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A pickleball meet-cute, a whirlwind romance, and a deeply emotional Houston wedding story. I loved writing about Shane Hutsen and Michael Beard for @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social.

#OutSmartMagazine #LGBTQ #QueerLove #Houston #WeddingGuide
May 22, 2026 at 2:17 PM
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#InternationalWomensDay #WomenEmpowerment #LGBTQAdvocacy #TonysPlace #OutSmartMagazine
March 8, 2025 at 2:47 PM
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#LoveAndEquality #HistoricMoments #OutSmartMagazine #Houston #Baytown #WomensHistoryMonth #LesbianHistory #LGBTQHistory
March 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM
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A true #HoustonLoveStory! Ben Chavez & Walker G. Chancey found love in #Houston. Discover their journey from connection to commitment in my latest #WeddingGuide for #OutSmartMagazine.
#LGBTQLove #HoustonCouples
A Magic Carpet Romance
Discover the enchanting love story of Ben and Walker, who met under the stars and found love in Houston.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
November 12, 2024 at 1:43 PM
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Explore #TheKennedy in my @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social article. Gay proprietor Andres Q. Castro & lesbian head chef Adriana Maldonado, both of #Latine descent, lead & are an example of intersectional representation in #Houston.
#TheKennedyHouston #LGBTQLeadership #LatinePride #OutSmartMagazine
The Kennedy Brings East Coast Elegance to Houston Nightlife Scene
The Kennedy, Houston's newest supper club and piano bar, offers a luxurious dining and entertainment experience.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
April 4, 2025 at 3:14 PM
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Houston’s #CleoRoastingCo. & #CavoCoffee are redefining queer spaces through community, craft, and caffeine. Read my @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social feature about the 2025 #GayestAndGreatest winners here: www.outsmartmagazine.com/2025/10/cleo...
#OutSmartMagazine #LGBTQIA #Houston #CoffeeCulture
Cleo Roasting and Cavo Coffee Brew Community with Every Cup
Cleo Roasting Co. and sister café Cavo Coffee are OutSmart’s 2025 favorites, celebrated for queer visibility, women-led sourcing, and brewing Houston community alongside every cup.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:56 PM
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From volleyball teammates to husbands.

I spoke with Nick Mostaccero & Brian Tighe for
@outsmartmagazine.bsky.social's June 2026 Wedding Guide about their pandemic-era romance, Crater Lake proposal & unforgettable Colorado wedding.

#OutSmartMagazine #LGBTQWeddings #Houston #LoveWins
June 10, 2026 at 3:43 PM
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Donald and Julius Simon-LaCour went from a Bourbon Pub meet-cute to a full-on #Houston fairytale with Dolce tuxedos, a royal wedding cake, and plans for fatherhood. Read their story in @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social:
www.outsmartmagazine.com/2025/05/dona...
#OutSmartMagazine #LGBTQWeddings
From Instagram to "I Do": Donald Simon and Julius LaCour Tie the Knot
What began as an awkward Southern Decadence encounter bloomed into a love story complete with designer tuxedos, a 5-foot cake, and a fairytale wedding. Houston's Donald Simon and Julius LaCour share t...
www.outsmartmagazine.com
June 25, 2025 at 2:58 PM
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Read the full @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social feature here: www.outsmartmagazine.com/2026/05/mich...

