Features
The eyes of LGBTQ Texans are upon Dade Phelan and the House
The Texas Senate has passed all of Lt. Gov. Patrick’s priority LGBTQ bills — What the House does next will impact queer Texans’ lives
By William Melhado & Alex Nguyen | AUSTIN – The Texas Senate has wasted little time this year passing every bill focused on LGBTQ Texans that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick prioritized. In fact, the Republican-controlled chamber has even gone further than its ambitious and influential leader asked.
With more than six weeks left in the legislative session, the Senate has advanced legislation that would restrict schools’ role in discussing the existence of LGBTQ people, block transgender kids’ access to treatments that major medical groups support, ban trans college athletes from joining the sports teams that align with their gender identity, and defund public libraries that let drag queens read to children.
That quick movement — and a flurry of other bills that could restrict how LGBTQ people live — has many Texans and parents of trans kids afraid that political winds fueling the Republican Party’s intense focus is about to turn into a tornado that makes Texas completely inhospitable.
“It’s feeling more and more like we’re just in a pressure cooker and the temperature keeps rising,” said Kay, the parent of a trans child who asked that her last name not be used because she fears being investigated for child abuse at the direction of state leaders. “Many of us are having to make really hard decisions.”
RELATED STORY
Texas Republicans have filed dozens of bills affecting LGBTQ people. Here’s what they’d do.
But these bills were always expected to sail through the conservative Senate over which Patrick presides. They now face their first — and perhaps only — uncertainty before reaching the governor’s desk: the Texas House.
Even though the GOP has also long controlled the lower chamber, it’s also where some of Patrick’s most socially conservative endeavors have met their demise in recent sessions. Yet a groundswell of anti-LGBTQ sentiment that’s taken root within the GOP makes it anyone’s guess whether the House will again act as the Senate’s foil.
And Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan isn’t offering many clues. Phelan declined to comment this month on his plans for the LGBTQ legislation, including plenty of bills originating in his chamber. That’s a far different public tact than Phelan took four years ago, when he was chair of the powerful House State Affairs Committee.
“I’m kind of done talking about bashing on the gay community,” Phelan told The Texas Tribune then. “It’s completely unacceptable. This is 2019.”
In the four years since, Texas’ political and social shifts have taken such divergent paths that predicting what happens next proves difficult. And as the leader of a Republican-dominated chamber, the political stakes for Phelan are much higher than when he made that comment in 2019.
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f8ec8133a7c29c43d0bf2793ae9b709c/0411%20House%20Vote%20EL%20TT%2002.jpg)
Texas is home to more than 1.8 million people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. And 75% of Texans support anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, according to a 2022 survey from the Public Religion Research Institute. LGBTQ people have seen dramatic gains in acceptance — and constitutionally protected rights — in the past 20 years.
Conservatives have sought to beat back that progress, painting LGBTQ people as “groomers” and pedophiles who want to “indoctrinate” children — which experts say are old anti-gay and anti-trans tropes. The Texas GOP platform declares “homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice” and opposes “all efforts to validate transgender identity.”
On Thursday, a coalition of more than 120 advocacy and faith groups publicly condemned the wave of bills targeting the LGBTQ community. Hours later, Democratic chairs of six House Caucuses, including the House LGBTQ Caucus, also released a joint statement denouncing the slate of legislation.
Queer Texans and advocates have said state leaders pushing these proposals are empowering people to target and stigmatize them.
“We do talk about it as a political shift but I do think it’s more than that. … We’ve also seen just an increase in the severity and, now, harassment and bullying and attacks on LGBT people in daily life,” said Rachel Hill, the government affairs director for Equality Texas.
Make no mistake: Phelan and the 149 other members of the House aren’t afraid to buck the state party platform or thwart Patrick and the Senate. Already this year, the speaker has eagerly waded into a fight with his Senate counterpart over how best to provide property tax relief. And last week, the House used a budget amendment to rebuke the Senate’s push to let parents use public money to subsidize private school tuition — a major priority for Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and the state party.
But Phelan in particular has to tread carefully, said Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University. Unlike the lieutenant governor, who is elected statewide by voters, the Speaker is elected by House members each legislative session. That means if Phelan thwarts a majority of representatives’ attempts to craft new laws, he could imperil his own speakership.
“He has to pick and choose his battles on red-meat legislation that comes down from the Senate,” Jones told the Tribune. “He can’t block it all.”
In 2017, buoyed by support from pastors and other social conservatives, Patrick led a crusade to restrict which public bathrooms transgender people could use. The so-called bathroom bill garnered national attention. Transgender Texans flooded the Capitol to testify against the legislation, and businesses vocally opposed it. Still, Patrick’s effort ultimately died twice — once in the regular session and once in a special legislative session — after then-Speaker Joe Straus, also a Republican, largely refused to negotiate with him on the proposed restrictions.
“Texans rejected name-calling and scare tactics, and as a result, we avoided a major mistake that would’ve cost our economy greatly and divided us unnecessarily,” Straus told business leaders in September 2017.
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/17/Straus_presser_BD_TT.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/20/APrice-StonewallRally-35.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/17/Patrick_Presser_2_TT.jpg)
That was the fifth legislative term that Straus, a moderate Republican who was elected speaker with the help of Democrats, led the chamber. Shortly after the special session ended, Straus decided not to run again for his seat. But on his way out, the State Republican Executive Committee censured Straus for standing in the way of the group’s priorities, including the bathroom bill.
In the next election cycle, Republicans maintained their grip on state government, winning every statewide office. But in key races, they won by some of the slimmest margins in years. And Democrats took 12 Texas House districts from Republicans, giving them more seats than they’d had in a decade. The following legislative session saw far fewer bills aimed at LGBTQ Texans. And it also saw the Texas Legislature’s first LGBTQ Caucus, founded by five women in the House. It was in that climate that Phelan made his comments about not bashing the gay community.
Democrats went into the 2020 election confident that they’d gain even more ground. They needed just nine seats to wrest control of the House. But for all the hype, Democrats didn’t make a single net gain.
With their power entrenched, Republican lawmakers pushed beyond the bathroom bill in 2021 by filing legislation that would make it harder for transgender kids to access puberty blockers and hormone therapy, which are health care treatments that major medical groups and LGBTQ advocates say are vital to reducing increased mental health issues and suicidal ideation. Republicans also tried to expand the definition of child abuse to explicitly include providing children access to transition-related health care.
Many of those measures didn’t become law. But one did. In that year’s third special session, the House joined the Senate in to ban K-12 transgender student athletes from participating in the sports teams that match their gender identities.
That same year, Republican lawmakers also redrew political maps that fortified the GOP’s hold on state government for the next decade.
The new boundaries meant the vast majority of GOP lawmakers were practically guaranteed to win their general elections, and really faced potential threats to their power only in the primaries races where the most fervent party faithful decide who gets the nomination.
“You have a state Legislature that does not represent the population of the state, but instead has been drawn to explicitly favor members of one political party,” said Cathryn Oakley, the state legislative director at the Human Rights Campaign.
According to Equality Texas, the Legislature has filed 140 bills that could harm LGBTQ Texans this session — almost double the number of similar legislation in all of 2021. But Texas is far from the only state where Republicans are pushing bills aimed at LGBTQ people. Restrictions and prohibitions on everything from drag shows to access to gender-affirming care for trans kids have been signed into law or are being considered in Republican-controlled states across the country. Legislation — and rhetoric — targeting trans individuals has particularly ramped up.
RELATED STORY
What transition-related health care is available to transgender kids in Texas? Here’s what you should know.
Joshua Blank, the director of research for the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas, said the topic of gender identity and trans rights is still a “very new issue” for many Texas voters.
“When you have a new issue like this, it’s often the case that the politics favor conservative positions because conservative positions traditionally emphasize maintaining or restoring or returning to the status quo,” Blank said.
Last month, former President Donald Trump declared in Waco at his first official 2024 campaign rally that “we will defeat the cult of gender ideology to reassert that God created two genders, male and female.”
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b39afe6306fdf744165cbb3b07184693/0325%20Trump%20Waco%20QkFlp%20LS%2004.jpg)
Few of his campaign promises received the kind of vocal crowd approval as his vow “to cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory, transgender insanity and either racial, sexual or political content on our children.”
During the Conservative Political Action Conference last month, Michael Knowles, a far-right commentator, called for the “eradication” of “transgenderism” from public life, a popular idea among the far right.
