The Ex Voto Project
Limited Edition Heart #3
"Dope Hope"
Designed By Cici Pingpong

"Hope Is Like The Sun. If You Only Believe It When You See It, You'll Never Make It Through The Night." ~ Leia Organa

ABOUT CICI PINGPONG'S EX VOTO HEART DESIGN: "Dope Hope"

Flying across intergalactic space, we find the wild & beautifully cumbersome train of Cici Pingpong’s gown trailing & blazing behind her, flapping in the wind like a superhero's cape. The camera pans upward from the gloriously decorated hemline to her tightly cinched waist, encircles her, & then ends in a wide shot of zooming stars behind an accelerating Cici!

From Cici’s outstretched hand we see a glittering white ping-pong ball. She tosses the sphere far up & in front of her. Spinning like a whirling dervish in a category 5 hurricane, she reveals a rhinestoned paddle previously & mysteriously hidden somewhere within the billowing folds of her multi-layered hoop skirts.

Leading with a dramatic hair toss, she fancily propels toward the gleaming star-like ping-pong ball and with the force of a Wimbeldon Pro Champion......

An oblivious citizen mowing their lawn whistles aimlessly, unaware of the important & heroic role they are about to play in someone else’s unfortunate life today.

The rogue projectile strikes them square on the back of their head. Ouch! They gaze up at the heavens, for that must have been where it came from. But what was it? Curiously they glance around, & suddenly notice a small white orb settled into the grass like a bright flare at their feet. They lean over, reach their hands down, & pick up a sparkly ping-pong ball. The phrase "LOOK UP" is hastily scrawled on the side in blue ink. They look up just in time to see a neighbor’s house engulfed in a roaring fire. They call 9-1-1 &, thankfully, the fire department arrives just in time to save the house, the pet iguana living inside, & their neighbor’s fine vintage heirloom toy train collection.

Sometimes life feels like a bit of a dumpster fire. This past year was a smelly refuse pile full of foul discarded tuna cans & empty cheap vodka bottles, shattered photos of friends & loved ones, & way too many wet & bursting cardboard moving boxes. I was packed away (however, not too tightly though, because that would damage the prized feathers!) & separated into several nomadic suitcases. In this regard, Patrick Bateman would have been proud. But the scariest thing? I had no idea when I would be found again.

Of all the precious belongings in my life; my lavish jewelry, my ruffled chiffon coats, my extensive makeup supply - the one thing I needed the most was to keep the Faith...maintain the Hope that I would somehow be found again. So there I was, crammed into this 10'x10' temporary space like a sad can of nearly expired SPAM, with just a coloring book & my Hope to get me through my trials & tribulations.

As I sat there listening to the incessant cling, clang, clong, of the shadowy monsters roaming the hallway just outside the steel rolling door, I reflected upon the ever persistent memory of my ping-pong balls. At every performance of mine, they made a bouncy & joyful appearance. My gracious friends would stay up with me & write kitschy phrases on them to celebrate the upcoming theme of the number, only known to myself & (sometimes) them. At each show, seeking & collecting the ping-pong balls seemed like a routine scavenger hunt for my dedicated spectators.

I would hear countless stories from cohorts who exclaimed, “I still have a ping-pong ball from your performance when you did __________ !”

How excited & overwhelmingly honored it made me feel that each of you had kept this small memento - this ping-pong ball that represented a cherished memory of a number, a remembrance of that evening, even a recollection of the day you had prior to the show. Some of you still send me pictures of your ping-pong ball collections! You have no idea how grateful I am for each & every single one of you & your continued support! I really can’t express my true gratitude, for these simple phrases don’t do this deep emotion justice.

I love performing because it’s how I tell stories. I am 100% me when I am on that stage, caked in makeup, corseted & cinched, & invincible. Each ping-pong ball represents a little bit of my persona - a tiny capsule of my energy that radiates into the audience at a very specific moment. It’s a piece of my art, however small the size & despite the raunchy phrase quickly scribbled onto it. For you, my friends, to keep one of my ping-pong balls is like a constant hug & an appreciation for me & my artistic portrayals. So the next time you come see me perform in person, be prepared for that unsuspecting moment when my ubiquitous balls start flying! You never know what bit of Fortune or Wisdom my come your way via the phrase written on it. It may prompt you to be instrumental in rescuing a perfect stranger's life...or perhaps...even, SAVE YOUR OWN!!!

