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LAZI N
G
B
trails
Katie Sowers is the first woman,
first openly LGBT person to coach
in the Super Bowl
Page 8
2 dallasvoice.com █ 01.31.20
KNOWLEDGE
toc
COMPASSION
01.31.20 | Volume 36 | Issue 39 EXPERIENCE
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LIFE+STYLE
14 Leather Masters’ new owner, space
16 Trans teen play ‘Andi Boi’ premieres
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█
ON THE COVER
Located in the heart of Uptown 972.367.6200
San
Francisco coach Katie Sowers. Family owned since 1977 14651 Dallas Parkway Suite 110
Dallas, TX 75254
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14
16
departments
6 The Gay Agenda 21 Best Bets
8 News 24 Cassie Nova
13 Voices 25 Scene
14 Life+Style 30 MarketPlace
01.31.20 █ dallasvoice 3
instanTEA DallasVoice.com/Category/Instant-Tea
Three special elections; equally, they’re more likely to do the same
for their customers. But if you’re looking for
no changes in Texas House which companies support the LGBT com-
No change in the make-up of the Texas
munity in general, that’s not rated.
House of Representatives happened as
DFW-area companies that were rated 100
a result of three special elections held on
include AT&T, Comerica, Southwest Airlines,
Tuesday, Jan. 28.
American Airlines, Toyota, Ericsson, Fossil,
In Dallas, Lorraine Birabil drew 66 percent
Fujitsu and Celanese. So is McKesson,
of the vote against a fellow Democrat to fill
which recently moved to Las Colinas from
the District 100 seat left vacant when Eric
San Francisco and achieved a 100 rating for
Johnson was elected Dallas mayor last June.
the seventh year in a row.
Birabil was the endorsed choice of Stonewall
ExxonMobil gets an 85, up from its peren-
Democrats of Dallas.
nial minus-20, but it still lags behind Shell,
In Houston’s District 148, Democrat Anna
Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips and Marathon,
Eastman won 65 percent of the vote against
all of which are rated 100.
a Republican challenger. They were running
Fort Worth-based Burlington Northern
to replace Democrat Jessica Farrar who
gets a miserable 30, but that’s a 10-point
resigned her seat last fall.
improvement over last year’s 20.
In a second Houston race, Democrat Eliz
— David Taffet
Markowitz was trying to flip a seat but only
received 42 percent of the vote with heavy
turnout for a special election runoff. Among Dallas-based ice skaters
those stumping for her were Beto O’Rourke heading to World
and Michael Bloomberg. The winner is Gary
Gates; Gates and Markowitz will face off Championship
again in November. Dallas-based U.S. Figure Skating reigning
— David Taffet pairs title-holders Ashley Cain-Gribble and
Timothy LeDuc had hoped to continue their
forward momentum with top scores in the
Farewell Tribute to Sweet short program of the 2020 U.S. National
Savage is set Figure Skating Championships, contested
Betty Neal, Michael Lybarger, Howard Thursday night in Greensboro, N.C. But,
Okon and Magnum Dallas are coming man, ice is slippery. An uncharacteristic
together to host “Cher’s Gypsies: A Farewell mistake on a routine “death spiral” left the
Tribute to Sweet Savage,” on Monday, Feb. talented team in third place heading into the
10, at Magnum Dallas, 1820 W. Mockingbird, final. Out queer athlete LeDuc and Cain-Grib-
Ste. 10. ble, his ferocious ally and partner, ended
Sweet Savage of San Antonio, aka the competition in fourth place, behind
Freddie Cortez, was a legendary drag icon gold medalists Alexa Scimeca Knierim and
in Texas. She passed away Tuesday, Jan. Christopher Knierim, silver medalists Jessica
21, following a lengthy illness. Sweet Savage Calalang and Brian Johnson, and bronze
was known throughout her more-than-30- medalists Tarah Kayne and Danny O’Shea.
year career in drag for her impersonations Part of U.S. Nationals is deciding who
of Cher. qualifies for the world team. Typically, the
Cher’s Gypsies begins with a buffet meal spots are determined by the top finishers.
at 6:30 p.m. Show time is 9 p.m. Donations But not so fast. That is only a guideline.
will be accepted to help pay for Sweet Sav- U.S. Figure Skating (USFS) announced the
age’s final expenses. World Pairs team Sunday evening, and,
The show will be emceed by Bubbali- come March, it turns out Cain-Gribble and
cious and Kelexis Davenport and will feature LeDuc will indeed be representing the U.S.
performances by Shae Shae Lareese, Layla at the world champions in Montreal. They
Larue, Sasha Andrews, Tommie Ross, Ken- advanced ahead of the silver and bronze
nedy Davenport and more performers from U.S. national medalists — a right fully within
across the nation. the USFS authority.
— Tammye Nash Theirs wasn’t the only happy next chapter.
U.S. ladies skater Amber Glenn, who came
out last year in an interview with Dallas
HRC releases new Corporate Voice, went into the final leg of her national
Equality Index competition following a career-defining best
Human Rights Campaign has released the performance in the ladies short program.
latest version on its Corporate Equality Index. Standing O? Oh, yes. Free skate? Oh no.
The CEI is a great place for people looking She slid into fifth place and off the podium. It
for work to find which companies treat seemed her season had abruptly ended.
their LGBT employees equally. For people Again, not so fast. USFS saw Glenn’s grit
already working at any of the 1,059 rated and glamour and advanced her to the U.S.
companies, they can see how their company ladies team who will compete at the interna-
compares to others in its category and see tional 4 Continents Championships in early
where its policies need improvement. February in Seoul, South Korea.
If you’re looking a company with which Our Dallas-based athletes live to skate
to do business with, the results are mixed. another day. What a difference a day makes.
Surely, if a company treats its employees — Coy Covington
4 dallasvoice.com █ 01.31.20
01.31.20 █ dallasvoice 5
THE
GAY AGENDA
Have an event coming up? Email your
information to Managing Editor Tammye
Nash at nash@dallasvoice.com or Senior
• Feb. 6: Brewing Up Business
Develop new business relationships
from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Crickles,
• Feb. 8: DFW Gaymers
Game night for LGBTQ gaymers from
7:30-10:50 p.m. at Common Ground
• Feb. 15: Love Equality
An event benefitting Equality Texas is
a night of celebration and dancing with
Staff Writer David Taffet at taffet@ 4000 Cedar Springs Road Suite E. Games, 1328 Inwood Road. drinks and light food from 8-11 p.m.
dallasvoice.com by Wednesday at 5 p.m. for Free to LGBT Chamber members, at Seven for Parties, 150 Turtle Creek
that week’s issue. non-members $10 in advance, • Feb. 11: Same-sex partner grief group Blvd,. Suite 107. Tickets at
$20 at the door. LGBTChamber.com. Grief group for those who have lost Secure.Everyaction.com.
