June 10th - THE COWGAYS take over country music, Pride Grand Marshal D’Trique Fitzgerald, and Zoie Tannous of CLUE!

THE COWGAYS are a viral sensation this Pride season! They are a country trio comprised of music artists Brooke Eden, Chris Housman, and Adam Mac, and they take on '90s Country and bend it to a queer-friendly format. Lee Ingalls and Brett Cullum get to interview them! Then, Trendsetter Grand Marshal 2025 Hayden Cohen talks to the Trendsetter Grand Marshal 2026 D’Trique Fitzgerald! Finally, Brett Cullum talks to CLUE star Zoie Tannous about coming to the Hobby Center and hitting up Jollibee! 

THE COWGAYS:  

https://www.thecowgays.com/

CLUE: 

https://houston.broadway.com/shows/clue

JOLLIBEE: 

https://www.jollibeefoods.com/

Queer Voices airs in Houston Texas on 90.1FM KPFT and is heard as a podcast here.  Queer Voices hopes to entertain as well as illuminate LGBTQ issues in Houston and beyond.  Check out our socials at:

https://www.facebook.com/QueerVoicesKPFT/ and
https://www.instagram.com/queervoices90.1kpft/

Transcript

Pride Kickoff And What’s Ahead

SPEAKER_05 0:02

This is KPFT 90.1 FM Houston, 89.5 FM Galveston, 91.9 FM Huntsville, and worldwide on the internet at KPFT.org.

Brett 0:22

You're listening to Queer Voices, a radio show and a podcast that has been an outlet for the LGBTQIA Plus community since the 70s. So the rain postponed our big parade this year, but we here at Queer Voices are carrying on the Pride celebration all June long. Hey, it's our month after all, and we're just starting this party. First up on this episode, author R. Lee Ingalls and I get to interview a viral sensation, the country supergroup, The Cow Gays. They are releasing singles just in time for Pride, so we chat with them and play their song, Wish I Wasn't Gay. Then we let the Queer Youth take over as last year's Pride Trendsetter Grand Marshal Hayden Cohen talks to this year's winner, Dietrich Fitzgerald. Finally, I speak with Zoe Tannis about Clue, which is playing at the Hobby Center through the 14th. I hope you enjoy Queer Voices and consider making a donation in our name at KPFT.org. To keep us on the air, we reach up to 150 people every week. Not bad for some LGBTQIA plus volunteers with a laptop and a microphone. We're starting Queer Voices right now.

Meet The Cowgays And Their Origin

Lee 1:34

This is Lee Ingalls and Brent Cullum. And today we're talking about a group which has gone viral lately, just in time for Pride, which is the Cow Gays. They are a country trio made up of three queer solo artists who came together to reclaim country music for the LGBTQIA Plus community with songs like Wish I Wasn't Gay and Good Ho Down.

Brett 1:55

Brooke Eaton, Chris Halsman, and Adam Mack are knocking down barriers one barn door at a time. Now I'm gonna I'm gonna come clean. Lee discovered these guys first on social media, and I quickly became a fan after he told me about it. And the cow gays are actually with us here today. So welcome Adam Brooke Chris to our little get together, our hoe down.

SPEAKER_11 2:17

Thanks for having me. Today it's a hoe down.

Lee 2:20

Yes. Well now first thing is where did you get the name and what are the cow gays?

SPEAKER_02 2:25

Yeah, well, it actually started out as our group text. So our group text is the three of us, our two managers and my wife, and we're all gay. So uh we were like, oh, we'll be the cow, can't be the cow boys, can't be the cowgirls, but we all are cow gays.

SPEAKER_08 2:41

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 2:42

So that was the name of our group chat, and then once we realized that um whoa, we might need to start a band, we just took that name straight from the group chat and we said, we are the cow gays.

Brett 2:53

Right it out of the group chat. Love it, love it. Now, you all I from what I understand, each of you had solo careers before this. So, how did you decide that you wanted to come together like as a trio to do this?

SPEAKER_12 3:05

Yeah, well, honestly, it started after some margaritas in Mexico. We were down there a couple years ago celebrating Brooke's birthday as well as New Year's, ringing in the New Year's with a group of 12 of like close friends. We were already kind of best friends. And after some margaritas and a day out on catamaran, we found ourselves singing an old country song, When Will I Be Loved, in the hallway of the Airbnb. Then we started harmonizing. It sounded really good, and our friends kind of congregated, and then we were like jokingly like, wait, did we just start a family band?

SPEAKER_11 3:39

Are we a family band? Wait, why did that sound so good? And then literally, that is kind of what sparked it all. We got back home, and then we were like, Okay, but for real, maybe we should write some songs. And it was it was really when we started writing songs together that we realized this was a lot bigger than just singing in a stairwell in Mexico.

SPEAKER_02 4:00

And we actually realized, like, oh, this isn't a joke.

SPEAKER_11 4:03

Yeah, this is for real.

SPEAKER_02 4:06

Like, this is gotta be for real because songs are good.

SPEAKER_11 4:09

Yeah, seriously.

SPEAKER_02 4:10

Yeah, but what is cool too is that we all still do have our solo projects. Um Chris is dropping his album this year, and Adam has an extended album that he's also putting out, and then I have music coming out as well. So we're all doing all the things.

Lee 4:27

Very tired.

SPEAKER_02 4:28

We work a lot, but it it makes it all so fun to get to do it with your best friends.

Brett 4:34

Let me ask you guys where where are you based out of? Where's home? Nash Vegas. Okay, so Nash Vegas.

SPEAKER_12 4:39

All right, yeah, we're originally from Adams from Kentucky originally, Brooke's from Florida, and I'm from Kansas originally, but we've all been in town 12 plus years.

Lee 4:49

Wow. Yeah, so uh I what is your mission and what do you hope to get from Cow

Reclaiming 90s Country With Camp

Lee 4:55

Gay's? Mission?