As I hunkered down in that 10'x10' storage unit, I thought about you & all of the Cici fans I will meet in the future, & I created this: Cici’s "Dope Hope" Pin. In keeping with the Positive & Optimistic mission of The Ex Voto Project & it's goal to empower Strong Female Influences, Richert Gordon gave me carte blanche! Given complete freedom to act as I wished or thought best, I designed with reckless abandon, & we both feel the final design, a product of our symbiotic collaboration, is nothing short of...SPECTACULAR!!!

Sigil: A type of symbol used in ritual magic. The term has usually referred to a type of pictorial signature of a supernatural entity. In modern usage, especially in the context of chaos magic, sigil refers to a symbolic representation of the practitioner's desired outcome.

Sigils help you to achieve goals, co-create your reality, self-actualize your potential & fulfill your deepest dreams & desires. A sigil is a symbol you create with the intention of changing your reality in accordance with your will. All sigils are encoded with a specific purpose, for example, to attract a romantic partner, to set strong boundaries, to be more financially prosperous, to heal your inner child – the possibilities are limitless...Improve yourself, & in turn, you can CHANGE THE WORLD!!!

Sigils are also used in a personal way to symbolically represent & manifest our own Hopes. Sigil magic is the formal practice of creating sigils (or intention-charged symbols) to aid in evolving your existence. Those who practice sigil magic incorporate self-reflection, creativity, willpower, & ritual to manifest their desires. Sigil magic is based on the philosophy that we are collaborators in our individual authenticity. As such, we are empowered to make the changes we desire so long as they align with our ultimate Destiny & the will of Life.

I wanted to create a wearable sigil badge, a tiny artwork, that I personally created, which reflects the Love & Pride I feel from you (the audience) when I perform. Centered in that sigil is a heart-shaped ping-pong paddle wrapped in an undulating ribbon which represents my passion for textiles. A sparkling message of “HOPE” is emblazoned across the ribbon, echoing the deepest emotion that colors my stories & performances. This year, my Hope got me though & sometimes all we need is a little nudge in that Dope Hopeful direction! Also, I adore Star Wars & there’s an endless plethora of Hopeful messages in that fandom. If you look closely at the "O" in HOPE, you will find my emblematic & forever omnipresent ping-pong ball incorporated into the design! From the risqué ping-pong shows in several tropical countries to an incredibly competitive round of beer pong, these balls are the most fun & versatile. And I pride myself on being a versatile Queen!

For the backdrop of the pin, I am featuring the beautiful color rays of the LGBTQ+ community, for we all should insist on being recognized for living our authentic lives & always uplift & celebrate the technicolor array of each diverse individual in this world we all share. Without the LGBTQ+ community or the drag queens who paved the way for me to follow, I couldn’t be as free to express & create as I can today. Shoutout to Ginger Grant at Flex Cocktail Lounge in Las Vegas for always allowing me, to be ME!!!

Shining stars dot the brilliant sky of the Dope Hope pin, the moon/sun represent the opposing duality of the light & the dark, & the two radiant stars near the bottom of the paddle handle symbolize our transition from who we were yesterday to who we are today. We should always be growing & investing in the challenges that may seem hopeless when we start, but remain ever Hopeful once we fully understand how we’ve grown & learned from those struggles.

I have chosen for a portion of the proceeds from this pin to be given to The Montrose Center in my new home of Houston, Texas. Help me celebrate The Montrose Center with its newly opened Law Harrington Senior Living Center - a state-of-the-art LGBTQ+ affirming housing facility.

May the Force be with you, have Courage & be Kind, & remember that all you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you. Happiness can be found in the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the light. Just don’t forget your Multi-Pass!!!

