FeaturesGayest & Greatest

Gayest & Greatest: People

Gay DJ and radio host ‘Special K’ lends talents to LGBTQ causes.

What’s so special about Kevin “Special K” England? Pretty much everything. KRBE 104.1 FM listeners love his personality and his on-air prank phone calls, and the LGBTQ community loves the way he gives back. And we assume his boyfriend of 16 years, Brian, appreciates his humor and his boyish good looks. England has been wowing his fans on the air in Houston since the late ’90s, and before then he was known throughout the gay clubs for his DJ skills.

“I still like to spin once in a while,” says England, who occasionally DJs on weekends. “But it wasn’t really stable work. I wanted to stay in music somehow, and I’d met some radio people who told me to go for it. KRBE liked me, and now I get to play music live for millions of people every day. And I get to be gay on the air!

“I think I’m about the only [openly gay host] on the radio,” he adds. “It’s frustrating to see those who still aren’t out.” His station encourages him to be out and proud, and he thinks it’s the best job anyone could have.

Originally from Delaware, England once worked as a Merchant Marine. Now, he loves to play music that makes people want to get up and dance. As a regular on KRBE’s Roula & Ryan morning show (the duo that gave him his Special K moniker), he plays retro music, and on Fridays he does prank calls. You can email him at [email protected] and request that he prank your friends (or frenemies). The results are often hilarious.

On the serious side, Special K frequently volunteers his time and talents in the LGBTQ community and beyond. He’s hosted the AIDS Walk, works with the Human Rights Campaign, frequently helps out at local animal shelters, and is working on an April Red Dinner gala that will raise funds to help LGBTQ youth to stay in college. “It can be very difficult for LGBT youth to get an education when they don’t have the support of their families, so this is really important.

“Volunteering is my church,” he adds. “It’s just as fulfilling as sitting in a building listening to a sermon. If you can give back in your free time, you should.”

Funny, fabulous, and a real hero in the community, England is a repeat winner in this category. —Marene Gustin

Best Female LGBTQ Business Person

Tammi Wallace
Finalists: Sandy Bubbert, Caryn Craig, Kathy Hubbard, Julie Mabry, Cristina Martinez

Best Male LGBTQ Business Person

Mark DeLange
Finalists: Charles Armstrong, Bruce Smith, DDS, Grey Stephens, Gary Wood

Favorite Female (Commercial) Radio Personality

Sarah Pepper, Mix 96.5
Finalists: Roula Christie, 104 KRBE; Lauren Kelly, Mix 96.5;
Erica Rico, 93Q

Favorite Male (Commercial) Radio Personality

Special K, 104 KRBE
Finalists: Al Farb, 93Q

Favorite Female (Community) Radio Personality

Judy Reeves

Favorite Male (Community) Radio Personality

JD Doyle
Finalists: Chris Arasin, Bryan Hlavinka, Jack Valinski

Favorite Female Community Hero 

Annise Parker
Finalists: Melanie Pang, Monica Roberts, Fran Watson, Carol Wyatt-Woodell

Favorite Male Community Hero

Ray Hill
Finalists: Blake Ellis, Dalton DeHart, Ryan Leach, Lou Weaver, Ashton P. Woods

Favorite Female Community Photographer

Yvonne Feece
Finalists: Gianna Marie Novarro, Judy Woods

Favorite Male Community Photographer

Dalton DeHart
Finalists: John Cox, Eric Edward Schell, Steven Tilotta

Favorite Female Local Politician

Ellen Cohen (tie)
Kim Ogg (tie)
Finalists:: Sylvia Garcia, Annise Parker

Favorite Male Local Politician

Sylvester Turner
Finalists: Garnet Coleman, Robert Gallegos, Steven Kirkland, Mike Laster

Favorite Female TV Personality

Dominique Sachse
Finalists: Carmen Maria Montiel Avila, Ellen Degeneres, Deborah Duncan, Stephanie Gerry

Favorite (Community) TV Personality

Ernie Manouse

Favorite Male TV Personality

Frank Billingsley
Finalists: Andy Cerota, Ryan Korsgard, Derrick Shore

Favorite Local LGBTQ Blogger/Vlogger

AJ Mistretta
Finalists: Joey Guerra, Monica Roberts, Travis Webb, Ashton P. Woods

Favorite LGBTQ Teacher/Educator

Charles Swan
Finalists: Blake Ellis, Bryant Johnson-Wood, Dr. Colt Keo-Meier, Brian Riedel

Favorite LGBTQ Tweeter

Joey Guerra
Finalists: Shelby Jeffcoat-del Busto, Brad Pritchett, Fran Watson

Favorite National Blogger/Vlogger

Rich Lux
Finalists: Perez Hilton, Joe Jervis, Randy Rainbow

Leading Entertainer

Lady Shamu
Finalists: Ivan Cupcake, Angela Mercy, Violet S’Arbleu

Leading Female Fundraiser

Carol Wyatt-Woodell (tie)
Sallie Wyatt-Woodell (tie)
Finalists: Cristina Martinez, Margarita Perez, Ana Sanchez

Leading Male Fundraiser

Gary Wood
Finalists: Don Gill, David Goldberg, Kennedy Loftin, Tanner Williams

Most Prominent Female LGBTQ Activist

Fran Watson
Finalists: Januari Leo, Melanie Pang, Monica Roberts

Most Prominent Male LGBTQ Activist

Lou Weaver
Finalists: Blake Ellis, Ryan Leach, Brad Pritchett,
Ashton P. Woods

Most Supportive Local Business of the LGBTQ Community

Hamburger Mary’s
Finalists: Crocker Bar, Guava Lamp, Jenni’s Noodle House, Neon Boots, Pearl Bar, Silver Eagle Distributors

Most Supportive National Business of the LGBTQ Community

Target (tie)
Wells Fargo (tie)
Finalists: Apple, Bud Light, Macy’s, Southwest Airlines

Most Valuable Female Volunteer

Fran Watson
Finalists: Sarah Tompkins Gutierrez, Kim Townsend, Melissa Vivianco, Tammi Wallace

Most Valuable Male Volunteer

Jack Berger
Finalists: Jacques Bourgeois, Brad Pritchett, Lou Weaver, Tanner Williams, Gary Wood

Comments

Marene Gustin

Marene Gustin has written about Texas culture, food, fashion, the arts, and Lone Star politics and crime for television, magazines, the web and newspapers nationwide, and worked in Houston politics for six years. Her freelance work has appeared in the Austin Chronicle, Austin-American Statesman, Houston Chronicle, Houston Press, Texas Monthly, Dance International, Dance Magazine, the Advocate, Prime Living, InTown magazine, OutSmart magazine and web sites CultureMap Houston and Austin, Eater Houston and Gayot.com, among others.
Back to top button