseling. 00:35:58.639 --> 00:36:04.880 I've been the inaugural chair of our LGBTQ steering group on that level. 00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:14.400 So and then when it was time, I said it's time to pass this off to someone who is fully part of the community and and for them to lead. 00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:17.039 And I will support them in any way possible. 00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:26.159 But I think in all cases, when you're talking about people whose voices need to be heard, you need to make sure you're centering the right people and not make it all about you. 00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:33.519 Lead maybe to get it started, but then step aside to let the people who really should be leading take take the take the front seats. 00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:37.599 Well, and what's amazed me about Rice is as an institution, you've really stepped up. 00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:47.679 The state schools, the DEI programs, and any admission of that these people even exist on their campuses is been decimated in the last few years. 00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:58.559 And I I remember Rice opened up and said, hey, if you go to UFH, if you go to wherever else in the the school you are and you can't get together and you don't have a resource or a group to get together, come to ours. 00:36:58.800 --> 00:36:59.039 Yes. 00:36:59.119 --> 00:37:05.679 And I and that has been such I'm so proud of everyone involved in making that decision. 00:37:05.920 --> 00:37:11.039 It doesn't come without criticism, but at the same time, you know, what doesn't? 00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:20.320 And it's like doing the right thing rarely comes without somebody pushing buttons and trying to make sure that whatever you're trying to do that's good gets shut down. 00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:23.119 I'm so glad we were able to step into that space. 00:37:23.199 --> 00:37:27.039 And again, it's so it was clearly it is so appreciated. 00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:28.639 And to see us continuing to grow. 00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:33.440 Um, one of the things that we've recently added is a citywide lavender graduation. 00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:34.960 And so that happened. 00:37:35.039 --> 00:37:38.639 I wasn't able to make it this year, but I I was able to be there last year. 00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:57.840 And it's just, it's wonderful seeing you, I mean, because we do this, this I we do identity-based sort of other celebrations of students and to see students be able to come together and celebrate and also see the extension of how they're not alone in the city and psych. 00:37:58.079 --> 00:38:13.679 So, and but also to create a space where students whose communities are hamstrung and can't help can't celebrate them in the ways that they deserve to be celebrated, being able to uh support them is also, you know, just is such a joy. 00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:18.159 And and it's it is it is something for those that would be against it. 00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:29.119 I wish they could be open-minded and see what these students, in addition to being a student, often what they have to navigate when their families aren't supportive. 00:38:29.280 --> 00:38:35.599 We want to make sure that even if their families are not supported, that they feel supported and they sh feel celebrated. 00:38:35.760 --> 00:38:43.280 And and so creating that space has also been such such a joy and such a such a privilege, if you will. 00:38:43.440 --> 00:38:51.360 And I'm glad I am so proud of Rice for walking, walking the talk because a lot of people do a lot of talking, but Rice walks it as well. 00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:52.159 Yeah. 00:38:52.400 --> 00:39:01.679 Well, Tamara, we're proud of you and proud to to join you on this journey at Main Street Theater running through June 13th, ironically, right during Pride season. 00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:03.039 Sinners and Saints. 00:39:03.360 --> 00:39:05.679 So, and it's uh it's a cabaret show. 00:39:05.760 --> 00:39:07.679 I noticed the seating configuration is a little bit different. 00:39:07.760 --> 00:39:09.599 Are you gonna have tables in the middle section? 