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Texas organization channels grief into hiking trips, community healing

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www.kxan.com – Kelsey Thompson – 2025-02-08 07:00:00

SUMMARY: Roland “Bones” Jimenez, a Texas man, founded “Come and Hike It” to help others process grief through outdoor hiking experiences, stemming from his personal losses, including his brother and parents. After discovering the healing effects of nature on his mental health, he created the organization to connect those suffering from loss. Participants enjoy hiking trips that facilitate reflection and community support, such as the “Hike to Honor” program, which dedicates hikes to loved ones. The organization is seeking nonprofit status and plans to expand into more states, encouraging others to join the healing journey through nature.

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News from the South - Texas News Feed

Country singer’s teeth fall out on stage

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www.youtube.com – FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth – 2025-06-25 09:37:03

SUMMARY: Country singer LeAnn Rimes shared a surprising moment when her teeth fell out on stage during a performance. She quickly ran offstage, popped her dental bridge back in, and resumed singing without missing a beat. LeAnn explained that her dental work sometimes causes her teeth to pop out during certain sounds, but she handled it like a pro. Meanwhile, Morgan Wallen, topping the Billboard charts, donated \$3 from every ticket sold to his foundation, providing musical instruments to schools in Houston. Also, the annual Wipe Out Kids Cancer run is upcoming, supporting children’s cancer families with community events and live music.

A popular country singer took to social media about an embarrassing moment on stage… 99.5 The Wolf’s Tara Ward discusses this and more trending topics on Good Day.

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Citing safety concerns, Starbase restricts access to public streets

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www.kxan.com – Dave Hendricks – 2025-06-25 12:34:00

SUMMARY: The city of Starbase, Texas, approved SpaceX’s request to install gates at four intersections, citing safety concerns and aiming to limit visitor access to enhance security and community control. Despite a process requiring permits and notifications, SpaceX had already begun construction before full review. Residents and property owners raised legal concerns, questioning whether blocking public streets violates Texas law. Cameron County DA Luis V. Saenz indicated obstructing public roads without authority is a misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code. City officials emphasized controlled access for emergency services and necessary visitors, aiming to address incidents involving unwanted individuals, though critics argue this may create a gated community.

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The Rio Grande Valley as Heart of LGBTQ+ Resistance and Joy

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www.texasobserver.org – Dani Marrero Hi – 2025-06-25 07:37:00


The Rio Grande Valley’s LGBTQ+ community thrives despite being overshadowed by political conflicts and restrictive narratives. From Brownsville’s queer-owned businesses and cultural events to advocacy efforts confronting transphobia, the region showcases vibrant, creative, and resilient queer networks. Local drag performers, trans-led churches, and organizations like the South Texas Equality Project and La Unión del Pueblo Entero foster solidarity and empowerment across diverse communities. Even rural areas like Starr County have active LGBTQ+ groups. Amid political power struggles and anti-democratic pressures, the Valley’s LGBTQ+ community embodies resistance, joy, and self-definition through activism, culture, and connection.

We were just about done setting up for our workshop at the San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum when Hector Ruiz, president of the South Texas Equality Project (STEP), walked in. STEP is a coalition of diverse groups that celebrate and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in the Rio Grande Valley. 

“Friend!” I rushed over to him. “Qué gusto verte.”

“Girl,” he playfully replied as he leaned in closer for a hug. “This is one of five queer events I’m going to today. Let’s pray I can make it!” 

From the museum, we were equidistant from two key political events that had occurred that week: Forty miles to the East, an explosion after yet another failed SpaceX test in Boca Chica, and 40 miles to the West, Senator Bernie Sanders packed a McAllen event center as part of his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. 

In the Valley, we are no strangers to being the backdrop of political power wars. From Elon Musk’s land-grab to Donald Trump and Greg Abbott’s power-grab, border residents are constantly cornered with restrictive narratives that capture the imagination of Americans across the nation. With frames meant to reduce our stories and humanity, we’re often made out to be these powerless one-dimensional caricatures that don’t know any better and can’t advocate for ourselves. 

