Houston’s LGBTQ+ community is gearing up for a unique Pride season this year, with two separate celebrations planned. Pride Houston 365, the longtime organizer of the city’s Pride events, faces competition for the first time from a newcomer, Houston’s New Faces of Pride. This development has raised concerns among city leaders, urging the two groups to unite for a unified celebration.
Pride Houston 365, a local LGBTQ+ non-profit, boasts nearly half a century of organizing Houston’s Pride parade and festival. They’ve been the sole organization responsible for these major celebrations for decades. Their annual event, held on the last weekend of June, draws in massive crowds, with last year’s parade attracting an estimated 500,000 participants.
However, Pride Houston 365’s reputation took a hit in recent years due to financial mismanagement by former leadership.
Emerging last summer, Houston’s New Faces of Pride aims to offer an alternative. They claim their purpose is to restore direction to Pride celebrations following the controversies surrounding Pride Houston 365. Their inaugural Pride festival and parade will be held on June 22, a week before the established event.
This potential Pride duel has sparked concerns among city officials. Councilmember Mario Castillo, who is openly gay, expressed his disappointment at the prospect of two separate parades, highlighting a “leadership gap in the community.” Both Pride organizations have addressed the City Council regarding their concerns and resource needs.
Pride Houston 365, represented by its president, Kendra Walker, voiced anxieties about the city’s ability to support two large-scale events. Their parade requires significant resources, including road closures and security measures, which they feel might be compromised by another parade happening so close in time.
Meanwhile, Houston’s New Faces of Pride’s president, Bryan Cotton, is hesitant about partnering with Pride Houston 365 due to past leadership issues.
They suffered a setback to its reputation when former president and executive director Lorin Roberts was charged with embezzling more than $50,000 and stealing more than $100,000 from the group. In addition to the embezzlement, the coronavirus epidemic severely impacted the organization’s finances, forcing its new leadership to find a means to continue their yearly celebrations and remain afloat.
Fortunately, permitting hasn’t been a hurdle since the two parades are set a week apart. However, both organizations have reported needing clarification among potential sponsors and advertisers, trying to decide which group to support.
Despite these tensions, Castillo remains optimistic. He encourages both groups to find common ground and create an alliance. A unified Pride celebration would maximize impact, showcase the city’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community, and ensure a more efficient use of resources.
While the City Council hasn’t outlined specific plans, they’ve mentioned involving the LGBTQ Advisory Board as a potential mediator.
It’s important to note that Houston’s long-standing Pride celebration, founded in 1979, is the largest gay pride event in Texas and one of the largest in the United States. It’s second only to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in annual attendance for city events. Notably, both Pride Houston 365 and New Faces of Pride are volunteer-run.
However, the new group emerged just as Pride Houston 365 planned a comeback after recent challenges. This led to a brief legal battle, with Pride Houston 365 suing New Faces of Pride for trademark infringement. They accused the new group of deliberately confusing sponsors, vendors and attendees. The lawsuit was quickly settled out of court. Will the two organizations heed the city’s call for unity? Only time will tell.