SPEAKER_11 4:56

I mean, I think really when we set out to do this, we really just wanted to write country songs that we had wished we had heard growing up. I think that a lot of queer people grew up, especially queer people in the south, grew up listening to country music, especially like 90s country music and the nostalgia that comes with 90s country. And then somewhere along the way, the genre didn't feel safe for queer people anymore, and a lot of people migrated away from it. And what we found in our solo careers, and specifically with the Cowgays, is that there's such a large audience of people who love and adore country music but never had their stories told in country music before. And that's kind of really what our mission is is to kind of rewrite our own stories into country music.

Lee 5:52

And good for you. And that's one of the things I liked when I first saw your first video. I saw the Keep a Ho Down first, but then uh I saw uh Yes, Wish I Wasn't Gay Second, and that was on my gym playlist, and I always play that just to keep me motivated. But the imagery that's in there and the fact that we're you know we're reclaiming our space in areas that we have been led to believe we don't belong, I think is important. So thank you for doing that. Uh you hit two bullets with that one or two items with that one.

Brett 6:19

Well, and you know what's funny is I was actually a country DJ in the nineties on a radio show. Oh yes, so I am very familiar with nineties uh country pop. And I remember like they would not it was nobody talked about being gay. I mean Ty Herndon kept it a secret. Um Reba McIntyre did a song about AIDS and didn't even say the word AIDS. I mean and she changed it to a woman and a man, and I mean it was just it was very kind of taboo. So I mean I'm really glad to see you kind of taking back that nineties country pop. But is that I mean what do you like about that specific part of the time? I mean, I know that that was huge for country, but are you leaning more do you just like the pop influence of it? Or I used to joke it was always the eagles.

SPEAKER_02 7:04

Yeah, I mean, for us the storytelling, the harmonies, it's just you know, it's the first music we really heard. You know what I mean? We were little, little, little when you know, Shania and Garth and the Chicks and Trisha Yearwood and you know, so many of our influences were blaring on our radios. And so we all grew up. I mean, I don't know about y'all, but for me, we only listen to country music in our in our house and the Spice Girls, but that's a whole different story.

SPEAKER_11 7:31

Yeah, you know, we're and we love we're we're a sucker for a fiddle and a fiddle and a steel guitar, honestly. So aesthetically, like sonically, we wanted it to sound like the music we grew up on. And then aesthetically, we we just love to lean into how campy the 90s were, like all the bold patterns and denim, and just how like kind of queer it already was. Like if you look back at 90s cut like country fashion and even before then, like 60s and 70s, uh country and western fashion, it was all bold and over the top and rhinestoned down. It was gay as hell. So we're just kind of like reclaiming that and amping it up. Yeah, I can say hello wherever we are.

SPEAKER_12 8:23

Yeah, the 90s, especially for country music, was so campy. Yeah.

SPEAKER_11 8:27

And so you know Earl had to die, like really the stories. Like, we love a story song, a song that tells a story with a little like tongue-in-cheek, kind of silly playfulness. That's kind of the sweet spot for the Cowgays,

Coming Out In The Country Industry

SPEAKER_11 8:41

too.

Brett 8:41

Well, how do you feel in the industry? Were you ever advised not to come out? I mean, and I know in the 90s they were really told not to. Talk to her.

SPEAKER_02 8:49

Oh, yeah. Uh I was signed in 2014 and I met my wife, my now wife on my very first day of radio tour, she was actually my radio rep. So, you know, so scandalous. And when the industry found out about us, they were like, if you want to keep your career in country music, you have to zip it about your relationship. And so we did that for five years, and it was so hard because, you know, I think that as a queer person, you grow up your whole life not understanding love because you're dating someone of the opposite sex and it's just not making sense. And then, you know, I meet this like wonderful person and just am so in love, and I'm not allowed to speak about it. And I'm writing love songs about her, but I'm not allowed to say they're they're about her. And then, you know, country music, it's all about the songwriting, and they want to know who the song is about.

SPEAKER_08 9:39

Right.

SPEAKER_02 9:39

And I have to lie and act like I have some boyfriend or some like, you know, man on the side or something, and it just felt so incongruent with who I was as a human being. I felt like I, you know, when I was on the road, I had to be one person, and then when I got home, I got to decompress and actually be myself. And um I ended up getting like really I had a lot of like mental health issues um because I was, you know, trying to be two people at one time, and it was just it was it was not it, y'all. It was not it.

SPEAKER_11 10:09

So don't recommend it.

SPEAKER_02 10:12

Exactly. So um, we ended up coming out in 2021 and then right after that got engaged and now um and married, and now my wife and I have a 19-month-old son, and you know, things really opened up, I think, after the pandemic. I think that kind of all the BS that used to be the music industry were like, oh, like we're all still alive, maybe we should just like live our lives.

SPEAKER_11 10:36

Yeah, I think it was I think because we were already out, but I think just like when I hear your story uh and the timing of it all and being 2021. I think even for Chris and I, post-pandemic, it kind of gave all of us in separate ways this kind of like we were kind of like over trying to hide who we were. Like, even Chris and I were writing songs that were gender neutral pronouns and not trying to write like he, him, love songs. And like post-pandemic, we kind of also hit a wall of like, what is all this for? Like, yeah, literally, we just almost the whole world almost ended, and here we are pretending to be something that we're not, we're not doing that anymore. And I think all of us in separate ways experienced that and kind of probably led us to sitting right here together being a band called the freaking cow gays.

SPEAKER_02 11:27

Yes. No more keeping secrets.

SPEAKER_11 11:30

Yeah, yeah. Well well speaking of no more keeping secrets, what are you gonna do for pride?

Pride Plans And New Music Drop

SPEAKER_11 11:35

Oh my gosh. Well well, we have uh I mean we kind of have shows all June long. We're doing like pop-up things here and there. We're performing with Sasha Colby this weekend, which we're really excited about. We've got yes, yes, mother.