00:39:09.760 --> 00:39:10.400 Yeah, yeah. 00:39:10.480 --> 00:39:14.079 In the middle section, there'll be about four tables, I think with four seats each. 00:39:14.239 --> 00:39:27.840 And yeah, if you want to get a little closer, and there are signature cocktails, both uh in the in the saints version, it's a is a non-alcoholic cocktail, and then you have a centers version featuring in another life. 00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:34.400 We'll talk about my my affinity for bourbon and my past as an ambassador for the Black Bourbon Society. 00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:37.039 But you know, that's another that's another that's a whole nother podcast. 00:39:37.199 --> 00:39:40.000 Oh yeah, no, we're we're booking that one later for sure. 00:39:40.320 --> 00:39:43.599 Once you get done, then you can start dipping into the bourbon. 00:39:43.679 --> 00:39:46.239 But but we're so excited to see you at Main Street Theater. 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:49.519 So we will definitely be there, of course, as always. 00:39:49.679 --> 00:39:50.400 Thank you so much. 00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:51.280 Well, thank you. 00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:54.239 Thank you for this opportunity, and I I really appreciate it. 00:39:54.480 --> 00:39:56.000 I can't wait to see you there. 00:39:56.079 --> 00:40:01.199 And I hope it'll be everything that I hope that I hope would touching, but also lots of fun. 00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:03.199 Yeah, no, I'm sure it will be. 00:40:38.239 --> 00:40:46.079 So KPFT is very important to give voices to those who might not otherwise have voices. 00:40:47.039 --> 00:40:53.440 You participate by listening, but you should also participate by supporting the station. 00:40:53.599 --> 00:41:00.000 So please go to KPFT.org and make your donation right away. 00:41:02.880 --> 00:41:10.719 This is Brian Levinka and I have the extreme honor of being able to interview Brad Pritchett, the CEO of Equality Texas. 00:41:10.880 --> 00:41:12.239 Welcome to the show, Brad. 00:41:12.639 --> 00:41:14.159 Happy to be here as always. 00:41:14.400 --> 00:41:16.159 Now, Brad, I want to know who Brad is. 00:41:16.239 --> 00:41:18.880 In case people out in the audience don't know who Brad Pritchett is. 00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:19.760 Tell us who you are. 00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:26.239 Well, currently I'm the CEO of Equality Texas, which is the state's largest LGBTQ advocacy organization. 00:41:26.400 --> 00:41:29.039 Equality Texas has been around since 1978. 00:41:29.199 --> 00:41:36.639 Outside of that, I'm a native Houstonian, worked in the LGBTQ community for, well, most of my adult life, it feels like, at this point. 00:41:36.800 --> 00:41:39.599 Before I was at Equality Texas, I worked at the ACLU of Texas. 00:41:39.679 --> 00:41:47.360 I helped as a volunteer in a lot of different organizations, showed up wherever people needed to be supported or there needed to be somebody doing some grunt work. 00:41:47.440 --> 00:41:56.639 I love good grunt work, but have really tried my best to be as productive and as effective as I can be as a member of our community helping to advocate for our rights. 00:41:56.880 --> 00:42:05.920 You know, and if there's any organization in our state that goes underappreciated, it's Quality Texas because you're doing the the work of our community, especially at the state level. 00:42:06.159 --> 00:42:07.039 Well, I appreciate that. 00:42:07.280 --> 00:42:14.239 We have a really small team at Equality Texas, and we're covering a lot of issues and situations happening across the state of Texas. 00:42:14.480 --> 00:42:25.840 Any chance we have to talk about the work that we do, any chance we have to help people understand kind of what's at stake and all the moving parts that sometimes aren't as aren't as easy to see when you're not as close to it as we are. 00:42:25.920 --> 00:42:32.400 We're so happy to make sure folks have an understanding of that and give people the tools they need to advocate for themselves wherever they live in Texas. 00:42:32.639 --> 00:42:39.280 Yeah, because living in Texas in the cities, it's a different experience than living out in the sticks, out in the suburbs, out in the country towns. 00:42:39.599 --> 00:42:39.920 For sure. 00:42:40.000 --> 00:42:44.239 I mean, I grew up about 30 miles north of Houston in what used to be a pretty rural area. 00:42:44.320 --> 00:42:48.559 It's not as rural anymore because of the way our the way our cities kind of sprawl outward. 00:42:48.800 --> 00:42:59.360 But as a young gay person in New Caney, Texas, I was terrified that people were gonna find out I was gay because I didn't know anybody else who was openly LGBTQ at the time. 00:42:59.440 --> 00:43:03.679 And you live in these conservative communities where visibility feels really challenging. 