JANUARY a same-sex partner through death
• Jan. 31: Business and Community • Feb. 7: Naming the Leper from 6:45-8 p.m. at Resource Center, • Feb. 15: Impulse Group
Excellence Awards Christopher Lee Manes, president of 5750 Cedar Springs Road. An Impulse Group five-year celebration
Awards luncheon from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Congregation Beth El Binah, reads from with cocktails, music and dancing,
at Renaissance Dallas Hotel, his new book of poetry Naming the • Feb. 11: Simply Fondue with dinner and presentation at 7 p.m.
2222 N. Stemmons Freeway. Leper at 7 p.m. at Half Price Books, the Dallas Bears at Sixty Five Hundred,
LGBTChamber.com. 5803 E. Northwest Highway. Free. A four-course classic from 7-10 p.m. at 6500 Cedar Springs Road, #200.
Simply Fondue, 2108 Greenville Ave. Impulsegrp.org.
FEBRUARY • Feb. 8: Dallas Bears monthly meeting
• Feb. 1: PrimeTimers Monthly membership meeting • Feb. 12: PrimeTimers • Feb. 16: Dallas Bears
Potluck from 5-9 p.m. at Sean’s in Plano. begins at noon at Cathedral of Hope, Dinner at 7 p.m. at Fly Fishing, Teddy Bear Auction
RSVP and address at 214-218-0912. 5910 Cedar Springs Road. 6126 Luther Lane. Info at 214-218-0912. Auction benefits AIDS Services Dallas.
Item drop off begins at 3 p.m., and
• Feb. 2: Super Bowl LIV • Feb. 8: PrimeTimers • Feb. 12: TWU Drag Show auction starts at 7 p.m. at the Round-Up
Brunch and the Perot Museum at Texas Women’s University drag show Saloon, 3912 Cedar Springs Road.
• Feb. 4: PrimeTimers 11 a.m. at Mama’s Daughter’s Diner, with performers including Mustache
First Tuesday lunch at Golden Corral 2014 Irving Blvd. 214-218-0912. Envy, Draconis and emcee Landon • Feb. 17: President’s Day
at 11:30 a.m. 3312 Forest Lane. Cider at 7 p.m. at TWU Student Union Honoring our presidents who haven’t
214-218-0912. • Feb. 8: The Main Event at Hubbard Hall, Southwest Ballroom, been impeached.
Teen Pride presents Kennedy 1600 N. Bell Ave., Denton. $5. TWU.edu.
• Feb. 5: Wine Walk Davenport at the Peacock Theater in • Feb. 19: PrimeTimers
Monthly first Wednesday wine walk Frisco. An evening of magic, drag and • Feb. 13: Business Connections Mixer Lunch at 12:30 p.m. at the Charco
on Cedar Springs Road. Purchase glass mystery raising money for Teen Pride. The LGBT Chamber hosts its monthly Broiler, 413 W. Jefferson Blvd. Info at
outside The Round-Up Saloon, $40. tinyurl.com/tqevffc. Business Connections Mixer with light 214-218-0912.
3912 Cedar Springs Road. bites and drinks from 5:30-7 p.m.
• Feb. 8: Lost Souls Sock collection at Eating Disorder Solutions, • Feb. 21: Toast to Life Sponsor Party
• Feb. 6: Casablanca screening Lost Souls Rugby is collecting new 3300 Oak Lawn Ave., Suite 102. MyResourceCenter.org.
The Texas Theatre presents a pre- socks for the Austin Street Shelter LGBTChamber.com.
Valentine’s Day screening of the serving men 45 and older and • Feb. 21: LGBTQ Global Symposium
1942 Humphrey Bogart-Ingrid Bergman women 18 and older from 1-4 p.m. at • Feb. 15: Heart On Gaybingo on Equality and Human Rights
classic Casablanca at 8 p.m. at the the Round-Up Saloon, From 5-9 p.m. at The Rose A coalition of Dallas-based
Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St. 3912 Cedar Springs Road. Room, 3911 Cedar Springs Road. organizations presents a symposium on
Tickets at prekindle.com. MyResourceCenter.org. equality and human rights. A diverse
group of LGBTQ and ally presenters
• Weekly: Lambda Weekly at 1 p.m. on and Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 11:30 com; Dallas Frontrunners meet for a walk or Call 214-267-0222 for details; LGBT Sex
Sunday on 89.3 KNON-FM with David Taffet, a.m. at Resource Center, 2701 Reagan St. run at Oak Lawn Park, near the intersection of Addicts Anonymous meets at 6 p.m. every
Lerone Landis and the late Patti Fink with First Monday is birthday night at 5750 Cedar Turtle Creek and Hall Street, every Wednesday Friday at 1919 Independence St., Room 19,
this week’s guest Erin Moore; Silver Pride Springs Road; Core Group Meeting every at 7:15 p.m. and every Saturday at 8:30 Plano. 972-316-9188 for details; Leadership
Project Coffee and Convo for LGBTQ+ 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.; a.m.; Leadership Lambda Toastmasters Lambda Toastmasters gay-identified
seniors meets Mondays from 11 a.m.- 1 Fuse game night every Monday evening practices and develops speaking and Toastmasters group meets from 6:30-8 p.m.
p.m. at Oak Lawn Library, 4100 Cedar except the last of the month at 8 p.m. at the leadership skills from 6:30–8 p.m. on Mondays every Monday at the First Unitarian Church,
Springs Road, Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-1 Fuse space in the 3918 Harry Hines Blvd.; at First Unitarian Church, third floor of the 4015 Normandy Road (does not meet on
p.m. at Grauwyler Park Branch Library, 2146 FuseConnect every Wednesday from 7 p.m. Hallman Building, 4012 St. Andrews; Thrive, Mondays that are holidays); United Black
Gilford St. Wednesdays for Breakfast Club For more information call or e-mail Jalenzski program of Resource Center for LGBTQ Ellument hosts discussion on HIV/AIDS in the
from 10 a.m.-noon at Reverchon Recreation at 214-760-9718 ext. 3 or Jalenzski@ adults 50+ support group every Monday from black community (UBE Connected) at 7 p.m.
Center, 3505 Maple Ave. and Thursdays for myresourcecenter.org; LGBT square dancing 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. followed by free lunch every fourth Tuesday of the month at 3918
Rainbow Rec from 10 am.-noon at Reverchon group Pegasus Squares meets the second at Resource Center, 5750 Cedar Springs Harry Hines Blvd.; DVtv in Spayse, news
Recreation Center, 3505 Maple Ave.; Unwired and fourth Sunday from 2–4 p.m. at Grace Road; Lambda AA meets at noon, 6:30 and entertainment discussion live streaming
Group of Crystal Meth Anonymous meets United Methodist Church, 4105 Junius St. p.m., 7:45 p.m. and 11 p.m. at St. Thomas every Friday, 4–5 p.m., on the Spayse Station
Sunday at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Wednesday For more info, email pegasussquares@gmail. the Apostle Church, 6525 Inwood Road. YouTube channel.
