W.T. Brookshire conference center
CAROLINE SAVOIE | Staff Writer
carolinelsavoie@gmail.com
TYLER — This year’s Rose City Pride is shaping up to be a milestone celebration for East Texas’ LGBTQ community, marking a slew of exciting firsts while continuing to foster joy, visibility and inclusivity in Tyler and beyond.
Hosted by Tyler Area Gays (T.A.G.), the 2025 Rose City Pride festival will take place Saturday, June 21, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center.
For the first time in its history, the event will be held indoors, offering attendees air conditioning, increased accessibility and plenty of space to dance, chat and connect.
The all-ages festival is free to attend and will feature vendor booths, food trucks, drag performances, live entertainment and a beverage lounge with alcoholic drinks available for purchase.
The venue is ADA accessible, and both cash and card are accepted.
A full day of East Texas Pride
Festivities begin at 11 a.m. with a welcome address from TAG Board President Billy Diaz, followed by a blessing from Sister Amanda of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — DFW Chapter. Entertainment throughout the day includes a performance by the Tyler Belly Dancing Company, a Rising Star talent showcase and meet-and-greet and a headlining drag revue by Rose City Revelry.
Quoe will host the drag lineup, which includes Honey Summers, Brittany Brooks, Cypress, Gemini Brooks, Ocean Knotts, and Jade Summers.
Meet-and-greet sessions for both showcases will give locals a chance to connect directly with the performers.
The all-ages event wraps at 5 p.m., but for everyone over 21 years old, the party continues at 8 p.m. with an after-party at Rose City Draft House and Bar. Pride-goers get $2 off Deep Eddy’s vodka and can buy snacks from The Sweet Spot ETX.
First-time LGBTQ resource center debuts: The Glass House
Entertainment and community connection take center stage at Rose City Pride, but this year, TAG+ worked with Alphabet Army to introduce a new resource center for LGBTQ folks. Known as The Glass House, the center will provide support and information for people of all identities and backgrounds.
This year’s Rose City Pride marks not just a celebration, but a transformation in the local LGBTQ landscape — most notably through the emergence of The Glass House. Erin Bailey, founder of the Glass House and Alphabet Army, an LGBTQ youth support group, said she created these resources to grow LGBTQ support, education and advocacy.
Samantha Wall, Alphabet Army’s board president, said The Glass House is quickly becoming a vital hub for LGBTQ East Texans seeking connection and resources in a historically underserved region.
Wall said her work and TAG are evolving together and that, while it was once known primarily as a social group, TAG is becoming a more resource-focused organization. Under Diaz’s new leadership, TAG is prioritizing partnerships that deepen its community impact — and
The Glass House will play an important part of that effort.
Wall said the collaboration between TAG and The Glass House reflects a growing commitment to intersectionality, accessibility and long-term support, creating a broader network of care and visibility for LGBTQ people across East Texas.
Community roots and active allyship
TAG began in 2008 around a kitchen table and has since grown into a thriving nonprofit with thousands of local supporters. Organizers expect the day to draw large crowds, with local vendors, families and longtime allies planning to attend.
Among them are Gayle and Bethnie of East Texas Psychic Fair, who will be vending at Pride with their offerings. The pair shared a heartfelt message on Facebook expressing their Pride in being allies.
“Our hearts have always ached for the ones who wanted nothing but to be themselves and couldn’t get the support they needed at home,” they wrote. “TAG is a wonderful community of people and we are glad to participate in their events when possible.”
This year’s Rose City Pride is all about visibility, joy, and building a safe space for LGBTQ East Texans to thrive, especially when political tensions are reaching a boiling point in the state and around the country.