With A Little Dope Hope,

Cici Pingpong

Cici Pingpong
Country: Philippines

Age: Forever 28

Instagram: its_cicipingpong

She is also the youngest & only Filipino American (Fil-Am Pinay!) member in the ethical committee of her county working on a new project called “Drag Queen Story Hour”. What do Drag Queens & children have in common? They love dressing up & all things sparkly & fancy! Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) is just what it sounds like - Fabulous Drag Queens reading stories of tolerance & acceptance to children in libraries, schools, bookstores & hospitals. Drag Queen Story Hour captures the imagination & play of the gender fluidity in childhood & gives kids glamorous, positive, & unabashedly queer role models. It aims to teach children about gender diversity & all forms of difference to build empathy & give kids the confidence to express themselves however they feel comfortable!

Additionally, she works as a volunteer for the Philippine Red Cross & travels to remote areas affected by calamities, such as typhoons & earthquakes to provide much needed relief. When she performs free of charge at these grief stricken places, she always includes the lip sync anthems "I Will Survive!", "Don't Stop Believin'!", & "Livin' On A Prayer!".

Cici Pingpong is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Metaphysical Therapy & also became a Professional Perruquier at the tender age of 21. Her passion for Costume Design & Performance Art garnered her Power & Prestige in the glimmering city of Las Vegas where she hung her wigs & called home for nearly a decade! She is the current ambassador for Drag Appreciation in Houston, Texas & works closely with the Department of Pride & Equality on projects like National Reading/Shade Month & The Drag Queen Learning Annex.

In her pursuit to become a Premier Gender Illusionist, she started her own project called “Read Me & I Shade You”, a public outreach program that helps underprivileged queer & trans youth by providing mental health services, offering confidence building seminars & gender-affirming resources. Some of these kids are suffering from severe identity crisis & Cici works to improve their lives by giving them the tools & opportunity to create a chosen family & build a lasting community of support!

Despite battling with chronic asthma since she was a baby child, Cici has been awarded 3 achievement medals for competing in the Annual National Balloon Animal & Latex Twisting Sculpture Expo.
Cici has also had the opportunity to star in 24 Armenian and Indian rock music videos over the years.
Cici is obsessed with Chinese cuisine & could consume it every day of the week.
Cici loves meditation because it gives her peace of mind.
Cici loves to drink frothy matcha green tea lattes daily.
Cici loves to kiki.
Cici loves homemade pie.
Cici never sleeps without her teddy bear.
Cici makes sure she gets at least 12 hours of beauty sleep per day.
Cici has never had reconstructive surgery on her nose nor her breasts, despite the vicious rumors, as many people think.

FUN FACTS

One of Cici’s hidden talents is knowing how to rap. She grew up listening to Eminem and it helped her speak faster & more clearly, eventually overcoming an embarrassing
speech impediment she suffered from as a little girl. Mad props & praise & love to "The Real Slim Shady"!!!
Cici is a big animal lover; she owns one Hairless Pussy & helps care for six more adorable kittens at her Dragmother's house.
Cici is studying international business & would love to collaborate with a luxury international beauty brand or high fashion company in the future.
Cici has worked as a voice artist, dubbing cartoon characters for several short films.
Cici is also currently taking various fashion illustration courses & likes to style women to look sophisticated & fashionable.

"We all have doubts about ourselves, sometimes. It’s part of what makes us sentient beings. Doubt makes us examine ourselves and all that we do. And without that we become nothing short of monsters."

"Never Enough Padme"
Drag Performance By Cici Pingpong
May The Fourth, 2018

"Big Spender Jabba"
Drag Performance By Cici Pingpong
May The Fourth, 2018

"X-Wings (Were Made To Fly)"
Drag Performance By Cici Pingpong
May The Fourth, 2018

"Survivor Leia: A Leia Tribute"
Drag Performance By Cici Pingpong
May The Fourth, 2018

The Following Is A
PRIDE PSA
Compliments Of Cici Pingpong
Because SHARING

Is CARING!!!