6 dallasvoice.com █ 01.31.20
will highlight Dallas’ rich history of Center, 6101 Bishop St. $75-150. Tickets
moving from openly opposing to at SteveGrandDallas.com.
vocally championing human rights
and equality from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at • Feb. 25: Same-sex partner
Southern Methodist University grief group
Tickets at DFWWorld.org. Grief group for those who have lost a
same-sex partner through death from
• Feb. 22: Turtle Creek Chorale gala 6:45-8 p.m. at Resource Center,
Idina Menzel performs at a gala 5750 Cedar Springs Road.
benefiting the Turtle Creek Chorale
at 7:30 p.m. at The Statler, • Feb. 25: PrimeTimers
1914 Commerce St. Dinner at 7 p.m. at Alfonso’s Italian,
TurtleCreekChorale.com. 718 N. Buckner Blvd. #222.
Info at 214-218-0912.
• Feb. 23: PrimeTimers
Games in Plano at 2 p.m. For address • Feb. 29: Understanding Transgender
and directions call 214-218-0912. Identities and Realities
Deepen understanding of transgender
• Feb. 25: Get Centered tour topics and practice skills to be a great
Tour Resource Center and learn ally from 6-9 p.m. at First Unitarian
about its programs from Church of Dallas, 4015 Normandy Ave.
5-6:30 p.m. at 5750 Cedar Springs $10. Register at dct.org/andiboi.
Road. MyResourceCenter.org.
MARCH
• Feb. 25: Steve Grand • March 1: PrimeTimers
Steve Grand performs benefiting the Games hosted at 2 p.m. in Oak Cliff.
Suicide and Crisis Center at 7:30 p.m. For address and directions,
at the Bob Hope Theatre, Owen Arts call 214-218-0912.
█
pet of the week / BOSS
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He’s a big, gentle boy looking for a loving home to spend his
senior years. He likes going for walks, hanging out with people
and cuddling up for naps. He came to the SPCA of Texas in rough
shape, but now he is happy, healthy and ready to find his forever
home. If you’re looking for a big boy to steal your heart, he’s the
one for you.
Boss is waiting for you at the SPCA of Texas’ Jan Rees-Jones
Animal Care Center in Dallas, 2400 Lone Star Drive (near I-30 and
Hampton Road). Hours are noon-6 p.m. Sun-Wed and noon-7 p.m.
Thurs-Sat. Regular adoption fees are $150 for puppies and kittens
aged 0-6 months and $75 for adult dogs and cats aged 6 months
or older. Fee includes spay/neuter surgery, age-appropriate
vaccinations, a heartworm test for dogs six months and older
and a FIV/FeLV test for cats 4 months and older, initial flea/tick
preventative and heartworm preventative, a microchip, 30 days of
PetHealth Insurance provided by PetHealth, a free 14-day wellness
exam with VCA Animal Hospitals, a rabies tag and a free leash. Call
214-742-SPCA (7722) or visit today.
Employment
Discrimination Lawyer
Law Office of
Rob Wiley, P.C.
214-528-6500 • robwiley.com
2613 Thomas Ave., Dallas, TX 75204
01.31.20 █ dallasvoice 7
Handing out
Blessings
DFW Sisters of Perpetual
Indulgence welcome
volunteers as they prepare
for their 10th anniversary
TAMMYE NASH | Managing Editor
nash@dallasvoice.com
lways on the lookout for
new ways to serve their
community, the DFW
Sisters of Perpetu-
al Indulgence will
take to the streets
of Oak Lawn,
Deep Ellum
and the area around the Farmers Market
on Saturday, Feb. 8, handing out Bless-
ing Bags to the homeless. And the Sisters
are inviting others to participate with
them in this mission and others as they
gear up for their 10-year anniversary.
Sister Alley Gations, Mistress of
Events for the Abby of the Lone Star,
said the sisters will be out in full force
and in full face for the event. They will
be distributing the Blessing Bags — con-
taining things like protein bars and other
snacks, toiletries, socks, beanie hats —
from about 3-7 p.m. that day. The bags
will also include the Sisters’ well-known
“Bliss Kits,” which include condoms,
lube, a peppermint and a whole lot of
information on topics regarding every-
thing from where to get tested for HIV
and where to get treatment to where to The DFW Sisters are on a mission. (Photo courtesy Sister Alley Gations)
find food, shelter and clothing.
Sister Alley said “we came up with the and new ways to help. ever really get to enjoy the things we do money for the Office of Veterans Affairs.
idea” of the Blessing Bags “as a house,” “A lot of the time we [in the LGBTQ] for the community. Besides the fact that “All our events are focused on helping
and then one of the novice nuns took community don’t really acknowledge we wanted to help get them things and people, raising money for the communi-
it on as their “the senior project.” Al- homeless people that we see. A lot of information we need, we wanted to also ty, but we try to branch out. One of the
ley said the sisters will be handing out people don’t want to associate with give them a chance to kind of ‘bask in the things we think about is, who have we
“about 100 bags” over the course of the homeless people or be around them or glory’ of a Sisters event. We want them to not helped? Women’s shelters? Veterans
afternoon and early evening next week- interact with them. There’s such a stigma have the same opportunities we have to Affairs? Trans men? Trans kids? The deaf
end. behind being homeless, and too often we have fun.” community?” Sister Alley said. “There
While many of the Sisters’ projects just ignore them,” she said. DFW Sisters donate regularly to well- are times when we want to make sure
and events are specifically aimed at the “And most of the Sisters’ events hap- known organizations in the LGBTQ com- that the money we raise is going to a de-
LGBTQ and/or HIV/AIDS communi- pen in bars and at other places where munity. Last year, Sister Alley said, they mographic or to an organization we’ve
ties, Sister Alley said they are always homeless people usually aren’t wel- gave about $3,000 to Resource Center, not worked with before. We want to give
looking for new communities to help come,” she continued. “So they don’t and a recent event in Fort Worth raised
BLESSINGS, Page 12
8 dallasvoice.com █ 01.31.20
Oak Lawn Pharmacy
drops name-brand
HIV meds Lambda America’s longest running LGBT radio show
DAVID TAFFET | Senior Staff Writer
Weekly NEEDS YOUR HELP!