Conservatives have sold their proposals as child safety initiatives, acting on fears that kids are being exposed to medical treatment or sexual content too early. But for LGBTQ Texans, that rhetoric affirms their fears that there’s another driving factor: bigotry.
Texas’ House Bill 1952 and Senate Bill 162 would block transgender and nonbinary Texas youth from updating their birth certificates with their gender identity. That would prevent young trans Texans from obtaining other government documents — such as those required for identification for education, traveling and employment — that match their gender they present to the world.
“These bills are effectively saying that your identity does not exist, that a trans identity cannot exist in the United States,” said Hill, the Equality Texas government affairs director.
LGBTQ advocates also worry that a key Senate bill would force Texas schools to ignore the community’s existence. The Senate’s sweeping education legislation, Senate Bill 8, is mainly aimed at allowing parents to use public money to subsidize private school tuition. Tucked inside, though, are severe restrictions on classroom lessons, campus activities and teacher guidance on sexual orientation and gender identity. It mirrors a Florida bill dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law, but expands restrictions to 12th grade.
“Students deserve to be introduced to the beautiful diversity of our state,” Equality Texas CEO Ricardo Martinez said last month. “Teaching young people about the lives of LGBTQ+ Texans prepares them for the real world by teaching them basic respect and kindness.”
Earlier this year, there were a few glimmers of hope for LGBTQ activists when they looked toward the House.
At the start of the session, Phelan suggested some of the LGBTQ-related bills — particularly the proposed ban on gender-affirming care for kids — would be sent to a select committee that was led by Kingsville Republican Rep. J.M. Lozano at the time. Weeks after that statement, leadership of that committee was handed off to Democratic state Rep. Senfronia Thompson.
Chairs of the committees where bills are debated can heavily influence bills’ fate. Committee chairs have wide latitude in deciding which bills to consider — and whether or not to bring them up for a vote to advance them to the full chamber or sit on them and let them die.
But Phelan has instead sent some of the most high-profile LGBTQ bills to committees headed by Republicans.
That includes House Bill 1686, which would block hormone therapy and other transition-related care for kids. The legislation was assigned to the House Public Health Committee chaired by Republican state Rep. Stephanie Klick.
Klick didn’t sign on to the 2021 House legislation to ban puberty blockers and hormone treatments for trans kids. And during last year’s Republican primary for the North Texas district, her challenger David Lowe gleefully pointed that out.
“Apparently, I am the only one in this race who believes that child gender modification is child abuse and wants to stop it,” Lowe wrote in an April 2022 post on his campaign’s Facebook page.
Klick was eventually reelected — but not before Lowe forced her into a runoff. When she returned to Austin this year, Klick signed on as a joint author of HB 1686.
When the bill received a committee hearing, more than 2,800 people registered their position on it — the third-highest number of formal stances on legislation in more than 15 years. Only 97 supported it.
After almost 12 hours of listening to testimony — which many LGBTQ people say included misinformation and attacks on trans people — Theo Adams-Hernandez, a lifelong Texan who is trans, left before having a chance to share their story. Klick cut off testimony at midnight and fewer than 50 people were able to speak.
“It’s so isolating because how many other people have to go to the Capitol to testify for their life?” Adams-Hernandez told the Tribune. “It feels like forced vulnerability, forcing us to share our stories, forcing us to show that we’re human.”
Klick did not respond to questions from the Tribune.
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/03a7e5c49b144fff4d26db2e12488c5d/0002_Stephanie_Klick_Juan_Figueroa_May_5_TT.jpg)
When the upper chamber’s companion Senate Bill 14 first came to the floor, Republican state Sen. Donna Campbell offered to amend the legislation so that children already receiving puberty blockers or hormone therapy could continue accessing such treatment. While children who identify as trans in the future would not have access to the treatments, those who have found the care to be lifesaving would continue receiving it.
Campbell’s Senate colleagues approved the change. And she also received support from state Rep. Tom Oliverson, who authored the House’s companion bill, for her effort to “follow the science.”
RELATED STORY
GOP Texas senators pull their support for allowing some transgender kids to keep receiving puberty blockers and hormone therapy
But within days, the head of the Texas GOP blasted the move.
“With this amendment, Texas is abandoning every child currently being abused,” tweeted Texas GOP chair Matt Rinaldi.
When the bill came back to the Senate for a final vote, Campbell abruptly abandoned the amendment — and in a party-line vote, her colleagues approved the broader version affecting all trans Texas kids.
With the exemption for some trans kids dropped, the state GOP praised the bill’s passage.
“Thank you to the Texas Senate, Lt Gov [Dan Patrick], Sen. [Donna Campbell] and the rest of the [Texas Senate GOP] members for passing SB 14 a strong bill that will ban gender modification and mutilation of children!” Texas GOP said in a tweet following the vote.
For months, Campbell has declined to answer questions about SB 14.
On Friday, Klick’s House committee advanced new versions of both HB 1686 and SB 14. The bills now require trans youth already receiving puberty blockers or hormone therapy to be “weaned off the prescription drug over a period of time and in a manner that is safe and medically appropriate.” The bills would also ban surgeries, though they are rarely performed on kids.
Meanwhile, a majority of House members have expressed support for blocking trans college athletes from joining the sports teams that align with their gender identity and prohibiting puberty blockers and hormone therapy for trans kids. The early majority support for the proposals was striking given that lawmakers were slower to rally around them in 2021. The athlete ban has yet to receive a House committee hearing.
What happens next is hard to predict. The House has a little over a month to approve the Senate bills or pass its own versions of legislation.
State Rep. Jessica González, the vice-chair of the House LGBTQ Caucus, said the LGBTQ community — including everyday Texans, lawmakers and community allies — have been talking with the authors of the bills about the legslation’s negative impacts in hopes of slowing down the legislation.
But at the same time, conservative activists are lobbying lawmakers to send the bills to Abbott’s desk.
“I think that this is the right time, and we have the right people in place to make the protections happen for children and for women,” said Jonathan Covey, policy director for social conservative group Texas Values.
And even though the 2024 primaries are more than 10 months away and the legislative session isn’t over, grassroots Republicans are already talking about challenging GOP incumbents if they don’t deliver on the party’s priorities.
“The Texas Senate under Dan Patrick is getting it done, and the House will fumble under the leadership of Dade Phelan,” Julie McCarty, CEO of right-wing group True Texas Project, previously known as the Northeast Tarrant Tea Party, said in a statement to the Tribune. “This all falls at the feet of the Republican State Representatives who knew Dade would screw it up but voted for him as Speaker anyway. We, as GOP voters, must hold those representatives accountable for such a major betrayal.”
RELATED STORY
Transgender Texans and doctors say Republican lawmakers misconstrue what science says about puberty blockers and hormone therapy
Caught in the crossfire are LGBTQ Texans and their loved ones, whose lives could be upended in any number of ways, depending on which bills pass.
“This is the reality some of us live in. We are not privileged enough to be able to just relax — we have to worry and it is just traumatizing,” said Kay, the mother of a trans child.
If Phelan’s 2019 declaration that he was tired of bashing the LGBTQ community was considered relatively candid for a lawmaker, Martinez is willing to be far more blunt to fill the Speaker’s public silence four years later. Especially when talking about legislation that would block trans kids’ access to health care treatments many consider lifesaving.
“If your reelection costs lives, is it really worth the price?”
Disclosure: Equality Texas, Human Rights Campaign and Rice University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
***************************************************************************************
William Melhado, NIGHT GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER
***************************************************************************************
Alex Nguyen, REPORTING FELLOW
***************************************************************************************
The preceding article was previously published by The Texas Tribune and is republished by permission.
**********************
The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Quality journalism doesn’t come free
Perhaps it goes without saying — but producing quality journalism isn’t cheap. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Do you value our journalism? Show us with your support.
Donation Link Here
Features
Still here, still fighting: A trans Latina’s stand against ICE in Orange County
Trans activist Arri recounts her family’s terrifying brush with ICE in Orange County and is channeling her pain into advocacy.
Last Saturday, what began as a routine trip to a local liquor store in Orange County quickly turned into a terrifying encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, one that left Arri’s entire family rattled.
“We spotted them when we walked out of the store,” Arri recalled. “We all kind of just stopped in our tracks as we were walking.”