How to Explain Pride Month to Your Child

Pride Month is a wonderful opportunity to teach your kids about what it means to be LGBTQ, the history behind the month-long celebration, & to have some fun while you're at it.

Pride Month, honored throughout the month of June in the U.S., is a time reserved for commemorating the LGBTQ civil rights movement & uplifting the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, & queer people.

"Pride presents an opportunity for families to gather & show support for our loved ones," says Liz DeJesus, regional director council chair for PFLAG National & a mother of a gay son. "We know that by supporting them it helps individuals feel authorized & affirmed," she explains.

Here's everything you need to know about Pride Month & the Pride movement so you can include children in the celebration & educate them on LGBTQ inclusivity.

What Is Pride Month?

Pride Month is both a joyful celebration & a serious political reminder that LGBTQ people are here & deserve the same rights as everyone else. It's a great experience that people of all ages should check out. LGBTQ Pride isn't limited to just one day or one month, though. You can be proud to be LGBTQ or to support someone who is all year round.

Why Do We Call It Pride?

The word "Pride" was actually originally an acronym that stood for Personal Rights in Defense & Education, an organization started in 1966 to fight for equal rights for LGBTQ people in California. But of course, there's also the double meaning of Pride, which describes the feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction people get from their achievements or best qualities. Pride is also defined as the "consciousness of one's own dignity." In other words, we use the word Pride to both honor an influential organization & to be proud of who we are.

When Did Pride Month Start?

Many credit the Stonewall Riots, which began on June 28, 1969, with the start of the gay rights movement, which we think of as Pride today. On that night, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in the Greenwich Village section of New York City. Raids like this were common at the time -LGBTQ people weren't allowed to gather, to dress according to their gender identity or expression, to get married, & so many other things that the rest of society were allowed to do.

The police raid was nothing new, but it was the community's response to the raid that made that night different from the ones before it. The LGBTQ community & allies protested. They fought back when the police became violent. Many people were arrested, but that night was seen as a turning point in the modern LGBTQ rights movement.

It was on the one-year anniversary of the start of the Stonewall riots that the very first Pride march took place. It was a more of a social statement of solidarity than a parade, with people marching in the streets. That march has continued in June for more than 50 years afterward.

How Has Pride Changed Over Time?

Pride started as a political march. In many ways it still is, but it has also grown & changed over time, along with the changes to the LGBTQ community & to visibility & the realization of some equal rights. With time, more people started celebrating Pride, & the march turned into more of a parade with floats, music, costumes, & parties. The political signs are still a big part of Pride, though, as the fight for full equality is ongoing.

Why Is Pride So Important?

"Pride creates a safe space for individuals, especially those who don't feel safe," DeJesus said. The pride celebration in Pittsburgh in 2005 was DeJesus' first exposure to the LGBTQ community & to her out son, who invited his family to join him as a means of introducing them to him & to his world.

DeJesus relayed the story of how she was running a PFLAG booth years later as a proud LGBTQ ally & put up a sign that read, "Get a hug from a PFLAG parent." She said she held back tears as a young LGBTQ person approached her & asked, "You mean, you will really hug me? My own parents won't."

"I think children learn from what they see & hear. When kids are open to the experience of Pride, they can shape their feelings & how they grow up, including their feelings about diversity & inclusion & it carries through their whole life," DeJesus said.

These are just a few of the many reasons why Pride is so important. It creates a space where LGBTQ people can be out, safe, welcomed, affirmed, celebrated. They can feel connected & feel a sense of community & not feel alone. What's more, Pride creates visibility to the rest of the world about the size & power & beauty of the LGBTQ community.

What Does the LGBTQ Flag Mean?

The rainbow flag has long been a symbol for LGBTQ Pride, not only in June but throughout the year. It was designed by a man named Gilbert Baker in 1978 to fly in San Francisco's Gay Freedom Celebration. The original flag had eight colors & each symbolized something different - pink for sexuality, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for the sun, green for nature, turquoise for art, indigo for harmony, & violet for the soul. The most recent rainbow flag also includes pink & blue for transgender people, & black & brown to represent Black & LatinX people.