00:43:03.840 --> 00:43:15.280 One of the things that we try to do at Equality, Texas is really spend some time focusing on pride celebrations in those communities, in those small towns across the state, places that feel really conservative. 00:43:15.360 --> 00:43:38.960 But the thing that one of the lessons that I've learned over the years of working in progressive politics and in LGBTQ politics is there are parts of the state that feel really, really red, really, really conservative, but there are pockets of LGBTQ plus people there and progressive folks, and when they find each other, they tend to clump together and organize in ways that are really, really effective and support one another in really beautiful ways. 00:43:39.199 --> 00:43:45.119 It's funny that you mentioned pride because you are nominated as a distinguished grand marshal. 00:43:45.199 --> 00:43:45.840 Is that correct? 00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:53.039 I am one of the three distinguished grand marshals, and then I think we have two posthumous distinguished grand marshals this year. 00:43:53.360 --> 00:43:59.760 And for people that don't know, the distinguished grand marshal is chosen by the the past uh grand marshals rather than the community. 00:44:00.480 --> 00:44:02.960 So it's an elevated honor for work that's been done. 00:44:03.440 --> 00:44:10.719 I'm floored that I was put forth as one of the distinguished Grand Marshals, especially considering the other folks are in also in that category with me. 00:44:11.039 --> 00:44:14.000 I mean, you're running a statewide LGBTQ organization. 00:44:14.079 --> 00:44:14.880 I mean, hello. 00:44:15.519 --> 00:44:16.320 Yeah, maybe. 00:44:16.400 --> 00:44:31.599 But when you're next to somebody like Judy Reeves or somebody like Jack Berger or somebody like Ken Kennedy Lofton, who I worked with for a long time while he was at Mantra Center, it just doesn't feel real in some ways because those folks have done so much work and continue to do so much work for the community. 00:44:31.760 --> 00:44:33.519 It's your imposter syndrome coming into play. 00:44:33.760 --> 00:44:38.239 I don't see myself on the same level as those folks as far as the work that I've done. 00:44:38.400 --> 00:44:44.639 But I'm grateful for the for the honor and any chance to stand alongside those folks is always kind of lovely. 00:44:44.719 --> 00:44:46.880 And getting to celebrate people like Kennedy, I think, is beautiful. 00:44:47.199 --> 00:44:48.000 Oh, you're too humble. 00:44:48.079 --> 00:44:49.599 You do you're doing the work as we speak. 00:44:49.679 --> 00:44:51.039 So I'll take your word for it. 00:44:51.280 --> 00:44:51.519 Yeah. 00:44:51.840 --> 00:44:54.079 Okay, let's get into our Grand Marshall questions. 00:44:54.239 --> 00:44:58.400 So, first question is what does Grand Marshall nomination mean to you? 00:44:58.639 --> 00:45:05.840 I thought about this a lot just in the process of I've been nominated for Grand Marshall, I think at least one other time that I remember. 00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:17.840 And I'm not a I am a competitive person in some respects, but the Grand Marshall stuff to me has always been a challenge because every time I've been nominated, I've always had other people who were nominated in the same category who I thought were more deserving of it. 00:45:18.000 --> 00:45:22.559 So I think people got frustrated with me a few times because I would say, don't vote for me, vote for this person, they're better. 00:45:22.719 --> 00:45:27.599 But this year, the Distinguished Grand Marshall was a surprise and it's it's lovely and a beautiful honor. 00:45:27.679 --> 00:45:29.119 And I'm very grateful for it. 00:45:29.280 --> 00:45:37.519 But for me, it does feel like when we're looking at the different folks who've been selected as the Grand Marshals, we've got this really amazing cross-section of our community. 00:45:37.679 --> 00:45:39.199 So for me, it is about that visibility. 00:45:39.360 --> 00:45:44.559 It's how are we bringing that visibility to everything we do, not just during the month of June? 00:45:44.719 --> 00:45:48.800 And everybody who's in this category, in all these categories for Grand Marshall, is doing that. 00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:52.639 They're living pride essentially 365 days a year, every single day. 00:45:52.800 --> 00:46:01.039 And that's what I take from it is yes, you get to be honored in this beautiful celebration and we get to do the parade and we get to have all these things that are happening. 