Pride in Dallas Grand Marshals Kennedy Davenport and Omar Narvaez
Parades, conferences, celebrities, oh my. This week’s Pride festivities are an embarrassment of riches — and honey, that’s never embarrassing! What’s going on this weekend for Pride? A whole lot. So let’s break it down.
— Rich Lopez
Unleashed LGBTQ+ Conference and Festival
This now-annual event kicks off on Friday, Sept. 19, in a big way with famed film director and queer icon John Waters. The event features a number of high-profile queers and panels throughout the weekend, along with entertainment such as film screenings and live performances. Along with Waters, special guests include actor Daniel Franzese (Mean Girls), Drag Race alum Carmen Carrera, Mama Bears founder Liz Dyer, standup comic and television personality Ruby Dickulous and more. Here’s the schedule:
Friday, Sept. 19
- The Unleashed LGBTQ+ Media Hub/Sessions presented by Dallas Voice & News Is Out. Partake in panels, live broadcasts and real-time conversations with media professionals to network and collaborate with fellow creatives and industry pros. 4 p.m. at Pinkies Coffee & Cocktails.
- Celebrating LGBTQ+ Art, Culture and History presented by Dallas Museum of Art. Join the Dallas Arts District Pride Block Party organizers who will discuss the importance of maintaining representation and space for queer voices in the arts in challenging times. 5:30 p.m. at the Round-Up Saloon.
- In Conversation with John Waters with Dallas Museum of Art’s Brad Pritchett. Pritchett sits with the director of Hairspray, Pink Flamingos and Serial Mom (to name a few) to discuss, well, anything John Waters wants to discuss. Additional speakers will include television personality and Drag Race alum Carmen Carrera, HRC’s Melodía Guitérrez, House of Juicy’s Naomi Green, and more. Waters will also be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from Unleashed. Carrera with also be presented with the Trailblazer Award. The event is presented by the Mark Cuban Foundation and Human Rights Campaign. 6 p.m. at the Warwick Melrose.
- Deep in the Heart of Texas: Dallas’ Pivotal Role in Gay Rights History presented by Badge of Pride. Join LGBTQ+ historians Dr. Wesley Phelps, Adrian Cardwell, Seth Knievel, and Michael Dewberry as they dive into the archives to learn why Dallas has a central role in the national LGBTQ+ rights movement. 6:30 p.m. at the Round-Up Saloon.
Saturday, Sept. 20
- Spilling Tea with the Dancing Diva Kennedy Davenport. The drag superstar joins Naomi Green, MBA, for a conversation tracing her journey from humble beginnings as a performer to her breakout success on RuPaul’s Drag Race. 4 p.m. at S4.
- Free Mom Hugs and Mama Bears present A Mom’s Work is Never Done. Free Mom Hugs Founder Sara Cunningham and Mama Bears’ Liz Dyer explain their reasons for starting organizations where LGBTQ+ family members can connect and learn from leaders and other members of the community about the importance of acceptance, tolerance, and queer culture. 5 p.m. at S4.
- Movie Night Quote Along featuring Mean Girls with special guest host Daniel Franzese. For this, talking in the movie is allowed — as long as you know the words. Woody’s will be transformed into a totally fetch outdoor movie experience complete with seating, popcorn and your drink orders. 7:30 p.m. at Woody’s Sports & Video Bar.
- Visit UnleashedLGBTQ.com for more information and tickets to all the Unleashed events and to check out the full list speakers and celebrities and more, including TV personality Carmen Carrera, Unleashed Founder Wesley Smoot, Brad Pritchett with Dallas Museum of Art, HRC’s Texas State Director Melodía Gutiérrez, activist and professor Naomi Green, Mint Dentistry CEO Dr. Field Harrison, media personality King Ferdinand, Dallas Arts District Executive Director Lily Cabatu Weiss, DMA Director of Adult Programs Shannon Linker, Crow Museum’s director of museum experience Sara Greenberg, Nasher Sculpture Garden’s marketing and digital engagement director Molly Sydnor, DMA’s chief learning officer Stacey Lizotte, stand-up comic Ruby Dickulous and Dallas Voice columnist and award-winning author Jenny Block.