How Families and Kids Can Celebrate Pride

You don't have to be LGBTQ to participate in Pride Month-allies are welcome & everyone is allowed to celebrate in different ways. The most important part is that we come together in the meaning of the celebration.

"LGBTQ Pride is important for kids, families, & allies because we must work together for equal rights not only under the law but culturally. Visibility is everything, & we are all in this fight together," said Ricardo Cooper, who is helping to coordinate a family movie night for 2021 New York City Pride.

Many cities host big parades with floats & lots of fanfare. You can join a group & march in the parade or you can watch from the sidelines. Some people may meet up with old friends & dance down the avenue, while someone else might join the company they work for with their family by wearing matching t-shirts & marching with their kids. People wave flags & hand out swag (knick-knacks like t-shirts, wrist bands, & stickers). There is often a festival at the end of the parade with tables from different businesses & organizations, & there is often music, like live concerts & other entertainment. Many Pride celebrations may also include multiple events & parties, including some for families that take place in the days leading up to or after the parade.

Along with parades, there are also other activities that take place throughout Pride Month. With many events virtual this year, families can tune into virtual events from another city or country & don't have to leave home to learn more & have fun. There are drag shows, panel discussions, family movies, & more! New York City Pride details can be found here & other cities & countries pride lineups are just a quick search away!

"That’s how we’re gonna win.
Not fighting what we hate.
Saving what we love."

"Women always figure out the truth. Always."

"Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose."

Hopeful Hype: An Intimate Convo
With The Incomparable Cici Pingpong

Over the course of a career that has seen her careen among insane, outright deranged characters, Cici Pingpong has remained delightfully inscrutable. The 28-year-old titan of Drag-omedy has made it her life’s work to embody more weirdos & psychos than could easily fit into an insane asylum. While she will forever be associated with her insatiable obsession with Star Wars-inspired performances, Cici continues to amass new personas, which will soon be making future world debuts in her new home of Houston, Texas. Between taking care of business, & taking care of her massive wig collection, she took time out of her chaotic schedule to consider some questions from her friends & not-so-secret admirers.

MARTHA STEWART: Is it acceptable to serve liver at a dinner party if you know some of your guests are vegetarian?

CICI: I would ONLY serve liver at a party. If all my guests were vegetarian, I would ask them to eat before they arrived.

MALCOM GLADWELL: When do you keep secrets?
CICI: I keep secrets whenever someone asks me to keep a secret in confidence. Then if I don’t like someone anymore, I’ll spill those secrets without giving it a second thought.

TIG NOTARO: What are the first things you do when you wake up?

CICI: I brush & detangle the wig I am going to wear for the day (A minimum of 100 strokes!). I give my 28-year-old male turtle, Shelly, a delicious slice of ripe papaya & some water. I say hello to my two dead houseplants. I make my bed. I tinkle.

ISAAC MIZRAHI: Which animal do you identify most with? Do you believe they are secretly capable of doing crafts, like crochet? Also, which animals do you like seeing most in outfits?

CICI: I identify with turtles, I guess, because I believe in the adage "Slow & Steady Wins The Race"! I can also be very quiet & stealthily sneak up behind you without you knowing & I can see out the side of my head. And YES, I believe that animals are capable of doing crafts. Birds build nests, Meerkats burrow tunnels, & Spiders spin webs. I always love seeing a wise old owl in a jaunty graduation cap!

AMY TAN: What’s your worst habit? Is it something you want to change or simply accept?

CICI: Lately, my worst habit is picking at my nails because of the anxiety of having ten different sewing projects going on at the same time. I’m not biting at them, I’m just picking at them. That & grinding my teeth. I just had to get one problematic bicuspid pulled. As far as changing something about myself, I need to stop spending so much money on fabulous fabrics. I also eat way too many ice cream sundaes...on a good week I can put away at least 2 a day...it's worse than vaping meth...I really need to stop going to Baskin-Robbins on my lunch breaks!

TODRICK HALL: You’re the biggest wig enthusiast I’ve ever known. Can you talk about your first wig & the best wig you’ve ever worn?