00:46:01.119 --> 00:46:05.519 But at the same time, it is really about how do you take that and make sure that it's happening all the time. 00:46:05.760 --> 00:46:10.800 Like we need to be making sure that the visibility of the community is constantly being put at the forefront. 00:46:11.119 --> 00:46:11.599 Absolutely. 00:46:11.840 --> 00:46:15.360 Can you tell us about the first time you went to Pride or your favorite experiences at Pride? 00:46:15.760 --> 00:46:17.760 My first Pride story is actually pretty decent. 00:46:18.000 --> 00:46:19.360 I was in college. 00:46:19.599 --> 00:46:32.159 I was not out to my family yet, but we were having tensions at home because I was living my double life of when I was in Houston being part of my community and when I was back home with my parents, not really talking about it. 00:46:32.320 --> 00:46:34.559 So my mom and I had gotten into this large fight. 00:46:34.639 --> 00:46:37.599 And like I said, I grew up, you know, about 30 miles north of Houston. 00:46:37.679 --> 00:46:39.760 And I remember getting in my car and just leaving. 00:46:39.920 --> 00:46:42.800 And I had been to Montrose sparingly. 00:46:42.960 --> 00:46:46.400 I had gone to Numbers because Numbers was everybody's first club if you grew up in Houston. 00:46:46.559 --> 00:46:49.840 So I was thinking to myself, like, I'll drive to Numbers and see what's happening. 00:46:49.920 --> 00:46:54.239 And as I kind of drove into Montrose, traffic was ridiculous. 00:46:54.320 --> 00:46:59.119 It was just back to back, bumper to bumper, and people were walking all over the streets, and I had no idea what was going on. 00:46:59.280 --> 00:47:06.400 So I parked and then kind of just followed the swarm of people and stumbled onto the corner of Montrose and Westheimer where the Pride Parade was happening. 00:47:06.480 --> 00:47:09.519 So I had no idea the Pride Parade was even a thing at that point. 00:47:10.079 --> 00:47:16.639 You went after having an argument with your mom to Montrose and the parade was just happening to go on. 00:47:16.960 --> 00:47:17.360 Correct. 00:47:17.519 --> 00:47:20.400 I thought that is not a sign from a higher power. 00:47:20.559 --> 00:47:21.039 I don't know. 00:47:21.599 --> 00:47:22.480 I thought the same thing. 00:47:22.559 --> 00:47:28.880 And I look back on it, and for my very first pride, it was one of those things where the I've said this before in some other spaces. 00:47:29.039 --> 00:47:32.079 I was struggling with how do you tell your parents you're a queer person. 00:47:32.400 --> 00:47:37.679 Had this big fight with my mom, was gonna go to numbers because that's the only place I'd been, um, and I knew I could get in. 00:47:37.840 --> 00:47:41.840 And then yeah, the community was just like, no, no, here's a here's a celebration instead. 00:47:42.000 --> 00:47:43.679 You should just be involved in this celebration. 00:47:44.000 --> 00:47:45.519 There's a much bigger party down the street. 00:47:45.920 --> 00:47:49.920 It was it was the first time I had ever experienced a pride parade before, and it was incredible. 00:47:50.159 --> 00:47:53.360 I mean, I look back on it now as like meant to be in a lot of ways for sure. 00:47:53.679 --> 00:47:55.039 So what year was that, by the way? 00:47:55.280 --> 00:47:59.039 That was 199 it was either 1999 or 2000. 00:47:59.360 --> 00:48:02.159 I believe it was I think it was on the cusp of 99. 00:48:02.400 --> 00:48:05.360 No, it was ninety-nine because I was too young to get into the real bars. 00:48:05.679 --> 00:48:08.800 I don't look at you as a young, young gay boy trying to get into the bars. 00:48:09.039 --> 00:48:10.880 Well, just in getting in getting in anywhere. 00:48:10.960 --> 00:48:13.360 That's the reason I was going to numbers is because I knew I could get in. 00:48:13.440 --> 00:48:13.679 Yeah. 00:48:13.760 --> 00:48:15.119 Uh because it was all ages. 00:48:15.199 --> 00:48:24.719 But I couldn't go to like, you know, on certain nights you couldn't go to Riches because where I met my husband, yes, it is. 00:48:24.800 --> 00:48:26.000 Um in like 2001. 00:48:26.400 --> 00:48:27.280 Holy ground to me. 00:48:27.599 --> 00:48:37.280 I mean, riches is one of those places where when we get to see stuff still happening in that place, it makes me so happy because it was a it was a source for a lot of fun and a lot of friendships that I had. 00:48:37.519 --> 00:48:42.960 Some of the best memories I have probably of being a young gay person in Houston or something to Riches. 00:48:43.360 --> 00:48:47.039 I remember like in the 90s, you would lose people in Riches for like an hour. 00:48:47.280 --> 00:48:47.599 Absolutely. 