The officers arrived in unmarked white SUVs, wearing tactical vests and gear. “They weren’t masked up. You could see their faces.” That’s when things escalated. “They started slowly moving forward as we were leaving… they started following us. And this entire time I could see in the rearview mirror and in the side mirror that they were laughing.”
Although her father has a green card, fear took hold. He refused to drive home and reveal their address. “ICE made the exact same U-turn… my dad started getting scared, so he sped off and went onto the main street… luckily, we eventually lost them.”
But the emotional damage was already done.
“My dad was paranoid the entire time on our way home… he didn’t even want to leave the house after that. He unbuckled his seatbelt immediately, ran inside the house, locked himself in, and was completely shaken.”
Arri’s grandmother, who is undocumented and lives with the family, has a different kind of courage. “My grandma’s very fearless,” Arri said. “She’s strong because of everything that she’s been through in her life… She still goes out every day, takes the bus to work, and faces these risks head-on.”
What struck Arri most was the blatant racial profiling. “Obviously no one has a sticker on their forehead that says ‘we’re illegal,’ but they basically just racially profiled us because we are all darker-skinned. Like we obviously look Mexican.”
Even more disturbing was what Arri learned later. “I checked that Ice Block app later that day. They were taking people off buses just two streets down from where we were.”
Though Arri is a U.S. citizen, she has witnessed this violence firsthand before. “My mother was deported when I was in high school, around Trump’s first term.” That trauma continues to shape her life. “During transitioning, I felt like I needed my mother… to guide me through stuff like womanhood… I still need my mother to this day.”
Now, Arri channels her pain into advocacy. “This isn’t my first time protesting about this matter… I will always stand for my community… I fuel myself with just being fearless. I’m a U.S. citizen. I was born here. I’m able to speak out for immigrants who are scared to speak up out of fear of being deported.”
Her words carry not only personal weight but a fierce demand for justice. “Children have died in ICE custody. Women. Men… treating these people like they’re animals, even when they have no criminal backgrounds.”
Her story is not just about fear, it is about refusing to let fear win. She calls on those with privilege to show up. “We are the voice for those people who are not able to speak for themselves… This should make you want to stand up… Who can look at an innocent child, an innocent family being ripped apart, and not have a heart?”
“An attack on the immigrant community is an attack on all of us. If they get away with this, who are they going to go after next?” Arri warns. She believes the threat extends far beyond immigrant families. “They don’t want to make America great. They want to make America white.”
As attacks on immigrant communities, trans people, and people of color escalate nationwide, stories like Arri’s are a clear warning: these are not isolated incidents. They are symptoms of a coordinated assault on vulnerable communities, and a wake-up call for the rest of us.
Arri’s Call to Action: Organize. Vote. Show up. If you are undocumented or need support, organizations like CHIRLA, RAICES, Trans Latin@ Coalition, and local mutual aid networks provide legal help, housing, food, and resources. If you are a citizen, use your privilege to demand justice, share stories like Arri’s, and protect your neighbors.
Because, as Arri reminds us:
“You’re not alone. Don’t lose hope. Things will get better. There will always be people who will continue to fight for you.”
California Politics
How Triston Ezidore became the first gay, Black board member in Culver City at 19 years old, making history—twice!
At 19, Ezidore felt like it was his responsibility to track the educational movements in the Culver City Unified a bit more closely
While most teenagers are busy playing video games, Triston Ezidore was busy making history.
From high school student to school board member for the Board of Education in Culver City, Ezidore talks with the LA Blade about his unconventional entry into politics with influence from George Floyd’s death and the COVID-19 pandemic, and how he made history twice while he was still a teenager.
In 2021, most of us were still at home and many people unemployed, out of school, caring for loved ones or just merely surviving the pandemic shutdowns and peak infections caused by COVID-19. During this time, many high school students lost valuable time in the classroom, being cut off from celebrating and socializing with their peers. Young Ezidore, rose above that—and more—achieving new milestones within his family and within the entire board of education in Culver City, bringing representation to queer, trans and communities of color.
Shortly after graduation, Ezidore headed to Syracuse University and from afar, he continued to tune into the Culver City school board meetings to track the progress he had made during his time as student body president in high school.
“I was still kind of watching, tuning into everything that was going on in Culver City and we knew that in order to get [the progress] right, we had to have a spotlight over the implementation,” said Ezidore.
It was during this time, that he noticed that all the progress he tried to implement during his time there, was not being implemented correctly, so he felt like it was his responsibility to track the movements a little more closely.
This is when he made the decision to return home and enroll at University of Southern California’s Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences—where he simultaneously launched his campaign for a seat on the Culver City Unified School District Board of Education.
In 2022—just one year after graduating high school—he won one of three open seats, becoming the youngest elected official in Los Angeles County at 19 years old. Then in 2023, he was elected to serve as School Board Vice President—making history as the first Black, gay man in that position as a teenager.
Though his journey into politics is “unconventional” as he puts it, Ezidore says he was radicalized to go into politics because of George Floyd’s death and the inequities made incredibly obvious by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ezidore says that being the child of immigrants also inspired him to ultimately look into politics to gain a better understanding of how his perspective can be helpful towards other people’s experiences and educational goals.
His mother was born in Vietnam and moved to the United States after the fall of Saigon, which was the end of the Vietnam war that lasted from 1955 to 1975. Ezidore’s father is from Jamaica, so that gives Ezidore a unique perspective into the challenges and unique obstacles that many students face during their K-12 education.
Ezidore also identifies as gay and has been out since he was 18 years old.
“I find myself identifying as a gay, Black man, and I know that under this administration specifically, there has been an obsession with LGBTQ people and trans people in education,” said Ezidore. “I think historically our [education] system has not supported Black boys in education as a whole, so I find myself often pulling or tapping into those aspects of my identity.”
As a proud, gay, Black man, he felt that it was necessary to implement actual structures to support the most neglected demographic of the education system.
“We instituted the Black Student Achievement Plan that called for specific action goals to implement or to increase achievement,” said Ezidore.
This plan created mentorship and internship opportunities, a Black student council, a Black affinity group graduation and uplifted students in achieving their goals. During that time, former governor Jerry Brown stated that school districts should implement a Local Control and Accountability Plan (LACP). The plan serves as a tool to improve student outcomes with a roadmap that tracks and sets goals and plan actions, and leverages resources to guide students who were foster youth, low-income and English-learners.
“I don’t know that [Trump] is going to withhold the funding, but to me, I don’t know if I could sleep at night if I let him dictate these [educational] outcomes for the students in Culver City,” he said.
The latest update from the Supreme Court is that Trump is allowed to continue dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, worrying scholars throughout the country, with many saying that without an injunction, much of the damage can be irreversible. The Department of Education has already experienced the slashing of over 1,400 jobs and will continue to see more funding cuts due to the Reduction in Force (RIF) plan, implementing Trump’s Executive Order, which he claims will improve education and families by returning education authority to individual states.
Features
TS Madison Starter House offers a blueprint for Black, trans liberation
When TS Madison cut the ribbon on her Starter House in Atlanta this past Transgender Day of Visibility, she wasn’t just opening a home, she was building a legacy.
When TS Madison cut the ribbon on her Starter House in Atlanta this past Transgender Day of Visibility, she wasn’t just opening a home, she was building a legacy.
Launched on March 31, 2025, the TS Madison Starter House is a re-entry home for formerly incarcerated Black, trans women. The Atlanta-based initiative provides safe, affirming housing for up to five residents at a time who participate in a 90-day program offering job assistance, healthcare, economic opportunities, and holistic support.
Madison shared that the idea grew out of a desire to do more than speak out online. “While getting ready to film The TS Madison Experience season 2, I was talking with my team about what more I could do for my community. I used to feel like everyone else was out marching and being so active, and I was just online talking. But then I started noticing how every time I’d speak out, blogs and media outlets would pick it up… and I realized, wow—I don’t necessarily have to be out in the streets to make change happen. Still, I wanted to do more than just talk.”
That commitment to action led her to turn a personal real estate purchase into a lifeline for her community. “I said, ‘I’m buying a new house… I have this house, can I give the girls housing?’ Because the girls need housing. I remember moving to Atlanta broke and being homeless. I’ve been a house mother—my gay kids have lived with me and thrived. So why not keep doing that? Why not make that intentional?”