CICI: I got my very first wig in third grade. It was the Fall. It came from JCPenney. They had a wig display, which I’ll never forget as long as I live. I would run straight from the mall parking lot into that department & steal wigs right off the mannequins. I was obsessed with them! I just loved the idea that you could change it up all the time, on a whim. To this very day I still go wig shopping & I coif/style my own performance wigs. I have mad respect for the wig. Todrick, I can't pick out a favorite wig, they are all my beloved children!

SCARLETT JOHANSSON: Describe a memorable neighbor you’ve had.

CICI: I have been blessed with many memorable neighbors. I once lived next door to a millionaire that won a huge PowerBall lottery...a 5-year-old deaf child...a Southside-of-Chicago pill-popping, chain-smoking hillbilly who used words like “cocksucker” & “formaldehyde” who had a small yappy dog with one very large testicle (The dog, not the hillbilly!). I once dated a ballet dancer who lived in a trailer & owned a fish tank with piranha fish, which could never turn around because they actually grow to the size of the tank!

TED CRUZ: Dear Cici, I’m feeling a little down on myself lately. Can you give me five quick tips that will make me feel more “ladylike” overnight? Signed, Sad Sack.

CICI: Dear Sad Cruz Sack,

1. Put on a transparent pair of panties.

2. Apply ample lipstick to your cheekbones.

3. Remove the lice from your hair.
4. Make sausage hair curls using real sausage.

5. Tuck your penis between your ass cheeks.

CHLOE ZHAO: What films & books have you seen & read the most times?

CICI: Movies I’ll watch over and over again are: The Entire Star Wars Saga (Too many times to count!), Moulin Rouge! (12 times), The Talented Mr. Ripley (4 times), & Paris Is Burning (6 times). I've reread a lot of books, which is why I hang onto so many. The ones that come to my mind right away are Dim Sum For Everyone! by Grace Lin, Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, Is There No Place On Earth For Me? by Susan Sheehan, & Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice.

NATALIE PORTMAN: Is there anything you’d like to say to the thousands of poultry you've murdered in the name of indulging in your favorite fast food, Chicken McNuggets?

CICI: “No regrets.”

ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK: I’m having a dinner party for a coven of witches. What should I serve?

CICI: Witch Weenies & cold brew!

AMANDA GORMAN: What is your process for creating a character?
CICI: First, I think of the posture; the physicality of the character - like...small mosquito bites for boobs on the top & a big pear-shaped rump-shakin' bottom. Then there’s small details...the hair, the shoes, the clothes, & the voice. I like to find it through improvisation so I can play around.

LADY GAGA: You are a most coveted guest at dinner parties, gatherings, or, frankly, any social affair. The city is your oyster. But whose home have you imagined being inside that you have not yet seen?

CICI: I would love to visit Frida Kahlo’s house. I hear it is very tiny, like her art. I would love to visit Ernie Kovacs’s house, too. He had his set designer & prop manager build a fake bookcase that would open up into secret rooms. I’m curious what Ann Dowd’s & Meryl Streep’s places look like. But more than anything, I would like to see what the dressing tables of Prince, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, & Elvis Presley looked like right after they died.

DEADMAU5: You delight in a visit to your local post office, green grocer, & butcher - just a good ol' promenade around your neighborhood. Can you describe why you love those days so much?

CICI: We always need something to bitch about, & doing it with familiar acquaintances feels comforting. So I love going to the post office to chat up Angie, & to Doyle’s Pharmacy to gossip to Cece or Vitamin Guy Joe. I want to hear about their lives & struggles. It comes from growing up in Arizona. I also love a good to-do list. It makes me feel grounded. I don’t have a lot of friends, but I know a lot of people, & I occasionally want to check in on them.

BANKSY: If you were solely in control of our shared money jar, what might you insist we use it for? Plus I’m curious, what is our total up to now?