00:48:48.639 --> 00:48:49.199 You couldn't find them. 00:48:49.360 --> 00:48:50.000 I'm like, where are they? 00:48:50.159 --> 00:49:03.920 And it's just that multi-level kind of situation that Riches still kind of has where you could be on the dance floor in the thick of it, or you could be upstairs kind of watching from a distance and like taking a breath and just different spaces to congregate in with your friends. 00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:07.599 So yeah, Riches was Rich's was and remains a very special place for me. 00:49:07.840 --> 00:49:10.639 So I know you kind of covered this, but what does pride mean to you? 00:49:10.800 --> 00:49:23.039 I mean, for me, it really is about how do we how do we take the energy that we have during the month of June when everything feels so like pro-us and translate that into something that is throughout the course of the year. 00:49:23.199 --> 00:49:33.920 So for me, it's about how do we, how do we really like amp up the fact that like our community's here, our community is deserving of recognition, we're deserving of celebration, and it shouldn't just be in the month of June. 00:49:34.000 --> 00:49:36.239 It should be every single month of the year. 00:49:36.480 --> 00:49:39.760 So it's an opportunity to really make connections with folks. 00:49:39.840 --> 00:49:47.360 It's an opportunity to talk about what our community's doing, what our community needs, and to try to translate that into action for the rest of the year. 00:49:47.599 --> 00:49:52.480 And I think this kind of goes along with what you just said, but how how is pride relevant these days? 00:49:52.800 --> 00:49:55.760 It's more relevant now than it's ever been, I think, in a lot of ways. 00:49:55.920 --> 00:50:02.800 It's more relevant now than it has been probably since the height of the AIDS crisis, uh, with the level of hostility that the community is facing. 00:50:02.960 --> 00:50:12.400 We've got pride events across the state of Texas and in communities where they're trying to shut them down just because they don't want to have a pride celebration in their community. 00:50:12.639 --> 00:50:25.840 We've got pride events in parts of the state where you've got anti-LGBTQ activists who are lying about the law and saying you're not allowed to have a drag queen in public at all, which is not true, um, and trying to get pride celebration shut down. 00:50:25.920 --> 00:50:41.199 We have folks who are literally calling our community, again, groomers and all kinds of other horrible names while protecting folks who have all this power in politics who have very credibly been linked to crimes against people and crimes against young people and children and women. 00:50:41.360 --> 00:50:55.440 So, I mean, for me, this is the year where it needs to be as loud as it possibly can be because we need to be able to give people a catalyzing moment to understand where we are right now and what is necessary to move us back in the direction of better progress than we're currently seeing. 00:50:55.760 --> 00:50:56.559 So, did you hear that? 00:50:56.719 --> 00:51:01.280 The CEO of Equality Texas is calling for loud parades across the state. 00:51:01.679 --> 00:51:02.559 Absolutely. 00:51:03.760 --> 00:51:08.559 You can quote me every community in the state of Texas should have a pride celebration. 00:51:08.960 --> 00:51:13.440 Equality Texas did 97 pride events across the state of Texas last year. 00:51:13.760 --> 00:51:17.599 We barely survived it because that's a lot of events all over the state. 00:51:17.840 --> 00:51:18.079 Imagine. 00:51:18.239 --> 00:51:19.760 And Texas is not a small state. 00:51:20.000 --> 00:51:20.400 Correct. 00:51:20.559 --> 00:51:26.800 I think part of it for us was really we would find out about these small town prides that were in year one or year two, and we didn't know about them. 00:51:26.960 --> 00:51:29.920 And somebody would reach out and say, Do y'all want to come and set up a table? 00:51:30.079 --> 00:51:42.639 And those are the ones that I mean, all the prides are important, but those first year, second year prides, like being able to help and get them off the ground, like help them have some kind of stability so that they have a successful pride this year so they can build on that for the next year. 00:51:42.800 --> 00:51:46.480 And then it's hopefully in five years' time that parade and that celebration are still happening. 00:51:46.639 --> 00:51:50.320 So we try to prioritize uplifting those small town events when we can. 00:51:50.480 --> 00:51:54.239 And sometimes that means driving three or four hours to get there because it's Texas. 00:51:54.400 --> 00:51:54.639 Right. 00:51:54.880 --> 00:51:55.039 Right. 