BLASTS FROM THE PAST~A BRIEF LOOK AT BROWNSVILLE'S LGBTQ COMMUNITY

From the editor: Published below, please find "two blasts from the past," stories about my brief peek into the LGBTQ community. 

The first article chronicles a visit to a gay bar featuring a campaign event for two city commissioner candidates, while the second describes my unpleasant encounter with drag queen performer Beatrix Lestrange.

 

MY MEMORABLE VISIT TO A GAY BAR

 

The picture above just appeared on Facebook as a "memory" from 12 years ago.

The photo was taken during my only intentional visit to a gay bar in Brownsville on a side street off Pablo Kisel. (I did once use the restroom at a place in New Orleans that was likely a similar type venue.) 

We were greeted at the door by a chatty drag queen who placed the feather boa around my neck.

Former City Commissioner John Villarreal

We were there to observe City Commissioner candidate John Villarreal and City Commissioner running for re-election Melissa Zamora court the support and endorsement of a local LGBTQ group, not sure if that acronym was even used back then.

Villarreal and Zamora were guided to sit on the club's stage and introduced by the drag queen mistress of ceremonies.

Former City Commissioner Melissa Zamora

My recollection is that devout young Catholic boy John Villarreal, realizing he was in a "den of iniquity," completely froze on stage, simply mumbling a few terse answers to the MC's questions, with Zamora, who was much more comfortable in the setting, simply taking over for him.

For me, it was a night of great conversation with numerous characters and funny banter with the drag queen host, likely the most enjoyable time I ever spent in a bar.

On my way to the rest room I passed two guys at a table offering a free AIDs test which I politely declined.

DRAG QUEEN ORGANIZER TRIES TO CENSOR STRAIGHT PHOTO-JOURNALIST AT LGBTQ EVENT

 

Joe Uvalles II AKA Beatrix Lestrange

Local LGBTQ organizer, drag queen Joe Uvalles II, who performs as Beatrix Lestrange, tried to censor my reporting on the Market Square Pride event held today downtown.

"No pictures or videos," he told me as I attempted to photograph Pastor Ali, a young women who'd just told the audience "I'm queer and I'm a pastor.  Isn't that great?"

"What!" I exclaimed to Uvalles.  

"This is a public place and people are taking pictures and videos all over the place," I responded.

"Yes, but I don't like some of the things you write," claimed Uvalles.

I continued taking pictures, ignoring the conflicted, somewhat dense young man, who fights for LGBTQ rights, but doesn't afford the same respect to others. 

As far as my writing, I'm very tolerant and certainly have never said anything negative about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer community.

I live and let live.