SPEAKER_02 11:51

Just with uh Lisa Edwards on June 1st at the House of Blues in Dallas, actually.

SPEAKER_11 11:55

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 11:55

Um Yeah, love her. We were at CMA Fest today, performed there. Then we're also doing uh an event for I'm playing Indie Pride and Capitol Pride in Iowa. And then we're also doing the ACM, the Academy of Country Music, they're doing a Pride Night in Nashville as well that we're playing. And so yeah, we have we have a lot of of Pride stuff going on, and it's kind of wild because we are literally three months old.

SPEAKER_11 12:24

Yeah, yeah. It's been a whirlwind of of a few months.

Brett 12:28

So three months and you released two songs. Is there an album coming out?

SPEAKER_11 12:31

One comes out tonight, another song comes out tonight at midnight. Yes. It's called Kids Like Us. To me, it's like our most personal song. Like it's wrapped in an upbeat 90s vibe, so it doesn't feel like a like, oh, this is a sad heart string pull tugging song, but it really is like all of our stories in kind of like a you belong type of song. Perfect for for Pride Month.

SPEAKER_08 13:01

Yes.

Brett 13:02

Yeah. Well, I sure hope that the country world is shifting. I mean, I I really we've been big fans of like Orbal Peck and seeing him kind of take the country stuff in and Shania even gave him a little bit of a lift up or something, you know. Totally. So hopefully we can get Shania to come out with the cow gaze and gaze.

SPEAKER_11 13:22

We've actually been our manifestation has been the chicks because they just announced a tour. And so we're like, what better than a queer trio to join the ultimate trio of all time and go on tour together? That's our that's our current manifestation. So help us out. Help us out, put that out into the universe.

Brett 13:40

All right. We totally will. I I'll I'll circulate it to a couple of people. I think I still have some connections.

SPEAKER_02 13:46

Yes, highway to heaven, baby.

Lee 13:49

Yes, exactly. Well, do you have anything else that you want to ask about that? So, of the songs you've released so far, do you have a favorite?

SPEAKER_11 13:56

Okay, well, I think we can all agree that our favorite is yet to come. Okay. Not too far off, but the the the next single after the one tonight, I think is kind of unanimously our favorite. But I will say, Good Hoe Down was the first song that we wrote where we realized this is the sound, this is the direction we want to go in, this is the brand, the world of the Cowgays. Good Hoe Down. Just when we wrote that, it kind of felt like we all looked at each other and were like, this, this is it. This is the thing that we've been searching for. So that one holds a special place in my heart. Totally, totally.

SPEAKER_02 14:36

But what I love so much about our music thus far is that everything has really had a place. You know, like everything has told a different part of our story, and you know, it we wouldn't be the Cowgays without each of the songs.

Lee 14:49

Totally.

SPEAKER_02 14:50

So I love all the different sides of our personality that you get to see with each of them.

Lee 14:54

Yeah, yeah. And I will say from a personal perspective, I find it very comfortable and familiar, but at the same time, it has a layer of newness that uh we haven't seen before. So that's exciting. Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_11 15:06

That's such a great compliment. That's that's all we want.

Brett 15:09

Yeah, yeah, no, it's amazing. I I really just keep drape blazing this trail for sure. Adam Book Chris, thank you so much. Thank you for the music. Thank you for visiting with us. We will get the word out as much as we possibly can. Yeah, yes, of course.

Lee 15:25

Take care.

Trendsetter Grand Marshal Introduction

SPEAKER_07 18:49

Uh hi everyone, my name's uh Dietrich Fitzgerald. I go by she, her pronouns, and I'm this year's um Pride Houston Transetter Grand Marshal.

SPEAKER_01 19:00

For a little context, the transsetter grand marshal is meant for people who are younger in the community doing good things. So if you want to start us off, Dietrich, like uh tell us about you, the good stuff you've been up to.

SPEAKER_07 19:11

So I'm a rising senior at Rice University. I'm studying political science. I'm double majoring in political science and the studies of women, gender, and sexuality. Like outside of class, I'm very passionate about LGBT plus rights. I'm the external president slash the co-president of Rice Pride, Rice University's LGBT plus undergraduate group. And in this role, I've been extremely passionate about making sure that people have accessibility, access to gender-affirming products, and trying my best to get people access to gender-affirming care under this extremely tough time that we're in, like for trans youth. And I've also been extremely passionate about making sure that people are knowledgeable and get access to mental health care and just mental health in general. And I'm also 21, uh not 21, 22. And I'm from uh Columbus, Texas. It's a very small town on I-10.

SPEAKER_01 20:16

The trend center is kind of in a grand marshal role, I believe. Uh fun fact, the person who held it before me was one of my best friends, mentors, slash boss. So it's kind of been a really cool lineage to see where this trend center grandmars award goes. But I wanted to ask, you're from Columbus, which is a very small town. You came to Houston for college. How has the comparison and transition been as like a member of the LGBTQ community coming from a smaller town to somewhere like Houston?

From Small Town To Finding Community

SPEAKER_01 20:45

When did you come out in that process? And what's that been like with the change of community and support?