The Starter House is powered in part by a partnership with wellness brand Pure for Men and longtime advocacy organization NAESM. As part of its Pride initiatives, Pure for Men donated a portion of June sales to support the house and sponsored attendance for participants at NAESM’s National Leadership Conference on Health Disparities and Social Justice, which took place in Los Angeles from June 25–29.
“We’ve chosen to support the TS Madison Starter House and NAESM because they’re making a real difference in people’s lives,” said Lawrence Johnson, co-founder and CEO of Pure for Men. “With Black trans lives and rights under attack, these organizations are stepping up to amplify their voices, fund essential care and give them the tools to succeed.”
For Madison, the collaboration is rooted in genuine connection. “NAESM is a godsend. It’s a 35-year-old organization with a solid reputation. No scandals. They’re trusted,” she said. “Then there’s Lawrence, the President and CEO of Pure for Men. I had already been using their products before we ever met! We met at a party, just vibing, and it turns out we were already interconnected. We started talking and they shared how they’d been watching me grow and loving my show Phag Talk. And the partnership just blossomed from there.”
The initiative arrives amid rising anti-trans and anti-Black violence, but TS Madison views the Starter House as a political act rooted in love and care. “As a Black,, trans person, I’ve always felt left out by my own Black community. It’s like, once you’re gay or trans, they see you as ‘other.’ Suddenly your Blackness doesn’t count anymore. But I can’t separate the two—I’m Black and trans. I’m both, all the time.”
She added: “When you throw your Black trans child or sibling out, that’s anti-Blackness to me. Because you’re dehumanizing them. My humanity shouldn’t vanish just because I’m trans.”
This work feels both necessary and deeply personal. “I stand on the shoulders of girls who laid down or lost their lives,” Madison said. “And I’m honored to lend my back and shoulders for others to stand on. That’s how we climb—by lifting each other.”
Madison’s message to her younger self is one of strength and perseverance: “I’d tell her: Stay the course. It’s rocky. It’s going to get even more rocky. But stay the course. You are so important, more important than you could ever imagine. Be strong. Don’t be blinded by today. Tomorrow is another day.”
Looking ahead, Madison envisions the Starter House as a model for wider change. “I want it to be the mold for how to give back. Not just one house in Atlanta, but the start of countless starter homes across the nation,” she said. “I want other girls, especially those with privilege or surplus, to see that when you’ve been given so much, it costs nothing to give back. Let this be the example.”
She’s clear on her mission: “This is what I’m supposed to do. And when you’re doing what you’re meant to do, even if there’s opposition, doors will open.”
Watch the full interview:
Features
Koaty & Sumner: Finding love in the adult industry
This Q&A explores the adult content industry and how this couple is making it work for them
Koaty and Sumner Blayne are not exactly the definition of a conventional relationship. How many couples can say they met during a threesome? It isn’t as lurid as it sounds and it is a sweet story. The couple has been together for six years, got engaged and started planning for a big wedding next year. Whereas most couples clock into work outside of the home, Koaty and Sumner clock in at home, in front of a camera for OnlyFans and social media.
Their lives got national attention as they made their reality TV debut on Tubi’s House of Heat last year, joining other queer and straight OnlyFans content creators in a Hollywood mansion for weeks of filming. The show of course covered the drama of a content creator’s life, including relationship ups and downs, but it also captured the realities of what it takes to be a successful OnlyFans personality. Koaty and Sumner shared the intimate details of their relationship, the exhaustion that comes with the pressure to present the perfect couple day after day and the jealousies that can come with two careers in the adult industry. While Koaty filmed his first adult studio work this year, Sumner has spent a few years working for studio names like Sean Cody, Falcon and Men.com, among others.
Somehow, the two make it work.
The two have become a very popular brand both on OnlyFans and on mainstream social media. It doesn’t hurt that they are constantly coming up with new kinds of content and the fact that they aren’t hard on the eyes at all. This year, they were awarded Best Podcast at the International Content Creator Awards for their debut pod, In Bed with Koaty & Sumner, where they cover all aspects of their lives in the adult industry—the good, the bad, and the challenging.
In this Los Angeles Blade exclusive, we talked to the couple about finding love in the adult industry while keeping the spark alive.
What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about couples in the adult industry?
People assume we’re either constantly hooking up with others or emotionally detached robots who don’t feel jealousy or connection. In reality, we have boundaries, deep communication and a whole lot of love. We just also happen to have sex on camera. Being in the adult industry doesn’t make us less committed, our job just involves lube.
How do you maintain a healthy relationship—and manage jealousy—in an open relationship?
We’ve had to learn how to have the tough conversations, especially after the honeymoon phase wore off. It’s about recognizing how we each love differently and asking for what we need. Trust and transparency are non-negotiable. We check in constantly—before shoots, after, during dinner—nothing is off limits. We’ve even learned to turn jealousy into compersion. Usually, it just takes a little reassurance… and maybe a snack.
How do you balance your relationship with the pressure of constant content creation?
Sometimes we don’t—and that’s okay. There are days we’re exhausted and need to just be husbands, not performers. We schedule breaks, unplug often, and make time to be us. It’s not always fifty-fifty—sometimes one of us is struggling and the other steps up. We check in, readjust, and give each other grace.
How do you keep the spark alive through the years?
We stay intentional. Too many couples stop talking about sex after the honeymoon phase, expecting it to fix itself. As gay men, we’re often raised without proper sex education and with a lot of shame. We’ve had to unlearn that, be curious and have honest conversations about our needs surrounding sex. The spark stays alive when we keep showing up—and make sex intentional
What have you learned most from each other?
Sumner: Koaty’s taught me patience and how to slow down and feel safe.
Koaty: Sumner’s taught me how to communicate and love without fear.
What do you love most about the other?
Sumner: His loyalty. He shows up for me in ways that make me feel protected and seen—even when I’m chaotic.
Koaty: His vulnerability. He shares his heart so openly. It’s impossible not to fall for him again and again.
How have your families reacted to your careers?
They’ve been super supportive and just want to see us happy—traveling, building a life and doing what we love.
What did you learn about yourselves filming House of Heat?
Reality TV brings out everything—the good, the bad and the unhinged. But it reminded us how grounded we are in each other. Cameras or chaos, what we have is real.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a couple in the adult industry?
The constant pressure to perform—on camera, on social media, and emotionally. People project a lot onto us. It’s easy to forget who we are off camera, but we remind ourselves that our relationship comes first—before algorithms, followers, or collabs.
Any sneak peeks for your wedding next year?
We’ve booked the venue! The guest list is coming together… and let’s just say some of our hosts might be from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 12.
Any advice for other couples in the adult world?
Communicate constantly, keep your ego in check, and treat your relationship like the most valuable thing you have—because it is. The camera should capture your connection, not replace it. Filming can be fun, but it’s still work. Your partnership—the trust, the intimacy, the real love—is what truly matters.
You can follow Koaty and Sumner on Instagram
Check out their podcast, In Bed with Koaty and Sumner
Features
Salina EsTitties and the power of the queer Latinx community
In this Los Angeles Blade exclusive interview, we chat with Salina EsTitties about the strength of the Latinx culture in the face of today’s political oppression and what we must do to remain strong
National audiences got to know Salina EsTitties during her run on season 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, but Angelenos have been witnesses to the star and activist power that is EsTitties for a decade. She’s not just a fierce entertainer, she’s also a leading voice in the queer, Latinx, drag, and sober communities.
This year, she was announced as the winner of L.A. Blade’s Best Drag Performer at our Best of L.A. Awards. She’s appeared in campaigns for Sephora, Pure for Men, Calvin Klein and more, partnering with numerous non-profit organizations that benefit the queer community and beyond. And yet somehow, she still has time to focus on her lucrative drag and music career.
Even with her continually rising star, she remains humble, down-to-earth and makes time to support events and movements that affect her communities.
This Thursday, she will join the Los Angeles Blade, Latino Media Collaborative and CALÓ News for Diálogo – Pride, Power & Progress, an intimate in-person gathering that brings together powerful voices at the intersection of journalism, identity and social impact.
EsTitties is a fierce believer in the power of the queer Latinx community in Los Angeles and knows firsthand the work that is being done.
“There are leaders in the community that people don’t even realize are out there, going to work for the community, for us as a whole and not just Latinos, but for queer people in general, like trans and trans youth,” she said in an interview with L.A. Blade. “When you go to any function that is a Latino function, there are people who are actually in the streets doing the work.”
