My 50th high school reunion By Johnny Trlica Commentary: I hated high school! I did not want to be there, did not feel like I belonged there and had only a few friends. I was a shy, introverted high schooler that was probably seen as a nerd by my classmates, if I was seen at

By Johnny Trlica Commentary: Ever talk to someone who is espousing their reasoning for believing something obviously false or completely disproven by any rational person and want to look them in the eye and ask, “What the hell is wrong with you?” To those of us not wrapped up in the right-wing cult of conspiracy

By Johnny Trlica  Commentary: During the peak of the AIDS epidemic, the LGBTQ+ community realized that the government did not care about how many queers were dying from the disease and that the public in general was apathetic. There was not a cavalry coming to the rescue so if they were to be saved, they

By Johnny Trlica  Commentary: We’ve all heard the phrase “perception equals reality” or some version of it. But is that a fact? Perception has been defined as a way of understanding or interpreting things while reality is the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may be perceived or might be

By Johnny Trlica  Commentary: A house divided against itself cannot stand.   At first glance, one would think that Houston’s LGBTQ+ community has so much pride that one day of parades and festivals simply isn’t enough so it is having two of them. That is far from the case.   What there is, is such an abundance

By Johnny Trlica Commentary: In January of 1992, my sister and her husband were the parents of three young children, the oldest being five. They owned and operated a small machine shop in Pearland, Texas where they led a quiet but contented life. The couple made a doctor’s appointment when my sister became concerned about

By Johnny Trlica Commentary: Should I go to JR’s or Barcode? Do I want a Shiner Bock or Bud Light? Should I sleep with my best friend or not? Decisions, decisions! Some choices are difficult to make.   Should I take an Uber out or risk driving home from the male strip contest at Tony’s Corner

By Johnny Trlica  Commentary: Having worked nearly thirty years in a psychiatric hospital by no means makes me an expert in psychology, but living to a ripe old age, I know crazy when I see it. The Alabama Supreme Court receives the Jack Nicholson in The Shining Award for the craziest ruling of the year

By Johnny Trlica  Commentary: Before getting to the actual topic of this column, please allow me a little time to gloat. In September of last year, this writer made predictions about the upcoming NFL season.   In that issue, I wrote, “The Bayou City’s NFL team begins play this month. They will not win too many

By Johnny Trlica Opinion: Several years ago, I was asked, “Are you ready to switch?†That request came from a friend I’ll call Lisa, and was not concerning my sexual orientation, it was regarding my political affiliation.   She had known my political leanings for some time and although sympathetic of her gay and lesbian friends,