SPEAKER_07 20:50

So the change has been quite honestly staggering. When I was in um growing up in Columbus, I wasn't really allowed to explore my sexuality or my gender identity. So for the longest time, I just didn't question it. And my environment encouraged that and wanted me to be in a heteronormative role. But as I transitioned into high school, I started questioning what's my gender identity, what's my sexual identity. And that was when I started actualizing and realizing that I had that I was more non-binary. And at the time I believed that I was homosexual, but because of my environment, I I wasn't really able to like tell people about my gender identity or my sexual identity. So I just kept it to myself and explored advocacy and different dimensions, especially in mental health. And then graduating high school and coming to college, I being away from home and away from my family, that's when I was like, okay, I'm not gonna hide myself. Anymore. I'm going to come out. I didn't like officially come out in the sense of saying, hey everyone, I'm this, this, this, and this. I just immediately during my orientation, I was like, hey, where's the gay group? Where's the LGBT plus group? Where are my people at? It took a lot longer than I would have liked to find my community at Rice, just because privacy and safety at the time, like, it was a lot more secretive. Who was a part of the executive board of Rice Pride at the time? My first exposure to the LGBT plus community at Rice was one random night. I got a message like in our group chat that was like, well, the queer resource center is open. I was just walking around campus and I ran to the student center and I got to really experience queerness at Rice and get connected with Rice Pride and with that greater like Houston LGBT plus community. Because after that, I got extremely involved with Pride and I started getting more involved with the Houston community. I've been getting great mentorship and amazing insight from the normal anomaly. I've been able to get funding from um Bunnies in the Bayou for a project that I'm working on, includes getting people more access to gender-affirming products, makeup, trans trans tape, clothing, wigs, all the social transitioning that someone would need and a travel subsidy as well. And I've also been getting more in contact with the Macho Center. And I've been close with Equality Texas, and they've also been extremely monumental in my learning about the LGBT plus community in Texas as a whole and how I can be more active both politically and socially.

SPEAKER_01 23:58

That's really awesome. And I will shout out the CEO of Equal Texas, is actually one of the other grand marshals, which I'm really excited about. I know you're really passionate about ensuring we've researched the queer community and our needs to better improve policy and communication. Um, you're at Rice, where they're currently doing a love survey, their Kinder Institute. What else could we be doing more? It's a good survey, and I'm really glad they're doing it, but it's also a narrow scope. If you haven't done it yet, you should, because it closes the end of the month. But it what what should we be talking about?

Research Gaps In Queer Health Equity

SPEAKER_07 24:27

I think having more research on HIV prevention and also like treatment, because there's so much more that we could be doing in terms of treatment and prevention and the transgender community and non non-binary and gender non-conforming communities, like and especially intersex, there is not enough research being done on intersex people. Going to the LGBT plus community summit earlier this year, one person that spoke up that was that's a leader in the in an intersex organization talked about how they didn't get a lot of funding for initiatives for the intersex community because LGBT plus organizations weren't sure how to approach or fund them. That's incredibly unacceptable. Getting more research and insight on different communities and shining a light and having those conversations about people and communities that are typically marginalized brings more tolerance to those communities and lessens the hostility towards them, especially now when the trans community is being attacked every day and with the recent tragedies happening and the cuts to basically everything that used to be funded for the LGBT plus community.

SPEAKER_01 25:48

It took till January 2025 for us to ever have a comprehensive study on health equity for intersex people. We've never done that before, and HHS actually did it. It was one of the last things that was done before the new administration that was released. And it set the tone for how healthcare clinics should be operated. Everyone should read it. It's it's 34 pages long, but a really incredible piece of information done because we were funding research. And I'm hoping that will come out of the love survey for Houston. But you're right, we need to get more specific. There are also people not covered by the love survey, right? We're young people. I started, I came out when I was 14. Activism started before I could vote, before I could be included in something like the love survey. And so I know there's a lot of work to be done. This translator reward is very unique because it is specifically for young people. And mind you, I'm not saying all the tr all the grand marshals are old, but some of them off sometimes are older. We actually had post-humorous grand marshals this year because there were some incredible people that passed away this past year and they need to be honored. But we're in a very unique position as a young person in these conversations and invited into the circle. Um and so it's really unique to be interviewing you as a previous grand trendsetter, grand marshal. It's becoming a this legacy of young people making noise in the community, which is awesome.

Avoiding Burnout And Protecting Joy

SPEAKER_01 27:07

So, can I ask what advice would you give to future trendsetters?

SPEAKER_07 27:10

I would definitely say advice that I would give to future trendsetters is pace yourself and also to prioritize your mental health as your mental and physical health as well. You will absolutely have a lot of really big, amazing ideas and projects that you want to pursue. I've had a lot of fun projects that I've wanted to do, but I had to put them on the back burner because I needed to prioritize myself and my mental health and my physical health. It's really important to be balanced in both mind and body before tackling LGBT plus advocacy because it can be so discouraging at times. And it's also really good to have a good support system as well, having multiple mentors if you need them to really help you accelerate the impact that you're making on the community and also have fun sometimes as well.

SPEAKER_01 28:07

It definitely is this balanced. I know that there are gonna be young people that listen to this podcast or that maybe read your piece in El Smart that see you in the frame and they're like, oh my god, I need to do more so that I can be just like you. Please don't. Everyone's going at their own pace. There's a lot of work to be shared, to be delegated, so that you yourself don't get totally burnt out. This is a marathon. It is not a sprint. It's hard to see the finished letter. You mentioned having fun, and I want to talk about that because that is a massive part that we tend to have a hard time tapping into. There's a lot of difficult work, and there are many, many days that a lot of us stare at screens on a computer to talk about the worst of the worst legislation. We face the worst possible politicians, and we're dealing with some uh people's saddest stories. So I wanted to ask how how do you find joy in this? How do you have fun? What do you suggest for others that might be going through um kind of this onslaught of horrible news?

SPEAKER_07 29:03

When I have a hard day, I don't turn off my phone, but I turn off my notifications and I go for a walk, do some breathing exercises, just disconnect and connect back into nature. I also try to read. I love reading. There was this one book. It was These Witches Don't Burn. I read the book and I didn't expect it to have any LGBT plus scenes in it, but it did. And there were lesbians in it, non-binary trans people in it. It's just amazing. And also hang out with my friends to distract myself from like what's going on because there are times that like I get so dead set on trying to meet my goals and trying to advance some of my projects that I forget to take care of myself and have some softer moments and take a breath and allow myself to rest before tackling the work again.