EsTitties is all too familiar with the struggles that the organizations she supports are going through, especially as the current administration continues to restrict resources.
“There are people losing jobs who are doing this good work. The leaders of the Latin community are the ones out there in the streets who are actually helping the community,” she continued. “They’re my heroes at the end of the day because it’s those kinds of people who helped me when I was 19, 20 years old, running the streets, homeless, on drugs. They were there for me at those times and their resources provided me with a life that I have today beyond my wildest dreams. I get to twirl around in a wig, you know, but they’re the ones who are out there saving the world.”
EsTitties is also changing the Latinx culture from within. Her presence as a drag queen and a queer (as she puts it) cholo, challenges the machismo norms that are expected of men, changing the narrative of through representation. Her work is a direct result of her early experience.
“It was such a struggle for me in the beginning, especially when I started drag when I was 23. I was so insecure and so hyper-fixated on the masculinity of it all. So I cut my hair off and I quit drag,” said EsTitties, adding that she then landed a job at In-N-Out. “The machismo of it all is something that I grew up with, especially growing up in the hood. I had to acclimate — oversized white tee, baggy blue jeans and Air Force [shoes]. That was the vibe — no color, no queerness, no nothing. I had to present as much as I could to not stand out so I wouldn’t get picked on. Internalized homophobia is very real and toxic masculinity is very real inside of me.”
Eventually, EsTitties did return to drag and it gave her confidence and the voice she now uses to fight for her communities. Over the years, drag taught her how to combine both her masculine and feminine traits in a way that was real for her, embracing her full identity. From her vantage point, she views machismo differently now.
“I’m attracted to masculinity. I don’t think it’s something we have to demonize or villainize, it’s about not making it greater than. I think we’re all equal, I think everyone has all shades of the rainbow, right? I can be feminine, I can be masculine, I can present feminine and still be butch as fuck. It’s all sexy at the end of the day, but I think confidence is where you use it for good as opposed to evil.”
The queer voice in the Latinx community grows stronger every day. Younger generations are gaining the courage to be themselves, not worried about the pressures of conforming. EsTitties says that queer people have always been visible in the community and gives credit to the women of the family — the tias, the mothers, the grandmothers — for showing unconditional love and fostering a vibrant queer community.
As EsTitties prepares to join an impressive panel for Diálogo for a conversation that explores the evolving landscape of Latinx journalism and its vital role in advancing equity, representation and social change, she believes that talk of immigration and the current U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids be at the forefront of any queer, Latinx talk.
“The reality is that I’m sure you know someone, who knows someone who’s undocumented, but there’s a big stigma around that. We’ve heard it from our President that [undocumented immigrants] are rapists, drug dealers. That’s not the truth,” said EsTitties. “My mom came here, undocumented, got her citizenship, then did everything that she needed to do after the fact. And if it wasn’t for my mom doing those things, I wouldn’t be here for it. I am still learning how to navigate it all. This is a conversation that’s very taboo and people just like to pretend it doesn’t exist. But it’s a very real thing that we’re watching in real time.”
EsTitties stressed the importance of the queer community being involved in these conversations because they are issues that affect communities that intersect with other marginalized communities that are particularly vulnerable right now, such as the undocumented immigrant community.
“At the end of the day, we’re human beings. No one should be treated the way that they’re treating human beings right now. Seeing what’s going on right now with ICE is so scary. I know people who are afraid to leave their homes. I have friends who are dyeing their hair a different color every day, so they seem less brown. I have friends who are covering up their tattoos because they think they’re looking for them. People are paranoid and scared right now.”
EsTitties knows that stigma and racism exist even within our own community. That is a reason she works so hard at being visible and active.
“[We need to have a] conversation of just knowing that we Latinos and queer Latinos are not less than our white counterparts. We see white gays running the world, baby. I just hope that I can be one of those people who is like: ‘I’m going to do it regardless of whether you think I can or not, whether you’re rooting for me or not.'”
EsTitties says that in her experience, the queer, Latinx community is often “the butt of the joke a lot of the time.” She says that her communities often have to work ten times harder to get places.
“We’re having to fight a lot of stigma, fight a lot of prejudice, but the thing with Latinos is that we don’t let that weakness show. That confidence and strength, and our passion and our fire, that’s what continues to keep us here and moving. So I think we lean in and continue to be unapologetic, and I think just be a little louder, especially right now.”
Join EsTitties and the Los Angeles Blade for Diálogo, Thursday, June 26th at 6 pm at The Abbey. The event is free; RSVP here.
Features
Resist Without Rage: How this LGBTQ leader is fighting ICE’s terror tactics
‘It’s important to know what our rights are and what ICE can do legally and illegally and when we go places — because we can’t just stay shut in’
Richard Zaldivar, a prominent community leader and founder of The Wall Las Memorias, was pumped and proudly walking hand in hand with his husband Joselito Laudencia, waving to cheering bystanders as The Wall Las Memorias contingent marched down Hollywood Boulevard in the June 8 LA Pride Parade. However, Zaldivar says he noticed that many marchers who signed up, didn’t show. He believes they were terrified that uninhibited militarized masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents might sweep them up and disappear them in an unannounced raid just because they are from the Latin American community being targeted by ICE raids.
According to Zaldivar, the terror is real and warranted.
The same day of LGBTQ jubilation, anti-ICE demonstrators swarmed several streets outside the federal detention center in downtown L.A. where ICE held their loved ones. In fact, many of those unidentified detainees arrested Friday and Saturday were surreptitiously hustled into ICE buses, driven to a private charter airline hangar at the Hollywood Burbank Airport, “immediately loaded onto Saab 2000 planes owned by Freight Runners Express / ACE, a cargo and passenger charter airline,” and flown to San Antonio, Texas, according to the Burbank Leader.
Disappearances have become normal in America despite many detainees having legal status or having lived and worked in a community for years, paying taxes, with no criminal record. The usurpation of the constitution right to due process was apparently ordered by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who told ICE officials to detain 3,000 migrants a day or be fired.
On Saturday, Donald Trump figuratively poured gallons of fuel on the small protest fire by federalizing 2,000 California National Guard troops, defiantly ignoring the protocol of first being asked for federal help by Gov. Gavin Newsom, LA Mayor Karen Bass or Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonald, who said the move was made totally unnecessary by activating L.A.’s mutual law enforcement aid agreement with 88 other cities in L.A. County.
By pretending the demonstrations are riots, Trump called up 2,000 additional National Guard troops and 700 Marines, a ruse to invoke the Insurrection Act and gain unchecked power.
I asked Richard Zaldivar to explain what’s happening and offer advice to LGBTQ activists.
“Originally, Mr. Trump had said he was going after the hardcore criminals who were here with no documentation,” said Richard. “We know it’s not happening because innocent people who may be documented and some people who are citizens have been apprehended by ICE and taken into custody.
“I think that is a problem that has been a catalyst for a lot of the protest,” he said. “This cannot happen in the United States of America. This is very scary. It is scary to me and my husband and to the staff and my community…”
“Be focused in on our freedom to be able to protest and share our disgust and anger with those folks [who] deserve that anger. Call that out. But don’t get involved with the anarchists and provocateurs — and they’re here. They’ve been around for many years. They go from city to city and from issue to issue, trying to disrupt the system, the institutions,” said Richard.
“We know that under this administration, everyone is affected,” said Richard. “It’s important to know what our rights are and what ICE can do legally and illegally and when we go places — because we can’t just stay shut in. That’s what this administration wants us to do. They wanna shut us down. Go with friends. Go outside. Take a walk. Walk the dog. Go to the park. Let’s breathe some fresh air and rejuvenate.”
If that’s our intention on a daily basis, we will get through this. If we act collectively, we will get through this as a coalition.
Please go to the LGBTQ+ Freedom Fighters Substack for more reporting and the full 15-minute video conversation with Richard Zaldivar.
Features
How influencer Rose Montoya is using her platform to advocate for trans rights
She’s proving that the fight for trans liberation is personal, powerful and political
Fresh off a double win at the Los Angeles Blade Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Local Influencer and Best Local Activist, Rose Montoya is proving that the fight for trans liberation is personal, powerful, and political. Whether she’s educating millions through her “Trans 101” video series or speaking truth to power in meetings with lawmakers like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Pramila Jayapal, Montoya is redefining what it means to be a digital advocate.