00:51:55.280 --> 00:52:00.800 But it's worth it when you go into these communities and folks folks show up in the most conservative places. 00:52:00.960 --> 00:52:02.719 There's still people out there celebrating pride. 00:52:02.800 --> 00:52:08.559 And when they see organizations like Equality Texas at their event, they're shocked and so grateful. 00:52:08.719 --> 00:52:12.480 So that's one of the things that we try to do is just make sure we're showing up everywhere we possibly can. 00:52:12.559 --> 00:52:14.559 And again, we have a very small staff. 00:52:14.639 --> 00:52:17.119 So we depend a lot on volunteers who are helping us do that as well. 00:52:17.440 --> 00:52:21.679 So what was the one place that had a pride parade that you were surprised to see? 00:52:21.760 --> 00:52:24.079 It's like, I can't believe I'm here having this pride parade. 00:52:24.400 --> 00:52:26.400 I mean, more festivals than parades, honestly. 00:52:26.480 --> 00:52:33.280 So more festivals across the state than parades, which is So where was the one festival in the place that you would never have thought would have had one? 00:52:33.519 --> 00:52:46.320 I mean, places like Taylor, Texas, North Texas places, like Denton, there are places that feel very Abilene, places that feel very conservative that pull together for these small little pride events, and then they they're not actually that small. 00:52:46.480 --> 00:52:47.599 Tons of people show up. 00:52:47.760 --> 00:52:54.960 And in certain parts of the state, you have a pride celebration in one city and you've got folks, even in Houston, you get enough folks driving in 30 or 40 miles to get to it. 00:52:57.039 --> 00:52:59.119 So yeah, I mean, it's just all over the place. 00:52:59.360 --> 00:53:03.039 We have the first weekend of June, because we have Houston Pride. 00:53:03.199 --> 00:53:07.840 Um, I think we have five other Pride events happening across the state that we know of that we're attending. 00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:08.960 So they're all over the place. 00:53:09.039 --> 00:53:11.599 And yeah, it's really important to continue to uplift them. 00:53:11.920 --> 00:53:13.119 Okay, back to the questions. 00:53:13.360 --> 00:53:13.519 Yeah. 00:53:13.760 --> 00:53:15.840 This year, the theme is limitless. 00:53:16.000 --> 00:53:16.800 What does that mean to you? 00:53:17.119 --> 00:53:21.599 I think it's a great theme, number one, based on the community that we're all a part of. 00:53:21.840 --> 00:53:32.400 We historically have seen that when the community is under attack and resources get pulled away from us, kind of like what's happening now at the federal level, because we're in Texas, so the states never really cared that much for us and never really provided a lot. 00:53:32.639 --> 00:53:45.760 But when we see some resources getting pulled away, as a community build our own resources, we look to each other to help solve problems and fill needs and help address problems that we may not have support from the government on. 00:53:46.159 --> 00:53:49.119 The limitless theme is really a reflection of the community. 00:53:49.199 --> 00:53:51.199 Like there's nothing that our community can't do. 00:53:51.360 --> 00:53:56.719 There's nothing that we can't band together to push back against or build resources for. 00:53:56.880 --> 00:54:02.960 We just have to have the consideration of actually like stopping and figuring out what it is we need and then working together to build those things. 00:54:03.280 --> 00:54:06.400 What would you say is your number one achievement for the queer community? 00:54:07.199 --> 00:54:08.480 That's so hard to answer that question. 00:54:08.559 --> 00:54:11.440 It's such a I know you don't like talking about yourself, but No, I don't. 00:54:11.519 --> 00:54:11.920 I hate it. 00:54:12.159 --> 00:54:27.280 But if I really had to think about it, um, it's probably one of the things I love doing, and I don't get to do it that much in my job now, but I still fight to do it, is doing trainings and teaching folks how government works and what the levers of power look like and where your influence lies. 00:54:27.440 --> 00:54:36.880 So I think that part of what I still love to do and part of the that I one of the things that I feel like I've had a good impact on is providing people with those types of skills. 