SPEAKER_01 29:59

Those are definitely great ways to make sure you own okay through all this work. Support systems are a massive part of this. Um I will emphasize the joy in having fun within the community. I know we fight so hard for the car community and some really horrible people, but also enjoy it. Go to some fun drag shows, check out Pearl Bar's new location. I took my dog to a drag show on Halloween and we had a great time. He wears his rainbow bandana everywhere. We gotta be in community and we gotta have fun and we gotta disconnect sometimes because you will be mentally harmed. Find a good therapist if you can, okay? Some shout outs to Montreal Center and Legacy. We got Pride, which is a massive celebration, but after that, what does the work look like going further?

What’s Next And Community Shout Outs

SPEAKER_01 30:40

What are your plans this year and after school? Because you're junior, so you're gonna graduate soon. What what does your position as a grand marshal feel like holding and how how do we move forward and continue?

SPEAKER_07 30:52

That's such a loaded question.

SPEAKER_01 30:53

Sorry, there were like multiple questions in there to take apart that.

SPEAKER_07 30:57

For the rest of the year, I'm definitely gonna be prioritizing more, like making sure that people, especially college-age students, people from the age of 18 to 25, like have acts, like get access to at least social transitioning products and like also like really trying to increase people's access to therapy, especially like with the therapists that they're comfortable with. So LGBT plus therapists or therapists that are specialized in LGBT plus patients. And I'm trying to make sure that we do have time to celebration. So I'm in October, I'm I'm gonna be um hosting with Rice Pride National Coming Out Day, and also like at the end of October, like on Halloween, which I love, we're gonna have our Rocky Horror Picture Show event, which is gonna be our fifth anniversary of it. Um Halloween is a very clear holiday for those who don't right, but like it's gonna be really special because people can come dressed up as things. Last year I dressed up as a Grinch for it and I passed out toilet paper to participants and then like have other events like that, like just to decompress and like allow people to experience joy in the community. And then like next year after I graduate, I'm planning on going to graduate school and pursuing a a master's in in social work and then hopefully a PhD in social work, but I'm not sure if I'm gonna go for a PhD or not.

SPEAKER_01 32:36

I always do need more trans and queer social workers. Um, and we were joking on this earlier, but for those who think social work is just CPS workers taking away kids, it is a whole lot of water. So my favorite legislators either are social workers or have social workers in their office. They're a big part of putting together the bigger picture of here are people's actual issues. Here's how we can solve them. Very exciting stuff. Uh, is there anything else that wasn't covered today that you want to talk about, brag about? Anything else?

SPEAKER_07 33:05

I do want to make some shout-outs. So I want to shout out my mentor, Alison Bow. She's the assistant dean of students and deputy town nine coordinator at Rice University. She has been so amazing since I started or matriculated into college. She's an amazing LGBT plus advocate, and she loves talking to people in the community. So do. And I also want to shout out um Brandon Mack because he was a really, really big help last year, like um inspiring me and like guiding me to to pursue my projects and also like um helped me apply for some grants to uh like accomplish these projects. So thank you so much, Brandon Mack. And um I also want to shout out the LGBT plus political carcass, they're amazing. I love the work that that you've done in the political carcass and that y'all have been doing this year that's been so amazing. Um and I also want to shout out the Normal Anomaly and Bunnies on the Bayou. They're both amazing um organizations that do so much for the Houston community and they've done they've helped me grow so much during my time here in Houston.

SPEAKER_01 34:29

Those are some incredible people and organizations. Hopefully, some of them will be at Pride this year. And thank you for D-trick for coming on here and for our listeners. Transitor is a very special award. So I'm very excited that it is going to you this year, and I can't wait to see who gets it next year. It's gonna be fun, and you'll be part of the committee that gets to decide that. It's a really cool like continuation model.

SPEAKER_07 34:52

Yeah, and thank you so much for having me on.

Why Listener Support Keeps KPFT Alive

Deborah 35:01

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Clue Comes To Houston With Zoe Tannis

Brett 35:56

Hi there, this is Brett Cullum, and today I am joined by Zoe Tannis. She is starring in Clue, which is coming to the Hobby Center June 9th through the 14th. Now, Zoe plays Yvette or The Maid, and if you don't know the show, which I can't believe anybody wouldn't, but it's about six mysterious guests who assemble at Body Manor for a night that they're never gonna forget. You have a murder, of course, and you have to ask, was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with a knife, or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with a wrench? It is a show that it was based on the 1985 Paramount Pictures movie, but it's also, of course, inspired by the classic Hasbro board game Clue. So now the 1985 movie, it had Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Eileen Brennan, Leslie M. Warren, Michael McKean, Christopher Lloyd, Martin Mole. So, Zoe, how hard is it to come into this role and kind of escape from them?

SPEAKER_03 36:52

You know, I think it made it a lot of fun to create in the room with everybody. Colleen Camp does such a wonderful job with Yvette. And I think that she was definitely like a large inspiration and especially a guide for me as I was auditioning. But when we got in the room, we really were taught by our director, Casey Hushin, that this is a team sport. So what we're doing on stage, we're feeding off of each other's energy. What are we each bringing to the characters as ourselves and also as maybe what we want to bring in from inspiration from the movie? And so, I mean, I think it's been a really nice like balance between juggling how much do we want to play homage to these people who created these roles before us and who are so iconic. I mean, I grew up quoting Madeleine Khan constantly. And so there's a there's a game that we play of like, are we paying homage without copying? There's no level of imitation. And I think that's what's really fun about these characters. We're we're feeding off of each other every single night. So creating them in the room, we had our inspiration and then it just became this could be really funny. This would be really cool. I think our characters don't like each other. All right, how can we feed into that? And so there are these subtleties that you can watch, especially if you're paying attention to our eyes, and that makes it really fun and dynamic.