Pride in Dallas
There is much to fill up your Pride-filled weekend, but let’s start with Pride in Dallas’ Parade on Cedar Springs, presented by HELP Center for LGBTQ+ Health. Kennedy Davenport and former Dallas City Council member Omar Narvaez are grand marshals, and parade hosts are Cassie Nova, Chad Mantooth, Shemar Dupree, Ra’Maya Lord and Larry the Fairy. And Chris Bengston will be honored for her service to the community.
The event is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, with the parade stepping of at Cedar Springs Road and Wycliff Avenue. and running eastbound on Cedar Springs to finish at Oak Lawn Avenue
Public parking can be found behind Woody’s and the Sue Ellen’s/Station 4/TMC block as well as behind Hunky’s and the Round-Up. The Food Truck Zone will be located by Woody’s. Vendor zones and bathrooms can be found throughout the route. See more at PrideinDallas.org.
Now here’s a list of suggestions to round out your weekend with Pride.
Friday
- Down To Float: Garden of Temptation, Impulse Dallas’ 10 anniversary celebration, from 7-11 p.m. at Lee Harvey’s, 1315 Beaumont St. Tickets start at $10, available at EventBrite.com.
- Glow Party with DJ Level and DJ Memoz. DJs Orel and Sanders will play in the Granite Room. 18 and older. Doors at 8 p.m. at Station 4.
Saturday
- NoH8 Photoshoot. Noon at Station 4.
- Author Signing: Kerry Shatzer, author of Queer Pride Puzzles, Vol. 1, a first-of-its-kind collection of variety puzzles with LGBTQ+ themes and answers. 1 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, 5301 Beltline Road.
- Cedar Springs Margarita Walk. Join the Cedar Springs Merchants Association for cocktails, drag surprises and glittery patio vibes while sampling margaritas at participating bars and businesses along Cedar Springs.
- GayBingo:Game On benefiting Resource Center. 5 p.m. in the Rose Room.
- Gay AF Pride Party with DJ Charlie Phresh featuring Pillow Talk with DJ Tyler Moore. 21 and older. Doors at 8 p.m. at Station 4.
- CineWilde presents Ingrid Goes West. Texas’ only monthly LGBTQ film series screens this 2017 dark comedy starring Aubrey Plaza as Ingrid Thorburn, an unhinged social media stalker. 8:30 p.m. at Texas Theatre.
- Pride 2025 featuring Alyssa Edwards. Doors at 9 p.m. in the Rose Room.
- A Charli XCX & Chappell Roan Dance Party w/ Casstevens. 10 p.m. at Sue Ellen’s.
- Masala Nights presents Bollywood & Tollywood Night with DJ Asim and drag queens Me_Hamsa and Shiela. 10 p.m at Alexandre’s.
- Turtle Creek Chorale hosts its Rhapsody 2025 benefit gala at The Statler, 1914 Commerce St., at 6:30 p.m., featuring David Foster and Katherine McPhee Visit TurtleCreekChorale.com for tickets and information.
- Human Rights Campaign hosts the 28th Annual Fairway to Equality Golf Weekend at Cedar Crest Golf Course, 1800 Southerland Ave, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Visit the events page at DFW.HRC.org for more information and tickets.
- Lesbian Paparazzi and Studs vs. Fems host the Lez Hoop Basketball Tournament from 5-10 p.m. at the TBP Athletic Complex, 2524 W. Ledbetter Drive, featuring DJ Twisted E, official DJ of the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. Tickets start at $17.85, available at EventBrite.com.
Sunday
- Pride in Dallas Drag Show featuring Alyssa Edwards and the Rose Room cast. 11 a.m. at Station 4.
- Parade Watch Party and Drag Brunch. Noon at Station 4.
- Spectrum: The Purple Party Tea Dance with headlining DJ Sharon O’ Love with Tyler Moore opening. 4 p.m. at Station 4.
- The Texas Entertainer of the Year F.I. drag pageant, a direct preliminary to the Entertainer of the Year F.I. pageant starts at 9:30 p.m. in The Rose Room inside S4, 3911 Cedar Springs Road. (Doors open at 9 p.m.) Tickets start at $23.79 and are available at TxEOY.TicketSpice.com/TxEOY.
- Furball: Pride with Alex Acosta and DJ Sanders. 9 p.m. at the Dallas Eagle.
- Pride Closing Party with Larry Davis and DEA. 9 p.m. at The Tin Room.
- Pride Closing Party with DJ Al Farb. 10 p.m. at Station 4.