Stress and Our Relationship with Our Bodies

By Bryan Garcia (he/him/his) How have you been feeling lately? When was the last time you checked in with yourself to ask how you were doing both emotionally and physically? What did you notice? Perhaps a yearning for something in particular? With Austin being back in Stage 5, this might be the perfect time to consider taking inventory of your …

Música Conmovedora / Moving Music

Por/By Magaly Arredondo Lopez (she/her/ella) Este blog está en español e inglés. This blog is in Spanish and English. ¿Cuál fue la primera canción de la cual te enamoraste? Cuando eras joven, ¿las personas que te criaron compartían música contigo? ¿Otros miembros de la familia compartieron música contigo? ¿Y tus amiga/o/xs? Tengo claros recuerdos de escuchar Shakira y Selena con …

Rebuilding and Reframing a Queer World

By Soups (they/she) As a queer person I’ve known I was different as soon as I realized there was a way to be the same. I learned early on that my difference wasn’t going to be celebrated, encouraged, or even accepted. In order to survive I had to assimilate. When my friends started openly discussing their attraction to boys in …

Some Thoughts on Community Care

By Bryan Garcia (he/him/his) We have all heard about self-care and its importance at one point or another in our lives. It is typically regarded as a wonderful and necessary tool that everyone can consider incorporating in their lives in some shape or form. There are many different ways that it can look since no one person’s needs are exactly …

Orgullo Gay: Para Nosotrxs Por Nosotrxs / Pride: For Us By Us

Por/By Magaly Arredondo Lopez (she/her/ella) Este blog está en español e inglés. This blog is in Spanish and English. ¿Qué significa el Orgullo Gay para nosotros y qué nos parece como gente de color queer? ¿Es el orgullo algo presente que no cambia dentro de nosotros o está evolucionando, creciendo y cambiando con nosotros? Agosto es cuando se lleva a …

Pride: No One Way to Celebrate

By Bryan Garcia (he/him/his) Austin Pride is upon us. As queer people of color communities, we clearly belong at the table but are rarely welcomed into the room. Over the decades, Pride has been co-opted and become a corporate, white, commercial, cis event. The rainbow-colored police vehicles don’t help make the event more of a comfortable experience either. And while …

Honrando Nuestra Salud Mental / Honoring Our Mental Health

Por/By Magaly Arredondo Lopez (she/her/ella) Este blog está en español e inglés. This blog is in Spanish and English. Julio es el Mes Nacional de Concienciación sobre la Salud Mental de las Minorías de Bebe Moore Campbell. En 2008, este mes se creó para aumentar el entendimiento pública sobre cómo la salud mental, los recursos de salud mental y más …

“Are You Coming Out?”

By Bryan Garcia (he/him/his) People are gathering. Places are opening back up. Things are moving and folx are resuming many of the activities that they did before the pandemic. Now what? What’s next? This reality has people feeling several different ways, including anxious and/or excited. We all have questions – that’s good. How are you feeling and how has this …

THE PRACTICE OF PLEASURE for QUEER BIPOC’S

By Shay Youngblood Pleasure is an experience that feels good to you. Many activities can give us pleasure: eating, seeing art or a beautiful sunrise, listening to music, dancing, gardening, reading a good book, making love. Pleasure is associated with happiness and feelings of contentment and well-being. We all want that. Can I get a witness? Some of what gives …