But as we celebrate Pride Month, I am struck by the contrast of what I know to be true about this region and what the popular narratives may be—behind the curtain of these filters imposed by outsiders, the Valley boasts an abundance of creative, powerful, and joyful communities, one of them being the LGBTQ+ community. 

Starting in Brownsville, a short drive from Musk’s SpaceX, you can find a thriving network of queer business, advocacy, culture, and nightlife. Take Shop JZD, a queer-owned Latina lifestyle brand headquartered in downtown Brownsville that in April revealed a prestigious collaboration with Brooks, the iconic running shoes brand. Down the street from their store, you can find Bar-B, an LGBTQ+ bar that hosted a Pride flag-raising event on the first day of Pride Month with the support of the city commission’s LGBTQ Task Force established in 2019. And, if you’re lucky, you might run into Emmy award-winning star Lushious Massacr during one of her famous

“dragvestigations” where she masterfully blends pop culture and timely political perspectives. 

That’s not to say that the area doesn’t also actively engage in direct advocacy. Earlier this year, a group of trans leaders pushed Democratic Congressman Vicente Gonzalez to meet with us and address his transphobic rants after Trump’s re-election. After gathering more than 300 petition signatures condemning his remarks, we confronted the congressman in a virtual meeting where he listened to his constituents’ personal stories and the impact his remarks have on the lives of trans individuals. 

Then we head East to the San Benito and Harlingen area. Raised in San Benito, Jade Perez was just crowned Miss Gay USofA 2025 in one of the most important and respected drag pageants in the United States. In Harlingen, creative queer-owned businesses like ENTRE Film Center and Cactus Valley Art provide spaces for artistic expression, community building, and workshops. And a few minutes down the highway in La Feria, you will find Mount Calvary Christian Church, a trans and queer-led church, a rare beacon of hope for faith and spirituality for our South Texas community. 

In San Juan, La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) is hosting its second annual Pride celebrations. LUPE, founded by labor rights leaders Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, is a legacy organization from the farmworker and Chicano civil rights movement of the ’60s and ’70s. Earlier this month, the group hosted a panel in Spanish with local trans leaders to discuss identity and advocacy. With an audience composed of mainly older working-class immigrants, it made for a unique space that challenged LUPE’s members to have critical conversations and build solidarity across differences. 

The truth is, we could go city by city in the Valley sharing its historic and present significance to the LGBTQ+ community. Even in the westernmost rural part of the region, in Starr County, the Roma High School Inclusion Club, formerly known as the Roma High School Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), is actively organizing. To add to its cultural impact, the Roma GSA founder, Frank Garcia, eventually went on to compete in the primetime show The Voice

Many might find themselves surprised at the abundance and depth of the LGBTQ+ community in the Rio Grande Valley, and this just scratches the surface. There’s a long list of craft groups, book clubs, running clubs, and so many other initiatives that have made for an event-filled Pride Month. Projects like Pansy Pachanga have served to provide important historical context to the long-standing presence of queer and trans people on the border, and organizations like the South Texas Equality Project, GenTex,

and Under the Umbrella guide us to fight for the present and envision a more inclusive future for the politically contested region. 

While we might not be the biggest in terms of population compared to other Texas metro areas, it is an undeniable fact that the LGBTQ+ community of the Rio Grande Valley is a shining example of grit, resistance, and joy—especially as we see the rise of aggressive anti-democratic practices from the state and federal government. 

With billionaires and power-hungry politicians in every corner of our region trying to gain at our expense, we dare to exist beyond the headlines and define ourselves for ourselves—one drag show, one support group, and one protest at a time. 

The post The Rio Grande Valley as Heart of LGBTQ+ Resistance and Joy appeared first on www.texasobserver.org



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Left

This content reflects a Center-Left political bias through its support and celebration of LGBTQ+ communities, advocacy against perceived authoritarian actions by right-wing figures, and emphasis on grassroots organizing and social justice. It critiques conservative politicians and billionaires, while highlighting progressive political figures and movements focused on equality and inclusion. The tone is positive about diversity and intersectional activism, which aligns with common themes in Center-Left discourse without veering into more radical language or positioning.

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