Help get KNON back on the air.
taffet@dallasvoice.com Make a donation at knon.org/pledge-now
ak Lawn Phar-
macy, a compa-
ny founded to
provide name-
brand HIV
medications,
has stopped
carrying them,
a pharmacy spokesman confirmed this
week. Employees at the store are helping
its customers transfer their prescriptions
to other pharmacies in the area.
Marketing Director Walker Patterson
said his company didn’t buy enough ge-
neric medications to get the discount on
all of its HIV meds necessary to contin-
ue selling the medications profitably. In
order to sell the drugs at a competitive
rate, the pharmacy was losing money on
each prescription, he said.
Pharmacist Amanda Bui said in order
to get a discount to make name-brand Non-Commission
HIV meds affordable, they have to pur- Sales Team
chase a certain quantity of generics as Guaranteed Pay
well. She said she thought when Truva- Walker Patterson
da went off-brand this year, that would
Health Care
solve their problem. But manufacturer taken. And the pharmacy will deliver the Flexible Schedule
Gilead changed the formula slightly packs.
Great Work
and replaced Truvada with Descovy, she “We have great prices on ED medica-
Environment
said. tion,” Patterson continued, explaining
NOW
That resulted in the pharmacy having that through an online service, they can
to make the difficult decision to stop sell- help with those meds, which they also
HIRING!
ing the expensive HIV medications. will deliver for free. He said a customer
Patterson said when Oak Lawn Phar- fills out a medical evaluation, and there’s
macy first went into business as Pride an option to talk to a doctor. The process,
Pharmacy a number of years ago, there he said is safe and discrete.
was less competition in the area. CVS In discussing how out of control drug
and Walgreens weren’t as large, and pricing has become, Bui mentioned
AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Prism Good Rx. She said pharmacies that ac- Make Our
Health didn’t have pharmacies affiliated cept the app that lowers the price of
with their offices. generic drugs usually start with higher
Team Better,
But, Patterson stressed, “We’re still a prices. One Individual
full-service pharmacy.” In the TV ad for Good Rx, a woman
He highlighted the pharmacy’s daily walks up to a pharmacist to get a price at a Time!
pill packs, in which pills are wrapped in quote on a drug her child needs and is
a clear package and divided by day or quoted a price of more than $60. As the Call Rebecca Burns @ 972-283-9797
SouthwestKia.com/employment.htm
even the time of day each one should be PHARMACY, Page 12
01.31.20 █ dallasvoice 9
Leading
the way
to do. We always had a best friend.
“But being in a small conservative
town was different, especially being
gay. But we were lucky to be in the most
open-minded family in town. I love ev-
erybody knowing everybody, even with
all the small-town gossip.”
The sisters’ dad, Floyd, was a basket-
— win enough championships to fill a
trophy case.
“Katie was a competitor, [a] hard
worker and didn’t like to lose,” says
their basketball coach, Brennan Torger-
son. “She didn’t break into the starting
lineup as soon as Liz did. Katie’s role off
the bench was our super sub. When she
Kansas native Katie Sowers
is blazing new trails as she
becomes the first woman and
the first openly-LGBT person to
coach a team in the Super Bowl
DAVE SKRETTA | AP Sports Writer
ESSTON, Kan.
— The old
downtown strip,
like so many
in small towns
across Ameri-
ca, is quiet on
a brisk January
morning, just a few cars parked at one
end in front of The Citizens State Bank
and a few more in front of the pharmacy
at the other.
Around the corner is an old Texaco
station, the pumps long removed and
the windows covered up. Nearby, the
sign for Weaver’s Grocers — “Your local
hometown grocers!” — is all that remains
from the once-bustling store. Most busi- 49ers Assistant Offensive coach Katie Sowers leads a drill during practice. (Tony Avelar/Associated Press)
nesses have moved east toward the
main highway, which takes
traffic between the cities of on Sunday, Feb. 2, she will become the ball coach at nearby Bethel College. But came in the pace changed along with the
Salina and Wichita. first female assistant and first openly gay the kids always preferred the rough- energy level of the team. Her energy and
The predominantly Men- coach to take the sideline in the sport’s and-tumble of football, gender norms toughness were contagious.”
nonite town of about 3,700 in biggest game. be damned. Even though they were in “She was definitely known on campus
south-central Her story has spread the heart of Chiefs country, Katie grew for her athletic ability,” adds Rachel Mc-
like a prairie fire thanks in up a Dallas Cowboys fan and Liz a Den- Master, who overlapped with Katie for a
large part to a Microsoft com- ver Broncos fan, because those were the year at Hesston College, and is now the
mercial featuring Sowers that ran repeat- uniforms and plastic helmets they got school’s director of marketing and com-
Kansas edly during the recent conference cham- as Christmas gifts one year. One of the munications.
is hardly the kind of pionship games. neighbor boys that played with them The Sowers kids never could shake the
place one would expect It’s all a little hard to believe for her had gotten the Chiefs outfit. football bug, though.
to produce a trailblazing family and friends — those who grew The Sowers kids eventually shelved After starting at Hesston College
NFL coach, one that has up playing tackle football with her in the their football ambitions, though, nev- where her mother, Bonnie, was the long-
helped the San Francisco backyard or coached her in high school er thinking at the time that they could time director of nursing, Katie finished
49ers return to the Super basketball or took classes with her at tiny continue playing with the boys in high her studies at Goshen College in Indiana.
Bowl. Hesston College. school. Instead, they turned their at- She resumed playing football with the
Then again, Katie Sow- “People ask me what we did for fun,” tention to just about every other sport, West Michigan Mayhem in the Women’s
ers had been defying ex- recalls her twin sister, Liz, “and I don’t whether it was basketball or track and Football Alliance and for USA Football’s
pectations all her life. honestly have an answer. We drove to field, helping the Swathers — the nick- national team. But any thought of ever
When the Niners face Wichita? But we always had each other. name coming from a piece of farming coaching men was temporarily dashed
the Kansas City Chiefs We were never really looking for things machinery common on the Great Plains when Katie was denied a volunteer assis-
10 dallasvoice.com █ 01.31.20• Katie Sowers, 33, is from Hesson, Kansas. She has an Super Bowl LIV
older sister named Stephanie and a twin sister, Liz, who is Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers
also openly LGBTQ. Liz Sowers also played for the 5:30 p.m. CST, Sunday, Feb. 2
Women’s Football Alliance, and is now helping establish a At Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens
new women’s pro football team, The Kansas City Glory, in Broadcast live in DFW on KDFW Fox 4
the Women’s National Football Conference.
National Anthem: Demi Lovato
• Katie Sowers was a Dallas Cowboys fan when she was
Halftime show: Jennifer Lopez, Shakira
growing up. Her sister Liz was a Denver Broncos fan.