#OutSmartMagazine #LGBTQ #QueerLove #Houston #WeddingGuide
A Love That Wouldn’t Wait
Michael Beard and Shane Hutsen’s Houston love story, sparked at pickleball, led to a deeply personal wedding shaped by resilience, family, and a life-threatening health crisis.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
May 22, 2026 at 2:17 PM
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Honoring the voices of forgotten women, #PlayhouseCreatures brings a powerful story to Texas! Check out my #OutSmartMagazine feature!
#Houston
www.outsmartmagazine.com/2024/11/play...
Texas Premiere of Playhouse Creatures Explores Struggles of First Women on Stage
Houston hosts the Texas premiere of "Playhouse Creatures," exploring women in 17th-century English theater.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
November 8, 2024 at 2:43 PM
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I interviewed Galveston changemaker Lindsey White of @uwgalv.bsky.social for @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social about visibility, advocacy, and inclusive leadership.
Read: www.outsmartmagazine.com/2025/07/lind...
#LGBTQLeadership #Galveston #OutSmartMagazine #RepresentationMatters #Leadership
Lindsey White Leads with Love at United Way of Galveston
From disaster recovery to Born Learning Trails, Lindsey White’s work with United Way of Galveston is rooted in love—for her wife, her island, and the community she proudly serves.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
July 11, 2025 at 12:30 PM
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Discover the enchanting tale of Paris London and Jorge Serrano in my recent @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social article. Their fairytale wedding in #Houston is a beautiful reminder of love's unexpected paths.
#FairytaleRomance #HoustonLove #OutSmartMagazine
Paris London and Jorge Serrano Celebrate Fairytale Houston Wedding
Discover the touching love story of Paris London and Jorge Serrano, who met on Grindr and tied the knot in a regal courthouse ceremony.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
April 5, 2025 at 2:35 PM
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I wrote about #RecRoomArts’ production of #AngelsInAmerica for @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social. This is only the 2nd professional staging in Houston’s history & the directors speak powerfully about queerness, change & resilience.
#AngelsInAmerica #HoustonTheatre #OutSmartMagazine #LGBTQIA #QueerArt
Angels in America Soars Again at Houston’s Rec Room
For the first time in over 30 years, Houston audiences will see Angels in America professionally staged—an ambitious Rec Room production led by co-directors Matt Hune and Sophia Watt.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:03 PM
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Honored & inspired to have chatted with Donald James Simon III, founder of #KINGUnderwear, after his brand took home a #GayestAndGreatest Award from #OutSmartMagazine! Donald's vision celebrates #authenticity, #empowerment & #inclusivity in every thread.
#LGBTQIA #PrideFashion #CommunityAndStyle
King Underwear Takes the Crown
Founder Donald Simon III created King Underwear to promote inclusivity and representation for all body types.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
November 9, 2024 at 3:04 PM
declarke85.bsky.social
Read the full @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social feature at www.outsmartmagazine.com/2026/07/chri...
#OutSmartMagazine #Galveston #LGBTQ #Texas #Journalism
Galveston’s LGBTQ Community Builds Support Beyond the Beach
For much of the Houston area, Galveston is synonymous with sunny beach days, Mardi Gras celebrations, hurricane updates, or a stroll through Dickens on The Strand each December. But beyond the ...
www.outsmartmagazine.com
July 14, 2026 at 3:09 PM
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-UPDTAED-
I'm honored that @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social's coverage of #Houston rainbow crosswalks won the 2026 @nlgjaofficial.bsky.social Excellence in Journalism Award for Excellence in Packaging.
Read: www.outsmartmagazine.com/2025/11/hous...
#NLGJA #LGBTQJournalism #OutSmartMagazine
June 21, 2026 at 8:25 PM
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I'm honored that @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social's coverage of the #Houston rainbow crosswalks won the 2026 @nlgjaofficial.bsky.social Excellence in Journalism Award for Excellence in Packaging, Print or Online.
Read: www.outsmartmagazine.com/2025/11/hous...
#NLGJA #LGBTQJournalism #OutSmartMagazine
June 19, 2026 at 5:16 PM
declarke85.bsky.social
Another @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social feature is live!
I spoke with Mariah Martinez about Hungry Like the Wolf’s new era as a trans-owned #Houston business creating community through food, drag, nightlife &nostalgia.
#OutSmartMagazine #LGBTQ #TransVisibility #QueerBusiness
Houston’s Hungry Like the Wolf Keeps ’80s Spirit Alive
Mariah Martinez is redefining Houston’s Hungry Like the Wolf, expanding drag programming, nightlife, and community space while honoring the diner’s ’80s roots and LGBTQ legacy.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
May 15, 2026 at 2:19 PM
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My feature for @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social featuring Carlos Hernandez of KHOU 11 & @nlgjahtx.bsky.social is live. We spoke about #journalism, #LGBTQ+ visibility in media, and building community for queer journalists in #Houston.
This marks my 5th #OutSmartMagazine cover story of 2026!
Carlos Hernandez Builds LGBTQ Visibility in Houston News
KHOU’s Carlos Hernandez is shaping LGBTQ visibility in Houston through storytelling and leadership, using his platform and role with NLGJA to amplify community voices and foster connection.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
May 11, 2026 at 3:58 PM
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For #WomensHistoryMonth, I’m proud to share my @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social profile on Maggie Segrich, founder of Sesh Coworking.

She’s building an inclusive, community-driven space in #Houston that actively supports #LGBTQIA+ professionals, women & entrepreneurs.

#Allyship #OutSmartMagazine
Maggie Segrich Builds LGBTQ-Inclusive Coworking Hub in Houston
When Maggie Segrich couldn’t find a welcoming coworking space in Houston, she built one. Today Sesh Coworking serves as an inclusive hub for LGBTQ professionals and entrepreneurs.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
March 19, 2026 at 2:07 PM
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Magazine Design & Layout by @thealexrosa.bsky.social.
Social Media Graphics by me.
#DisabilityAdvocacy #OutSmartMagazine #Houston
March 17, 2026 at 2:20 PM
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New for @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social’s January Wedding Guide:
Kynderick & Evan share a love story centered on growth, intention & chosen family, from a private Las Vegas ceremony to a joy-filled Houston reception.
#OutSmartMagazine #LGBTQWeddings #QueerLove #WeddingGuide #HoustonWeddings
Choosing Each Other, Again and Again
Kynderick Chapel-Fontenot and Evan Fontenot’s relationship reflects patience and purpose, from a college meeting to a private Las Vegas wedding and a joyful Houston reception.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:09 PM
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I'm honored to share my feature about @jujufaragher.bsky.social for @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social is the Jan. #CoverStory. This #HealthAndWellness piece centers Juju + explores yoga, rest, embodiment & collective care as pathways toward queer wellness.

#OutSmartMagazine #LGBTQWellness #QueerMedia
JuJu Faragher Finds Healing in Practice, Not Perfection
For JuJu Faragher, wellness is a lived, imperfect practice. Through yoga, storytelling, and community work, he centers rest, affirmation, and collective care for LGBTQ people.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:38 PM
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After Montrose’s rainbow crosswalks were removed, LGBTQIA+ youth at #Tony'sPlace responded with color, care, and community.
My @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social article explores what it means to create visibility in private spaces.
#OutSmartMagazine #HoustonLGBTQ #PrideProjects #CommunityVisibility
Painting Pride at Tony’s Place
After Montrose’s rainbow crosswalks were removed, LGBTQ youth at Tony’s Place proposed a new Pride walkway. The community-painted ramp and railings now mark the center as a visible safe space.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:03 PM
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Drag isn’t banned in Texas, but that hasn’t stopped confusion, fear & political targeting from shaping the reality on the ground.
For @outsmartmagazine.bsky.social, I unpack SB 12’s legal status & center drag performers navigating this moment.
#DragIsArt #LGBTQIA #Texas #Journalism #OutSmartMagazine
Texas Drag Performers Refuse to Be Silenced
Texas’ SB 12 does not ban drag outright, but critics say its sweeping, unclear definitions could fuel harassment and suppress lawful performances as enforcement approaches.
www.outsmartmagazine.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:13 PM