Brett 38:09

Well, you know, murder mysteries, they're just so much fun, period. I mean, whether it's clue or not. I mean, the Agatha Christie stuff, it's like everybody's dream to be in a show where, you know, you're a murder suspect and you're being grilled and they're trying to find it out and all of that.

Why Clue Still Has A Cult

Brett 38:22

So, but what do you think it is about clue that people just love? I mean, it really has a cult, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_03 38:27

It has a cult following, and I was one of them. So I I feel like I can speak to why people love Clue in general. There is a perfect, again, balance between, you know, subtle nuances, maybe for older ages, while still being simple enough to understand as a kid. And you, you, it's a family-friendly film board game play. And I think what makes people love it is there are memories surrounding Clue. I mean, I don't think I've met many people who have come to the show who haven't played the board game as a kid. Even since being in Clue, I'll be watching things like I was watching Housewives the other day, and Lisa literally starts quoting Clue. And there is something to latch on to, you know, like that every single character is very different. And there's sophistication, I think, within this murder mystery that makes it fun. There's also a kind of buoyance to this murder mystery because it's meant to be laughed at. We're not taking anything too seriously. So I think that balance between sophistication and buoyancy really makes it lovable. It makes people want to laugh. And then, of course, the connection to childhood that it brings for so many, including myself, makes it a really enjoyable watch.

Brett 39:45

Did you play the board game growing up?

SPEAKER_03 39:47

I did. I did. And my character is not in the board game. So I know.

Brett 39:50

The servants aren't, are they?

SPEAKER_03 39:52

No, they're not. I mean, I think there's been so many new renditions of the board game now. But the one that I grew up with was like the classic one with the green cards, and my brother always played Mr. Green, I always played Miss Scarlet, my dad was Colonel Mustard, and I could never say the word Colonel. And my mom was usually Mrs. White, and every so often we'd play around. But even my cousin, when she came to see the show, she started cracking me up because she was like, When you told me that this is what you booked, me being not from theater, I was so happy for you because I remember you and Zach always, Zach's my brother. She goes, You two always brought out clue from your like game closet in your garage. And what we never told you as kids is none of the rest of us liked it, but you two loved it so much that we always played. And I just started cracking up because I was like, How can you not like clue? And she was like, You two like figuring things out. Like that wasn't, you know, our thing. Like we would rather do, you know, other board games. But I think that's another part of the fun, is as an audience member, you're figuring it out with them. And I know that's what always liked, what always made me like the board game and the movie and now the play.

Pride Month Theater And Inclusive Casting

Brett 41:04

You know, it's funny. You guys are coming in June, which is Pride Month for us. And I have a RuPaul's drag race edition of Clue, where it's drag queens that kill each other and in the workroom and they have to solve it and everything. It's just it's so funny. So this thing just has a life of its own. I mean, spinning out from the 40s until now, it's just crazy.

SPEAKER_03 41:23

But you know what? I think it's so important to also mention it's been awesome in all of our talkbacks, in all of, you know, anytime I'm stage touring, there's so many schools that have also done clue. And what I'm loving is I will have people from any gender playing any kind of role. And there was this person who was male identifying outside, and he goes, I just want to tell you I got to do my first drag in this show. And we said, What? And I think we were in Indianapolis, and he goes, I got to play Mrs. Peacock. Do you want to see my costume? And we were like, of course.

SPEAKER_08 41:59

Of course.

SPEAKER_03 42:00

It just, it like, it's just been brilliant. And then we have all these like, you know, young people who are like, Well, I played Mr. Green and I really wanted to play Mr. Green, but I wasn't sure I'd be able to because I've, you know, I'm female presenting, and we're like, no, no, like these characters are accessible to all of you. And it's so cool that it's like, it's usually people in middle school or high school, and it's the roles are they're so inherently human. It just it doesn't matter who plays what role. And it it's just been it's been awesome. That's been one of my favorite parts of stage during is meeting the kids who've gotten to play this and who've gotten to have those experiences.

Brett 42:35

So no kidding.

SPEAKER_03 42:36

It's been awesome. Yeah.

Brett 42:38

But now this is a tour,

Tour Life And Houston Food Plans

Brett 42:39

obviously. How long have you been on this clue tour?

SPEAKER_03 42:43

So we left in October of last year. We started out in Rochester and we have been on the road since. So, how many months does that make that?

SPEAKER_08 42:53

I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 42:53

Honestly, I try not to count. I know, like, I I feel like for me, a big survival thing on tour is just knowing what happens the next couple days, maybe the next week, and that's that. Otherwise, I get a little overwhelmed with like how many places we're going. But we've been on the road since October, and it has been I mean, it's a dream come true. It's been awesome. I love touring.

Brett 43:17

How long is this tour?

SPEAKER_03 43:18

So this leg or this this portion will end in August and then we'll pick up again in LA. Yeah.

Brett 43:25

Wow. So have you ever been to Houston before?

SPEAKER_03 43:28

I have not. Actually, like my first time in Texas has been this tour. It's been awesome. I'm really looking forward to Houston. I have heard such great things about the food there. I have heard such great things about the people. So I'm I'm so looking forward to it.

Brett 43:42

We are a food city. That is one of the big things about Houston. It's very challenging to maintain a perfect weight in Houston. But what's your favorite kind of food?

SPEAKER_03 43:51

Well, my favorite kind of food, I think it varies on the day. I'd say that I'm very into like Thai food, Japanese food, and then like Mexican food. I'm I'm Filipino. I love Filipino food, but I have to try foods everywhere. Yes, yes.

Brett 44:07

We have Jolly Bees here in Houston. So there you are. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 44:11

I will be getting Jolly Bee. I have to. I just love their spaghetti and they're like awesome.

Brett 44:20

Spaghetti and chicken.

SPEAKER_03 44:21

Yes, mango pie.

unknown 44:22

Oh.