Also of note:
• Katie Sowers’ parents, Floyd and Bonnie Sowers, now live
Drag queens and RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni Miz Cracker and
in Kansas City.
Kim Chi will be featured in an ad for Sabra hummus airing during
• Katie Sowers joined the staff of the San Francisco 49ers as the Super Bowl. It will be the first time a Super Bowl ad
an offensive assistant coach in 2017. When she came out has featured drag queens.
publicly before the NFL season started that year, she
Actor/comedian/TV show host Ellen Degeneres and her wife,
became the first openly LGBTQ coach in the NFL.
actor Portia de Rossi, will be featured in Amazon’s Super Bowl
• Katie Sowers played football herself in the Women’s ad for devices with Alexa.
Football Alliance and for USA Football’s national team.
Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness is featured in two Super Bowl
• In 2016, before joining the 49ers’ staff, Katie Sowers was a commercials for Pop Tarts Pretzels.
training camp coach with the Atlanta Falcons
• Katie Sowers has a girlfriend but prefers to keep her name
out of the limelight.
tant job at the private liberal arts college. helping an offense that was second only “I was asked once if it was a dream of so proud to communicate that to every-
Injuries eventually took their toll on to the Baltimore Ravens in scoring this mine to be in the NFL or be in a Super body, always wore San Francisco gear in
Katie — a separated shoulder, a torn la- season. Bowl,” Liz says, “and looking back it public, so people would approach him,
brum in her hip. So, with degree in hand, Her rapid rise in the cut-throat coach- was like, no, it never crossed my mind. and they’d ask about it. So, it’s been hard
she joined her sister in Kansas City and ing profession doesn’t surprise those And it’s crazy for me to think as much as for him since he can’t communicate. He
began working toward her master’s de- who knew her growing up. I loved playing, and it was our favorite can’t speak. But I feel like this TV com-
gree at Central Missouri. “Katie was an amazing teammate and sport, I never thought that was an option mercial she’s now on, telling her story,
That is where fate set her on the path was always willing to do the little things to somehow be in a Super Bowl. And it in a way it speaks for my dad. He’s so
toward the NFL sideline. that allow a team to come together and pushes me to continue doing and play- proud to be able to watch that.”
One of Katie’s part-time jobs was win ball games,” says Matthew Richard- ing football. After much discussion, Floyd and
coaching a youth basketball team, and son, who taught and coached the Sowers “When Katie is walking down the Bonnie decided to stay in Kansas City —
one her players happened to be the sisters in middle school and high school. sideline,” Liz adds with pride, “she’ll surrounded by Chiefs fans — to watch
daughter of former Chiefs general man- “Katie wasn’t ever concerned with rec- have parents shouting that their daugh- the Super Bowl on Sunday. But there will
ager Scott Pioli. He soon became a father ognition, she only wanted to do her job ter wants to coach in the NFL, or play in be plenty of family support in Miami:
figure to her, and when Pioli was fired extremely well so the team could be suc- the NFL, and that dream is real now for Liz will be there with her girlfriend, and
by the Chiefs and hired as the assistant cessful.” people, for young girls.” Steph — the twins’ older sister — will be
GM in Atlanta, he helped Katie catch on It’s hard to get much more successful Nobody is more proud of the sisters there with her husband, who coinciden-
through the Bill Walsh Diversity Coach- than reaching the Super Bowl. than their parents, Floyd and Bonnie. tally grew up cheering for the ’Niners.
ing Fellowship. While Katie’s career path led to the The couple moved to Kansas City Meanwhile, back in Hesston, a few
There, she made such an impression NFL, Liz has taken a decidedly different about two years ago, after Floyd suffered thousand people who usually spend
on the Falcons then-offensive coordi- road in the game both love. The women’s a major stroke. It left him in a wheelchair, their Sundays cheering for the Chiefs
nator Kyle Shanahan that he asked her team on which both sisters once played unable to walk or speak, and Liz has tak- will have to decide where their allegianc-
to follow him to San Francisco when he recently folded, so Liz has been helping en it upon herself to help her mother care es lie. Do they root for the local franchise
was hired to coach the Niners. establish a new team — the Kansas City for him. One of their biggest challenges is making its first trip to the Super Bowl in
At first, she helped break down film Glory — in the Adidas-backed Women’s transportation, and Liz’s birthday wish 50 years, or do they root for the home-
and work on practice scripts. But over National Football Conference. As Katie was to raise enough money through a town kid who has proved that women
time she was given more responsibility. breaks ground by proving women can GoFundMe account to purchase a van have a place in professional football?
These days, she works largely with wide coach football, Liz is breaking ground by with wheelchair access. “I’ll be cheering for the same team Joe
receivers alongside offensive coordina- providing opportunities for women to “He was and still is Katie’s biggest Montana said he’s cheering for,” Torger-
tors Mike LaFleur and Mike McDaniel, actually play it. fan,” Liz explains, “but he was always son says with a smile. “The red team.” █
01.31.20 █ dallasvoice 11BLESSINGS, From Page 8 P
1
everybody a chance to get a piece of the ing-edge order of queer and trans nuns. complacency and guilt that chain the and/or Missions outside the U.S. H
pie.” We believe all people have a right to ex- human spirit.” The mission of the Sis- Three of the Houses are here in Texas;
It’s a pie that has been baking around press their unique joy and beauty. Since ters, the website says, is to “promulgate in addition to the DFW Sisters, there are a
the world for about 40 years, and here in our first appearance in San Francisco on universal joy, expiate stigmatic guilt and the Weird City Sisters in Houston and L
Dallas for 10 years. Sisters of Perpetual
Indulgence was founded in San Fran-
Easter Sunday 1979, the Sisters have de-
voted ourselves to community service,
serve the community.”
