![A person stands behind a podium labeled "The Ballroom," holding a pen and wearing a black outfit with a scarf, mid-speech in a dimly lit setting.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Community-1-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Community-1-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Community-1-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Community-1-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":0},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Community-1-1024x434.png","width":1024,"filesize":0}})
Montrose Center’s annual Out for Good dinner highest in attendance
On Thursday, Oct. 11, the Montrose Center held its annual Out for Good Dinner in celebration of National Coming Out Day and the Center’s 40th anniversary. This year’s dinner was
Community
![A person with short blond hair and red lipstick is holding their hands near their face, appearing surprised or excited, with a colorful lighting effect on the image.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Christina-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Christina-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Christina-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Christina-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":0},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Christina-1024x362.png","width":1024,"filesize":0}})
Christina’s got talent
By Joey Amato Christina Wells is a former winner of Pride Idol and is a fixture with Houston audiences and now with a much broader audience. She recently became a
![A neoclassical building with large columns at the entrance, partially obscured by trees.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Bering-Omega-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Bering-Omega-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Bering-Omega-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Bering-Omega-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":0},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Bering-Omega-1024x362.png","width":1024,"filesize":0}})
WE ARE HAVING A PARTY! Celebrating Bering Memorial UMC’s 170th year
| ‘Heaven Can’t Wait’ and Bering Can’t Either. Bering is having a birthday… a big one! With a milestone birthday, Bering found a way to celebrate and underwrite its ministries:
![A woman in a green costume performs a dance outdoors, with ancient ruins in the background and two other dancers partially visible.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/TurkishFest-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/TurkishFest-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/TurkishFest-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/TurkishFest-878x330.png","width":878,"filesize":0}})
Turkish Festival reflects Houston’s international flair
The 26th Houston Turkish Festival will celebrate all things Turkish, including authentic Turkish food, coffee, live music, traditional folk dancing including the famous whirling dervishes, a kids’ corner filled with
![A sheriff in uniform with a badge and shoulder patch stands indoors, looking at the camera with a neutral expression.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Lupe-Valdez-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Lupe-Valdez-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Lupe-Valdez-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Lupe-Valdez-878x403.png","width":878,"filesize":0},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Lupe-Valdez-1024x362.png","width":1024,"filesize":0}})
LGBTQ gun reform PAC makes key endorsements in VA, NJ, TX
Pride Fund to End Gun Violence PAC, America’s only national LGBTQ political organization focused solely on gun violence prevention, has announced its endorsement of candidate Elaine Luria (VA-2), Congressman Josh
![A multi-story apartment complex with grey and white exterior, modern design, and multiple balconies stands at 2222 Cleburne Street. A few cars are parked and driving on the road in front of the building. Trees are scattered around as Montrose Center announces the groundbreaking of Houston’s first LGBTQ-affirming senior housing center Tuesday, Oct. 30, 10:30 a.m.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Rendering1-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Rendering1-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Rendering1-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Rendering1-878x270.png","width":878,"filesize":0}})
FIRST LGBTQ-AFFIRMING SENIOR HOUSING CENTER IN THE SOUTH
MONTROSE CENTER TO BREAK GROUND ON FIRST LGBTQ-AFFIRMING SENIOR HOUSING CENTER IN THE SOUTH The Montrose Center is excited to announce the groundbreaking of Houston’s LGBTQ-affirming senior housing center on
![A bride in a white dress holding a bouquet stands next to an older woman in a dark outfit in front of a brick wall and green door. The bride glances nervously, as if on the verge of coming out of the closet, whispering, "I have something I want to talk to you about.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/How-My-Grandchild-Came-Out-to-Me-750x485-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/How-My-Grandchild-Came-Out-to-Me-750x485-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/How-My-Grandchild-Came-Out-to-Me-750x485-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":0}})
Coming Out to Grandma
A granddaughter’s declaration that she is gay deepens a relationship Weeks before my firstborn grandchild, Lyn, went off to her freshman year of college, she called to say goodbye. “I’d
![Logo of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital featuring a red silhouette of a child and the slogan "Finding cures. Saving children." ALSAC and Danny Thomas, Founder, are also mentioned.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/TONYs-Comm-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/TONYs-Comm-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/TONYs-Comm-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/TONYs-Comm-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":0},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/TONYs-Comm-1024x434.png","width":1024,"filesize":0}})
Tony’s Corner Pocket cares
Tony’s Corner Pocket, a favorite neighborhood bar located at 817 W. Dallas, not only cares, but also shares and works to make Houston’s LGBTQ community stronger and better than ever.
![A vibrant, colorful illustration featuring various abstract, cartoonish characters with exaggerated facial expressions and different shapes.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/COMM2_Art-Fest-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/COMM2_Art-Fest-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/COMM2_Art-Fest-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/COMM2_Art-Fest-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":0},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/COMM2_Art-Fest-1024x362.png","width":1024,"filesize":0}})
Experience the best art festival in downtown Houston
One of the top outdoor fine art festivals in the United States is celebrating 47 years since the founding of the Westheimer Art Festival. Now known as Bayou City Art
![Hands painting with colorful paints at a wooden table covered in newspaper, surrounded by brushes, paint containers, lemons, and a green tray—a vibrant scene capturing the culture of Pearland, Texas.]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/COMM1_Art-Fest-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/COMM1_Art-Fest-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/COMM1_Art-Fest-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":0},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/COMM1_Art-Fest-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":0},"large":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/COMM1_Art-Fest-1024x434.png","width":1024,"filesize":0}})
Natasha Rothwell Is Here to School the World
‘Love, Simon’ star on her breakout role as a gay-supportive teacher and why the LGBTQ community loves the ladies of Insecure By Chris Azzopardi Oh, sure, actress Natasha Rothwell’s scene-stealing