Brett 44:23

Oh, and just as a side note, there is around the Jolly Bees, if you go to the one in the medical center, they've built up all of these different bakeries and restaurants and stuff, and it's all Filipino. It's kind of like a whole Filipino section of town. Really? Yeah. And the bakeries are off the chain good. I mean, they're amazing. It's the medical center.

SPEAKER_03 44:44

Center. Okay.

Brett 44:45

Yeah. But it's it's very close to where you guys are going to be performing. But and it's actually the area town that I work in. So I again I am tempted by Dolly Bees all the time.

SPEAKER_03 44:55

Yes. Yes. Oh my gosh, that is so exciting. Yes. Wonderful. Yeah. I've I've been so looking forward to Houston. I think getting to be there, especially like in Pride Month. Like we've been looking forward to Pride Month on this tour for a while. We've got a couple at some theaters we get to do wall tags. So we've been saving our rainbow colors for that. And it's just it's going to be a lot of fun.

Brett 45:15

I think there is a Pride Night for this, but I'll have to check and make sure. But one of the things I noticed is your last name, Tannis. There's an actor here in Houston called Christian Tannis. And he's like super popular. He's like amazing. Yeah. I just wondered if you you've no relation, obviously.

SPEAKER_03 45:33

I'm so excited to hear about this. This is the second actor Tannis I've been told about in the last two weeks. So I have to figure this out. I need to meet everyone.

Brett 45:40

Well, I know. You guys need to have like a big reunion or everyone that shares this name. He's amazing. Yes. He's really great.

Zoe’s Acting Path And First Tour

Brett 45:47

So let's let's ask you, Zoe, how did you get into acting?

SPEAKER_03 45:51

I got into acting really early. I I went to a small school. I I kind of started in choir first. So I came in with like a singing lens. As a kid, I used to tell people I wanted to be Mariah Carey. So I loved singing. But then I think over time my parents were like, I think that she just really likes like the the dramaticism, like the persona. And so my school put on like small plays, nothing that would be like from the Broadway lexicon. It was usually something related to like, you know, one of our subjects in school. And I would do that. And I found that to be really fun. And then I think when I got really into it, like that was when I was just having fun with it. I knew I liked singing, I liked acting. But then I switched schools in seventh to eighth grade. And I just found that like I needed solace. I needed a community, like a place to feel a little safer, because that's a really scary time to switch schools. So I asked my parents if I could do or like community theater nearby. And I did. I got to do Thither on the Roof, leading by Bertie. And I just like I got bit by the bug so hard, especially once I was in an environment where it was like there's actual costumes. There is a backstage and lighting and all that kind of stuff. And I just found the community to just be so accepting and positive. And I I leaned right into it. So I kept going. And then in college, I tried to step away from it actually. I thought, you know what, it might be my time. I'm gonna go do psychology. And I think I was away from it for maybe one month before finally I was like, what am I doing? Like I really already miss it. I feel like this is my calling. So I added it back into my curriculum and I'm so happy I did. So it's it's really been like since childhood. It started as just play. And then I think I I kept figuring out I needed it in my life and kept going. So it's been really cool to see it pan out.

Brett 47:44

It's so great to make it as an artist.

SPEAKER_03 47:46

Yeah.

Brett 47:47

And is this your first tour or no?

SPEAKER_03 47:49

It's my first tour. It's it's uh been a dream. Like I remember this was I I had been auditioning for a really long time. I think I had spent like five years just in the city after I had moved to New York, thinking that like more and more would happen to bring it. It was a really slow climb as it can be. And I had never really sent my auditions to my parents or anything, but this one I was like, this is really funny. I'm gonna send it to them. I think that like it would help them to know I'm still like, you know, doing this and they can see some of my stuff. And so I sent it to them and they were like, we think this is the one. And I was like, Of course he thinks they're my parents, you know, like you're my parents, you're gonna think everyone's the one. And it was, and it was just like, I remember the feeling of getting to call everyone and tell them I actually did it, and the feeling of like, whoa, I don't have to do my desk job anymore. And you know, like all of those like small milestones that you look forward to as an actor that you tell yourself you're gonna be able to get to, but it's really nothing other than like pure delusion and belief in yourself that it'll happen. And so the fact that it has, and it's with this awesome show with a wonderful group of people, with a show that honestly just brings joy everywhere. Like I would be remiss to not mention like clue leaves you laughing. It leaves you, your face is gonna hurt, your belly is going to be sore, and you are gonna, whoever you connected with, whether it's a stranger in the audience that day and you went alone or you brought your family and your friends, like it is a show that breeds connection because there's nothing you can do but laugh. And it's such a wonderful opportunity to be in a show like that that brings that kind of happiness and can connection.

Comedy As Escape And Real Connection

Brett 49:33

It's a great thing to bring around during this era, I think. Yes. Because if if you want anything right now, I think I hear people saying, I want to go to the theater and escape, you know. I don't want to see anything heavy. I don't want to see anything where I'm like crying at the end or whatever.

SPEAKER_08 49:47

Yeah.

Brett 49:48

And don't get me wrong, I am all on board for a good drama. But definitely. Oh, yeah. There is definitely something about Clue that is just fun and it's always been that way. And it's so funny because so many actors, like we have a resident acting company here in Houston that they perform at the Alley Theater. And one of their lead people in the company, Michelle Elaine, she started on a tour of Clue. So there you are.