“I imagine a world where trans people aren’t just surviving — we’re thriving,” she said. “A future where we have access to community, economic security, and the kind of care every human deserves.” It’s a vision she’s working to build through storytelling, education, and mutual aid. Most recently, Montoya brought that vision to a national stage with a keynote speech at the Human Rights Campaign’s rally for the National Trans Visibility March, held during World Pride in D.C.
She began her public journey in 2014 when she came out as trans, quickly gaining attention on social media for her heartfelt, vulnerable content. One of her early viral moments — a video sermon on LGBTQ inclusion — sparked transformative conversations within her conservative Christian family. “It wasn’t easy,” she recalled. “But over time, with patience and heart-to-hearts, they became some of my biggest allies.”
Since then her platform has exploded. Her “Trans 101” series, often featured in The Blade, breaking down topics like pronouns, gender-affirming care and systemic discrimination into accessible lessons with compassion. A video about discriminatory treatment at airport security led to consulting opportunities with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). When her TikTok account got banned during a wave of coordinated attacks in 2021, she fought back — writing opinion pieces, launching petitions and assisting over 100 creators with getting access to their accounts reinstated. “When we organize, we win,” she said. “Digital storytelling is more than content — it’s community, resistance, and survival.”
“I’ve faced targeted media attacks, defamation, even threats on my life,” she shared. “It sharpened my resolve. I know how to advocate in hostile environments and I do it for those who can’t.”
Rose’s advocacy doesn’t begin or end on-screen. She’s opened her home to trans youth, facilitated access to housing and healthcare, donated thousands to gender-affirming surgery funds and supports her community through direct mutual aid.
“I know what it means to have your transition made possible through community,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here without the mutual aid I have received.”
That deep sense of purpose is rooted in legacy. “I’m standing on the shoulders of giants — Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Miss Major, Cecelia Gentili,” she said. “They taught us that advocacy isn’t just about protest. It’s about building something sustainable.”
Still, Montoya noticed a shift in the broader cultural climate.
“There was a time when brands were eager to work with queer creators during Pride Month,” she explained. “Now, many of those same brands have quietly rolled back their DEI efforts. I’ve had partnerships disappear overnight. It’s become clear that, for some, the support was never rooted in real allyship.”
For her, it’s a reminder that advocacy can’t rely on corporate affirmation. It must be community-driven, values-led, and long-term.
As anti-trans legislation continues to spread, Montoya is focused on action. She urges allies to challenge harmful language — even when trans people aren’t in the room. She encourages donations, voting, petitioning and hiring trans people, especially Black, trans individuals. These aren’t symbolic gestures, she says — they’re essential tools in building a world where trans people can thrive. To learn more, visit her website.
When it comes to healthcare, she’s unwavering. “This isn’t just healthcare — it’s life-saving,” she says, pointing to recent cases like Children’s Hospital Los Angeles denying care to patients under 19, despite legal victories overturning similar bans. “Hospitals fear regret liability. But what about the harm of denying care? What about the youth who suffer, or worse, don’t survive?”
For Rose Montoya, advocacy is more than a platform — it’s a love letter to the future. “Our strength is in our solidarity,” she said. “We’re building a world where trans people aren’t just accepted — we’re celebrated.” Thanks to voices like hers, that world is already taking shape.
Written by Prince Joshua, a talented performer known for his high-energy dance, rap and MC skills.
Upon moving to Hollywood, he built a career as a Go-Go dancer and musical
artist, quickly gaining attention with his bold charisma. He has appeared on OUTtv and
performed at major events like WeHo Pride and Phoenix Pride. Prince Joshua was
named GoGo of the Year and Local Artist of the Year in the Los Angeles Blade’s
Readers Choice Awards, recognizing his impact and popularity in the LGBTQ+
entertainment scene.
Arts & Entertainment
Andrew Max Modlin Invites West Hollywood “Through the Brush”
From an iPad in Amerstand to a Canvas in Amsterdam: Modlin Presents “Through the Brush”
It is rare to step into a room where the walls ripple with Icelandic wind, hum with the volcanic heat of Hawaii, and pulse with a wide-eyed color of an Amsterdam trip. This June, West Hollywood becomes a gateway to this world with the arrival of Through the Brush, a pop-up solo exhibit by Los Angeles-based painter Andrew Max Modlin.
The show, curated by renowned critic Peter Frank, opens Saturday, June 7, with an artist’s reception from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and runs through June 21 in a studio located at 411 N. La Cienaga Blvd.
Expectations are high — featuring large-scale landscapes, a DJ set, libations and above all, the possibility of escape.
The paintings themselves are immersive 60” x 72” dreamscapes that pull directly from Modlin’s travels to Iceland, Hawaii, Mexico and Amsterdam. They serve as both visual memories and portals to another place in the world, inspired by his travels.
“Traveling is one of the most important things to me because it allows you to see outside your bubble and understand how diverse the world really is,” said Modlin.
He considers the places he visits as extensions of home.
“I immerse myself in what palette the location makes me feel and that immediately comes out in my drawings. It’s bringing that experience back to my studio that makes each painting so diverse because it really has the essence of that location in it.” As the show coincides with Amsterdam’s 750-year anniversary, Modlin says many of the works will be grounded in the city’s distinctive atmosphere.
To understand the intention behind Modlin’s paintings, it helps to understand the artist himself. Modlin is an openly queer artist best known as the co-founder and brand designer behind the cannabis dispensary MedMen and Kreation Organic Juicery. Though successful in business, the pull towards painting never left.
“The fact that I wasn’t painting haunted me all those years because I always felt like that was my life calling,” he said. For a change of pace, Modlin made a drastic change and relocated to Amsterdam. “In that time, I developed how I draw digitally on the iPad.”
That iPad plays an essential role in Modlin’s creative process. His digital sketches are more than rough drafts — they are explosive playgrounds.
“The iPad is where I get to be reckless,” said Modlin. “There’s something precious about a blank canvas but that sense of preciousness doesn’t exist on the iPad.” Without the fear of failure, Modlin can “rapidly sketch with colors that would take much longer to mix by hand,” pushing beyond the limits of traditional materials.
Back in Los Angeles, he focused on translation — how to bridge the digital and physical. “Once I move to the canvas,” explained Modlin. “The process shifts. It becomes more about the physicality of the paint and the act of painting itself than the original composition.”
That act is deliberate and cumulative. “My paintings are a slow, layered process where each brushstroke is a response to the one before it,” said Modlin. “The final piece becomes a record of that dialogue between gesture, surface, and duration.” His works aren’t meant to be consumed all at once — they reveal themselves slowly. Up close, hidden details emerge; from afar, emotions stir. “I hope the viewer starts by getting lost within the painting,” stated Modlin.
Modlin doesn’t see painting as a hobby — it’s a deep expression of self as his work resonates with lived experience. “I’ve always believed in the power of starting things within our own community.” That ethos led Modlin to open MedMen in West Hollywood, making him the first queer dispensary owner in the neighborhood. “With my debut solo exhibition,” said Modlin. “It felt just as important to me that it take place in West Hollywood, the community I live in and care deeply about.”
Through the Brush may feel like a breakthrough, but for Modlin, it’s just the beginning. “For me, success now means seeing my work shown around the world, in spaces that elevate and challenge it.” As Modlin imagines his next chapter, the invitation is clear: “I’d love for that visibility to open the door to working even larger on a scale that allows for something deeply expressive and immersive.”
Features
Tongue pops and truth: Alyssa Edwards on Pride, power and performance
Drag icon Alyssa Edwards talks legacy, love and the magic of living authentically—on and off stage
Alyssa Edwards is a drag icon who needs no introduction — but we’ll do it anyway.
Edwards’ star-studded career accolades span over two decades, earning her a spot on the RuPaul’s Drag Race: Hall of Fame and building an unmistakable legacy on charisma, uniqueness, nerve and undeniable talent.
From the dance studios of Mesquite, Texas, to gracing television screens around the world, Edwards has captivated audiences with her hypnotic wit, larger-than-life persona and unapologetic authenticity. Now, Edwards is bringing all of that and more to the OUTLOUD Music Festival this upcoming Pride month.
In my conversation with this queen among queens, Edwards opens up about the meaning of Pride, the honor of being named the first winner of Drag Race Global All Stars‘ first and what it truly means to live and perform out loud.