There is no single, central authority
The San Antonio Sisters, Abbey of the
Alamo. There is also one Mission in Tex-
e
T
cisco in 1979 as a charitable and activist ministry and outreach to those on the or seat of power; each House is auton- as — The Houston Sisters — Order of the A
organization using drag and religious edges, and to promoting human rights, omous, with its own habits, culture and Bayou City. Sister Alley said there is also D
imagery to make its point. According respect for diversity and spiritual en- rules. There are 45 houses in 26 U.S. a House starting in El Paso. P
to the organization’s website, “The Sis- lightenment. We use humor and irrev- states (and one multi-state order); seven The DFW Sisters — the largest House C
J
ters of Perpetual Indulgence are a lead- erent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, United States Missions, and 22 Houses in Texas with 25 fully professed mem-
F
bers, 15 sisters emeritus, eight novices L
and two postulants, according to their H
website — celebrate their 10th anniver- T
sary on Easter Sunday this coming April, B
P
and Sister Alley said the nuns have a ton I
of big events planned to mark celebrate
their first decade. And while the appli- a
C
cation process to become an actual Sister N
takes time, Sister Alley wants people to S
know that she and the other nuns are al- N
ways looking for volunteers to help out R
Providing comprehensive and compassionate medical care at all their events. “All you have to do to
a
to the LGBT community for more than 35 Years!
get involved as a volunteer is go to the K
website and fill out a form,” she said. █ S
For more information on volunteering
with the Sisters or becoming a Sister, and
m
S
for a full schedule of upcoming events, visit B
DFWSisters.org. DFW Sisters membership I
is open to people of all genders and all ori- B
B
entations. R
c
L
f
PHARMACY, R
From Page 9
a
woman turns to walk away, the pharma- A
cist stops her and gives her the Good Rx N
C
price — 12 bucks. F
But, Bui said, Oak Lawn Pharmacy’s F
David M. Lee, M.D. prices on a range of medications tend to
BEST General Practitioner Comprehensive
Marc A. Tribble, M.D. be lower than those of Good Rx, so she
6 Years in a Row! HIV/AIDS management doesn’t need to play games with pricing
Donald A. Graneto, M.D. BEST Medical Group Practice apps.
Eric Klappholz, NP BEST HIV Specialists STD testing and treatment Bui said the pharmacy’s change in fo-
cus kicked in in January because that’s
Peter Triporo, NP
PrEP counseling and treatment when insurance companies issue new
Jason Vercher, PA-C
Uptown Physicians Group drug prices for their customers and
Uptown Tower General adult medical care when drug companies raise prices and
Vanessa Bludau, NP issue quotas to pharmacies to receive
4144 N. Central Expressway, Suite 750
any discounts.
William Hays, MD, ATC, LAT
214-303-1033 Cosmetic - BOTOX®
Walker said his pharmacy will contin-
Ismail Boodhwani, FNP-C www.UptownDocs.com and JUVÉDERM® ue to carry generic HIV meds and a full
range of other drugs, including every-
thing from antibiotics to cholesterol, dia-
Dr. Marc Tribble and
Voted 2019 Readers Voice Awards betes, heart and other medications. And,
Dr. Donald Graneto
named to D Magazine’s BEST Medical Group Practice he said, he hopes Oak Lawn Pharmacy
Best Doctors BEST HIV Specialists
in Dallas for 2017 in Peter Triporo, NP named Top 10 in 2018 and Dr. David Lee, will continue to be “your neighborhood
Infectious Disease and America’s Top Nurse Practitioner Awards BEST General Practitioner drug store.” █
Family Medicine respectively. presented by Point of Care Network
12 dallasvoice.com █ 01.31.20Phone 214-754-8710 Fax 214-969-7271
█
1825 Market Center Blvd., Ste. 240, Dallas, Texas 75207
Hours: Weekdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m. • dallasvoice.com
█ commUNITYvoices
The Lone Star Battleground State
administration
Leo Cusimano Publisher 114 █
editorial
Tammye Nash Managing Editor 113 █
S
Arnold Wayne Jones Executive Editor Life+Style 129 █
David Taffet Senior Staff Writer 125 █ am Houston once said, “Texas has which was ingly-razor-thin winning margins for
Philip Burton Proofreader yet to learn submission to any op- fourth. the GOP, if we do the work, Texas could
Contributors: Chris Azzopardi, Gary Bellomy, Jenny Block, pression, come from what source So, this hoist the country into a new era of liberty
J. Denton Bricker, Alicia Chang, D’Anne Witowski, Lawrence
it may.” Great sentiment, Mr. “Raven,” Bible Belt and justice.
Ferber, Hardy Haberman, Scott Huffman, Lisa Keen, Mark
Lowry, Joey Moreno, Cassie Nova, Josh Robbins, Mikey Rox, but unfortunately, an abundance of your state is We can lead our fellow Americans
Howard Lewis Russell, James Russell, successors have perpetuated oppression right on into a better quality of life. This means
Terri Schlichenmeyer, Leslie McMurray, Mathew Shaw, on the people of this state. par with a not only can we speak up and spear-
Brandi Amara Skyy, Mark Stokes, Jef Tingley, Casey Williams Now, however, for the first time in a beacon of head progress as never before, but it also
Photographers: Chuck Marcelo, Cassie Quinn
Intern: John McClanahan
quarter of a century, Texans are ready to liberalism. means we are obliged to do so.
fight. We’re ready to elect people like Jes- We Here is Texas, we have had to deal
advertising sica Cisneros to unseat a Democrat with cannot with our classmates and relatives terror-
Chad Mantooth Advertising Director 131 █
Nicholas Gonzalez Advertising Account Rep. 115 █
an A rating from the NRA. We’re, also, ea- discount izing us, calling us “fags” and worse and
Stephen Mobley MarketPlace Sales 123 █ ger to banish John Cornyn from the U.S. how close always having to deal with bigotry and
National Advertising Representative Senate. the 2018 ridicule. We’ve seen Texans of color be-
Rivendell Media Inc. 908-232-2021 As liberal as Sam Houston was for his was. Democrats at the top of the ballot ing murdered in mass shootings, includ-
art time, it wasn’t enough to keep our mar-
ginalized communities protected. Slow-
lost by about 1.25 million votes in 2012
and 2014, then in a sharp change, to only
ing a 17-month-old Texan being shot in
the face in El Paso, an innocent little girl
Kevin Thomas Art Director 119 █
Shawn Weston Graphic Designer 132 █ ly, I believe, the teachers and leaders of 807,000 in 2016. Then O’Rourke lost by struck by tragedy before she could even
multimedia our communities will embolden us to be
more forward-thinking and open-mind-
only about 215,000 votes in 2018!
Using figures from the Secretary of
understand her own consciousness —
thanks to Texas’ incredibly absurd gun
Stephen Mobley Social Media Director █
123
Brian Kennedy Video Producer ed. For right now, though, our fight is State website, there are about 452,000 laws.