SPEAKER_03 50:12

Oh, that is so crazy. Oh, I'd love to meet some of the things. I mean, yes, yes, that is so awesome. I love a strong community of theater. It's just, I mean, especially in this time, like you're mentioning, like we need as much that brings people together that can help us find our commonalities. And I think that joy is the biggest way to do that. And theater just does that for people. And clue, I think, especially is it is an escape, but also it's this like high intensity, you know, I mean, it's murder, it's it's a murder mystery. And so you kind of get to lean into both sides of like fear and joy, and when those two things kind of combust together into the ridiculousness that it can be in certain moments. It feels like such a release. And I like I remember even at the table read, just hearing some of the lines that Sandy Rustin has written into this script for the first time out loud through the lens of my fellow actors. I was like, I think I've hit a pot of gold. Like, I think that this is something that's gonna be really good. And I'm gonna pat ourselves on the back here and you know, give our writer and director all of the credit. It has not let down. I mean, like everywhere we go, there are people who have mentioned to us like this evening is exactly what I needed with the time that my life has been. And like, thank you for bringing me this escape. So it's been honestly, it's it's been an honor. Yeah.

Brett 51:39

Yeah. Well, do you have a favorite role besides Yvette that you've done so far?

SPEAKER_03 51:43

Oh, bit that I've done. Okay.

Brett 51:45

Yes, that you've done.

SPEAKER_03 51:46

Um I think the favorite role I've had was Cinderella in Into the Woods. I got to do it in college, and I just love Sondheim, and it's another show with a really positive message. Hits you really deep. And I had done it my last year there. It was the last thing I got to do before COVID. And if I could go back and do that show again, I would. I I eventually want to have played like every single role in that show. But getting to do that was a really big achievement for me. I think being in a Sonheim show in the first place like teaches you so much musically and as an actor, because he's a very actor-versed writer in his music, even. And that role also was just so much fun because you see how smart she really is. And I love playing roles like that, where maybe there's like a coming-of-age moment. People look at her like she might be naive, and really there's a lot of power and depth to this character. So that's what I'd love to do again.

Brett 52:44

Well, that says a lot about you, Zoe, because definitely Sondheim is a thinking person's composer, I think. And I any show that I've ever seen or done of his, it just always challenges you in a really unique way. And you're right, the acting in it. He I had a voice teacher once that taught me you have to act the song. Like if you're on the stage, it's not like when you're doing karaoke or when you're just singing like to be pretty or whatever. It's like you have to find that emotion and where that's coming from. And he writes such complex emotions, so you can have a song that goes three or four different ways. And it's just it's really interesting. So exactly. Do you have any idea of what's next for you, or are you just kind of like winging through clue until and then then we'll get to the next thing?

Staying Present And What’s Next

SPEAKER_03 53:30

I think, I think I'm trying really hard to stay very present. It's it's really easy as an actor to call to constantly be thinking, maybe not even just as an actor in life, constantly wondering what's next, what's next, what's next. And for me, I think especially having spent like the five years waiting for something to happen, it's really important for me to try and recognize like what I have in front of me right now and what special moment in life this is. And, you know, like some of these people who I'm with, and I mean, I'm spending every waking moment with the same people constantly. And some of these people don't live near me at all. So when this is all over, I won't get to be with them. And I've formed really strong bonds with the people who I'm with. So I'm trying really hard to be very present. I'm still, you know, doing what I'm I can to be active in the audition scene, of course, just to keep myself afloat and going, keep that skill sharp. But ultimately, I mean anytime my brain's going on what's next, I try to like remind myself of like exactly what I have now and the things I'm grateful for about this moment. So something exciting, that's what's next, less acting-wise. But within this tour is we have a golden day coming up, which basically means it's a day where we don't travel and we don't do a show. And our company management, yeah, I know, right? Kind of rare to have those on a tour like ours. And our company management is so cool, and they're taking us to Niagara Falls. And I have never been to Niagara Falls, and I've always wanted to go, and we're gonna get to see both the US side and the Canada side, and that's happening in the next few weeks, and that's something I've really been looking forward to that keeps me in the present about this particular moment in my life on the larger screen scheme. But like I I I'm kind of like itching for that day to come. I'm really looking forward to that.

Brett 55:16

Yeah, no, of course. But of course, you are coming to the hobby center June 9th through the 14th. So Zoe Tannist. You can shout out to her on the backdoor stage. She's the one that plays Yvette the Maid. So there you go. And what a joy. It'll be awesome to see you do it. I can't wait. I will be there on press night or whatever, just applauding as loud as I can. So there you go.

SPEAKER_03 55:35

Yes, I'll be looking for you in the audience. I'll give you a one cosplaying event.

Brett 55:41

Okay. This is a big joke.

SPEAKER_03 55:42

I hope you are. Oh my goodness. I love when people come in their costumes. It's one of the parts of the yeah. People come in costumes, people come in like full groups, all decked out. And it is, it's just so fun. It is a it is a great time. And I love when they're at the stage door, especially, and they're like, Can I take a photo with you? I'm like, oh my gosh, it came for my character. Like, I did her justice for you. And they're like, You did. And it's just like, again, that's the connection that theater brings. It's awesome.

Brett 56:10

Well, it's funny. One of the last shows I saw at the Hobby Center was six.

SPEAKER_03 56:14

In this dream, dream dream.

Brett 56:15

Yes. And all these women came dressed as the six.

unknown 56:20

Yes.

Brett 56:20

And I mean, they weren't just, they weren't just like historical cosplaying. They were doing the actual Broadway costumes.

SPEAKER_03 56:26

I was just like with the high pony and everything. Yes. I was like, you girl.

Lee 56:31

Where did you get this?

SPEAKER_03 56:33

I know. That's where you you really see people's creativity and talents come out because you're like, where did you source this? And be like, oh, I found this at TJ Maxx and this at the dollar store, and I sued, I sewed this too.

Brett 56:43

Girls passed out. There was replacements all throughout the audience. So it was no problem. So there you go. That's so awesome. Oh gosh. Well, we will see you in clue.

SPEAKER_03 56:52

So awesome. Thank you, Brett. See you soon.

SPEAKER_05 57:02

This has been Queer Voices, heard on KPFT Houston and as a podcast available from several podcasting sources. Check our webpage queervoices.org for more information.

Ghost of Glenn 57:18

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