Whether she’s coaching young dancers at Beyond Belief Dance Company, laughing over their recollection of awkward first dates, or reflecting on the kinder-queer she once was, Edwards brings heart, honesty and hope to everything she touches. If nothing else, one thing is sure: Edwards is not just part of queer and drag history — she’s writing it.
Let’s get into it.
You’re performing at the OUTLOUD Music Festival. What do you do to prepare and what does it mean to you?
Well, first I wanna start off by saying this is a mega huge honor for me. This is a big year, being the very first Global All Star queen. She’s made it officially into the Hall of Fame. Getting the opportunity to be alongside all of these incredibly iconic performers. I can only say that I’m so honored.
As far as getting — well, right now I’m on tour. So, you know, It’s been a little bit of a juggling act these days. That said, I feel like since I’ve manifested this opportunity, it would only make sense that I bring the Texas size performance that everybody is expecting. This is a huge, huge moment, not only in my career, but also in time. I want to make a statement, I want to be proud, I want to be bold, and I definitely want to be out loud.
And of course [also] wrangling up the dancers and getting the idea of what the choreography is going to be. Right now we’re seeing so many artists come through. I mean, Lady Gaga reminded us this year with “Abracadabra” and its choreography that art is still alive and it is thriving. To me, this takes me back to a time when I would watch MTV and see these videos with this really fierce, synchronized choreography, hand gestures and elaborate costuming. All of this has just inspired me, motivated me and fueled me for this performance. You can expect me to deliver the best of Alyssa Edwards.
You mentioned having been a Global Queen. Did you anticipate returning after season 5 of RPDR:All Stars S2 and then eventually RPDR:Global?
This show really catapulted the Art of Dragon to mainstream television, but we just didn’t know if it was gonna continue on. So when I got the call to go on All Stars 2, four years later, after season 5, I was truly honored. And what a legendary season with a cast of genuine all-stars. After I left the show that year, I was very, very proud of what I presented. You know, something that I teach students over at my dance school, Beyond Belief Dance, is winning isn’t everything but the desire to [win] is. You’ve got to work hard and give it your all.
I didn’t really anticipate all of this. Back then, it just felt like a great opportunity. When Global was announced, with 12 queens from 12 countries and I found out I’d be representing — oh my gosh, good ol’ America — I had to pause. It felt like a huge responsibility. Drag in the U.S., especially through RuPaul’s Drag Race, has become the blueprint for so many franchises worldwide. So yes, I felt the pressure. But I reminded myself, just like I tell my students, show up as the best version of yourself and embrace the moment. Stand proud. Stand proud. Stand proud.
The night of the Global crowning, I stayed home with my partner. No big party, just a quiet moment to reflect. I wanted to honor the 24 years I’ve put into Alyssa Edwards. This wasn’t about validation or vindication. It was a victory lap. A celebration. And sometimes, when you’re having fun and doing what you love… look what comes from it. Now I’m in the Hall of Fame. So take that, and rewind it back.
When you’re preparing for a show like OUTLOUD, how do you plan to connect with your current supporters as well as the folks who might be new to you?
That’s a great question, and one I actually wrote about in my journal while preparing for this. I kept thinking: ‘how can I make this 15 minute performance reflect everything I’ve shared since first stepping onto television 12 years ago?’
I’ve had the chance to travel the world, and I wanted this set to be an accumulation of all those years, all those experiences, all the queerness, artistry and inspiration that shaped me. I wanted to pour it all into this one moment.
For new fans too, like you said, it’s been incredible. [During my last] meet and greet, I saw just how wide the range is. I was recently in Knoxville with my one-woman show, Crowned, and I met everyone from young queens who said: ‘I started watching you when I was 12,’ — which, made me feel a little old but also very proud — to a 70-year-old woman who came with her son and daughter-in-law. She told me she first saw me on Dancing Queen on Netflix, then found my America’s Got Talent performances and finally discovered Drag Race. She had followed my whole journey. She told me: ‘You deserve this. You made us all proud.’
As I walked away, I thought: ‘Wow. I used to be that kid in Mesquite, Texas, waiting on the world to change.’
And now? I’m part of that change. Talk about a plot twist and a trick of fate.
What was it like, kind of giving people a peak behind the curtain for Dancing Queen? What was it like to show people the version of yourself apart from your stage persona?
I mean, I’m not gonna lie, I’m being very candid when I say it was nerve wracking. You know, when you’re having to be unfiltered in every aspect of your life, you know, I am a man that wears many hats. If I am not wearing a wig and performing on stage, I have my teacher’s hat on or my coach’s hat on at the competition.
I have a very full life, and it is very fulfilling in the same aspect, but it is very busy. You’re seeing me in so many different settings and situations, and I really have to give myself credit for being vulnerable. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be that open because, believe it or not, I’m actually a pretty private person.
Looking back, I can laugh now. But at the time? I was embarrassed, just completely socially awkward. I mean, talking about potato salad? It was all kinds of wrong. But sometimes, you have to look back and just giggle. Like: ‘Queen, look at you now.’ Compared to where I was then, I’m in a happy relationship with my partner of four years and love is very much alive in my life. I’m proud of that awkward guy on that date. I’m proud I gave myself grace and permission to be fully, unapologetically me.
I want to go back to the fan of yours who started following your career when they were 12. How would you like to be perceived by the younger generation? What kind of message do you wanna provide them during today’s political climate?
A message of hope. That’s something I can answer quickly, because hope is one of the most powerful things we have. Sometimes it’s all we have. And I truly hope I can be a beacon of light and hope for others.
Growing up, I didn’t see anyone like me on TV. There was no RuPaul’s Drag Race, no Instagram to help me find my people or show me where I belonged. At 18, I had a pager and the Yellow Pages, and that’s how I stumbled across the gay clubs in Dallas. I’ll never forget walking into the cabaret drag room for the first time. It was like falling down the rabbit hole. I was Alice in Wonderland. I saw these bold, unapologetic entertainers, and I was captivated. But deep down, I thought, ‘There’s no way I could ever do that.’
Now, I think about today’s generation, how they can open their phones and instantly connect with their tribe, be inspired, and see themselves reflected in the world. I love that. Because drag gave me a voice. It gave me purpose. And I hope that through my journey, someone else finds theirs.
Whatever you’re going through right now, please, stay tuned. It gets better. At 18 and 19, life was just starting for me. I was shy, I didn’t have many friends, and I wasn’t sure where I fit in. I went to West Mesquite High – home of the Fighting Wranglers – and I mostly kept to myself. But thank God for dance. Those classes were my outlet, my way to express who I was.
I grew up in a home with a southern father who believed boys wore blue and girls wore pink. He valued hyper-masculinity, and there I was, painting my nails with my four sisters, wondering why I couldn’t just be me.
So yes, I’m proud to represent both the past and the present. Proud to be someone who made it through, who found their light, and who now shines it for others. That’s my message of hope: keep going. Your story is just beginning.
How do you celebrate your Pride off the page?
I celebrate Pride all year long. I’m 45, and every time I look in the mirror, I’m proud. I am proud of the man I’ve become, and proud of the storms I’ve weathered. There were times I didn’t have an umbrella. I just danced in the rain. I’m proud to love openly now, something I once felt I had to hide. Back then, I didn’t think the world would understand. But how can it, if we don’t share, teach, and live our truth?
To me, Pride means being fully authentic, transparent, joyful, dancing, singing, even if I’m off-key. It means not hiding anymore. There were years I stayed quiet, only dancing behind closed doors, afraid of what others might think. I didn’t want to make people uncomfortable. But sometimes, growth comes from getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. So yes, I celebrate Pride by living out loud, every single day.
All right. I don’t wanna keep it too long, but one last question, and this is kind of a fun one, but, uh, how does it feel to be honored by Jules and ti um, in season 17 with your iconic back rolls moment?
Oh my gosh, it was hysterical. And look, I didn’t know that was coming up. So I’m sitting at home with my partner and we’re watching it, and I was literally on the floor laughing. I messaged them, and I just was like, Bravo, great job. I think it’s incredible. That’s like the greatest honor, right? It’s like the standing ovation, you know, a good callback.
This was a really fun season and a fun batch of queens to watch on television. I’ll tell you, watching Jules do the makeup on her father really touched me so much. When their dad walks in and is like, Hey queen! That really hit me hard because it just was like, wow! This is the world changing right here. And these queens know who I am. And, once again celebrating pride!
