![]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DaBrat-WEB-\u2013-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-at-11.52.23-AM-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":25203},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DaBrat-WEB-\u2013-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-at-11.52.23-AM-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":57209},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DaBrat-WEB-\u2013-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-at-11.52.23-AM-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":163542}})
From fear to freedom
I spoke with Da Brat and Judy about the chaos of writing their memoir together, what their visibility as a Black queer couple means to them, and the advice they'd give to anyone still figuring out how to love without fear.
![]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/343_OMEGA-3-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":36014},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/343_OMEGA-3-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":83880},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/343_OMEGA-3-SET-IMAGE-Screenshot-2026-03-03-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":233870}})
The mighty omegas
Omega-3s are renowned for their anti-inflammatory effects. They can help mitigate inflammation throughout the body, which is linked to chronic diseases such as arthritis, asthma and certain types of cancer.
![]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GROUP-SET-IMAGE-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":17787},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GROUP-SET-IMAGE-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":23935},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GROUP-SET-IMAGE-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":43152}})
You are Black like that
Black history is right here, in Houston, Texas, and within you. It is biking around the Third Ward to promote HIV education. It is gathering with a group of friends to vote.
![]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pt120825-\u2013-Emil-Wilbekin-SET-IMAGE-1-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":12549},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pt120825-\u2013-Emil-Wilbekin-SET-IMAGE-1-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":14725},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pt120825-\u2013-Emil-Wilbekin-SET-IMAGE-1-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":21103}})
What the AIDS crisis stole from Black gay men
In 2016, I shared my HIV status publicly for the first time. It was imperative that if I were leading and serving a community of Black queer men, I be transparent about my status. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and one of the most rewarding.
![]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.riggs_.causeway.mardigras-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":16080},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.riggs_.causeway.mardigras-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":37948},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.riggs_.causeway.mardigras-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":106088},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.riggs_.causeway.mardigras-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":320094}})
Deep in the hearts of Galveston
This year, Valentine’s Day falls smack dab in the middle of Mardi Gras, so reservations, accommodations and participation in some events, could be difficult if not arranged beforehand.
![]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.bartender.Island.Feb04-2026.chelsie-1-170x95.jpg","width":170,"filesize":17606},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.bartender.Island.Feb04-2026.chelsie-1-270x152.jpg","width":270,"filesize":25799},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.bartender.Island.Feb04-2026.chelsie-1-475x267.jpg","width":475,"filesize":50160},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.bartender.Island.Feb04-2026.chelsie-1-878x494.jpg","width":878,"filesize":120509}})
Island Time’s Chelsie Huffmeister
I was born 7 lbs. 11 oz. My first name has seven letters, and my last name has eleven letters. My lucky numbers!
![]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.TTT_.blackhistory.PHOTO_.Feb04-2026-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":34569},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.TTT_.blackhistory.PHOTO_.Feb04-2026-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":77645},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.TTT_.blackhistory.PHOTO_.Feb04-2026-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":198661},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342.Trlica.TTT_.blackhistory.PHOTO_.Feb04-2026-722x494.png","width":722,"filesize":451159}})
White people are ‘very badly treated’ says the Racist-in-Chief
When our president says, “White people were very badly treated,” it’s obvious he has never had to sit isolated in a theatre balcony, or wonder if his medical care was contingent on his skin color, or been restricted from a pool or beach because of a perceived diseased status, and has no idea what it means to be very badly treated.
![]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342-EMPIRES-Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-2.18.47-PM-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":32734},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342-EMPIRES-Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-2.18.47-PM-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":36709},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342-EMPIRES-Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-2.18.47-PM-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":208052},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/342-EMPIRES-Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-2.18.47-PM-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":667434}})
The decline of empires. Is America next?
It will not matter whether you are a liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat, when our American Empire dies; we will all be dirt poor and our country powerless after the fall.
![]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/julianne-phoebe-Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-1.45.34-PM-1-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":33943},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/julianne-phoebe-Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-1.45.34-PM-1-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":71030},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/julianne-phoebe-Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-1.45.34-PM-1-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":181730}})
Julianne McBride, AKA Phoebe Seymour
"It's a good thing I was born a girl, otherwise I’d be a drag queen,” is a hilarious quote by Dolly Parton, who turned 80 last month. With her love for glamour, big hair and over-the-top appearances, she’d have been a fabulous drag queen.
![Heathy Valentine's Day!]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-9.07.08-AM-170x95.png","width":170,"filesize":16040},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-9.07.08-AM-270x152.png","width":270,"filesize":73172},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-9.07.08-AM-475x267.png","width":475,"filesize":99765},"jaw_blog-16_9-big":{"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-04-at-9.07.08-AM-878x494.png","width":878,"filesize":303242}})
Happy Heart Day!
Take care of your heart. Watch the foods you eat. Your heart could be given a chance for many more lovely Valentine’s Days with the one you love.