By Johnny Trlica The streets of downtown Galveston were alive with rainbow flags, banners, and fabulousness as Third Coast Pride held its first Pride Parade on October 22. The Sunday afternoon weather was perfect, if not just a little warm, as parade revelers strolled down The Strand and Mechanic Streets. “Third Coast PrideFest PARADE was
By Colby Etherton For the first time in history, on October 3, 2023, the House of Representatives voted to remove a sitting Speaker. Eight Republicans joined all Democrats in attendance to oust Kevin McCarthy, resulting in McCarthy being removed by a vote of 216 to 210. The move was unprecedented and congressional Republicans being slow
Everyone Welcome in Historic San Juan By Bill Malcolm Beaches, great food, a friendly welcoming culture, and lots to see and do in a city founded five hundred years ago make San Juan, Puerto Rico perfect for a holiday. Best of all, it’s so easy: no passport needed, your phone and phone plan work, and
Wilson Cruz on his continued dedication to LGBTQ+ youth through his new role at GLSEN  By Chris Azzopardi Wilson Cruz doesn’t love thinking too much about his childhood in Michigan, but he won’t deny his years growing up in Holland either. The Tulip Time Parades. The Windmill Island Gardens. The report he wrote on then
Mark S. King covers every angle in ‘My Fabulous Disease: Chronicles of a Gay Survivor’  By POZ Staff Writer and long-term HIV survivor Mark S. King has never shied away from sharing his opinion. His thoughtful essays about surviving with the virus — and living life fully in the here and now — are emotional,
By Johnny Trlica Commentary: A viral post attributed to country music singer Hank Williams Jr. portends to encourage people to live and let live. Reading between the lines, it also has a darker side that takes the right-wing mantra of being oppressed and being reduced to second-class citizenship. Williams’s Facebook post shares a long-winded quote
By Nancy Ford Don’t look now, but the highest of High LGBTQ Holy Days is already upon us. Happy Halloween! Time to look deep into your closet, push aside your right-wing evangelical second cousin who insists he “just hasn’t found the right woman yet,†and pull out a campy costume. Then hit the streets! Just
By Johnny Trlica While most communities across the United States celebrate Pride in June to coincide with the Stonewall Riots and the traditional observation of Pride, several cities across Texas wait until later in the year. Most often the delay is to avoid the oppressive Lone Star State summer heat, and this year has proven
By Jim Ayres Why am I writing this month’s Foodie Diary so far ahead of deadline? I’m having a moment over this evening’s restaurant and don’t want to forget the details or the food, gruesome as they were. Disclosure: I did write my first draft that night. But my sharp fingertips kept calling me back.Â
By Colby Etherton At this point, Congress being incapable of reaching consensus is the standard. Increased partisanship and polarization has pretty much meant that bipartisan agreement is a thing of the past. Just a few months ago, on June 1, 2023, the government narrowly avoided default when a bill to raise the debt ceiling was
![A group of people walking down the street holding flags.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/GAL_PRIDE_Image_Nov-1-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":31950},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/GAL_PRIDE_Image_Nov-1-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":73218},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/GAL_PRIDE_Image_Nov-1-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":201653},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/GAL_PRIDE_Image_Nov-1-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":609165},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/GAL_PRIDE_Image_Nov-1-1024x434.png","width":1024,"filesize":635421}})
![A man in suit and bow tie standing at a podium.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":28350},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":62687},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":159472},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":428058},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OP-ED_Image_Nov-1-1024x434.png","width":1024,"filesize":468844}})
![A painting of a building with a clock tower on top.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/TRAVEL_Image_Nov-1-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":28708},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/TRAVEL_Image_Nov-1-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":67095},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/TRAVEL_Image_Nov-1-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":189922},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/TRAVEL_Image_Nov-1-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":600389},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/TRAVEL_Image_Nov-1-1024x434.png","width":1024,"filesize":637316}})
![A man with a beard and mustache is looking at the camera.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/COVER_Image_Oct-4-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":6358},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/COVER_Image_Oct-4-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":9733},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/COVER_Image_Oct-4-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":22218},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/COVER_Image_Oct-4-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":62552},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/COVER_Image_Oct-4-1024x434.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":64257}})
![A man sitting on top of a couch with his arms crossed.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/PT_Image_Oct-4-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":8871},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/PT_Image_Oct-4-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":14975},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/PT_Image_Oct-4-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":30843},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/PT_Image_Oct-4-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":70881},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/PT_Image_Oct-4-1024x434.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":77302}})
![A pink and white logo with the letter n.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/hrh_Image_Oct-4-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":10531},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/hrh_Image_Oct-4-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":17155},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/hrh_Image_Oct-4-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":33440},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/hrh_Image_Oct-4-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":69729},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/hrh_Image_Oct-4-1024x434.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":72534}})
![A woman in purple dress walking down the street.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WAW_Image_Oct-4-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":9729},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WAW_Image_Oct-4-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":17956},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WAW_Image_Oct-4-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":43597},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WAW_Image_Oct-4-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":114284},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WAW_Image_Oct-4-1024x434.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":118271}})
![A couple of stickers that are on top of each other.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/trlica-2_Image_Oct-4-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":9474},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/trlica-2_Image_Oct-4-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":16064},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/trlica-2_Image_Oct-4-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":34847},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/trlica-2_Image_Oct-4-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":82378},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/trlica-2_Image_Oct-4-1024x434.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":80766}})
![A close up of some food on the table]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Foodie_Image_Oct-4-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":8320},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Foodie_Image_Oct-4-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":13623},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Foodie_Image_Oct-4-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":29689},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Foodie_Image_Oct-4-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":74448},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Foodie_Image_Oct-4-1024x434.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":78005}})
![A person with an american flag on his shirt is holding a megaphone.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OpEd_Image_Oct-4-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":7349},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OpEd_Image_Oct-4-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":11179},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OpEd_Image_Oct-4-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":21756},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OpEd_Image_Oct-4-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":48527},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/OpEd_Image_Oct-4-1024x434.jpg","width":1024,"filesize":50080}})