The 33rd annual Houston Pride Festival and Parade on Saturday were a huge success, made only more joyous by the passage of marriage equality in New York the night before. The celebration is a community-wide affair, full of larger-than-life characters and everyday people braving the heat and humidity in celebration of their pride in the LGBT community.
One of my favorite things about Houston Pride is how involved community organizations and businesses are in the celebration. The El Real Tex Mex restaurant is a new addition to the Montrose neighborhood where the parade and festival take place. The restaurant moved into the historic Tower Theater; most of the time they use the existent marque to advertise specials, but on Saturday they wished everyone a “Happy Parade.”
Right around the corner from the festival is Grace Lutheran Church. Three years ago the church bucked denominational rules by calling a self-identified queer pastor and received an official reprimand for doing so. Since then the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has begun ordaining LGBT clergy, and the church is now on good terms with the denomination. To celebrate Houston Pride Grace decorated their 1949 bell tower in rainbow colors.
One of the most popular spots at the festival was the art and history tent, partially because it was the only air-conditioned tent, but also because of the artifacts and exhibits on display from the Gulf Coast Archive and Museum of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender History, and the archive of the Transgender Foundation of America.
One display that captured many people’s attention was a collection of artifacts from events where gender-variant people physically confronted police brutality, including a meal ticket, spoons and an ash tray from Compton’s Cafeteria in San Fransisco. In 1966 transgender patrons at Compton’s responded to a police raid of the cafeteria by barricading themselves in the restaurant and throwing much of its contents at officers. After the riot the San Fransisco Police Department established a first-of-its-kind liaison office with the LGBT community and social services specifically designed for transgender people were created. The Compton’s riot predates the Stonewall riots by almost three years.
Outside, in the un-air conditioned tents, groups braved the trademark Houston heat and humidity. Noel Freeman , president of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, took the climbing temps in stride. Noel says that at 36 years old, the caucus is the oldest GLBT organization in the South, and one of the oldest in the country. According to one of the caucus’ founders, Pokey Anderson, back in the 70s and 80s, when both the Dallas and Houston parades were getting started some people worried that if they marched in the Pride parade their pictures might wind up on the 6 o’clock news, outing them to family and co-workers and putting their jobs at risk. To avoid that Houstonians would drive up to the Dallas parade and Dallasites would drive down to Houston’s. My how times have changed!
Balloon artist LaKeia Spady delighted festivalgoers with her creations. In addition to balloon talents Spady is a recognized activist and leader in the Houston area. Last year she won the Richard L. Schlegel National Legion of Honor for her work to include gender identity and expression in Houston Community College’s nondiscrimination policy.
Of course the Aug. 6 American Family Association/Rick Perry day of prayer and fasting, “The Response,” was on everyone’s mind. The Texas Freedom Network found a clever way to to respond to “The Response” and encourage people to get involved: a life-size photo of Perry with his famous 2010 quote “Would you rather live in a state like this, or in a state where a man can marry a man?” Festivalgoers plastered the Perry cutout with their responses, including the insightful, “Why can’t it be both?” and the concise “Screw you!”
Good job Daniel!
Glad to have you in Houston.
Bryan Hlavinka
Love the picture
1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 ” Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor drunkards….will inherit the kingdom of God. Bulldogministries.com