Israel Luna Video Producer/DVtv host electoral, and it’s getting very interesting newly-registered voters since then. If If we as a “conservative stronghold”
Brad Pritchett DVtv Host here in the Lone Star State. even half of these voters disapprove of can show that we abandon tradition and
Brandi Amara Skyy DVtv Host
Regina Lyn
So interesting, in fact, the state is as- President Trump — which, based on na- prejudice for an honest investment into
cending into battleground territory at a tional polling they do — we are sprinting the well-being of fellow Americans and
circulation coups d’etat level. toward the reality of flipping Texas blue. their future, we can shepherd United
Linda Depriter Circulation Director 120 █
This is important for Texans, because To those distressed about the “Bernie States policy for decades to come. No
founders it gives us a sense of voice that, up un- or Bust-ers,” let’s use the national aver- longer will we be written off as bozos or
Robert Moore Don Ritz
█
til recently, we have not felt we had. age of 12 percent of Sanders primary vot- dismissed as uneducated, something we,
affiliations/memberships Everyone just categorizes Texas as a ers who voted for Trump. That’s 57,000 the righteous Democrats of Texas, have
Associated Press - Associate Member red state without even considering the here in Texas — a measly amount com- never been. We have, in fact, been the
National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association work Democrats are doing in local or- pared to the number of newly-registered opposite, standing up for what’s right
Certified LGBT Business Enterprise
Founding Member - North Texas GLBT Chamber
ganizations and governments. Doing so voters here. in the face of a barbarous conservative
Founding Member - National LGBT Media Association marginalizes left-wing voices and, with We are the second-largest state in the culture.
them, the voices of women, POC and country and so control the second-larg- And we are not done; we never will be.
LGBTQ+ individuals. est amount of delegates. I won’t even There is still so much work to do — be-
When people say Dallas, some people begin to try and comment on the traves- fore November and beyond. I urge you
think conservative white people with ty that is the Electoral College, because to do what you can to get involved; talk
big, feathered hair. When I was growing the reality is, we’ll have to deal with it to loved ones and be the transformation.
up in New Jersey in the early 2000s, we in 2020. We will just have to bust out It is not in vain.
thought of Dallas as an Old West town, enough votes to make it bend to our will. We don’t just want to win; we want
© 2019 Voice Publishing Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
Reprint rights are available only by written consent of the
with people riding around on horses. Because Texas has been such a deeply to dominate! The fact is, voters in Texas
publisher or managing editor. (Yes, in 2004 kids in Jersey really did red state, the 2016 election felt like a loss have swiftly swung left, and the margin
Dallas Voice is published every Friday. Additional copies
may be purchased for $1 each, payable in advance at think everyone rode horses in Texas, and for most of us before it even happened. of victory for Republicans has shriveled
the Dallas Voice office. Dallas Voice may be distributed
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What you don’t think of is the fact that alone could be the electoral elixir this year. in 2018. Victory is more than achievable,
each Dallas Voice weekly issue. when reviewing voter turnout for Texas We could have done it in 2016, if we but we need you to be able to succeed.
Subscriptions via First Class Mail are available: Three
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Texas turnout increased by 18 percent jority Clinton, she would have received Joey Casiano is a local artist/author work-
Paid advertising copy represents the claim(s) of the and California turnout by 18.8 percent. exactly the 270 Electoral College votes ing on his first novel. He serves on the Stone-
advertiser. Bring inappropriate claims to the attention
of the publisher. Dallas Voice reserves the right to enforce This means we had the sixth-highest needed to win. This is not something to wall Democrats of Dallas executive board
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01.31.20 █ dallasvoice 13LIFE+STYLE
community
Leather
unbound
Dave Carranza, left, and Markus serve Dallas’ leather community from the Main Street shop.
After 15 years, vine. But say the term “leather commu- continue diversifying the shop’s wares Masters from their garage in San Jose,
nity,” and you conjure something spe- while keeping customer favorites. But Calif. During the late ’80s and ’90s,
Leather Masters evolves cific: People who immerse themselves more so than selling products for style Carranza was deep into the lifestyle and
with the culture it has served in a taboo world (popularized in recent and pleasure, Markus wants to use frequented California’s few shops where
years by the popularity of Fifty Shades of Leather Masters to educate the public leathermen could shop for a variety of
JOHN CARDER MCCLANAHAN | Grey). For much of the gay community, about BDSM safety and eradicate nega- their apparel.
Contributing Writer of course, this has been common knowl- tive social stigma tied to the lifestyle. “We would go into Mr. S and some
John.Mcclanahan91@gmail.com edge. And in North Texas, one reason “Right now, we are in the full other stores and say, ‘Oh, I can make
has been Leather Masters. process of doing a full makeover of that,’ and ‘I can do that much cheaper,’”
I
n a backroom workshop on a stretch For almost 15 years here, founder Leather Masters, a rejuvenation of it,” he says. “I was a stockbroker at the
of Main Street in Deep Ellum, Mi- Dave Carranza sold wares geared for says Markus. “We teach people about time, and I didn’t want to wear a suit
chael Watts fastens shiny steel studs locals involved in leather subculture, consent and how to follow protocols to and tie to work. I said, ‘Hey, let’s go into
to a cane. A seamstress sits at a sewing which often includes elements of BDSM. make sure you’re not offending some- business.’ And then we bought a sewing
machine and holds a black codpiece Leather Masters has housed a galaxy of one. Not just consent between you and machine.”
in place under a needle while another pansexual leatherwear — vests, cuffs, your partner, but also consent for those Carranza operated the business
employee weaves threads through a collars, masks, codpieces and various people that are around you. And we operations, including selling items at
piece of rawhide. The products they sex toys, and will continue to do so. But want to teach people how to do things community events, while his partner’s
fashion might raise some eyebrows, but later this spring, Carranza will retire, safely to make sure no one’s getting sister sewed the products. Local leather-
for those in love with the culture, they and the store will change ownership hurt. If you don’t know what you’re do- men loved the goods, and eventually a
are gateways to nirvana. and move its location. ing, someone could get really hurt. But friend provided space for the shop in an
Many think of leather as an instru- After the ink dries on the paperwork, where do you go for education?” upstairs room of a nightclub.
ment for looking fabulously macho, Carranza will hand the leash to Markus In 1989, Carranza and his partner at They catered the business primarily
while others just consider it dead bo- (he uses a mononym), who plans to the time kickstarted the first Leather toward gay men, and after some success
14 dallasvoice.com █ 01.31.20and landing a permanent spot in San But as tides changed, the establishment
Stay
Classy
Jose, Carranza expanded locations to became more socially accepted, with
a storefront in Allentown, Penn., and more people becoming open to explor-
inside San Antonio’s Eagle bar. But ing leather culture.
wherever he opened a Leather Masters “We’re in what I classify as the ‘grey’
Dallas!
locale, opposition usually sprouted. era, since Fifty Shades of Grey came out
“I was in [Allentown] for about four- and became more public,” Markus says.
and-a-half years [before] I got flak from “It opened up a whole new perspective
the city and building,” Carranza says. to a lot of people that were interested in
“I said, ‘OK, if you don’t want me here, kinky things and either weren’t aware
I’ll leave.’ At that time Leather by Boots of it or didn’t know how to express it or
[a leather shop in Dallas] contacted me didn’t know what to call it. So we have
about buying them out. And since I was a lot of new people coming into this.”
going to be closing the store in Allen- Leather Masters sponsors a nonprofit
town and then the same time in San dedicated to providing correct informa-
Antonio, I decided to move those two tion for people interested in the lifestyle.
stores into Dallas.” Markus says they teach everything from
In 2005, he opened North Texas’ first the basics to advanced practices both for
Leather Masters. About six years ago, newcomers and seasoned enthusiasts,
Carranza met Markus, who sold custom holding workshops with guest present-
toys and engravings at community ers in-store and at community events
events, and asked him to join his team. away as far as Jamaica and Budapest.
