February 18th 2021 Queer Voices

LGBT candidate for Justice of the Peace-- Time Magazine Kid of the Year finalist/trans advocate -- Pride Houston update

First, we speak with Steven Duble and his candidacy for Justice of the Peace(JP). Steven currently shares a home with his husband and their two adorable rescue dogs in Precinct 1. He's lived his entire life in Houston, where he raised three incredible children. If elected, Steven would be the first openly gay JP in Harris County history. He is an experienced litigator who has spent over thirty years advocating for plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of cases. He has been both a tenant and a landlord, and has represented both individual tenants and landlords in Harris County JP and county courts. Most importantly, he is deeply embedded in Houston’s progressive community through his work to advance social justice and Democratic values. Early voting is currently ongoing with Election Day March 1st.

Guest: Steven Duble, candidate
https://www.steveduble.com

Then, we speak with Kai Shappley. Kai Shappley, a transgender fourth grader who testified in front of the Texas Senate on April 12, has begun receiving death threats for her testimony, her mother, Kimberly Shappley, said. The child testified in front of the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs regarding SB 1646, a bill that would redefine child abuse to include "consenting to or assisting in the administering or supplying of, a puberty suppression prescription drug or cross-sex hormone to a child."
The bill would criminalize parents, guardians, medical workers and pharmacists who help trans children obtain medically approved treatments for either physically transitioning into their self-identified gender or delaying puberty.

Guest: Kai Shappley, trans activist
https://time.com/6128490/kid-of-the-year-kai-shappley-trans-activist/


Finally, we catch up with Pride Houston and speak to co-presidents, Thasia Madison and Kendra “Kay”  Walker. We discuss plans for 2022 and a return to normalcy.  Pride Houston’s mission is to support, educate and promote the LGBTQIA+ community in order to commemorate our history and advocate our rights for current and future generations by producing Pride events that represent our diverse community. Pride’s vision is to Inspire pride and change for the future while acting as a central resource of engagement dedicated to providing an environment of service, value, diversity and equity to all members of the LGBTQIA+ community year round.

Guests: Thasia Madison and Kendra “Kay” Walker, co-presidents Pride Houston
https://pridehouston.org