I’m actually a huge fan of Onya Nurve as we’re both Cleveland natives. I’m proud of her. Talk about charisma…
Oh, I messaged Onya! I was like, you are a bright star. Keep shining. The story of Onya Nurve, and then that whole scene with the fathers, it was just like, so, I mean, empowering. It really, really, really touched me deeply. Hearing Onya Nurve share her story and how she can do everything – can sing, can dance, can act, is funny, has a look, knows how to do makeup, do makeovers. It’s like, wow, that’s the power of drag.
This whole group, this whole cast has a special place in my heart. I’m so proud of them. And I’m, I’m proud of myself that I’ve been a part of this legacy and I’m proud of everyone at World of Wonder and RuPaul, who championed this show for years and then got the opportunity to go on Logo 18 years ago. We’re on the 18th season now.
Onya is also in the lineup for the Outloud Festival…
She sure is. And I can’t wait to have the opportunity to kiki with her. I’m gonna get my photo too. I’m gonna have my little fangirl moment. So y’all get ready for that! This is going to be such a fun festival. I mean this lineup. And I just love celebrating every color of the rainbow and all the queerness that is going to be. You know, live loud and lit. We are going to be there. And, just seeing my name on the flyer, I still get a little giddy.
Anything that we should expect from your performance coming up?
You all already know what it’s gonna be. I mean, it’s showtime folks! I’m just truly honored, and I’m grateful that people are still living for the Alyssa Edwards shenanigans. And remember this Pride too. It’s important for us. Visibility is key. I love that this lineup is stacked on stacked. So thank you so much for the opportunity, and I’ll see you all there.
California
New sapphic social club comes to West Hollywood
BBGRL Club debut night brings in full house with Niña Dioz performing live alongside local pop star BBGRL
BBGRL, formerly known as Dom, is an upcoming ethereal pop artist and visionary behind BBGRL Club — the femme-forward collective that aims to celebrate sapphic joy through music, performances and futuristic self-expression. Her pop sound blends synths, intimate vocals and Y2K nostalgia to build a unique experience for her audience.
BBGRL Social Club was born out of the idea that there needs to be more events for lesbians and sapphics in the City of Los Angeles. A city well-known for its vibrant and populous queer and trans community, struggles to make space for the many sapphics that inhibit the metropolis.
West Hollywood is home to a plethora of queer bars that are really open to all, but are locally known to cater more specifically to the gay male community. Whether it’s because of their male go-go dancers, beefy boy bartenders, or open restroom design for urinals and very few stalls, WeHo is very much for the gays.
Now, we’re in 2025 and Dominique ‘Dom’ Buggs, libra, set out to be one of the few sapphics in Los Angeles to make space for the first letter of the acronym. Though there are a few other event spaces that do host consistent sapphic-centered nights, BBGRL, formerly known as Dom, wanted to make sure there was a space that not only welcomed, but centered the BIPOC baddies. Dom is from Mexico City, but is also half Black, so creating spaces like this is her personal mission.
“[The goal] was to make a space where they could belong because I have been living in West Hollywood for many years and I really know there is a huge need for more authentic places that are actually inclusive to people from all walks of life, but that specifically center [sapphic] people,” said Dom in an exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Blade.
Emerging ethereal pop artist BBGRL interacts with the crowd during her debut night at WeHo’s Roosterfish on May 3, 2025.
(Photo credit to David Tran and Jocelyn Perich)
Even now in 2025 there are very few spaces that consistently cater to the sapphic community. At the start of 2025, there were only two. Only a few months into the new year and The Ruby Fruit — a sapphically-inclined wine bar in Silverlake — closed its doors due to what the owners say were financial circumstances beyond their control. The only other sapphically-centered space is Honey’s at Star Love. The bars opened around the same time, but Honey’s is an eccentric and charming place owned by queer, Black, women.
Though there are very few other spaces that are intentional about making space for lesbian or sapphic nights, there are a lot of event organizers who take up the space on one night of the week or month.
At Little Joy Cocktails in Echo Park, “Butchona” has one day a month to bring in all the lesbianas and butchonas who dress like their tíos — but better. At Bar Flores, there is a “The World is our Oyster” night, whose crowd tends to lean on the sapphic side.
Last December, Roosterfish opened in West Hollywood, now adding itself to the list of brick-and-mortars making has made the space for sapphic events like BBGRL.
“This is my first time performing original music in West Hollywood period — but in a long time too,” said BBGRL. “I’m very excited to share a little bit of what I’ve been working on for some years.”
BBGRL says that spaces like this are very necessary right now because of the social and political attacks on the LGBTQ community.
“I’m really trying to build something that is memorable and something that really brings people together during these times where we really, really need unity.”
During the social event’s debut night at Roosterfish in West Hollywood, BBGRL performed some of her music and invited long-time friend Niña Dioz to perform as well.
“We are comadres and we both realized that we both had so many dreams about moving to L.A. and two years later in 2015 we both made the move and ended up being neighbors in Hollywood,” said BBGRL. “We formed a very special friendship that is really rooted in what reminds us of home — which is our community. Eventually she became my family.”
Niña Dioz performs in West Hollywood on May 3, 2025. (Photo credit to David Tran and Jocelyn Perich)
After Niña Dioz returned to living in Mexico, BBGRL says it hit her hard, so their return to Hollywood to perform alongside BBGRL meant that much more to this dynamic duo.
Carla Reyna, better known as Niña Dioz, is a nonbinary, queer hip-hop artist from Monterrey, Mexico. Over a decade ago, they stepped into a rap scene overly-saturated by male rappers within a culture that is also notorious for ignoring and sidelining women, trans and gender nonconforming people. Niña Dioz says they continue to fight the mainstream and make space for themselves and their homegirls.
“I’m super excited to be here performing with my homegirl, BBGRL,” said Niña Dioz in an exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Blade.
Niña Dioz says they are also excited to be working on new music to be released at the end of May.
“I’m just excited to release new music,” said Dioz. “I took a few months off but it’s a song with Lenchanter. She sings chanteos (which is a slang term used in reggaeton music for fast and rhythmic lyrical music) and she is big in the queer, ballroom scene in Mexico City.”
Niña Dioz says they are also excited to be releasing a new house music track right in time for Pride month.
“I’m doing a lot of collaborations with artists from Latin America so you’re definitely going to be hearing from me this year,” they emphasized.
The event will be hosted monthly in West Hollywood and will feature other performers, as well as guest DJs from the sapphic scene. At this event, the line-up included well-known sapphic DJ Amandita, who immaculately brings the vibes at every event where they play their bops but to keep up with the next lineup, follow BBGRL on Instagram.
BBGRL’s next show will be on June 11 at The Peppermint Club in Los Angeles.
Still here, still fighting: A trans Latina’s stand against ICE in Orange County
The Westside is unaffordable. Allowing for more housing can help
Charles Galin King brings cultural influences and style to Revry’s ‘King of Drag,’ the first-ever drag king television competition series
Vacationing abroad with an embarrassment in the White House
The Blade wins Excellence in LGBTQ+ Reporting Newsroom Award at NLGJA Los Angeles Press Pride event
Cuban lawmakers simplify process for trans people to change IDs
The Westside is unaffordable. Allowing for more housing can help
Anti-LGBTQ+ party gains power in Japanese Diet
Kamala Harris opts out of Governor’s race: What does that mean for 2028 and trans rights?
West Hollywood joins coalition against ICE raids, standing up for queer immigrants
-
Cuba4 days agoCuban lawmakers simplify process for trans people to change IDs
-
Commentary2 days agoThe Westside is unaffordable. Allowing for more housing can help
-
Japan5 days agoAnti-LGBTQ+ party gains power in Japanese Diet
-
California3 days agoKamala Harris opts out of Governor’s race: What does that mean for 2028 and trans rights?
-
News5 days agoWest Hollywood joins coalition against ICE raids, standing up for queer immigrants
-
Features16 hours agoStill here, still fighting: A trans Latina’s stand against ICE in Orange County
-
Movies2 days agoRestored film offers inside look at ‘80s gay Berlin
-
Events2 days agoThe Blade wins Excellence in LGBTQ+ Reporting Newsroom Award at NLGJA Los Angeles Press Pride event
-
Opinions2 days agoVacationing abroad with an embarrassment in the White House
-
a&e features2 days agoCharles Galin King brings cultural influences and style to Revry’s ‘King of Drag,’ the first-ever drag king television competition series