Markus, a leather craftsman, appren- But wherever they teach, the masters
ticed under a saddle-maker in his want to stress the importance of proper
youth, and when he grew older, used communication for those engaging in
his skills to craft floggers and paddles leather-play or BDSM.
for personal use. “When you’re going to play, wheth-
When Carranza opened the Dallas er it’s with a flogger or a set of cuffs,
location, some people opposed having
a store geared toward BDSM around. █
UNBOUND Page 20
Do something fun and different for your sweetie this Valentine’s Day.
May the best hides win Schedule a chocolate making class for you and your special someone!
It’s probable that over the years, Leather Masters has supplied all or part of the ensemble From chocolate tasting experiences to hands-on chocolate making classes, we have
that has won a few contestants the title or Mr. Texas Leather. We don’t know whether this what you need to get immersed in the world of chocolate. Schedule your own private
year’s winner will be so bedecked, but someone will take the title soon. class or with a group of friends or colleagues.
On Saturday, Dallas’ leather community will assemble to celebrate leather. And once again,
leather-lovers have another opportunity to witness the crowning of Mr. and Ms. Texas Leather
at Dallas Eagle. Contestants will snap on and zip up their favorite leatherwear to show off in
Chocolate Classes • Weddings
front of a panel of judges, after having conducted private interviews and shown their fundrais-
ing skills at this unique pageant. And the contest might be the perfect place to meet the men
Corporate Gifts • Liquid Nitrogen Parties
and women who champion North Texas’ leather and BDSM culture.
– John Carder McClanahan
Chocolate Tasting Parties
Dallas Eagle, 5740 Maple Ave. Feb. 1.
Yelibelly.com • hello@yelibelly.com
01.31.20 █ dallasvoice 15LIFE+STYLE
A Boi’s
life
stage
World premiere play ‘Andi Boi’
tackles trans teen issues for a
youth audience
ARNOLD WAYNE JONES | Executive Editor
jones@dallasvoice.com
A
ndi has been home-schooled
since fifth grade, but now that
he’s entering high school, he
wants a more traditional educational
experience — he craves a locker and
lunchroom talk and mostly a tribe of
friends: Not a huge hurdle for most
kids, but the decision is ripe with ten-
sion and apprehension for Andi and his
mom because Andi is transgender and
has never had to “pass” before. So the
concept of being outed — as gay and
trans — is terrifying for parent and child
alike.
That’s the
ANDI BOI
premise of
Rosewood Center
for Family Arts, 5938 Skillman St. Andi Boi,
Feb. 7–16. DCT.org. a world
premiere
play by Dallas playwright and director Zander Pryor, center, plays a trans kid in the world premiere play for teens ‘Andi Boi.’ (Photo courtesy Karen Almond)
Bruce Coleman. And while its just a
one-act with a brief two-weekend run has acted, directed, written, designed ence. Throughout the process, the play younger kids,” Pryor says. Coleman
(beginning on Feb. 7), its journey has and served in just about every function evolved. teen-i-fied it. And the play used to end
been a long, challenging and ultimately imaginable in theater — to write the “I had a [trans] friend who said it with the adults solving problems for the
gratifying one for all involved — not play. At first, the commission intimidat- needed to be darker — it needed to be kids, Flatt notes, but “now it’s Andi who
just Coleman, but actor Zander Pryor ed him a little. worse for Andi,” Coleman says. Ulti- speaks up at the end.” (“That was so
and producer Robyn Flatt. “Not being a trans person myself, I re- mately, he and Flatt agreed that wasn’t easy to do!” adds Coleman.)
The germ of the play dates back more ally needed to start with people I know the play they wanted. When it came to casting the produc-
than two years. Starting about a de- [who are],” Coleman says. He reached “I wanted to make it about kindness tion, Coleman and Flatt both wanted
cade ago, Flatt — founder and artistic out for help to Zander Pryor, himself a and understanding, and especially I an actual trans teen and Pryor seemed
director of the Dallas Children’s Theater trans-masculine teenager with a theater did not want to make it dark and stay to be the ideal choice — although, as
— commissioned a piece for DCT, The background. (“I have basically grown in the dark. We don’t shy away [from Coleman stresses, “this is not Zander’s
Secret Lives of Girls, to address the con- up here [at DCT],” Pryor says.) Coleman the serious issues], but there’s a lot of story,” despite some surface similarities.
cern of teen bullying. The production sent a questionnaire to Pryor and his humor. Humor allows the audience to “How is Andi like me?” Pryor pon-
was a hit (DCT revived it just last year), mom Wendy to help make himself com- step into a room they are familiar with ders. “Definitely the nerdiness. And we
and it has gone on to be performed fortable with the issues and terminology [and engage more with the topic]. We are both close to our moms. But when I
around the country. Knowing she was — about 25 topics he wanted their input also wanted to keep away from vilify- started transitioning, going stealth was
open to current concepts that speak to on. “Using those answers, I started for- ing religion. We want [all audiences] an absurd possibility, though I initially
minors, Flatt’s executive assistant, Coy mulating a play,” Coleman says. to approach the play [without feeling wanted to be stealth. I am definitely
Covington, made a suggestion for a new Coleman finished a draft and presented attacked].” more on the Caitlyn Jenner side [of
play: One about transgender youth. it as part of a small festival being hosted Part of the challenge was to write in trans] than the Gwen Araujo side. The
“At first I was like ‘Whoa!’” Flatt by DCT. He thought that would probably the contemporary vernacular of teens hardest part has been [me] rationalizing
says. “But it fit in with what we have be the end of the project. But everyone “without it sounding creepy,” Coleman some of the decisions Andi makes.”
always been doing, which is telling knew they had something more. jokes. He works with many young peo- But Pryor has taken ownership of
stories about the world as seen from the “We eventually did five develop- ple and had a sense for how teens talk, the work alongside Coleman — it’s the
perspective of a young person.” mental readings,” Flatt says — an but Pryor actually assisted in refining first time in his career he’s been on the
Covington recommended Coleman — unusually large number for a new work, some of the dialogue. ground floor of the creative process of
an experienced theater professional who especially one aimed at a youth audi- “Initially it felt like it was written for █
LIFE Page 20
16 dallasvoice.com █ 01.31.20You can also read