00:54:37.039 --> 00:54:47.760 And I've done a lot of trainings and on a volunteer basis when I was at ACLU, when I've been at Equality Texas, that help equip people with the tools they need to advocate for themselves and then getting to watch folks do it. 00:54:48.960 --> 00:54:51.920 I've learned a lot in my years doing advocacy work. 00:54:52.079 --> 00:55:01.280 I want to be able to share that information out with as many people as possible because as if we're continuing kind of sharing that information with folks, we're building, you know, new advocates every single day. 00:55:01.440 --> 00:55:09.440 And I look at the young trans and non-binary people who've been coming to the Texas Capitol with us for years, who are now adults because they've been doing it for so long. 00:55:09.679 --> 00:55:18.480 There are a lot of them who are getting involved in like advocacy roles, who are doing this work now professionally, and it's amazing and needs to be celebrated. 00:55:18.639 --> 00:55:27.599 I hate the fact that kids grew up having to go to the Capitol, but then seeing that they they really learned from it and decided it was gonna give them a life direction and they're fighting for our community is tremendous. 00:55:27.840 --> 00:55:34.480 And the fight is so necessary because they're being attacked, and it's just it's disheartening to watch from from a distance what's going on in Austin. 00:55:34.719 --> 00:55:34.880 Yeah. 00:55:35.039 --> 00:55:37.519 And it'll start again in January 2027. 00:55:37.760 --> 00:55:38.400 Yeah. 00:55:38.800 --> 00:55:44.559 My final question is is there anything that we didn't ask you that you want people to know either about yourself or about Equality Texas? 00:55:44.960 --> 00:55:47.280 I would encourage folks to go to equalitytexas.org. 00:55:47.440 --> 00:55:55.199 We've been doing this work since 1978, and I want folks to have an understanding of how how difficult it is to do this work on a couple of levels. 00:55:55.440 --> 00:55:57.519 Number one, our staff carries a lot of weight. 00:55:57.679 --> 00:55:59.599 We deal with people in crisis all the time. 00:55:59.840 --> 00:56:03.360 We're dealing with trying to stop bad laws from taking over across the state. 00:56:03.519 --> 00:56:10.960 But at the same time, funding for LGBTQ orgs like ours has diminished over the last few years since the second Trump administration, certainly. 00:56:11.119 --> 00:56:17.679 So for every hundred dollars that national foundations were giving, about 22 cents was going towards LGBTQ programs. 00:56:17.760 --> 00:56:20.800 And that number has decreased since that study was done. 00:56:21.119 --> 00:56:24.719 So we really are relying on community to help us close gaps in fundraising right now. 00:56:24.880 --> 00:56:30.480 So we've got something called Partners with Pride, which is a program that we're running throughout the course of Pride Month. 00:56:30.639 --> 00:56:32.960 Essentially, community members can build teams. 00:56:33.119 --> 00:56:36.320 Those teams can raise money for Equality Texas and compete for prizes. 00:56:36.400 --> 00:56:38.000 It's the first time we've ever done anything like this. 00:56:38.159 --> 00:56:41.039 But folks can go to equalitytexas.org, build out a team. 00:56:41.119 --> 00:56:45.199 And even if your team is only raising$100,$50, that is beneficial. 00:56:45.280 --> 00:56:47.360 And there's some good prizes folks can compete for. 00:56:47.440 --> 00:56:51.679 So EqualityTexas.org and on all of our social channels we're Equality Texas. 00:56:51.920 --> 00:56:54.480 And if people want to find out more about Brad Pritchett, where can they go? 00:56:54.719 --> 00:56:59.199 They can go to the Houston Pride Parade on June 6th, and I'll be waving from a car. 00:56:59.440 --> 00:57:01.760 It would be the gay one that right waving from the car, right? 00:57:02.000 --> 00:57:02.320 Correct. 00:57:02.400 --> 00:57:05.280 I will be the one gay man that you will see. 00:57:05.840 --> 00:57:06.320 There he is. 00:57:06.400 --> 00:57:07.599 He's going down the street, y'all. 00:57:07.840 --> 00:57:08.800 Right, exactly. 00:57:08.960 --> 00:57:09.599 Um, yeah. 00:57:09.760 --> 00:57:12.719 I don't know, I don't have any other place for folks to learn any more about me. 00:57:12.800 --> 00:57:16.960 But feel free to find me on social media, and I I generally am pretty accessible to folks. 00:57:17.199 --> 00:57:20.079 Brad is a nice guy and he's doing the work for our community, y'all. 00:57:20.159 --> 00:57:24.719 So get behind him and get behind Equality Texas and come out to the Pride Parade on June 6th. 00:57:24.880 --> 00:57:25.760 Anything else, Brad? 00:57:26.000 --> 00:57:26.880 I don't think so. 00:57:27.039 --> 00:57:28.079 I appreciate you though. 00:57:28.320 --> 00:57:30.159 Well, thanks for coming on, Queer Voices. 00:57:30.239 --> 00:57:30.639 Thank you. 00:57:30.800 --> 00:57:31.599 Thank you. 00:57:38.800 --> 00:57:48.400 This has been Queer Voices, heard on KPFT Houston, and as a podcast available from several podcasting sources. 00:57:48.639 --> 00:57:53.519 Check our webpage at queervoices.org for more information.