CICI: Banksy, when are you going to forget about that damn money jar? It was a scam. I did it with a lot of people. My guess is that there is about $1,000.00 in there. But we took money out to buy presents for people like Andy Cohen. I will check one of these days. We always said we would go to Indonesia together, but now maybe we have enough to go to Big Gay Ice Cream & split a single scoop cone. But you have to let it go man!

NICK JONAS: Do you remember the first character you created?

CICI: My Great-Grandmother was a character because she was old & had dementia. She had the shaky neck & old-timey glasses that made her eyes look really big. She always said stuff like "For Crying Out Loud" & "Holy Mackerel" & "For Heaven's Sake"! She would constantly ask me when we were going to eat (even after we just ate!). She would insist that I go check the mail (even though her Publisher's Clearing House envelopes stopped coming!)...she was convinced she was still going to win "The Big One"! So, physically, I’d say her. Then I also borrowed a few goofy faces from my father. Those were my first two big characters. After that it was teachers & anyone else I could imitate. I’m pretty good at picking up that one quirky thing in somebody & then magnifying & exploiting it.

BERNIE SANDERS: What does Shelly the turtle know about you that no one else does?

CICI: Shelly knows what I look like naked.

"Every time I walked away from something I wanted to forget, I told myself it was for a cause that I believed in. A cause that was worth it. Without that, we’re lost."

Cici Pingpong's Charity:
The Montrose Center &
Law Harrington
Senior Living Center

The Montrose Center Mission & Vision

Our Mission

The Montrose Center empowers our community - primarily lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, & queer (LGBTQ) individuals & their families - to live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Our Vision

We envision a healthier society marked by permanent, positive changes in attitudes & behaviors toward the LGBTQ communities, & the ability of all LGBTQ individuals to realize their fullest potential.

Our People & Programs

Our team of state-licensed clinicians, masters-level therapists, skilled educators, support staff & dedicated volunteers work together to create healthier futures for our community.

Because LGBTQ persons face numerous health disparities compared to the general population, the Center has embraced an integrated care model with one-stop access to behavioral health & support services, adult primary care & psychiatry, & free wellness programs that empower individuals to proactively participate in their own care.

As the cultural hub of Houston’s LGBTQ community, the Center is “home” to dozens of LGBTQ-affirming social & civic organizations, & offers affordable rental space for meetings & events.

Law Harrington FAQs

What Is The Law Harrington Senior Living Center?

The Center at 2222 Cleburne Street is an affordable, LGBTQ-affirming senior living center that will feature 112 one-bedroom & two-bedroom independent living apartments for low-income individuals & couples who are 62 years & older. Additional features of the property will include: a social services department managed by the Montrose Center, geriatric primary care clinic provided by Legacy Community Health, a group dining area, meeting & game rooms, a fitness center, dog park, & outdoor recreational spaces.

What Does LGBTQ-Affirming Mean?

LGBTQ seniors are twice as likely to age in social isolation & 4 times less likely to have the money needed for retirement in comparison to their heterosexual peers. Add to this, the lack of city - or state-wide protections for the LGBTQ community against housing discrimination & the lack of affordable living options for LGBTQ seniors highlights the need for a place for seniors to age with dignity & pride in a stable, safe & accepting community. The Law Harrington Senior Living Center is open to all seniors who meet the income guidelines, but will have specific services & programming for LGBTQ seniors & senior’s living with HIV.

Who Can Live There?

Individuals & couples who are at least 62-years-old & income-qualified for affordable housing in Houston can apply to live in the Law Harrington Senior Living Center.

How Much Will It Cost To Live There?

Rental is limited to single older adults & couples whose annual income is below a certain amount, the details of which are based on an annual calculation of income from the Houston area. The Senior Living Center will provide apartments at the following area median income (AMI) levels:

24 units at 30% AMI
45 units at 50% AMI
43 units at 60% AMI

How Do I Apply?

The official application process for the Law Harrington Senior Living will be through a third-party leasing agency. The Montrose Center is keeping an interest list of eligible seniors & will provide regular updates to the leasing agent. If you think you meet the eligibility criteria & wish to be placed on the interest list, please send an email to info@montrosecenter.org

"Rebellions Are Built On Hope!"